Pieces of Us - Carrie Elks Page 0,78

been calling you all morning.” His eyes alighted on Lydia. “And you, too.”

Lydia shrugged. “I left my phone back at Griff’s place. And Autumn’s been a bit busy. She organized this whole event single handedly.”

“Not quite.” Autumn shook her head.

“Who’s Griff?” Josh asked.

“I am.” Griff’s jaw was tight as his gaze met her ex-husband’s.

“And you’re dating Lydia?” He laughed. “Oh man, I don’t know whether to hug you or stage an intervention.”

“We’re not dating.” Lydia frowned. “I’ve only been here a few days.”

“Doesn’t usually stop you,” Josh murmured.

Lydia shot him a dirty look. “I just remembered why I’m glad you’re Autumn’s ex. And for the record, it’s not me Griff’s dating, it’s Autumn. If you can call hot sex at all hours of the day dating.”

26

“Okay, I really think we should get out of here.” Ember hitched Arthur into the crook of her right arm and slid her left into Griff’s as they watched Autumn take her father, her ex-husband, and the other man into her office. Before she closed the door, Autumn shot Griff a look that he couldn’t quite translate.

Whatever it was, he didn’t like it. He gritted his teeth at the thought of her in that room with the father who always tried to railroad her, and the husband who’d hurt her. Gently pulling his arm from Ember’s, he turned to walk over to the office.

“Griff, don’t.” Lydia put her hand on his substantial chest, her eyebrows rising up as though she was surprised at the muscles there. “Ember’s right, you should go. Be cool and let Autumn handle this.”

“I’m not going anywhere until they leave. Who was that other guy with them?”

“I don’t know,” Lydia admitted. “I’ve never seen him before.”

“Then I guess there’s only one way to find out.” He started walking toward the office, his strides so long that Lydia had to break into a fast jog to keep up with him.

“Seriously, Griff, let Autumn manage this. She’ll be mortified if you go in there all guns blazing.”

“But what if she needs some support?” He slowed down to look at Lydia. Her cheeks were pink, her mouth open as she panted.

“I’ll tell you what,” Lydia said, sliding between Griff and the office door. “Let me go in. I’ll find out who that man is and what the hell Josh is doing here. Autumn’s had enough of guys thinking they know best for her. Let her sort this out herself.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I get that. I don’t like it much either.” Lydia gave him a worried smile. “Just give me a few minutes, okay?”

He looked through the grimy windows of the office. The sun was shining too bright for him to make out anything more than the shadows of the people inside. All he could see was himself, his jaw set straight, his arms hanging at his side, and his hands forming two formidable fists.

Lydia opened the door, and he tried to see past her, but she pulled it closed too fast. But he heard the raised voices, and they made him grit his teeth.

“What’s going on?” Carla asked, coming to a stop beside him. “I heard yelling.”

“Nothing,” Griff said through his clenched jaw. “Go back to the restaurant.”

“Why are you hanging around here staring at the office like you want to kill somebody?” Carla tried to peer around him.

“No reason.” He wanted to swat her off like a fly.

“Are you okay?” she asked him, laying a hand on his arm. The edge of concern in her voice made him feel like an asshole. “Is there a problem with Autumn?”

“No.” Would she just leave already? He could feel the fire burning inside him, heating up the fear and anger laying right below the surface.

The office door opened, and Lydia stepped out, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth the same way he’d seen Autumn do a hundred times. She looked at Carla with a wary expression, then sighed and walked toward them. “Okay, we should go,” Lydia said, inclining her head to the passage between the office and the restaurant.

“Is Autumn okay?” Griff turned his back on Carla.

“Um…”

“Have you found out who the other guy is?” he asked, nodding his head at the door.

“His name’s Carlsson. He’s a property developer from L.A.”

“What’s a property developer doing here?” Carla frowned.

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Lydia asked her, though Griff was perfectly aware that she knew exactly who Carla was.

Carla squared her shoulders. “You know who I am. My dad owns this restaurant. So who’s the property