Autumn Moon by Karen Michelle Nutt Page A

to pull away, but she wrapped her legs around him and held him close. He looked at her. She caressed his face, rubbing her thumb over his lips.
    “I love you, too.”
    She read him so easily. “Damn it Autumn, you shouldn’t, but God help me, I do love you.” He leaned down and kissed her.
    For tonight, all the nightmares of the last few days were kept at bay, but time marches on and death doesn’t wait.
    Chapter Twelve
     
    Autumn awoke to find Jairec dressing. The sun hadn’t risen yet and the coolness of the morning made her shiver. She pulled the sheet around her. “Where are you going?”
    He put on his sweatshirt and turned toward her. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I …” He looked away, swallowing hard.
    Then she understood. She reached for his hand. “It’s okay.” He met her gaze again. “I know you have to feed.” She didn’t ask where he fed or on what. For two days before she met him, he’d been fending for himself.
    He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll see you in a few hours. I’ll try to meet you back here, but if you need to leave, please don’t wait. I’ll head over to your booth.”
    She nodded, wanting to cling to him, but knowing she had to let him go. “Be careful.”
    He gave her a whisper of a smile before he slipped out the door. She must have drifted off to sleep again for the next thing she knew her phone was ringing. She leaned over and picked it up . Her voice croaked out the word, “Hello.”
    “Autumn?  Thank goodness. I thought something was wrong.”
    “Loann, what is it?”
    “You haven’t opened the shop and I needed to bring the supplies over to the booth.”
    Autumn sat up and looked at the clock. “Holy, holy, I didn’t realize how late it was. I overslept.” She threw off the covers. “I’ll be right down. Give me a sec.”
    She grabbed her robe and shoved her feet into her slippers. She ran downstairs and opened the door to find Loann and Yi there, too.
    “You’re not dressed,” Yi stated the obvious.
    “Yeah, well I just woke up. I don’t usually sleep in my work clothes.”
    He harrumphed.
    Loann hurried to gather what was needed at the booth.
    “What happened with the door?” Yi nodded toward the boarded up portion where Tristan had broken it to let himself in. Funny, the guy taught Jairec how to pick locks, but he broke her door to let himself in. Had he been warning her to run? Tristan didn’t know Jairec would be there to protect her. Maybe Jairec’s brother wasn’t as lost as they thought.
    “Kids,” Autumn stated. “A ball hit it and shattered the glass.” The lie flew off her tongue with ease. It was to protect them. She justified her actions. The less they knew of what was going on the better.
    “I have everything,” Loann announced. She held the box and looked from Yi to Autumn, obviously feeling the tension. “I’ll meet you at the booth. Hopefully Bruce will show up today. By the way, did you hear from him?”
    Autumn cringed. She’d been preoccupied and had forgotten to call him again. “No, but I haven’t checked my messages yet. I’m sure he’ll show up sooner or later.”
    “I don’t know why you keep the runt.” Yi leaned against the counter. “If he were my employee—”
    “He’s not.” Autumn narrowed her eyes and he shrugged. She looked back to Loann. “I won’t be long.”
    “Don’t rush. It’s foggy out, the worst I’ve seen in a long time,” Loann told her. “The tourists won’t surface until this burns off.”
    “I’ll wait for you Autumn, so we can walk together,” Yi offered.
    “No, go on with Loann.”
    He hesitated.
    “I’m fine, Yi. I haven’t had any trouble.”
    “The door makes me think differently. What are you hiding?”
    “Nothing.”
    His dark eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”
    “Excuse me.”
    “Something’s going on with you.”
    She pulled the robe around tighter. “Nothing is going on.”
    He grabbed her chin and tilted her head up. She