Page 18 of Stolen Hearts (WaterColor Romance #7)

Autumn was overjoyed when she was told to report to the senior dog section of the rescue. Hanging out with some of the senior residents of the rescue seemed like something that would be right up her alley. She walked down a long hallway and entered the last doorway on the right.

Half a dozen dogs raised tired old heads to look at her as she entered.

Autumn was surprised to find that this space was designed to look like an actual home.

There was an electric fireplace in the corner.

Several dogs lay on dog beds in front of the fireplace.

There was one couch and one chair also in the room.

Autumn was surprised to find Jordan Foxx, the rescue director, sitting on the couch, and Madison sitting on the adjacent chair.

“Seems today must be senior dog day,” Autumn chuckled.

Jordan gave a small laugh from the couch. The director sat with a laptop balanced on her knees while she absentmindedly stroked a dog lying beside her. Autumn took the spot on the other side of the couch. She was surprised when a rather small, scruffy dog took the spot beside her.

“That’s McScruff,” Jordan offered with a smile.

Autumn gave McScruff a scratch behind the ears. She noted that Madison was not too subtly studying her. Autumn offered her a smile, which Madison returned.

“Did Quinn go over to your place last night?” Madison finally asked.

Autumn stifled a laugh. She had figured that the woman was probably interested in how her talk with Quinn had gone.

“She did.”

“So, Quinn told you everything?”

Autumn noted that Jordan was giving them the occasional glance from her laptop.

“She told me all about her ex wanting to come into town to meet up with her.”

Jordan no longer hid her interest. Her head swiveled between the two women. Autumn couldn’t help taking note of Madison’s obvious nerves.

“How do you feel about everything?” Madison finally asked tentatively.

“I feel okay about it. At least from the standpoint of my relationship with Quinn. She told Rory that she didn’t want to see her. And she was honest with me. There’s not much else I can ask for.”

Madison let out an audible sigh of relief.

“I’m really glad you can see it that way. Rory is the absolute worst. Quinn really tried to get her to just mail the necklace back.”

“Quinn has been so upfront with me it’s hard to hold this against her,” Autumn explained.

“Wait a minute,” Jordan broke in.

“Are you saying that Quinn has an ex that’s coming into town. Like specifically to see her?” Jordan asked.

“That’s right. This is after Rory broke their engagement to move in with another woman,” Madison growled.

“She sounds like a real piece of work,” Jordan offered.

Then she turned, taking in Autumn.

“Do you know when this ex-girlfriend is showing up?” Jordan asked.

“She’s supposed to be flying in tomorrow.”

“Are you going to be at the bar when she shows up?”

“No, I figured that I would let the two of them have a little time to talk alone at first. But I’m going to make an appearance for sure.”

Jordan nodded her approval.

“It’s best in that situation for the other person to witness you being present.”

Jordan seemed as though she had personal experience in this department. As if she could read Autumn’s mind, Jordan spoke up.

“When Reese and I first got together she was freshly out of a relationship. Once her ex noticed that Reese was doing well and moving on, she tried to come back into the picture,” Jordan explained.

“What did you do?” Autumn asked.

“Nothing. That was always Reese’s decision to make. Obviously, I wanted her to see the value in our very new relationship. But I was afraid that if I interfered Reese might always have unanswered questions.”

“Seems like she made a good decision,” Autumn offered.

“We’re getting married in a couple of months,” Jordan beamed a smile, and it was clear that she was happy.

Autumn returned Jordan’s smile. The woman’s admission did a lot to tamp down her nerves. Autumn was certain of the way that she felt for Quinn. There was no doubt inside her at all. She loved Quinn.

Autumn had never had these kinds of feelings for anyone else in her whole life. But had Quinn? Quinn had once told her that she hadn’t had any doubts about Rory. Not until the woman cheated on her at least. How did that translate now that she was with Autumn?

Everything inside of Autumn wanted to believe in Quinn and this new love they had created between each other.

Still, there was no denying that there had been a time when Quinn was sure about Rory.

A time when the two of them had loved one another, enough to be planning a life together.

Rory had made some huge mistakes, unforgivable as far as Autumn was concerned.

But she couldn’t shake the fear that Quinn would see Rory and her old feelings would come back.

Autumn sighed, loudly enough that Madison heard her.

“What’s wrong?” Madison asked.

“What were Quinn and Rory like as a couple? You know before everything that Rory did. Did they seem happy? Did they go well together?”

Autumn hated herself for asking the questions and for needing the answers. Madison offered her a knowing look.

“Well, I don’t completely know how to answer that question. They were living in Vegas, and I was here in WaterColor. I honestly only saw them a handful of times while they were a couple.”

Autumn nodded in understanding.

“I would still love your thoughts.”

“They always seemed pretty smitten. But not necessarily in a way that was grounded in reality. Rory is a free spirit. She doesn’t like being tied down.

So, the more they made plans together. The more Quinn tried to build a life with her, the more Rory pulled away.

I don’t think they actually go well together for that reason. ”

“So why do you think Rory is trying to win Quinn back now? After all these months, why not just go about living her own life?”

“I don’t know that Rory understands herself all that well.

I think she sees Quinn on social media in a new place, with new friends, and building a new bar and thinks it all looks like a fun new adventure.

I think there’s also probably a part of her that sees Quinn with a new girlfriend and wonders who you are?

How did Quinn move on so fast? And I’m sure that part of her probably does miss Quinn.

But I don’t think that the two of them together now would be any better than it was before. ”

“What about Quinn and me, do you think we go together?” Autumn shuddered as the words came out of her mouth. She wasn’t prone to insecurity. But when it came to Quinn, Autumn felt like she genuinely had something to lose.

“I think you and Quinn have all the missing pieces that she didn’t have with Rory. And probably more. It’s still early days but being with you has made my friend so ridiculously happy,” Madison said without even a hint of doubt.

“Okay. It’s official. Madison and I are going to meet up with you at the bar tomorrow night. We’re all going to walk in together. Whatever happens, happens,” Jordan announced.

“Sounds fun. I’m in,” Madison grinned.

Autumn’s heart swelled.

“You guys would really do that?” Autumn asked.

“Absolutely. I need a night out. And you need some females to prop you up. I want you to walk in that bar with as much confidence as possible,” Jordan laughed.

Autumn offered the two women a huge smile. She knew that everything was going to work out. But having two strong females in her corner while she stared down Quinn’s ex, certainly couldn’t hurt.