Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Autumn stood in the doorway leading into the family room staring at the scene inside. After she'd told Roth she was staying at Grandma Hattie's for the night, she should've been suspicious of how quickly he acquiesced. Other than him insisting on calling his ranch her home, he hadn't put up even a slight argument. That should've been a huge, blazing, red flag. But she didn't see it.

So, imagine her surprise when she was elbow deep in biscuit dough and he sauntered in with a box and a small bag in his hands. Her grandma didn't have her back in the least, inviting Roth inside while eyeing the distinctly shaped box he carried.

Without even looking inside, Autumn knew it was a hat from the clothing store/hat shop most of the older, church going, African American women in the area relied on for their first Sunday hats and attire. Imagining Roth walking into the store and perusing the hats brought a reluctant smile to Autumn's face since she knew it would probably be talked about amongst the ladies for a good long while.

Squealing and giggling like a teenager, Grandma Hattie lifted the shimmering pearl colored hat from the box. She immediately went to the mirror in the hallway to try it on, tugging at the stiff organza to arrange it just so to cover one eye. The entire time she talked about how jealous the other church mothers were going to be when they saw it.

The hat was Roth's get out of jail free card. She couldn't be upset when he'd made her grandma so happy. Approaching her at the island, he set the small bag just beyond where she had the dough rolled. Standing next to her, he slid an arm around her waist before pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Evenin', Sugar. I brought you a little somethin'."

Slanting him a glance, Autumn pursed her lips. He was pouring on the country charm. And, it was working. Although she'd never considered receiving gifts to be one of the ways she measured affection, it was nice that he'd bought her something simply because he wanted her to have it. The cherry on top was him being considerate by including her grandmother.

Now, he was relaxed in the corner of the sectional in the family room flipping through the options, patiently waiting for her grandma to choose the movie she wanted to watch.

"Little girl, are you gonna just stand there, or can I have my popcorn?"

"Sorry, Granny. Here you go."

Passing her grandmother the bowl containing the mixture of salted caramel and white cheddar popcorn, Autumn placed the other bowl on the coffee table within Roth's reach. When she went to step away, she suddenly found herself tilting backwards. Landing with a light oomph against Roth's hard body, Autumn shot him a censuring glance.

"Roth!" Her gaze shot to her grandmother, who was staring at the television, eating her popcorn, and studiously ignoring them.

"Don't mind me. You sitting cuddled up next to Child is probably the tamest stuff the two of you get up to."

"Granny!" Autumn's jaw hung in shock.

"What? I'm old, not dead. I was young once. If I told you a quarter of the things me and your grandfather got up to, it would turn your hair white."

Autumn's hands shot to her ears. "La-la-la-la-la. I can't hear you."

Her grandmother's cackling laughter preceded the popcorn she tossed at her.

"I said, if I told you. I'm not actually going to do it. I don't kiss and tell."

Autumn's shoulders slumped in relief. "Thank God."

Her remark garnered her another few kernels of cheesy popcorn being tossed in her direction.

"Granny!"

"Stop being a smartie pants." Laughter coated her grandmother's words and Autumn joined in. She felt Roth's chuckles against her back. "Child, let's watch that one. The ladies said that handsome young man with the pretty eyes was kickin' ass and taking names."

"Yes, ma'am."

Autumn shook her head as Roth dutifully started the recently released movie about a former soldier fighting corrupt cops in a small town. As excited as she'd sounded when she'd made her selection, her grandmother was asleep less than halfway through the movie. By that point, both Autumn and Roth were invested.

Suspending her disbelief, Autumn refrained from pointing out the legal aspects which weren't quite accurate. But, seeing as she practiced corporate law, it wasn't to say she was totally correct. Roth only grunted and grumbled a couple of times about things he disagreed with. Mostly, it was minute details only someone with his specialized training would notice.

As the credits were rolling, they began clearing away the remnants of their movie snacks. With a hand to her shoulder, Autumn gently jostled her grandmother.

"Granny? The movie's over."

"It's over?" With the cutest look of confusion on her face, Autumn's grandma stared at her with sleep fogged eyes.

"Yes, ma'am. It's over. Do you need help getting ready for bed?"

"I'm not a baby, Autumn Marianne. I know how to wash my face and put on a nightgown."

"Yes, ma'am."

Autumn was just relieved to hear she had no plans to attempt to shower or get into a bathtub. In her current state of drowsiness, Autumn worried she'd slip and fall. After she watched her grandmother walk down the hallway and enter her bedroom, Autumn followed the sound of running water into the kitchen.

Roth stood at the sink, washing the bowls and glasses they'd used for their popcorn and drinks. For a moment, she hovered in the doorway watching the play of muscles in his back as he performed the mundane task.

"If you're just gonna stand there ogling me, at least get out some singles."

"Singles?" Autumn stepped closer, not stopping until she could wrap her arms around his waist. "You've got to know I wouldn't wave around anything smaller than a hunny. Not for you."

Roth's glance over his shoulder held a lopsided grin. "A hunny? Where'd you get that from, Sugar?"

"That's not what they say? I have a pocket full of hunnies." Autumn bobbed her head to a beat only she could hear.

Placing the last glass onto the drying rack, Roth used the towel to dry his hands. Turning, he looped both arms around her, holding her close.

"I'm not up on all the current slang, but I think they still call one-hundred-dollar bills, c-notes or Benjamins. I recall a few of the fellas refer to them as Big Head Bens. What I haven't heard a soul call them, is hunnies."

"Maybe you need to get out more." Autumn brushed her fingers along the soft material of the t-shirt covering his impressive chest.

"I get out plenty. And if what I experienced today is any indicator, I've been right to spend most of my time at the ranch."

"What happened today?" Autumn's brow dipped. But before Roth could answer, she rose on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the lips. "Thank you again for my perfume."

"You're welcome, Sugar." Guiding her away from the sink, he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Let's go out on the porch, and I'll tell you about it."

"Okay."

Autumn didn't resist his guiding hand. It was a relatively cool night and her grandma's porch was screened in. So, she wouldn't have to fight off too many mosquitos to enjoy sitting outside.

Once they were settled on the lounging seat, Roth told her about his visit to the shopping center, then running into Russell and Lucy. She wasn't exactly ecstatic to hear about him seeing her former fiancé, but she really couldn't muster up enough give a fuck to care.

Hearing that Lucy thought Russell was up to his cheating ways didn't surprise her. What did Lucy expect considering how the two began their relationship? What was more surprising was that she was still hanging on. Autumn would bet a month's salary Russell's philandering wasn't a new development.

However, when Roth mentioned Lucy's little rant after he stepped out of the fragrance shop, Autumn shot up from her position leaning against his chest.

"What the fuck is wrong with her? Who in their right minds thinks it's okay to do stuff like that?"

Although she allowed Roth to tuck her back into his side while he ran his big, warm, hands up and down her back, Autumn was seething. That bitch!

"I don't know, Sugar. Honestly, I'm not sure I wanna know. But something she said got me thinking."

Tilting her head, Autumn looked up to find him staring at her. Without thought, her fingers splayed on his chest, rubbing in light circles.

"Got you thinking about what? What did she say?"

"She asked why we kept choosing you over her. Since I don't really know her from a cow patty, I'm guessing she's actually talking about her shit stain husband.

I know what happened to make you call off your wedding is a sensitive subject. But her question doesn't make sense considering he married her. Why would she say he kept choosing you over her?"

Averting her eyes, Autumn shrugged and snuggled back into his side. She hoped her non-verbal response was enough for him because she'd been Russell free for a while. She didn't want the toxic bullshit between him and his fake cousin to affect her relationship with Roth.

"Don't do that, Sugar. I'm a quick study, and I've learned your tells. What haven't you told me?"

Normally, the gruff quality in his voice would skate over her skin, making her want to climb him and press her body as close to him as humanly possible. This time, the censure in his tone made her want to burrow beneath his arm to keep from confronting his perceptiveness. Using one thick finger, he lifted her chin until she was forced to look at him.

"What have you been hiding, Sugar?"

"Nothing!" Realizing her immediate response came out much sharper than she intended, Autumn tried again. "I'm not hiding anything."

Roth's honey colored gaze probed hers for a moment before he spoke again. "Let me rephrase. What has been happening that you didn't think was worth mentioning?"

He should've been a fucking lawyer . He'd made it impossible for her to answer any other way but honestly. She didn't appreciate him sussing out the correct method of extracting the information seeing as she didn't consider the incidents worthy of discussion.

"Technically, I haven't seen Russell, in person, since the day I called off the wedding. I cut off all contact with him and any mutual friends that we had. Because fuck them. I felt like they knew that bitch wasn't really his cousin.

Anyway, a few months after I settled into law school, I got a message on social media. Once I realized it was Russell, I blocked him. He didn't have my phone number, because I changed it and only close family and friends had it.

I never entertained any of the messages he sent, except for once. He said he knew where I was, and if I didn't respond, he would come to me."

"Sugar?! Why the fuck didn't you tell someone?" Autumn flinched at the anger and roughness in Roth's voice. But, his hold on her was gentle, in direct contrast to his tone.

"There was nothing to tell, Roth. I handled it. I reminded him of the ass whooping you and Nick gave him. I told him, if he didn't want a repeat performance, he should forget he knew me."

Roth stared at her for a beat, and before he spoke, Autumn heard it coming.

"What else?"