Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Roth watched Autumn walk around the corner of her grandparent's ranch house. Made on a similar style to the one he lived in, he was aware of the location of the door, which was hidden from view where he was parked. However, only the curtains on the windows prevented him from seeing inside. It didn't matter. He knew what was there.

He'd spent many days hanging out with Nick at Sunset ranch. Countless meals were had at the very table he'd bet money Miss Hattie was sitting at this very moment. His promise to Autumn was the only thing keeping his ass in the driver's seat of his truck. But he didn't like her going in there alone. Not even a little.

Had it not been for the call from Chuck, they'd likely still be wrapped around each other in his bed. For some reason, the foreman hadn't expected Roth to follow through with his commitment to take the weekend off. Likely because he hadn't in the past, and mostly because he'd still gone out to do some chores before he left them to get ready for the charity auction.

Honestly, if he hadn't awakened with Autumn wrapped in his arms, he probably would've been out with the rest of the weekend crew checking on the cattle. Then, he would've seen for himself where Titan had damaged a section of the fence separating two pastures. It was likely due to a female in heat wandering too close to the barrier and the stud bull was trying to get to them.

Since he'd put the cattle on a specific rotation for calving, they kept Titan and the other stud bulls away from the females during certain seasons. Apparently, the cantankerous bull didn't appreciate the separation.

Roth was going to suggest moving the herd to another pasture, but Chuck was already on it. He'd sequestered Titan for the time being, so they could keep their schedule for rotating the cows without interference from him. That's what they get for letting him roam around the pasture so long in the first place. Since Chuck had the relocation under control, Roth told him to put Titan on the schedule. Maybe if the bull had some time with cows in need of servicing, he wouldn't try breaking through gates.

Roth couldn't blame the bull though. He felt a bit like bursting through a gate or two when Autumn walked away from him. It was almost like being with her had unleashed something he'd kept locked down inside himself. But maybe it was inevitable.

They'd actually never been alone the way they were the previous night. And he'd most definitely never had her soft curves pressed against him like they were when he carried her to his truck. The desires he'd suppressed following her almost wedding came back with a vengeance. The only person who could've stopped it was Autumn. When she encouraged him, she sealed her fate.

He'd considered himself too broken to be of good to anyone in a relationship. Although his time with Andy at Silver Creek had helped him heal tremendously, Roth hadn't wanted to saddle anyone with his issues. The trauma from the mission, which prompted his early retirement, reared its head randomly.

The last thing he wanted was to burden another person with his unexplainable mood swings—he didn't want to even think about the nightmares. But when he did, he recalled how peacefully he slept with her in his arms. For the first time in forever, he slept more than four hours straight and didn't wake up drenched in sweat.

Movement near the curtains drew Roth's gaze, and he knew there was no way he was leaving Sunset Ranch without going inside. He'd told his Sugar they'd do it her way, but it looked like things had been taken out of both their hands. Plucking his keys from the cup holder in the center console, he considered grabbing his hat off the dashboard before deciding against it.

Stepping out of the truck, he didn't bother to lock up when he closed the door behind him. There was no one out this way to break into a vehicle. Everyone knew everyone. So, it was a non-issue.

Roth's stride was sure as he walked the same path Autumn had taken, stopping in front of the side door. Delivering two firm taps to the wooden frame instead of the glass pane, he waited for a response. It was a short wait. Less than a minute later, he was peering into her face. Her sullen expression was reminiscent of a scolded teenager instead of the woman who'd boldly kissed him not twenty-four hours ago.

"Don't just stand there at the door looking at each other. Come on in here, Rothschild."

Mouthing, I'm sorry , Autumn stepped back to allow him inside. Sliding his arm around her waist, he dropped a quick kiss on her forehead.

"Don't worry about it, Sugar. It'll be fine."

His words were for her ears only, but it was clear Miss Hattie heard them when he entered, closing the door behind him.

"Miss Hattie." He greeted her with a head tilt. His fingers reflexively reached for the brim of the hat he'd left in the truck.

"Mhm." Was her short response given through lightly pursed lips.

The aroma of fresh coffee, biscuits and bacon permeated the spacious kitchen. It was more than obvious Autumn's grandmother had been awake, and busy, for quite some time.

"You two go wash up. Breakfast is ready."

Having spent more than half of his life following the instruction of the Daley matriarch, Roth offered no objection as he followed Autumn to the powder room located in the hallway just off the kitchen. The second they were out of Miss Hattie's direct line of sight, he tugged Autumn closer to him.

"Are you okay, Sugar? You look a tad like a whipped dog."

"Gee, thanks."

"Come on, Sugar. Don't be like that. You know what I mean."

Turning on the water, Roth tried to buy them a little time. Rotating her toward him with his hands on her shoulders, he searched her face.

"Talk to me."

With a shrug, she attempted to avoid his stare. "I'm fine. She hasn't said anything I didn't expect." Finally, she looked directly into his eyes. "Why didn't you leave? I thought we agreed?"

"I agreed not to come in with you, not to immediately drive away. But that option was taken off the table when I saw your grandma through the window. There was no way I was going home to let you face her alone."

"I'm fine, Roth. You don't have to be a white knight riding to my rescue."

"Well, that's good. Because if I was a knight, I'd definitely wear black—or Army green."

Her push against his shoulder was halfhearted, but his lips tipped up with the corresponding curve of hers.

"I can't with you."

"Sure you can, Sugar. Now, wash your hands before Miss Hattie comes looking for us. We'll talk more later."

While Roth only partially believed her when she said she was fine, he knew they didn't have an indefinite amount of time before her grandmother had something to say about how long it was taking them to perform the quick task of washing their hands.

When they returned to the kitchen the formerly empty farmhouse style table was now laden with more food than the three of them could possibly eat. Even with Roth's hefty appetite, there was bound to be leftovers.

"Thank you, Child."

Miss Hattie's murmur of thanks when he helped her with her chair was his first indicator that maybe things wouldn't go as poorly as Autumn thought. She'd shifted from using his full name to the shortened version only she and a select few others were allowed to use.

"You're welcome."

Autumn's hand on the back of her own chair drew a grunt of disapproval from Roth.

"Don't."

A line appeared between her eyebrows, but she took her hand off the chair. Ignoring her disgruntled stare, Roth rounded the table, tugged the chair out and looked at her expectantly. With a little sniff, she accepted his assistance. Once she was seated, he bent low to whisper in her ear.

"You know better than to pull out your own chair in the presence of a man, Sugar."

She didn't respond. But, he didn't expect it. A thought briefly floated across his mind, wondering what kind of men she'd dealt with in Nevada where she'd suddenly forgotten what it was like to have someone take care of her. Even if it wasn't him, he knew her brother, father and cousins had all been taught the same. Roth had witnessed it.

Following the blessing of the food, they ate quietly for a few moments. Roth was contemplating another biscuit, this time slathered with fresh apple butter instead of jam, when Miss Hattie broke the silence.

"You two are grown and can do what you want, but you need to know if you were planning to keep this thing between you a secret, that chicken has flown the coop."

Roth was grateful he didn't have anything in his mouth when she spoke, but Autumn wasn't so lucky. The orange juice she just sipped was only prevented from splattering onto her plate by the hand she clamped over her mouth. Hastily grabbing a napkin, she dabbed at the wetness on her face before cleaning her fingers.

"Grandma!"

"What? You act like I said something scandalous." Miss Hattie sat back in her chair, gently patting her lips with a napkin. "I'm simply warning you. It's like I told you before Child came in here, what you do as a grown woman isn't my business. But, you're staying in my house. So, I expect the courtesy of a phone call when you don't come home. That way I won't wait up for you or picture you lying in a ditch somewhere."

Autumn's shoulders slumped. Roth knew the not-so-gentle reminder of their failure to let her grandmother know she was safe and was sleeping elsewhere for the night had hit home. He was sideswiped by it himself. It never occurred to him to ask where she was expected to be before he kept her at his place all night.

"I'm sorry, Grandma."

"Don't be sorry. Do better." Flicking her napkin to open it back up, she placed it in her lap once more. "Now, how are you planning to handle your parents and your brother?"

Roth glimpsed Autumn giving her own napkin hell, twisting it in her lap. Placing one hand over both of hers, he squeezed her fingers.

"Grandma, it's like you said. We're grown. I don't see where what happens between us needs to be discussed with Mama, Daddy, or Nick."

"Bless your heart..."

In his periphery, Roth saw the older woman shake her head. He was staring at Autumn in disbelief. While he didn't think it would be a pleasant conversation between him and Nick, he did feel a discussion was due. Because, he'd be damned if he hid, and he sure as hell wasn't going to stop now that he'd tasted her sweetness. Not gonna happen.

"What?" Autumn looked between the two of them wearing an expression which let him know she fully believed what she'd said.

"Baby girl... Number one, no matter how grown you are, being as Child and Nick have been friends since before they started smelling themselves, y'all are gonna have to tell him something. Now, your mama probably has her fingers and toes crossed hoping she gets to plan a wedding. As for your daddy..."

She stopped and leveled a serious look toward Roth. "He's gonna wanna have a talk with Child about his intentions—especially considering he just spent a hundred thousand dollars for a date with you."

Shit. So much had happened since he'd made that bid at the charity auction, Roth didn't even think about it. He completely ignored Miss Hattie's remark about a wedding when she mentioned the money for the date.

"Grandma, I understand what you're saying, but why do I have to think about any of that right now?"

"Because, Tum-tum. When you didn't show up by midnight, I called your phone. When I didn't get an answer, I called Travis and Carla, since you left here with them. I was giving them hell about not telling me you were staying the night at their house when they told me you'd left early with Child."

As if their life had suddenly turned into one of the television dramas his mother was crazy about, the distinct sound of a vehicle approaching drew their attention to the now open curtains. Before anyone stepped out of the champagne-colored sport utility vehicle, Roth already knew who it was. Also, the amount of food Miss Hattie cooked now made sense.