Finding Happiness Read online

“Hmm, I guess when that man crosses the line and makes you feel bad, dirty, or disrespected, and obviously the moment he strikes you or uses force or threats to get you to comply.”

  “At that point it’s too late. Then the fight is against yourself. Stay and be a punching bag, a possession, or run and be a fighter, a survivor?”

  “You are a survivor. You fought, got out, and ran like I did.”

  “This is different.”

  “How?”

  “Times that fear, the abuse, disrespect, by four. Add in their abilities, and you know the result is?” Autumn asked with tears in her eyes. She shook her head.

  “Hey, there’s no rush to get involved with anyone. There also isn’t any kind of rule that says you can’t be friends first. Just because they’re a lot older than you, and set in their ways doesn’t mean—”

  “Manderine kissed me,” she whispered. Bridget covered her mouth with her hand, and her eyes were wide. She looked around them, uncovered her mouth, and whispered back.

  “What? When? Oh shit, wait, the flat tire yesterday. No wonder you’re so upset and feeling confused.”

  “So the friends thing isn’t going to fly.”

  “Well, how did you feel when he kissed you?” Autumn pursed her lips and exhaled through her nose, giving Bridget a sideways look.

  “That good huh?” she asked and smiled.

  “I had nightmares last night. That’s really why I was so tired this morning.”

  “Aw, honey, it’s natural to think about Connor and what he did to you and to compare it to these men, to any men you meet and are attracted to.”

  “Is it? I’m not sure.”

  “Autumn. Doctor Shelton is ready to see you now.” The nurse interrupted.

  Bridget got up with her, and they headed into the examination room.

  “So the good news is, you don’t need to keep them wrapped. They’re healing very well from what the X-rays show,” Doc Shelton told her. He was very nice, and also young and good-looking, too.

  “That is good news. So I can start working out and things.”

  “I would highly recommend it. There’s no need to remain restricted from any activity.”

  “Great. Thank you so much, and it was nice meeting you.”

  “Nice meeting you, too.”

  She shook his hand. As Bridget and she headed out of the doctor’s office, Shay was there, and he was talking with Hill and Flex.

  “Hey, how did it go? What did Doc say?” Shay asked as he pulled Bridget into his arms and kissed her cheek.

  Bridget smiled as Hill and Flex came closer to Autumn. She glanced at them and then at Shay. “They’re all healed up. No more bandage,” she told him.

  “Fantastic,” Shay said.

  “Great news Autumn,” Hill said to her as he looked her over.

  “Doc also said she can resume all regular activities, so maybe join the gym or dojo?” Bridget said.

  “Not really my thing,” Autumn added.

  “You should learn some forms of self-defense. You have no training at all, and it would be smart. Bridget knows some things and practices regularly,” Shay said to her.

  She looked toward the dojo and then away from them. “Not yet.” She felt the hand on her hip and turned to the left, then way up at Hill. Those bold blue eyes, the crew cut dirty blond hair, and fierce expression made her freeze in place.

  “You need to retrain your mind, your way of thinking,” he told her.

  “Oh shoot, I have to get back to the house to finish off that cake and then deliver it,” Bridget said aloud.

  “I need to get back to work, too,” Shay said and then shook the men’s hands.

  “I’ll go with you, Bridget, if you need help.”

  “No, no, don’t be silly. You said you had a few errands to run and that you wanted to go by the vendor event at Harper’s. Just give me a call later. You have the cell, right?” she asked, and Autumn nodded.

  “Okay, later.” Bridget hurried off, and so did Shay.

  “What errands do you need to run?” Hill asked her, but Flex was quiet as he looked at her but took position on her other side. She felt like a shrimp between them.

  “Just a few things, and maybe the boutique for something to wear tonight.”

  “What’s tonight?” Hill asked.

  “A bunch of people are going to Harper’s, and there’s going to be a live band. I haven’t been there yet, and Leeann has been begging me to go and meet some of her friends.” She felt Hill’s hand on her waist. The warmth of it, the thickness and size, and she turned toward him as they got to the corner of the street and needed to cross.

  “We’re going there tonight, too. Maybe we can buy you a drink and we can talk some more?” Hill asked and then reached out and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and knuckles.

  “Uhm, I don’t know. I—”

  “Sweetie, please don’t look so scared of us.”

  “I am though,” she said without thinking. Then she felt Flex’s body press up against her back, and his palm slid along her ribs and belly right underneath her blouse, against her skin. She closed her eyes, felt the powerful attraction.

  “Sweet Jesus, you feel it. You’re just scared,” Hill said, watching her, seeing her reaction.

  Her lips parted, and she locked gazes with Flex. “I can’t. I’m panicking right now like this.” Flex moved his palm and slid it back and forth against her skin on her belly. He found her belly ring and then squeezed her hip bone on the other side with his arms still around her waist. The man could pick her up and throw her like a football. Well, at least it felt that way.

  “The only way to get to know us, and to feel comfortable with us, is by spending time together. Meet us there. Let us buy you a drink, talk a bit. You can still have time with friends,” Flex said to her and then kissed her neck. He inhaled against her skin, and Hill stepped closer, clutched her chin, and gave her a wink.

  “Nice and slow,” he said then pressed his lips to hers. It was quick, but effective, leaving her yearning for more and wondering how she wound up in this situation at all.

  Aldreck pulled into the parking lot by the vendor event and right alongside his brother’s pickup truck. He was shocked to see Autumn on the tailgate sitting and drinking lemonade with Flex right beside her, his arm resting on the top piece next to her and his hand on her crossed legs. His brother Hill sat beside him, and a few guys and some women were there, too, all talking and hanging out. All eyes went to him as he stepped out of the patrol car and made his way over, first greeting the guys and their friends, then his brothers and of course Autumn, who looked him over and made him feel it everywhere. “Having fun?” he asked and reached toward her to kiss her hello and was shocked when she leaned toward him. However, she was going to give him her cheek, but he cupped her neck and head and brought his lips to hers and kissed her. When he pulled back slowly, her face went flush and she lowered her eyes. He gave his brother Hill a wink but caressed her crossed thighs and slid his palm to her hip. She looked so feminine and sexy sitting in the back of the big truck. He stroked under her shirt against her ribs. “How are your ribs?” he asked, and she covered his hand with hers.

  “All good. I’m fine, Aldreck,” she whispered and her voice cracked. It did him in.

  “You having fun with my brothers?” he asked and kept his hand on her knee where her legs were crossed.

  “We’re going to meet back here tonight. A lot of people will be here, and a band is playing,” Hill told him, but Hill’s eyes were on Autumn as he had his arm around her back, caressing her. She swallowed hard, as if being touched by the three of them was overwhelming. All that was missing here was Manderine.

  “Did you let Manderine know the plans?” Aldreck asked.

  “Not yet,” Flex said.

  “Well, I’ll call him on the way back to the department. I’m going to wrap things up then head home to shower.” He squeezed her knee. “I’m real happy you’ll be spending some more ti
me with us, Autumn.”

  “Other people will be around, too. I promised Leeann I would meet her friends.”

  “It’s good to make new friends and get to know everyone around town,” he said, trying not to say what went through his head. Which was how protective he felt and jealous when other men looked at her. They were going to have to be smart. She was young, shy, and had been hurt before. They were older, more experienced.

  “Hey, Autumn, we’ll see you tonight, right?” one of the girls, Barb, said to her as the other people began to get ready to leave.

  “Yes, definitely.”

  “Great. Eight o’clock okay?”

  “Okay, bye,” she said and waved. She then looked around.

  “I wonder where Leeann went. She was going to give me a ride back.”

  “We got you, baby,” Hill said, and she looked nervous.

  “We should get going. Aldreck gripped her hips and lifted her up and let her body slide along his. She was light, sexy, and her blouse pulled open a little, revealing a deep cleavage, indicating she was well endowed. He stroked her cheek with his thumb, while using his other hand to caress along her hip and her ass. He tilted her chin up toward him.

  “Can’t wait to spend some time with you tonight.” He slowly lowered his mouth to hers, and when she didn’t pull away he felt another notch of relief. He released her lips and gave her a wink. “See you later.”

  “Bye,” she said and stared at him with those sexy blue eyes of hers.

  He smiled at his brothers then got into the patrol car and left, calling Manderine on the way.

  Flex lifted Autumn up to help her get into the truck. Not that she couldn’t do it herself, but rather he used it as an excuse to touch her, to have her close. As she faced him and the passenger door, he pressed between her legs. She gripped his shoulders, and he could feel the heat of her pussy beneath the jeans against his chest. At this level she was looking a little down toward him. Just slightly.

  “I enjoyed spending the day with you, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with you tonight,” he said and then pressed closer. Her hands slid along his shoulders as his lips pressed against hers. He pulled her closer by her slender waist and round ass, letting his palms move underneath. Her legs pressed against his ribs as he deepened the kiss. A very protective feeling consumed him, as he absorbed her body, how feminine and sexy she was and how much bigger he was to her. She moaned into his mouth, and when he released her lips and trailed his mouth along her neck, she hugged him tight. “I got you, baby. In these arms you’re protected and safe always,” he said and kissed her head as he squeezed her right back.

  “God, it felt so good to kiss her, to feel her like that,” Flex said to Hill on their way back to their house after they dropped Autumn home at her place.

  “You think she’s safe out there in the apartment above the garage? It’s a good distance from the house and Shay and them,” Hill asked.

  “I think it’s fine, plus those guys will know if anyone approaches the house.

  “This is fucking insane, man,” Hill said to him.

  “What?”

  “Feeling so much for a woman. We were the ones who were resistant and not even wanting to entertain anything.”

  “That kind of changed laying eyes on her. She’s so damn beautiful, and her eyes, Jesus, her fucking eyes do me in,” Flex said and Hill chuckled. “So I’m not the only one feeling out of control, possessive, and protective of her?”

  “Hell no. Right now with her not here, I’d like nothing more than to skip this courting stuff, take her to bed, make love to her, and move her into our place.” Hill laughed.

  “That’s insane.”

  “Tell me about it. I’m fucking forty years old. She’s twenty-four. How the fuck can I take my time?”

  “We have to. There are four of us, and we’re big men. Time will be key.”

  “You didn’t feel her ass, or have her breasts push up against your chest like I just did.” Hill chuckled. “For a petite woman she sure is filled out nicely. I’m thinking more than a handful. God, I don’t want other men looking at her tonight.”

  “We already started staking a claim. We’ll do it thoroughly tonight, and all the guys will back off.”

  “I sure as shit hope so.”

  At first Autumn was pretty nervous. Leeann picked her up at the house with Candice and Isla, another friend. They were nice women, very pretty too with great bodies. They didn’t dress slutty at all, and she liked that. Autumn had picked up a really nice dress that clung tight to her body, showing off her curves and her tiny waist. The dress buttoned down the front, making it look sexy, and she only left a couple of buttons undone, revealing just a little bit of cleavage. It was funny how she picked out the dress and thought about wanting to impress the Forester brothers despite her fears. It was sleeveless, too, and she wore a pair of cowgirl boots Leeann had helped her pick out, telling her if she was going to live in Texas then she needed a good pair to wear. Autumn fell in love with several, however having the good taste she apparently had would put a dent in her savings if she wasn’t careful. She went with a conservative pair of light brown that would go with a lot of things, including the dress. It fell a bit above her knees, the buttons adding to the sexiness just so. She accented the top with a Y chain that was close to her neck, and the piece dangled between her breasts, right above the cleavage. Again, Leeann had suggested a sexier bra that was lace and would show just slightly, making her look sweet, not slutty. She had to laugh. It was different to have a girlfriend. A person to laugh with, and go shopping with. Connor didn’t allow her to be close to anyone but him. As she thought about that she felt uneasy, and started questioning why she was here and pushing to be normal when she didn’t quite feel normal. But then they were walking inside, meeting more friends and listening to the cool band playing. There was nothing like live country music, and a rowdy bar of fun and laughter.

  She was looking around for the Forester men when she felt a hand on her hip.

  “My God, this is my lucky night. It’s the sexy little waitress from the café,” Paul said, and she pushed his arm off her waist.

  “Leave her alone, Paul,” Leeann said to him and then took Autumn’s hand and brought her closer to the bar, but Paul and his buddies followed.

  As they ordered drinks Paul was trying to talk to her. “Come on, sugar. Let’s talk. You’ll see I’m a pretty nice guy.”

  She felt his hand on her hip, and she grabbed it and pushed it off of her. “Leave me alone. I’m not interested.”

  “Yeah, Paul, she isn’t interested.”

  “No can do. You are one sexy little thing.” He slid his arm around her waist, and she reacted. She elbowed him in the stomach, but that wasn’t quite what got him to step away.

  It was Manderine, who grabbed him by his collar and tossed him backward and onto his ass. “I wouldn’t get up, son, if I were you,” he said in a deep hard tone. Paul’s buddies helped him as some bouncers came over. But then Aldreck looked fuming mad, probably seeing it was Paul from the café that had went after her, and he walked with the bouncers. Hill and Flex were coming toward her, concerned, but then Manderine pulled her into his arms, slid his hand to her ass, and kept her close. “You okay, sweetie?” he whispered in her ear.

  She held on to him tight, tried to calm her breathing as he caressed her back and her ass. She felt safe and secure in his embrace. “I’ll be back in a little bit,” Leeann said and then Autumn looked up at Manderine. He kept one foot on the footrest under the bar and one arm around her waist, his hand over her ass possessively, and she didn’t mind at all.