Finding Happiness Read online

  “I like it a lot. Everyone is friendly,” she said and then walked away with the coffee pot.

  Flex couldn’t help but to watch Autumn as she worked, and also how Aldreck kept talking to her when she came back behind the counter in order to engage her in conversation. She was absolutely stunning, and those darn baby-blue eyes drew him in every time she spoke. She smelled good, too, and wore a light, enticing perfume, or maybe body wash. He wasn’t sure, but the thought of body wash had him really trying to look at her body. Unlike Leann who kept a top button undone and showed a bit of cleavage, Autumn did not. She was definitely well endowed, and it was easy to tell. Her waist was narrow, and she had a nice ass. He could tell by the skirt she wore. As she delivered more food, spoke with the patrons while their mom and then their dads one by one came out to say hello, he still kept watching Autumn and was surprised that Hill did, too. In fact as a group of guys started leaving, one pressed his hand to her lower back, and the sight annoyed Flex, especially as she pulled back and the guy stepped closer. He whispered something to her, and seeing how short she was compared to the big cowboy, he knew she was intimidated.

  “She needs looking after for sure,” Hill said to Aldreck.

  “I’ve been here almost an hour now, and I can’t keep up with how many men hit on her.”

  “I think that one just passed her his number,” Hill said, and Aldreck watched as she came back behind the counter, tossed something in the garbage, and then rubbed her side.

  When she walked back their way Aldreck must have noticed because he stopped her, leaned forward, and whispered, “Your ribs hurting?”

  Her eyes went wide. She looked at Hill and Flex and then exhaled. She didn’t answer, and instead she walked away.

  “Jesus, I think your question pissed her off,” Hill said.

  “See what I mean?” Aldreck asked.

  “Just leave her be. If she don’t want looking after, then so be it,” Flex said and took a sip from his coffee but kept eyes on Autumn as Leeann whispered something to her. “Not so easy to do, and you know it,” Aldreck said. The door chimed again, and as Flex turned he saw Manderine enter in the state trooper uniform. He looked right at them, but as Autumn exited the kitchen with some plates in hand he stared at her and eyed her over. “Jesus, we’re fucked,” Hill whispered.

  Manderine gave her a nod.

  “You can sit where ya like,” she said as she placed the plates of food down by the table near the doorway.

  “That’s Manderine Forester, brother number four,” Mrs. Ellis said and winked.

  Autumn wiped her hands on her apron.

  “Nice to meet you, Autumn. I’m Manderine.” He reached his hand out for her to shake.

  She didn’t look him in the eyes but instead quickly pulled her hand back. “I think there’s another chair up there with your brothers.” She walked back toward the kitchen. Flex saw Manderine’s eyes on her ass as she made her way back to the kitchen. He said hello to his brothers.

  “What’s going on?” Flex asked.

  “Got some updated information on Candice’s brother. He was seen in Central Valley behind the storefronts there early this morning. We’re thinking he’s somewhere around the two towns.”

  “Shit,” Aldreck said and glanced toward where Candice was working.

  “What’s this all about?” Hill asked, and Flex listened as they explained about Candice’s brother.

  “We need to spread word to everyone to be careful and take extra precautions. I wouldn’t think he would head back this way, but who knows what he’s thinking,” Manderine said, and then the sheriff came into the place next.

  “My God, I think the Forester men have their eyes on you, Autumn,” Leeann said to her as they got ready to leave for the day. The evening crew was already in for early bird specials and the dinner crowd.

  “What? No, why would you say that?” she asked as they said good-bye and then headed out to the sidewalk.

  “They were all here today, and all of them had their eyes on you constantly. Aldreck reprimanded those guys that were being fresh, and Flex looked at a few of the guys with daggers in his eyes. Those four men are super sexy, and complete eye candy. I’ve seen women flirt with them, and they just ignore them.”

  “Well, I’m not interested. I’m just trying to work and make some money.”

  “You’re scared of them, huh?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I could tell. I mean they are big men, their hands alone are super huge, but they were soldiers, all of them, and they’re Molly’s sons. They come from a good family, and they are well respected.”

  “Okay, Mrs. Ellis,” Autumn said to her.

  “Mrs. Ellis?” Leeann asked and squinted.

  “Playing matchmaker like the old-timers in the café today. A bunch of them kept asking me what I thought of the Forester men, and how good of men they were and other stuff.”

  Leeann chuckled. “Well, there ya go. It’s a done deal.”

  “What’s a done deal?”

  “Well, if the Forester men don’t make a move or if they do and you decline, then this whole town will add their two cents and bring you together. It’s obvious everyone thinks all of you would make a great match.”

  “Oh, brother, on that note, I’m outta here,” she said, and Leeann laughed.

  “Hey, Friday night, Harper’s, are you ready to venture out a bit?”

  “I don’t think so. I get hit on enough at the café.”

  “Honey, the guys are hot though, and you could have your pick, although I think the Forester brothers will be jealous as damn hell.”

  “Cool it. I’m not interested.”

  “Well then maybe after the market and vendors fair Saturday in the parking lot, you’ll let me buy you a drink and meet some other women our ages. You need to venture out and make other friends. I have some cool ones,” she said.

  “We’ll see.”

  “Great. See you tomorrow.”

  As she got into her car and started the ignition, she saw the tire light was still on. “Shit, I should have called Shay or someone when I was at the diner,” she said aloud and then thought about what had distracted her since the morning. First seeing Aldreck on her way in, then Candice and her situation and how empathetic Aldreck was, then all the Forester brothers arriving and watching her while she got hit on. Those men were so big they were beyond intimidating. And good-looking? Jesus, she was having palpations. She had to remind herself that she didn’t want another relationship. That she was fearful after being abused, and also embarrassed that it was obvious all four men knew about her situation and about her broken ribs.

  As she drove out of town and then toward the developments before getting to the ranch, she heard the tire pop and gripped the steering wheel before she wound up in the ditch on the side of the road. Her heart hammered inside of her chest. She looked around her. She didn’t know any of the people who lived in the houses way up the dirt driveways. In fact, she could barely see the roof of one up ahead. She wasn’t that far from Bridget’s place. She could walk. That’s when she thought about the Forester men. “What the hell?” She was shocked and then angry. “I don’t need looking after. Jesus, this is going to suck.” She got out of the car and popped the trunk. She moved some things out of the way and grabbed the jack but also the tire iron. Despite how nice of a town she knew Cherry Hill was, it was very quiet, and especially out here on the side road all alone. At least it wasn’t dark out. Just as she started to unscrew the lug nuts, she heard a car approaching and coming pretty fast. When she looked up and saw the state police car, she gulped. It came to an abrupt stop, and Manderine got out.

  “What in God’s name are you doing?” he yelled at her, and she nearly fell over.

  “What does it look like?”

  “Jesus.” He looked around them. “Get up, come here.” He grabbed her upper arm. He spoke into his radio. “On Burrens, got a woman with a flat on the side of the road. Handling
this.”

  She pulled her arm free. “What are you doing? What do you want?” she asked him, and fear gripped her insides. She couldn’t help her reaction. He was abrupt, rough, and the tears spilled from her eyes.

  “Fuck.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. Jesus, Autumn, I’m sorry. A call came over the radio ten minutes ago about a breakin right up that way. We’ve been driving around and trying to find the guy.” He swallowed as he pulled back and cupped her cheeks. He was staring down into her eyes. “I see you out here all alone, and holy shit, it scared me, baby. Jesus, don’t cry. Don’t be afraid of me. I wouldn’t hurt you.” He brushed the tears away.

  She was still shaking, but she understood. He was concerned, and then it hit her. “Candice’s brother?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh God. Well, at least she’s at the shelter and nowhere near her place,” she added.

  He stared down into her blue eyes. “You’re so beautiful, and your eyes, they just stand out so much.” He stroked her jaw.

  Her lips parted, and she started pulling back. “I should hurry up and fix this.”

  “I’ll help you, and then follow you to the house.”

  “Is that really necessary?”

  “Hell yeah, and this car needs to be checked over thoroughly. You can’t be breaking down anyplace and all alone. Anything could go wrong,” he said and then took the tire iron from her hands and began to help her change the tire.

  His cell phone rang, and he answered it. “Yeah, it’s Autumn and her tire I’m changing. … I know. … Yeah of course. … You want to talk to her, she’s right here. We’re almost done, and then I’ll follow her home.” He looked at her. “Shay on the phone.”

  She cringed and finished up the tire. “Hi, Shay. … Yes, I’m fine, and I would have been able to change the tire myself but—”

  She stopped talking, and then she apologized. “I know. I forgot the cell phone you gave me. I’m not used to having it, and when the tire light came on this morning, I thought I had more time.” She listened and then said thank you and handed the phone back to Manderine. He put it on his hip as he stood up and placed the flat tire into the trunk of the car.

  “The tire light came on this morning and you didn’t think to tell anyone? Not Aldreck, my brothers, hell, our fathers?” he asked.

  She wrung her hands together and looked away. “I was too caught up in what happened to Candice this morning, and then hearing about her brother, and of course you and your brothers all showed up and were saying I need looking after and it annoyed me. Then the old-timers are trying to play matchmaker, and then several men asked me out today at work and were handing me numbers, and I was so frustrated and annoyed and just wanted to get home and then the tire happened.” She was rambling.

  He grabbed her hand as he leaned against the side of her car. “Men were asking you out and giving you their numbers today?” he asked, feeling jealous, and it shocked him. She looked up at him with those baby-blue eyes, that platinum-blonde hair coming out of her ponytail making her look sexy as sin, and of course being so feminine and petite he couldn’t help himself. He pulled her between his legs, and she gasped.

  He wrapped one arm around her waist, and the other he used to cup her cheek and chin as she tilted all the way back to lock gazes with him.

  “Aldreck is always right,” he whispered and then pressed his lips to hers. She tightened up, but then he remembered her broken ribs, could feel the bandages beneath her blouse, and eased up a little and kissed her gingerly.

  When he softly released her lips and kissed her jaw, and her cheek, she exhaled. “Why?” she asked.

  He stroked her jaw, let his hand slide a little lower on her back and ass. She had one hell of a body on her, and he felt very possessive and protective. “The better question to ask is, why the hell not?” He stared down into her eyes and was surprised by the tears that filled them. He squinted at her.

  “You aren’t scared of me, are you?” he asked. She pulled back, and he didn’t want to frighten her so he released her.

  “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “But I wanted to, and you had to have felt the attraction that’s between us. Between all of us and you.” Her eyes widened, and she shook her head and backstepped. He reached for her hand and stood up straighter. “We’ll take things slow. Don’t panic. This was bound to happen.”

  “No, I don’t want this. I don’t want to be scared, intimidated, or hurt. I said no to every man for a reason. The answer is no, Manderine. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

  Chapter 4

  “You’re being awfully quiet. Are you afraid the ribs aren’t healed yet?” Bridget asked Autumn as they sat in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. Doc Shelton already knew her situation and would take the necessary precautions.

  Autumn looked up at Bridget. “How did you know that Shay, Ken, and Brady could be trusted? That you could let them into your heart after that bad relationship you had?” Autumn asked her.

  Bridget looked away and raised her eyebrows then exhaled before turning back to look at her. “I didn’t know shit,” she said and chuckled.

  Autumn squinted. “What?”

  “Honey, I was so scared to let anyone close to me, and every time I looked at them it was a battle between the attraction I felt for each of them and the fears of their capabilities being the men they were. Their sizes, their professionalism, their attitudes,” she added with a little more emphasis.

  “So you would look at, let’s say, their hands, and think how big they were and how much damage they could do?”

  Bridget gulped and nodded her head. “It took time, and patience and persistence on their part, to prove to me they were trustworthy and that they would never hurt me. I won’t lie to you though. I took my time, and I slowly let the walls down a little at a time. The attraction, the connection was so powerful though, that soon I forgot about the fears of the past, and I focused on seeing what was right in front of me. I spent time with each of them and time with them together.” Autumn nodded, and looked away.

  “The Forester brothers, huh?” Bridget asked, and Autumn looked at her.

  “They’re persistent.”

  “They’re older, more mature, and they go after what they want.”

  “Exactly. I don’t want another relationship.”

  “You don’t want another abusive relationship.”

  “Exactly.”

  “And you think they could be abusive?”

  “I fear they could be. They’re very big men. They have commanding tones of voices and demeanors. The sight of them alone makes people step to the side. There’s a presence about them.”

  “Sounds pretty sexy to me.”

  “Under normal circumstances I would say the same thing, however, those attributes weaken me, and my ability to be strong and independent.”

  “What?” Bridget asked, feeling confused.

  Autumn exhaled and then shifted in her seat. “Okay, so yes, a big, strong muscular, sexy man would arouse most women. Even a bit of dominance, possessiveness, yes, but when, as a woman, is it too much? When does it become servant instead of partner?”