"I know you mean business." Carter rubbed the back of his head. "I've asked Autumn to move in with me."
Bill snorted. "She didn't even tell us you were dating, and you really think she's going to want to live with you. It sounds to me like she's using you."
Mary tutted. "Bill, enough. Our Autumn is not like that, and you know it. She never told any of us about her previous boyfriends, and that's because you get your damn shotgun. We know why she didn't say anything, and you need to cut Carter some slack."
"Still no excuse. You should have come to us, told us, warned us."
"I would have been going against everything that Autumn asked me not to do."
Bill stared at him.
"We know why you didn't tell us," Mary said. "It's nice to see you again, Carter. I've heard good things about you, and your mechanic shop."
"Thank you. I like working with cars." He stared right back at Bill. "I know you don't trust me, or like me. I always figured you didn't, but I love Autumn. I will do everything in my power to make her happy."
They all stopped as Summer came downstairs. She was smiling. "Leave him alone, Dad. He means well, and we know Autumn's been happy. I've not seen much of her, but we text, and she's happier." She ran fingers through her hair. "This is all my fault, and the blame is on me."
"Can I go and see her?" he asked.
"Yes," Mary said.
"No," Bill said.
"Bill?"
"They're doing any hanky-panky in my house. I mean it. I'm not having any of my daughters ruined."
Mary chuckled. "I think they were ruined a long time ago."
Carter left them alone, making his way up toward Autumn's room. She was sat on her bed, and he left the door open, taking a seat on her bed. He cupped her cheek, seeing that there were no marks from the slap that Summer had given her.
"I didn't use you. I would never do that. I promise."
"You heard that?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did." She pressed her hands to her face. "I'm not that kind of person."
"I know, baby. I know. Can I come close?"
"Yes. You found me."
"Of course. We went to your place first, then to Hilary's. Summer figured you'd come here, and when we called, they said you had. We'd have been here sooner."
"I'm so sorry. I had to come here. I love it here."
Her nose was red, and he wiped a tear away from her cheek.
"You didn't need to leave. You had every right to be there. You're mine, Autumn."
"I just freaked out. She hit me, and the guilt, it was all just too much. I'm so sorry, Carter. I should have been there with you, and I wasn't. There are not enough words." She held onto him tightly, repeating her apology.
"You shouldn't feel guilty." He leaned forward, kissing her lips. "I dealt with Summer, and I've dealt with your parents. Now, I'm going to deal with you." He cupped her face. "Autumn Fowler, I'm in love with you, and I mean in love with you. From the moment you broke down outside of my shop, I've been unable to think of anyone else, or do anything else. You dominate my thoughts."
She smiled. "I love you, too, Carter."
"You don't just have to say that."
"I know. I don't have to say anything, but I wanted to tell you the truth. I love you, and that love has been tainted with guilt. I didn't think I was allowed to love you."
Carter listened, his heart soaring at her revelation.
Unable to hold back any longer, he slammed his lips down on hers, plunging his tongue into her mouth as he silenced her.
"Enough of that in my house," Bill said.
Pulling away, he saw her father was glaring.
"Daddy, if you want grandkids, I need to kiss," Autumn said.
"I want grandkids, but I don't want them made here. You can make them in your own place, without me knowing about it."
Bill nodded and left.
They were both laughing, and Autumn rested her head against his head. "I'm sorry. I'm not looking at having kids for some time, but I wanted to get rid of him. Anyone would think I'm still a teenager."
"You're his little girl. I don't think I'd be too happy about it if our daughter had a guy in her room."
"Our daughter?"
"Don't you have dreams or wishes for our future?" he asked.
She bit her lip and smiled at him. "I tried not to wish, or to dream. It was only supposed to be a little bit of fun."
"Falling in love doesn't stop us from having some fun." He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Far from it."
"I don't know how this happened, Carter." She kissed him back. "What do we do now?"
"Will you move in with me?" he asked.
She laughed. "That's all you want to know?"
"Yes." He kissed her cheeks, and then her neck. "I'll make every single dream come true."
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll move in with you. Stop with the torture."
He pushed her to the bed, kissing her. She let out a little scream as he started to tickle her.
Life couldn't get any better for him.
Chapter Eleven
"Are you sure you've got enough stuff?" Summer asked, lifting up a large box that was on Autumn's bed, and putting it straight back down. It had been two weeks since it was revealed she was with Carter, and rather than allow it to be awkward, they had gotten over it. In fact, she felt closer to Summer than ever before.
"This is all your fault. You bought me a lot of stuff over the past couple of years." She tucked some hair that had fallen out of her headband as she folded up the last of the clothes. "Thank you so much for helping me."
"My pleasure."
"And mine," David said, entering the room. "Let me take that from you, sweetness." David pressed a kiss to Summer's cheek, picking up the large box.
He left without even giving away that the box was heavy. Summer's mouth dropped open as she pointed after him.
"Did you see that?"
Autumn chuckled. "So much for boring."
"He's not boring. He's buff. Who would have thought that he could be so manly? I'm so turned on right now."
"Too much detail there. Too much." Autumn held her hand up, shaking her head.
"Too much detail? I saw way more than I ever wanted to see, sweetie. I saw," Summer pointed at her lower body, "everything."
Heat filled Autumn's cheeks, and she shook her head. "Please, don't. I don't even want to remember that I was completely naked, and in the throes of sex, and you saw."
"You shouldn't be worried," Carter said, entering the bedroom. He moved up behind her, dropping a kiss to her neck, sucking on the pulse.
"Please, get a room." Summer let out a "yuck" sound, and left the room, giving them privacy.
"Are you having regrets?"
"I'm really excited about this actually. Are you nervous? I may cramp your style."
"Nah, not a chance." He kissed her, and they heard David and Summer talking about some kind of television show they were both watching. "I like him. He's a good guy."
"That's the guy she wanted me to date."
"I know, and you'd not have liked him. You wouldn't have had anything in common."
"Ha, ha. We do?"
"Yes, we like long walks, going to the movies, eating and cooking, fucking."
She slapped his shoulder. "Sh, it's bad enough that she's seen so much."
"I don't care. I'm just happy."
She rested her head against his shoulder. "Are you sure about this, I mean really sure?"
"I'm sure. In fact, we've taken too long to get you moved in with me."
Laughing, she pulled out of his arms, and finished folding up her clothes. Carter took another large box, following behind David as they loaded up the truck. Denny was already taking one load of her stuff as they finished packing her apartment. She couldn't believe how much she had accomplished in the past few years. When the last of her furniture was gone with Carter and David, leaving them behind as the men delivered it, Summer held up a bottle of wine.
"You always know when to brandish the wine."
"That, my dear, is because I know when the mood calls for wine, and I got David to hand me two glasses." Opening up the bottle, Summer poured two generous glasses.
"You didn't tell me what happened between you and Brad?"
Summer sighed. "Do you really want to know?"
"Yeah, I really do. I care about you." Autumn rested her head on her sister's shoulder. "Was it a happily ever after?"
Summer snorted. "Not a chance. When you screw a guy over, it rarely goes smoothly."
"What happened?"
Her sister let out a breath. "Well first I went to see David. I went to see him straight after seeing you and listening to Dad tell me off."
"He told you off?"
"Yeah. I deserved it, so I don't mind. He told me that he didn't care what my reasoning was, hitting my sister was out of order, and I should have a little more respect than to hurt you. See, I deserved it."