“Let’s see how it goes after we eat.”
Chains stared at the fire as she placed the order online. Autumn was too close to him and she smelled way too good, and he had to remember that she was in a very vulnerable position. His jerk brother had just broken this wonderful woman’s heart, so if Chains showed her any attention, she’d probably do something she’d regret the following day. Even though Autumn had been engaged to Bret, Chains knew she was attracted to him, and there was no denying that he was damn captivated by her. He should just leave, and under normal circumstances he would, but Chains didn’t want her to be alone because that’s when dark thoughts crept in and loneliness became pervasive.
After the divorce, recriminations and raw emotions had swallowed up Chains, leaving him with nothing but bitterness and anger. He knew only too well what demons lurked in the still and shadowed corners of the mind long after the heart was shattered.
“Done.” Autumn put down the phone, her voice pulling him from the recollections of the past.
Chains looked up at her. “When’s the food coming?”
“In about thirty minutes or so. Is that okay?”
He nodded. “Look, I know this shit hurts, and it’s gonna for a while, but I hope you don’t spend too long crying over Bret—he just isn’t worth it. People like him do their damage and then move on without a backward glance. They don’t care about the heartbreak they’ve caused.”
“Are you speaking from experience?” she whispered.
“Yeah. You don’t want this to eat you up inside.” He walked back into the kitchen and poured another drink. “You want another one?”
“I’m done with the vodka, but I’ll have a glass of red wine when our dinner comes. How long did it take you to get over your divorce?”
Chains paused, then picked up the bottle and glass and sauntered back to the couch. “Too fuckin’ long. The whole time I was filled with hate and anger, my ex was living her life, not giving a shit about the chaos she left behind. I was a fuckin’ fool.”
Autumn shifted so she faced him. “Why do people who are supposed to love you treat you so shitty? I’m sorry you had to go through that.” She tucked her legs under herself. “Bret told me he loved me. He just told me that before he left on business a few days ago.”
“People lie—they’re full of shit. Love is such an overused word. It’s easy to say but tough to live.” He poured more liquor in the glass, then brought it to his mouth.
“You’re so right. There’re too many selfish people around—they take but never give. It seems like nowadays, loyalty isn’t very fashionable.”
“For the most part, citizens don’t know shit about loyalty and strong bonds.”
Autumn cocked her head. “Citizens?”
Chains smiled. “You and all the others who aren’t in the biker world.”
“That’s right—you’re in the Night Rebels. Bret told me that recently,” she said.
Autumn lightly touched his arm, and he clenched his teeth.Down, boy—fuckin’ behave.He dragged his gaze away from her tits and focused on the dancing flames in the fireplace instead.
“What’s it like to be in a biker club?”
“Cool.” Leaning back, he stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles.
“Bret made it sound awful.”
“I’m sure he did. My family doesn’t approve of my lifestyle choice, and I don’t give a damn. I never gave a shit what people thought, even when I was young. I live my life the way I want to, and there’s no fuckin’ way I’m gonna apologize for it.”
“I think that’s admirable.”
Autumn touched his forearm again, but this time she didn’t pull away. Chains groaned inwardly and kept his gaze on the fire.
“So, you’re from Denver?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Yes. I went to the veterinary school at CSU in Fort Collins after I graduated from college. I was with a practice in Denver, but after my breakup with Dylan, I needed a change of scenery, so I came here. I love Alina. When I was a kid, my parents and I spent a few weeks in this area. We went to Mesa Verde and camped in the San Juan Mountains.”
“The trails and passes kick ass for riding. Now that Bret’s proven he’s a jerk, you gonna take off?” Chains glanced over at her.
She shook her head. “No. I’m here to stay.”
He nodded and looked away.