Page 28 of Sullivan

Bonnie pursed her lips. “I wish it weren’t.” She tapped out a long, unsteady beat on the scarred wooden tabletop with her thumb. “I would love it if she were here permanently.”

“No chance of that?”

“I don’t think it’s been thought of or even considered.”

“Maybe somewhere else in the company, if she’s valuable,” I suggested mildly.

Bonnie frowned thoughtfully. “Even if there were, and as much as I would love it, I’m not sure Autumn wants to live in Scotland.”

“But if she did…” I trailed off.

She shrugged. “Anything is possible.”

A loud noise startled me, and I turned to look over my shoulder. Someone had fallen off their chair and was on the bar floor, his mates laughing at him as he stood. Chuckling, I turned back around. “That’s gonna leave a mark,” I said mildly.

Bonnie was staring at me, her eyes narrowed.

“You have a mark of your own, I see,” she murmured. “I saw a couple just like it earlier.” She leaned closer, her voice dropping. “On Autumn’s neck.”

“Oh. Ah…”

“And you’re suddenly interested in her career choices.” She folded her arms, and I felt the movement of her crossed leg under the table as she swung it in vexation. I knew in that instant she’d already figured it out.

“Start talking, Sully. Now.”

I cleared my throat. “Funny story, that.”

A hand went to her hair and tugged. “I’m already laughing. Now, spill.”

I took a deep breath. “Well, last week was hell, and Lloyd arranged a mini break. I decided to go to the cottage.”

“I sent you a message.”

“Which I didn’t see. I, ah, arrived during the snowstorm and found Autumn there.”

“And like the gentleman you are, you turned around and walked back to the village and stayed over the pub.”

“Well, to be honest, that never even occurred to me.”

“What. Did. You. Do?”

“We introduced ourselves once she got over the shock of me barging in, and I slept on the sofa.”

Her eyes narrowed even further.

“Until the heat pump stopped working and she had to come by the fire to warm up.”

“So you gave her the sofa and slept on the floor.”

“Not exactly. I had to warm her up.”

“Ever heard of blankets and coffee?”

“We tried that. She fell asleep on me, and later…” I shrugged.

Her voice rose at the same moment the pub had a sudden quiet spell. “You had sex with my friend?”

There was some general laughter, and one of the blokes threw up his hands. “You go, mate!”