Page 95 of Chains
A tingle shivered down her spine at the thought of holding him tight as the wind rushed around. “I can’t wait,” she whispered, leaning against him.
Thor’s barking broke through the sexual haze enveloping her, and she took out the house keys and tugged Chains toward the front door.
Minutes later, they were driving out of Alina. They passed miles of sand and sagebrush before turning onto a small road that took them into a forest of trees and lush vegetation. The contrast in the landscape was breathtaking.
“It’s gorgeous,” Autumn said and reached her hand across the seat for his.
Chains glanced over at her. “This is one of my go-to places. It’s not that far from town, but feels miles away—like I’m the only one left in the world. When life sucks sometimes, this canyon grounds me.”
“I bet it’s wonderful to ride around the small roads on your motorcycle.”
“It is. We’re gonna do that for sure. I’ve been sort of preoccupied lately”—he drew her hand to his lips and nipped it, then gave it a kiss—“and Thor’s been left at the club without me.”
“Feeling guilty?” She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I guess.” Chains brushed a kiss across her forehead.
“I feel like that too with Cinder when I have to work several long days in a row. I’ve thought about getting another cat so they could keep each other company, but I fear Cinder would be pissed for life about it.” She laughed.
“I can see that happening—she’s been number one for a long time.”
Chains pulled the car off the road, and the three of them bounced over rough terrain for what seemed like miles to Autumn. Then the car stopped and he switched off the ignition.
“You okay?” he asked.
She moved her jaw left and right a few times. “Still working okay.”
He tugged Autumn to him and kissed her deeply. “You make me laugh and I like that, woman.”
Thor began barking and scratching at the door, and both Autumn and Chains turned around and smiled at the Siberian. Chains jumped out of the car and opened the back door, and Thor dashed out, running into the thicket of trees.
Chains walked around to Autumn’s side, helped her out of the car, then grabbed the wicker basket.
“It’s much cooler up here than in town. I bet it’s a great relief in July and August when it’s sweltering in Alina.”
“It is.”
They walked hand in hand through the wooded forest replete with cottonwoods and ponderosa pines. The wind sighed through the pine needles, carrying a sweet and earthy fragrance. Dried leaves and fallen pine cones crunched under their footsteps, and just ahead, through the shallow veil of trees, Autumn saw the lake. Thor was already at its shore, standing still with his nose up in the air.
“How beautiful,” she said as they walked out of the forest. “I can’t believe I’ve never come here before.”
Chains stopped and tossed a blanket down on the ground, then placed the wicker basket on top of it. He whistled and Thor rushed over. Chains took out a Ziplock bag from a pocket in his leather jacket and fished out a Milk-Bone. Thor’s blue eyes sparkled as he looked intently at his owner.
Warmth spread through Autumn as she watched the two of them interact, and when Chains bent down and hugged Thor close, her heart melted.
Standing up, he said, “Let’s take a walk first. It’s about a couple of miles or so around.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Chains grabbed her hand and tucked it into his, and Thor padded ahead.
Rays of lights danced delicately across the water that mirrored the sky above: cornflower blue with wisps of clouds. Pine trees cast shadows across the shoreline as rippled water gently lapped it. The surrounding area was a kaleidoscope of color: burnt orange, mossy green, flaming red, and harvest gold. A light breeze undulated the surface of the lake and blew Autumn’s wispy bangs from her forehead.
The stillness of the area, the warmth of her hand in Chains’s, the beautiful surroundings, and Thor’s excitement in spending time with them—all made up a perfect day for Autumn. Since she’d arrived in Alina, Autumn had been on what seemed like a hamster wheel: working long hours, usually on call during weekends, and putting most of her energy in building up her business.Rinse and repeat. Day after day.And when Bret came into her life, any energy she had left went to him… then the wedding planning for four long months.
She glanced at Chains, who looked pensive as he stared at the water. Since meeting him, her world had turned upside down but in a good way. The short time they’d spent with each other were the best times she’d ever had with any man. Part of her was thrilled by it, but another part was terrified because it seemed like everything was going too fast.
Autumn remembered the story her dad had told her of how her parents had met at a party while they were college, that when he’d seen her mom across the room, he knew he’d love her forever. Yeah… Autumn had thought it sounded hokey as hell and had even questioned the veracity of it until her mother had told her something very similar about the first time she’d seen Autumn’s father. Her mom was a big believer in fate and destiny, but Autumn had always been more practical with that kind of thing than her parents.
