Page 16 of She Autumn Be Mine

Knox’s vows ran a full two minutes, if anyone cared to time him. I couldn’t remember a word of it, except the ending: “I knew the minute I saw you that you’d be mine. It took you a long time to get there. But now, you’re the apple of my eye, Daisy. And you always will be.”

Not a damn dry eye existed when he lifted her veil and kissed his bride.

I glanced at Autumn beside me, her green satin shining in the late afternoon sun, the red highlights bright in her hair, dabbing her tears with a baby wipe she’d pulled from the bag at her feet. So beautiful I forced myself to look away.

One word invaded my thoughts: someday.

Fuck. That one was fully loaded. I sucked in a breath and carefully set that word down or I’d scare the poor woman off.

The gathered guests whooped and hollered as the newlyweds processed down the aisle together, and I couldn’t help but join in, fingers in mouth, whistling. I woke Stetson in the process.

Oh well. He’d had enough of a difficult life up until now. Let Stetson see how happy two people could be together.

“Everything is so elegant, very unexpected,” Autumn commented as I handed her a flute of pink champagne. Her red lips sipped from the glass and my eyes zoomed in right there. How she managed it, I didn’t know, equally appealing whether in a messy bun and tee with baby dribble on it, or all dressed up like this, elegant as fuck? “And such a beautiful day.”

“Yeah, Ivy seems to have stepped up the event planning.” Certainly this was the most upscale thing I’d ever attended here in Montana, where most of the time there were hay bales and barbecue involved.

This struck a whole other level. A quartet of students from Bozeman State played string instruments on the patio of the farmhouse, sending music across the orchard. The cocktail hour ran between the tree rows where people congregated around various tall pub tables eating finger foods and drinking specialty cocktails. Later, we’d all gather in the white tent on the front lawn for a buffet dinner and dancing.

I sipped the bubbly, pacing myself. It’s not really my drink of choice. I’d have one beer at some point as well, but that was it, as the designated driver. The protective side of me wouldn’t have it any other way.

As people drifted by, I whispered to Autumn who they were.

“Do you know the whole town?” She asked.

“Not everyone. I grew up here, but spent almost twelve years away in the military. People changed. The town got a little bigger.” I shrugged. “Oh and that’s—” I stopped cold mid sentence, about to point out a guy I’d gone to school with, but he was standing next to my twin sister.

Of course she’d be here. I’d been so busy between working and being there for Autumn that I’d completely forgotten how Jamie had gone to school with Sage Wylde. And if she’s here, then where were my parents?

I quickly scanned the crowd. Not that I didn’t want them to meet Autumn yet, but Mom would swoon over Stetson and label them as family before I could get introductions done.

Jamie spotted me with a complete double take. Then her mouth dropped to the ground, setting her eyes on the baby in my arms and his mother next to me.

“Uh, Autumn, will you be okay here on your own a minute? There’s someone I need to talk with.”

She took the baby. “Jake, you don’t need to stand by me all night. Go on.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’ll be back.”

Jamie started across the grass to us with purpose. I cut her off halfway.

“Jacob. Aaron. McCall.” Her hands planted on her hips. “I was just telling Mom last week how you’ve been a little more quiet than usual this summer. Of course I didn’t tell her the rumor I’d heard in town about you and a single mother. Not until I’d confirmed it myself. And now…”

“Nice to see you, too. You’re looking well. Are Mom and Dad here?”

“Lucky for you, they’re on their annual walleye fishing trip in Canada. Now talk.”

“Fine. The mother is Autumn. She’s Trig’s sister.”

Her eyebrows flew to the big sky above. “The guy who just went to prison for that business with the Amos brothers gambling ring?”

“Yep. With him gone, she needed help. So I sit for her some nights while she works.”

She snorted, grinning and giggling at the same time. “You. My little brother. Babysit?” We came into the world ten minutes apart, her before me, and she would never let me forget it. “Oh this is too much. You know Mom has been after us to settle down and have kids. When she finds out you’re dating a single mother⁠—”

“We’re not dating. Technically.” It came out too fast before I could think.

“That makes no sense.”