Written in Ink (Montgomery Ink #4)(26)

He tilted his head. “Why do we have to?”

“Because I work for you. I can’t just sleep with you and then be forced to be in your employment. That’s asking for hurt feelings and issues. Then, of course, you’re hurt; and we need to figure out if you can use software for your work or write one-handed or have me help somehow. I don’t know. But all of that together means I can’t kiss you again. Okay?”

“I’m the one who kissed you,” he reminded her, knowing he was pushing.

She shook her head. “I kissed you back.”

“We can be adults about this.” She moved closer, and he wasn’t sure she was even aware of it.

“Adults about what? I’m friends with your family, and I’m in your space more often than not. It won’t work, Griffin.” She leaned forward and put her hand on the bed next to him. “It won’t work.”

He raised his free hand and cupped her face. Her eyes widened, and she looked down at her feet before darting a look back at him.

“How…how did I get here?”

He smiled softly. “You walked here on your own. Your mind is saying one thing, your body another. I’m not going to take advantage of you, Autumn, but you have to know you have options.”

She swallowed hard, a slight tinge of fear entering her eyes that had him worrying. “I never have options.”

“Tell me, Fall. Tell me what worries you.”

She pulled away. “I can’t.” Her voice was cold this time, the emotion she’d had before gone. “Let me put your tray over you so you can eat.”

He grunted, unsure of what to do next, what to say. He wanted to know what made her tick, and she kept pulling away. Was she just a novelty to him? A puzzle? He didn’t think so, but he didn’t want to hurt her if that was all it was. She might be strong as hell, but she also had a fragility about her that not everyone could see.

“Autumn.” He reached out and gripped her wrist in a gentle hold.

She flinched, but he didn’t let go. Damn it. Something had happened to her, something he couldn’t name.

“Autumn,” he said again, this time softer. “I’m here if you need me.”

“I’m the one who is supposed to be here for you,” she said, not looking at him. “You’re hurt because of me. You’re in pain because of me.”

He cursed and pulled her closer to him. She ended up sitting on the edge of the bed, and he sat up so he could rest his forehead on hers.

“Fall.”

“I hate that nickname.”

“I know. And never think this is your fault. It was a drunk driver who hit us. You could have been killed because of him. This was not your fault. Understand?”

She leaned into him just a fraction of an inch, and the tension in his shoulders eased ever so slightly. “Your hand, Griffin,” she whispered, her voice barely loud enough for him to hear.

“I know. It sucks ass, but we’re going to be okay.”

She snorted at his words, and he had to smile. “I need to go, Griffin.”

He used his left hand to tilt her face toward his, their eyes meeting. “I know. But we’re not done here. Far from it.” He brushed his lips across hers, once, twice, a bare breath of touch. He kept his eyes open to see her reaction and wasn’t disappointed. Her pupils dilated even as worry and heat warred.

He had no idea what he was doing, nor did he know why he was doing it, but he did know he couldn’t stop. He needed this woman, needed to know more about her—just needed her.

And soon he’d figure it all out. Because if he didn’t, he had a feeling they’d both be broken in the end. He’d been left broken once before, and he wasn’t sure either of them would survive if they had to break again.





Chapter Eight


Why Autumn had said yes, she had no idea. Perhaps she’d gone insane. Or maybe she’d been the one who’d hit her head in the accident and not Griffin. How she’d ended up in the middle of a Montgomery family indoor BBQ in a semi-fancy dress and heels, she’d never know.

It had been three days since the accident, and other than Griffin’s hand, the two of them were almost back to normal in terms of their health. Normalcy in terms of anything else had gone so far out the window, she didn’t even remember what their version of normal looked like.

He hadn’t tried to kiss her again, and she hadn’t leaned into him, wanting that kiss. Of course, she wanted that kiss, but craving something bad for her was par for the course these days. Griffin was her boss, brother to her friends, nothing more.

And if she kept saying that, maybe she’d actually believe it, rather than doing something like, oh…coming to his family meal. In a dress.

Seriously, what the hell had she been thinking?

“Why are you frowning like that?” Griffin asked as he walked up to her side. He held a drink in his non-casted hand and held it out to her. “I got you a lemonade since you’re driving us home.” He winked as he said it, and she held back an eye roll.

His home, she reminded herself. Not hers. Contrary to what her hormones wanted, she hadn’t slept at his place since that first night. Storm had replaced her battery so she could drive where she wanted to and chauffeur Griffin around when he didn’t have one of his countless family members doing it for him.