Page 20 of Sullivan

“My aunt,” she whispered.

“Tells you all the time to find your life. Maybe you have now.”

“I don’t know if I can leave her.”

“You can visit anytime you want. We’ll introduce Anna and Una to her. They’ll visit as well. So will Finn and Niall. They understand the importance of family.”

“They don’t know me. Why would they do that?”

“Once you meet them, you’ll understand. I know it’s a lot to think about, but don’t shut the door on this, Autumn. It’s important. More than I think we realize.”

She was quiet for a moment.

“How will you tell Bonnie?”

I laughed. “I’ll tell her over a pint and a plate of her favorite fish and chips. Once she gets over the shock, she’ll be thrilled. She’ll want to help. She’s talked about you so often, I almost felt as if I already knew you. She spoke of your kindness and intelligence. How well the two of you got on. She was so worried about being in a strange place, and she told me you made her so welcome and you hit it off right away. You made her feel as if she wasn’t the odd man out. She liked the way you cared for your aunt—much like I care for Roisin. How grateful she was to have met you. She missed you when she came home, and I know she’ll be thrilled that you might stay.”

“She talked about you all the time as well.”

I grinned. “Maybe she’s the witch who put this together.”

Autumn smiled, the smile that was my favorite, wide and filled with joy.

“Maybe,” she said.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight. I liked how she felt in my embrace. I liked everything about her.

And I planned on making sure she knew that so the next three weeks could become more.

They would become forever.

Our forever.

CHAPTER SIX

SULLY

The train lumbered slowly toward Edinburgh, the views we could see snow-covered and white. As darkness descended further, there was no longer anything to see, and with the lights dimmed, Autumn leaned against my shoulder with a soft sigh. I shifted, lifting my arm and encircling her shoulder.

“Rest, mo fhiadh beag. Nothing left to look at. We’ll pick up speed as we clear the area the snow affected the hardest.”

“Hmm,” she replied. “Sleepy.”

I chuckled lowly, whispering so only she could hear. “Perhaps if you weren’t so insatiable, you might have gotten more rest in the night. Or this afternoon by the fire. I suggested a nap, not for you to have your wicked way with me on the floor.”

She snorted delicately, not bothering to open her eyes. “You tackled me there, Mr. Black. And last night, it was your wandering hands that started it, if I recall correctly.”

“But you finished it. Spectacularly. I remember that with vivid clarity,” I teased. “And I hardly tackled you. I lifted you gently down to the floor, intent on letting you feel the heat of the flames.”

“I felt them, all right,” she muttered.

I pressed a kiss to her head, her hair soft and thick under my lips. “Hush. Sleep. I’ll wake you with lots of time before we get there.”

She slipped an arm around my waist, anchoring herself to me, and was quickly out. I peered down at her in wonder. She was so pretty. She wore no makeup, her hair was swept off her face in a casual ponytail, a simple sweater hugged her torso, and she took my breath away. Even in repose, she captured my attention with the freckles on her cheeks and across the bridge of her nose. The rich blend of colors in her hair was mesmerizing. At first glance, I had thought it golden in color, but there were reds, blonds, and a deeper brown mixed in the strands. It was extraordinary and contrasted well with the creamy hue of her skin and her dark eyes. The way her full lips pursed as she breathed evenly, safe at my side, tucked close, and the intimate way she was curled into me was somehow so natural. It had been hard to leave the cottage and the privacy it offered. It felt as if we were shutting the door and leaving something incredibly special behind us. I had seen the same worry reflected in Autumn’s eyes, but when I’d laced our fingers together and kissed her knuckles with a silent promise, the fear dissipated a little. We both knew it was going to be hard, but we also wanted it to work. That counted big-time.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and leaning back against the cool material of the headrest. I stared out the window into the darkness, every so often a glimpse of the countryside appearing in a flash, only to disappear in the blink of an eye. I had no idea how to handle the intensity of the feelings I had developed for Autumn. They were unexpected and somewhat disturbing.

I had always been amused at Finn’s devotion to Una. The strength of the flame he carried for her all those years after one simple dinner. I’d laughed at Niall’s sudden about-face when he met Anna. For years, he had sworn off relationships, insisting he wasn’t that sort of guy, then bam. The phone calls from Finn had been endless as he’d watched Niall fall so hard and fast, he didn’t even know the depth of his own emotions. Finn was at times worried—and others amused—by Niall’s indecision. When he’d called to tell me Niall had admitted his feelings, he was thrilled for him, as was I, pleased Niall had found the piece of his puzzle that had been missing.