Pieces of Us - Carrie Elks Page 0,71
And she and Griff had a thing a while back.”
Lydia leaned forward, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “They did? When? Is that why she looked like she wanted to swallow him whole?”
“A year or so ago, I think. But it wasn’t serious, according to his friends.”
“Whoa. He must be really good in bed for her to still look upset about losing him.” Lydia leaned even closer. “Is he?”
“I’ll never tell.” Autumn tried – and failed – to hide her smirk.
“You don’t need to tell me. I can read it on your face. I knew it!” Lydia clapped her hands together. “The big guys always know what to do with their bodies. It’s like they understand their power or something, and know how to use it wisely. Did I tell you about the guy I met in New Zealand? He was bigger than Griff, if that’s even possible. And when I say big, I mean in every way.”
Autumn clamped her hands on her ears. “Stop! I don’t want to hear about my baby sister having sex.”
Lydia laughed and peeled Autumn’s hands away. “Okay, I won’t mention him again. Or the multiple orgasms he could give a person just by looking at them.”
Autumn’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously?”
“Almost. But that’s not what I want to talk about, anyway. From the way he’s been looking at you all day, I think Griff has a few ideas of his own. The guy adores you.”
“Shut up.”
“I mean it. The way he looks at you is sizzling. He’s got this whole protective thing that’s impossible to see if you’re not looking closely. If somebody is walking toward the two of you, he speeds up just enough to put himself in front of you. I swear he’d take a bullet for you if he could.”
Autumn’s eyes widened. Lydia had to be seeing things.
“And I’ve seen the way you look at him, too, so don’t tell me I’m imagining stuff,” her sister continued, lowering her voice. “He’s gotten under your skin, hasn’t he?”
Glancing out of the dusty window, Autumn could see the pale blue painted building that housed Delmonico’s. Behind it was where Griff had talked to Carla, and she’d be a liar if she said it hadn’t bothered her a bit.
“Yeah, he has a bit,” she admitted.
“I knew it.” Lydia hugged her, the impulsive action taking Autumn by surprise. “I’m so happy for you. I knew all that bullshit about no strings was just lies. You two are perfect for each other.”
“They weren’t lies,” Autumn said softly. “I really believed them. I didn’t think I was ready for a relationship so soon after getting divorced.”
“Pah. Your divorce was inevitable. Anybody could see Josh was the wrong guy for you. I always thought he and dad were more suited than you two were.”
“Josh and Dad?” Autumn laughed. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I’m not saying in a romantic relationship. But Dad was always subtly trying to push you and Josh together. And I swear he was more upset than you were when the two of you split. Like you ruined their bromance.”
“You think?” Autumn wrinkled her nose.
“Yep. And it scuppered all his plans. You’ve always been the daughter he can show off. You made him look like a winner. His daughter with a business degree and a successful marriage to a man who’s making waves in Manhattan real estate. Did you ever notice that your wedding photo was on his office wall next to all his certificates and commendations?”
“I never thought about it like that.”
“Of course you didn’t. He’s like one of those guys in those historical romances, giving his daughter’s hand to the man who’ll bring the most prestige to the family. No wonder he was devastated when you told him it was over.”
Autumn’s breath caught in her throat. Was Lydia right? She thought about the night she met Josh, at a garden party in the Hamptons. He’d walked over to her with a glass of champagne and told her she was the only beautiful woman at the party. And she’d fallen for him, hook, line, and sinker. But now she could also remember him telling her he’d been talking to her father, and asking about his business.
“When I told him Josh and I were divorcing, Dad begged me to give it another year,” Autumn admitted. “Said that I wasn’t a quitter, that I just needed more time to get used to things.”
“He doesn’t like not being in control.” Lydia walked over to the window that