He chuckled. “I’ve done worse and got my girl back. You can get yours back too.”
“Worse, how?”
“It isn’t worth dredging up. Let’s just say I destroyed Miranda and sent her running to Washington State while pregnant with my baby and nearly lost her to another man.”
“Christ, man, that sounds fucked up.”
“Tell me about it. But I didn’t give up on Miranda. Never. And you shouldn’t give up on Autumn if you really love her. Do you really love her?”
“Yes.” My swift reply made his eyebrows raise.
“Not a speck of doubt. That’s good. So do you have a plan?”
I scrubbed my hand over my scruffy jaw. “Nope. Just thought I’d drop in and swoop her off her feet. I should’ve known better. That Casanova shit never worked on her.”
Will let out a hearty chuckle. “Wise woman. It never worked on Miranda either. So what’s plan B if plan A was a major flop?”
I groaned, tossing my head back. “Hell if I know. She wanted me to promise not to seduce her.”
“And did you? Promise to leave her alone?”
I snorted. “No. It would’ve been a lie.”
“I can see this really bothers you. That’s how it should be. If it didn’t, I’d have to question why you wanted Autumn back. But you need a plan, Eli. A solid one to get your woman back. You can’t go off half-cocked. Trust me, I’ve been there. I had been lucky when I dropped in on Miranda. Had I been a minute later, she might have slept with another man.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“I wish I was. That time in our lives had been a clusterfuck of mistakes on my part. I could have lost what was most important to me. Miranda and my daughter.” He looked at the picture on the end table with love and admiration.
I wanted what Will had, a wife and child. I hated myself for letting go of Autumn and ruining our future together. I didn’t know what I’d do if she didn’t give me a second chance.
“The only idea I have is doing it the old-fashioned way. Courting her.”
“Ah, my grandfather would approve. Which means so would yours.”
I nodded. “My grandparents were furious with me for the way I neglected Autumn. So were my Uncle Loyd and Aunt Mona.” I gripped the back of my neck, feeling heart palpitations. “How could I put my career before my wife? How could I treat her like her feelings didn’t matter? I’m such an asshole.”
“Admitting it is the first step.”
I cut my gaze to Will’s. His eyes twinkled with mirth.
“You’re not helping.”
“I know. Sorry. So doing it the old-fashioned way. That’s a good start.”
“We’re soul mates. Autumn needs me just like I need her. It might take a little time, but I’ll get her back. I have to…”
Saturday night at the SJI celebration would be when I make my big move. Until then, I would stay out of Autumn’s way. Avoiding her at every turn would bug her. It would also make her wonder why I hadn’t pushed myself on her. She wouldn’t be able to stop thinking of me.
Then I’d swoop in and remind her why she loved me in the first place.
I hoped I wasn’t too late.
5
Autumn
DAVINA AND I entered the elegant banquet room. My stomach had been in knots all day. Or since I had left Eli’s office Thursday morning. As the day had progressed, I kept waiting for him to drop in on me or call or email, making an excuse as to why he needed to see me.