He should have known it was too easy. Monica had never taken no for an answer when they’d been together, so what made him think this time would be any different? Had Autumn not been in his lap, coming down from the high of her orgasm, his fingers still buried deep in her hot, silky sheath, she wouldn’t have felt his cell vibrating against her ass, and he could have ignored it. She tensed in his arms, but he refused to stop kissing her. She tasted so incredible, felt so perfect in his arms…

When she turned her head, breaking contact with his mouth, he didn’t miss a beat, moving down to the slender curve of her neck. Had she been about to say something, and he suspected she had, her protest was lost when he began sucking that sensitive spot below her ear. But after about the fourth consecutive call, his diversion tactics failed. Autumn pulled back and reached between her legs, taking hold of his wrist and removing his hand.

“Balen, what’s going on? If you have someplace else you need to be, just tell me.”

“Believe me, there’s no other place I’d rather be. Except maybe inside you.” He moved in to kiss her again, but she stopped him by planting her palm against his chest.

“Maybe it’s none of my business, but I want you to know you can talk to me. Is there anything I can do to help? Obviously, something is going on.”

Balen exhaled a sigh, and for a moment she thought he might actually confide in her, but that hope was dashed when he said, “Autumn, I really like you. But if I start subjecting you to the drama in my life, this”—he gestured between them— “changes. You’re on vacation. We’re having fun. Do you see any point in complicating things?”

He held his breath, waiting for her response, hoping she would disagree while a part of him hoped she wouldn’t. Because if he was being honest, at some point, this had started to become more than just fun for him. And the truth about who he was and the mistakes he’d made lay between them like a widening chasm. The more he got to know Autumn, the more certain he was that when she discovered he’d deceived her, she’d likely leave him. And, being the selfish asshole that he was, Balen wasn’t ready for it to end. Yet, how could he move forward with this lie between them? What had begun as harmless didn’t feel that way anymore.

And if, by some miracle, Autumn did feel something more for him, Balen didn’t trust it was strong enough to bear the truth. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. But he needed to know if she felt this too so he could stop tormenting himself with what ifs. This was already getting complicated, and if either one of them believed it wasn’t then they were lying to themselves.

“No, I guess not,” she replied softly.

Was that disappointment he heard in her voice? It was sure as hell knotting inside his chest. He wanted to call her a coward for hiding behind her past, for letting it control her future, but then he’d be a hypocrite because wasn’t he doing the same damn thing? At least now he had his answer. Issue solved, right? If Autumn only wanted a fun time, then that was exactly what he’d give her.

“Let’s try to enjoy the rest of the evening, huh? I don’t know about you, but I could sure use another glass of wine.” Balen slid her off his lap and stood. Autumn’s delicately arched brows were drawn tight. She looked like she wanted to say something more, but it was just as well she didn’t. What could either of them say at that point? They both knew this thing between them was ending soon.

He returned a few minutes later with a glass in each hand. She gratefully accepted it, seeming to willingly ignore the tension of the last few minutes.

“This sunset is spectacular,” she commented, taking a sip and focusing her attention on the horizon. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of watching the sun disappear into the water.”

“It is a beautiful sight,” he agreed, but Balen wasn’t watching the skyline. A hundred sunsets could come and go and none of them would come close to Autumn’s beauty.

“I’ve never been on a catamaran.”

“I don’t suppose they have a lot of them in Montana, huh?”

She laughed. “No, they don’t.”

He scooted closer to her and slipped his arm around her shoulders. She relaxed against his side and he couldn’t resist pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “You like living there?”

“I do. The mountains are beautiful. My family is there. My friends. Summer…”

“Your ex?”

“Yeah, him too. Two out of three ain’t bad, right?”

He chuckled. “S’pose not. You have any brothers or sisters?” he asked, realizing how little he knew about her when it came to the common stuff, and wishing he knew more.

“It’s just me. Summer has always been like a sister to me, though. What about you? Is Connor your only sibling?”

“Yeah.”

“What about your parents?”

Grief washed over him like a crashing wave. Even after all those years, the pain was never far from the surface. “They passed away five years ago—car accident.”

“I’m sorry.” She turned to look at him, compassion glittering in her eyes.

“Thanks. It hasn’t been easy, but what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, right?”

“That’s what they say. But I’ve gotta confess, after what I’ve been through, I don’t feel any stronger for it. In fact, I’ve never felt less in control of my life. I think that’s why Summer did this, planning a vacation with all these activities she knew I’d never do on my own. I think this time away was supposed to be more of an Autumn Harris makeover.”

“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You certainly have no trouble busting my balls.”

She laughed and nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.

“But, seriously, I think you’re selling yourself short. Maybe all of us could use a makeover now and again. You’re not the only one who needs a fresh start.”

She turned to look at him. The question was in her eyes but it never made it to her lips, and that was just as well because he wasn’t about to elaborate.

“Well, it’s working. I’m definitely not the same person who stepped off that plane five days ago.”

No. No she wasn’t. If she could only see herself through his eyes. The rigid, snarky redhead truly was a sweet, passionate woman who just needed to learn how to trust again. Unfortunately, that trust had been misplaced, and it was eating at his conscience. Had he known of her fragility at the time, Balen might have thought twice about deceiving her. Then again, maybe he wouldn’t have. How could he have known this would turn into something it was never meant to be?

“I certainly never thought I’d be learning to swim, that’s for sure. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for that.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Autumn. It’s been my pleasure. Seriously.” He gave her a wicked grin.

Autumn laughed, the beautiful sound a little louder and bit more carefree than usual. The wine was starting to get to her. “You’re insatiable, you know that?”

“Sweetheart, I’m afraid when it comes to you, that may be true.”

* * *

They both stumbled through the front door, erupting in laughter when they got stuck trying to fit through at the same time. Autumn broke free first, her momentum sending her flailing forward. Balen snagged her wrist, catching her before she fell, and sling-shotting her back against him. She slammed into his chest, letting out a little oomph upon impact.

It was a good thing Balen had walked to the catamaran, because after a two-hour dinner cruise with an open bar, neither one of them was fit for driving anywhere. She hadn’t meant to drink so much, but that was the thing with her and wine—sometimes it snuck up and bit her in the ass.

“You okay?”

He slipped his arms around her waist, seeming in no hurry to let her go. Not that she was complaining. Autumn loved the feeling of being in his arms, crushed up against his rock-hard body. His strength and virility was intoxicating—even without five glasses of wine. Autumn’s arms twined around his neck, and she stretched to her tiptoes, not quite reaching his lips that were curled in that sexy grin she loved.

“I’m good.” But I could be a lot better…

Instead of accepting her offering and kissing her mouth she’d tipped up to him, Balen’s lips grazed the tip of her nose. “I think you’re pretty incredible. I also think we’re both fairly shit-faced, and we should probably say goodnight right here before we do something we’ll regret.”

Autumn was pretty sure she was past the point of regret where this guy was concerned. But she’d also learned from her mistakes, and after the first time she and Balen were together, she no longer wanted to be drunk when it happened. “I had fun tonight. Thank you for coming back.”

“I wish I didn’t have to go in the first place. I’m sorry I made you feel like you weren’t important.”

“It’s okay. You made it up to me,” she teased. While she still had the willpower, she extracted herself from his arms and headed toward the bedroom. Stopping at the door, she turned back and blew him a kiss. “Goodnight, Balen.”

His tortured groan carried across the living room and made her smile. At least she wasn’t the only one regretting their overindulgence of wine.

“Goodnight, Autumn.”

She forced one foot in front of the other and entered her bedroom. When she closed the door, she heard him call after her, “Lock the door.”

Autumn smiled to herself, but didn’t twist the little lock. If he wanted in that badly, she wouldn’t try to stop him and, quite possibly, he should follow his own advice.

She took her time getting ready for bed, enjoying a long, hot shower. Admittedly, she dallied, secretly hoping the hissing spray of water beating against her flushed skin would prove too great a temptation for Balen to ignore. Sobriety slowly ensued as she combed out her damp hair, brushed her teeth, and changed into a pale pink cami with matching boy-shorts.

She was climbing into her bed when her cell went off on the nightstand. Autumn grabbed it and unlocked the screen to find several missed messages.

I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not going to work…

Okay, it might be working a little bit. How drunk are you? ;)

Autumn, you’re killing me over here. All I can think about is licking that water off your gorgeous tits…

She smiled and sent him a message back. Sorry, you’re too late. You missed your chance. And P.S. I’m not that drunk. ;) Less than five seconds passed before a new message appeared.

Fuck me… What are you doing now?

That depends on you.

Wanna watch Netflix and chill?

Are you asking me to watch Netflix and chill or are you asking me to “watch Netflix and chill?”

Is there a difference?

Don't you know that when you ask a girl to Netflix and chill, that's code for making out?

That's funny. No, I’ve never heard that. But if I was trying to make out with you, I'd just ask you if you wanted to make out. Sooo… Wanna make out? ;)

Autumn laughed. It was one of those embarrassing, loud, snorting laughs and she slapped her hand over her mouth, trying to hold it in. Another message flashed across her screen.

Not usually the response I get when I ask a girl that question.

Crap, he’d heard her. You ask a lot of girls to make out then, do you?

Not anymore. The only one I want underneath me is you.

Oh, he was good. Aw…I bet you say that to all the girls.

No, I don’t. Believe it or not, they’re usually the ones coming on to me.

Oh, she believed it.

Wanna watch a movie with me?

Hmm…curling up with Balen on a couch and watching Netflix? She was so down for that. Can it be a scary movie? Autumn loved horror flicks. They frightened the crap out of her and she always had nightmares when they were over, but she couldn’t resist a good heart-pounding thriller.

Of course.

And popcorn?

Bag’s already in the microwave.

No sooner did the message come across the screen, did the unmistakable scent of buttery popcorn waft beneath her door. Her mouth watered. If Balen wouldn’t have already had her with the hot guy, plus a scary movie, she was sold with the popcorn. Be out in two minutes.