“I’d already let you walk away,” I say, cupping her face in my hands. “When she cried on the plane before takeoff, I realized I couldn’t afford to let anyone do that.”
“You’re starting to scare me.” She smiles. “I’m not sure I appreciate seeing so much of your sentimental side.”
“It’ll be gone by the time we get home,” I say. “We have lots of lost time to make up for.”
“Conversations?”
“If you’d like to talk while I’m fucking you, that’s your choice.”
I kiss her like I’ve been starving for it, like this morning—this life—is something I’ll do everything to protect.
And maybe it is.
“You won’t have the energy for it, though…”
End of Episode 14.1
Cut to the Chase
EPISODE 15
Autumn
Several Months Later
Living at the estate is the true fresh start I was hoping for. I’m not working for Ryder or anyone. I’m flitting between passions—music, luthier work solely for our own instruments, and writing—and for the first time in a long while, I have the freedom to figure out what comes next.
I spend countless hours with Adeline, nights with Ryder, and I fly home every other weekend to see my parents—to keep mending the threads I left unraveled.
I was hoping to spend tonight with Adeline, so I could show her how to finally fix a string she keeps breaking, but when I arrived home from the store, there was a note waiting for me.
We need to talk.
—Ryder
On the back of it, he’d left the address and the time.
8 o’clock. Tonight.
The candlelight flickerslow against the dark stone walls of a private sushi restaurant Ryder owns on the pier. We’re the only ones here—plates cleared, music low, champagne poured.
He hasn’t said a word since we were seated. He’s simply stared at me between sips of his drink, occasionally signaling to the waiter to refill his glass.
I mentally run through the list of things this could be about. No birthdays or holidays come to mind, and I doubt he’d celebrate Adeline’s recent invitation to Seattle’s Symphony without her being with us.
“Can you say something?” I say finally. “You’re starting to scare me.”
“Are you happy?”
“At this moment, no.” I smile. “I will be if you tell me everything is okay.”
“Everything?” He returns my smile, sending butterflies fluttering in my chest with ease. “Business-wise, I’m about four hundred thousand short on a small deal, and two people are trying to get out of paying me what they owe me. Oh, and the feds are still trying to make something stick on me.”
“You could always just turn yourself in and admit to everything you’ve ever done,” I say. “Saves you the time of worrying.”
“I’m not worried at all.” He lets out a low laugh, then reaches for my hand atop the table, slowly strumming his fingers over my skin.
“Tell me the truth, Autumn,” he says. “Are you happy?”
