Free Feels Like Home: A Southerland Family Contemporary Romance Book 1 by Evelyn Adams Page B

a date.” She didn’t sound sure and he felt a little
better about his chances. “And I still work for you, don’t
I?”
    “ Yes, but I’m not letting
it stand in my way anymore. Come on. Grab a jacket. It’s gonna be
windy at the top.”
     
     
    Autumn had no idea how she’d let things with
Jude get so out of hand. One minute she’d been sitting at the
computer feeling miserable because of old lady Morris, the next
she’d been staring into his hazel eyes, wishing he’d kiss her. He
told her to come on and she followed him like a puppy out to his
car. The same car she was sitting in as it wound its way up the
side of the mountain.
    He’d waited for her to get changed, made that
crazy comment about dating and then helped her back into his Jag.
She’d watched as the town fell away, giving way to the familiar
scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Growing up, she’d loved the Parkway and the
smoky blue of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As soon as she’d gotten her
license, she urged Gran’s Pontiac to make the climb on the
weekends. She sat in the grass at one of the overlooks and day
dreamed about her father, what it would be like to run into him
there
    She was twenty-eight and
had long ago given up the hope that her father would find her and
whisk her off to live with him in a respectable, orderly home where
she’d be the only child. And he’d be proud she was his. But as a
child she’d dreamt about him like Lil’ Orphan Annie’s Maybe song.
    He’d be handsome and dressed well but not
fussy. She’d see him watching her and she’d nod and smile. “Excuse
me,” he’d say. “I don’t mean to be forward.” In her fantasies, he
had a slight English accent. “I’m not an ax murderer by the way.
You look so familiar. Do I know you?”
    “ Don’t all ax murderers say
that?” she’d say and he’d laugh. They’d talk like that back and
forth witty and polite until they realized he was her father. He’d
say he was sorry about her mother. She always glossed over that
part, knowing he’d have a good reason for leaving her. He’d
understand if she wanted to stay with Gran, but now that he knew
her, he couldn’t leave her again. He’d ask if she wanted to come
live with him and she’d say yes.
    It would be just like Harry Potter and Sirius
Black, only better because her dad wouldn’t get himself killed by
dark wizards.
    As they passed the familiar overlooks, she
felt the same wistful sadness she had as a girl. It didn’t matter,
or at least it didn’t have to. She’d grown up without a father. So
had lots of women. It wasn’t the way the way it should be, but damn
it, it didn’t have to define her any more. When Jude said she was
who mattered, she’d had a moment when she believed him. She wanted
to feel like that again.
    “ You’re awfully quiet. You
don’t get carsick, do you?” The Jag hugged the switchback, its
engine revving on the uphill side. Even in the passenger seat she
could tell it wasn’t having any trouble climbing.
    “ No.” She thought for a
moment and grinned. “Well, maybe a little. I think it would go away
completely if you let me drive.” She watched his profile and saw
the corner of his mouth twitch.
    “ Not today, sunshine. We’ll
take a break so you can settle your stomach.”
    In a few moments he made it to the top of the
road which was actually at the base of the Peaks of Otter. He
pulled the car into the parking lot in front of the country store
which sat in the shadow of the twin mountains. There were only a
handful of cars and motorcycles in the lot, but in a few weeks,
when the changing leaves reached their peak, it would be crammed
full. The parkway itself would be busy with weekend sightseers
coming to marvel at the fall color.
    Before she could pull the handle, Jude jumped
out and ran around to open her door.
    “ You can lean on me if
you’re feeling woozy,” he said with a wink.
    “ I’ll be fine.” She climbed
out of the car, trying not to pay