Chapter 6—Autumn Love

She took a deep breath, removed her clothing, and let the hot water beat down on her in the shower. Once she was finished and her body warmed from the water, she got ready for bed, hoping to be able to sleep through the night.

She slid into his NAVY sweatshirt, not expecting to hear from him until she made the next move. She pulled the comforter up to her shoulders, and she gently closed her eyes. She followed the bright red colors along the trail to Fitz's open arms. From the time her eyes closed until the knocking on the door the next morning, she dreamed of only him.

Fitz knew Olivia was in there. Her car was still parked outside the cabin. It wasn't like her to miss their morning walk time, unless she thought he was upset with her, which was the farthest thing from the truth.

Fitz was able to have his best night's sleep, having planned the perfect morning for Olivia. He took a test drive before dusk the night before to see the view from Overlook Bridge. All the trees they walk through every morning could now be seen from above. Even Fitz's breath was taken away by the colors he could see from up there.

He settled down in bed, anticipating the moment he saw Livvie's face when she reached the top of Overlook Bridge, he closed his eyes. He approached her standing on the bridge, looking at the colors. Her face glowing from the sunlight and the colors. He approaches her and she cuddles into the forms of his arms. From the time Fitz closed his eyes, he dreamed of only this.

Now, as he knocked on the door, for about five minutes, he began to grow concerned. He heard footsteps racing to the door, and he took a sigh of relief.

She swung the door open, then looked down at her wardrobe. She looked back up at Fitz and he was smirking. "Well, I recognize that sweatshirt, Ms. Pope."

Olivia looked away embarrassed. "Yeah, I kind of claimed it as my own , Mister. What are you doing here?"

"Are you not ready for our walk?" Fitz seemed disappointed.

"Uh, yeah, um, just let me get ready. I thought since I ran….never mind, give me five minutes." She closed the door and quickly threw on some clothes, leaving her NAVY attire as the outside item.

Liv was surprised when he led them to his car. "I thought we were going on a walk." Liv seemed confused.

"We are, just with a different view."

When they approached, on foot, the locked gate, Olivia seemed disappointed. She turned back to him. "That would have been an amazing view to stand on the bridge and see the trees."

"Well," he said approaching her slowly, "you know this is still part of Grant property and", he reached in his pocket, "I happen to have the key to the gate."

Olivia's eyes widened as she watched him unlatch the lock and open the gate. She grabbed his hand and walked slowly to the middle of the bridge. She looked over the edge. "My gosh, Fitz, look at all the colors." She pointed down. "Can you point out the Sycamore?"

Fitz was looking, his eyes moving all around. He shook his head. "I think you got me there, Livvie. I can't tell."

Liv said "Look out and glance to your left, you see the red leaves, like all the red leaves?"

"Ok" he said.

"Now look directly behind those red leaves. You should see the…"

"The brown and yellow of the Sycamore leaves. I do see it now Liv." Fitz smiled as if he received a hundred on his test.

"Do you have your phone?" Liv asked him.

"I do, but you're not going to get much reception up here."

"I don't need reception, just the camera. Let's take some selfies with this backdrop."

Fitz leaned up against the railing as Liv put her back to his chest. They were cheek to cheek smiling, with the colors of fall behind them. Liv then stuck her tongue out and Fitz went cross eyed for a silly picture. Then Fitz rested his chin on her shoulder, and she tilted her head on his smiling at the camera. They were a picture-perfect couple and Liv asked Fitz if she could send a pic to her mother.

Just cover your ears after I send it. You may hear her scream from New York. I will be sure to tell her this is your number, so she doesn't call back."

"I don't mind having a conversation with mom." Fitz shrugged.

They spent the next hour admiring the view from above. Fitz left for a few minutes to get the basket of lunch and they sat amongst the backdrop of treetops eating and talking.

Olivia apologized for her behavior the day before, and Fitz wouldn't hear it. "It's fine Livvie, like I said, your terms." He was laying sideways now on the picnic blanket with his arm holding up his head. Liv leaned in and rubbed her thumb over his eyebrow where she had taken the stitches out.

"Not even a little scar." She looked down at him.

"That's because I had a great caretaker." He rubbed her shoulder gently.

She put her hand on his cheek, resting it there and leaned in for a kiss. Fitz returned it slowly, softly, and Liv felt her heart begin to pound out of her chest. As she leaned in closer, she could now feel his erection and he knew now that she felt it.

He blushed. "Sorry, Livvie, you just do so much to me, to my body."

"Fitz" she whispered, "take me back to the cabin."

He nodded his head, as she cleared up the mess from the picnic. She took one last look at the view and within minutes they were outside her cabin door.

She turned to him, pulled him in for another kiss as she opened her door. She directed him right to the bedroom as she pulled off her layers of tops exposing her breasts. She then pulled off his shirt, exposing his beautiful chest, that she leaned in and kissed, down to the opening of his pants.

He unbuttoned his pants, stepping out of them and releasing his rock-hard erection, as Olivia joined him in nudity. She continued the onslaught of his lips and pushed him gently onto the bed, so she was on top.

She felt the tip of his dick at her entrance, and she whispered in his ear. "I am on the pill, never took myself off it." She moved her hips and with a thrust, she had him in her, and she closed her eyes with a moan of desire.

His big, soft hands were resting on her shoulder blades, closed around her back, just moving with her rhythm. She met his lips once more, and during the intercourse, she kept her lips locked on his, swirling tongue for tongue.

Fitz felt her walls tighten, saw her throw her head back, with her eyes closed, as her body quivered in delight. Once, the shaking subsided, Fitz turned her to her back, gave a few thrusts, as he felt himself lose himself inside her. He mumbled what he thought was incoherent at what a "goddess she was." He wasn't lying. Being inside her gave him a feeling he never felt with any other woman. The main thing, the love making was so gentle, and he knew that helped her.

He pulled out several minutes later and just lay next to her, his chest resting on hers to the side, just staring at one another.

"Are you ok, Livvie?"

"MMM, I am more than Ok. I am so in love with you Mr. Grant." She opened her eyes, she saw his gray eyes looking at her, slightly squinting. "You hear me?" she said, squinting back. "I love you Fitz," and tears streamed down her cheeks as he pulled her to his chest.

"You brought so much out that was buried inside of me. My love for medicine, my passion of painting, and the ability for my heart to beat for someone else. I have fallen so in love with you. You treat me with such respect, such softness, calling me a goddess. What man does that? You're a gem." She stopped and just held her forehead in her hand.

"Oh Olivia, Livvie," he lifted her chin up to meet his yes. "I love you too, baby, I have since that moment on the bench and the tiny leaf. He cradled her in his arms as they met each other's lips again.

They made love well into the darkness of night. Liv tried to remember the count but stopped after three. At one point, while she was holding him, her hand rubbing slowly on his back, he looked up at her. She was barely awake when he asked her the question he'd been holding on to.

"How did you know about my trip to the Caribbean?" When he didn't get an answer, he looked again, and she was sound asleep still rubbing his back. He switched positions and rested her head on his chest. She didn't wake at all as he gobbled her up in his arms. She looked so peaceful as if this was the only place she belonged.

Liv woke up first to the morning sun. Her eyes opened and she moved her hand to feel the warmth of his chest. She smiled against his chest, and began kissing his stomach up to his chest, to his chin, and she felt him look down.

"Hi", he whispered.

"Hi you." She whispered back.

"I just want to stay here all day." She whined, "can we just stay here all day?"

"Are you hungry?"

She shrugged. "Not yet." She tightened her grip around his chest. His phone began to buzz on the nightstand as he reached for it. She buried her forehead in his chest. "Awww, don't get it." He looked at the display.

"I have to." He continued to hold her as he answered.

"Dad", he said picking it up. Liv heard muffled words, his father sounding pissed. "Ok, yeah, I got it. I'll take care of it." Fitz tried to hurry the call. Liv heard his father go on some more. "I'm not sure, I'll find out. Ok, have a safe trip. Call me when you get there, I'll have answers." Some more from his father. "Bye Dad."

"Everything ok? That sounded intense."

"Yeah, one second." He dialed a number. "Adam, get Jake on the first flight here. Book the flight first then call Jake with the details. Don't tell him I requested to see him, play it as though you need his help." Fitz felt Liv pull away and he tried to grab her back, but she turned to her side. "Ok, Adam, yeah, call me back with the details. Thank you."

"Hey, Liv, what happened, what's going on?"

"Jake is coming back?" She wouldn't even turn to look at him.

"Yeah, he's fucking up the Chicago resorts. 12 units damaged in two weeks; my father is going crazy. My father wants to fire him, but he's on his way to Thailand to get groundbreaking on a resort there. I operate this resort, Chicago, and Santa Barbara. Turns out Jake thinks I am partying on Islands and didn't think to call me."

"Are you going to fire him?" Liv finally turned and looked at Fitz.

"I don't think so, I am the type who would like to hear him out, but he is paying for the damage he let happen. There's more to this though, what is it."

Liv shrugged. "Jake said some things, when I was on the bench, about you. He told me you were going to party with all the women on the Islands. Then he told me you were in your office breaking a woman's heart and to watch the scene unfold. So, when you came out with a crying Jennifer, I thought it was what Jake said."

"He's a son of a bitch. I am sorry Liv, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I thought I would never see him again. He called me names, "Leaf Lady" I know he thinks I am weird, but he left his card saying if I ever wanted a real man to give him a call."

Fitz remembers picking up the card. He shook his head. "I can't believe him, no wait, I can believe him. He won't ever bother you again, Liv, I promise." He leaned down and kissed her. "Jake is jealous because I always get what he wants. I am not using you as a prize though Livvie. I'll take care of this."

As Fitz got up, despite Liv trying to keep him down, he walked towards the bathroom. He took a quick glance into the art room and froze. "Livvie."

She joined him, standing next to him, her arms folded, looking at the paintings. He looked at her and walked into the room. He stopped in front of the ones with his eyes. "Are those?"

She shrugged not walking in with him. "Your eyes, yeah, they consumed me the first time we met in the lobby. I told you I was in love with you, and I couldn't paint until I got you out of my head."

He smiled. "And now? Am I out of your head?"

"No, but I'm yours right?"

He walked back to her. He hugged her. "All mine. Only mine, and I am yours."

"Then, I can continue, because all I could think about was you, I told you that. I hope you don't think I am weird, like Jake does. Oh, and he didn't tell me about Elaine and Samantha, I overheard Adam talking to your father when you were near dead in the woods."

"Stop, and don't say his name, ever. You are not weird. You're beautiful, and talented, and amazing, and if I keep going, I'll never get ready." He looked over at the big blank canvass. "What's that one for?"

"That one is for the final painting. When I am finished, I will observe all the paintings and put it together as one. That canvass will be why I came to Vermont, and it will reveal the change in my life that I so desperately searched for."

He heard his phone buzz with a text. He looked at it. "Jake is on the plane, let me get ready." He kissed Liv deep on the lips. "I love you." He said before he stepped into the shower.

She used the time while he was getting ready to paint the view from the bridge. She closed her eyes, imagining all the beautiful colors from above. She thought of Fitz pointing to the tree and it gave her a starting point.

It was difficult to combine all the colors, using the memory of being above, but Liv was trying. This was why her small canvasses were her drafts, so if mistakes were made, she didn't include it in her final painting.

She remembered the bridge, and she began to paint that by memory, she had it close to the Autumn sky she had created, but she was sure not to put any figures on the bridge. She just wanted it as what it's purpose was, to overlook the trees.

She stopped, having only the sycamore tree from above, and the bridge painted with the sky. Her lip curled up, not satisfied with the picture at all. She should be getting better color from what she saw from above.

"Wow", she heard Fitz say. He was standing in the doorway behind her. She had been so consumed in her painting; she didn't even hear him come out of the shower. He was fully dressed too, she must have really been lost in her thoughts.

"Thank you, but I am not happy with it." She shrugged.

"The way you just painted that bridge, that was just, amazing. It looks so real life also. One day I am going to plant my behind down and just watch you paint all day. Is that OK, Livvie?" He walked in the room and put his arms around her neck, resting them on her chest.

She grabbed his hands, lifting one to kiss it. "If you want to bore yourself, sure. I am going to shower. You heading back to the office?"

"Yeah, I want to be there when he gets there, although I still have another hour."

She pulled him down for a kiss. "I'll see you later. I love you, Mister Grant." Her kiss was deep and he didn't want to let her go.

He pulled back. "Oh Livvie, how I love you, too, now go, get your shower, before I don't leave."

Liv had grown bored, and she packed a small bag of salad and some apple cider. She figured she would leave the bag with Adam, so Fitz had a snack. After all, she had cut their picnic short, and they hadn't eaten since then. She figured she would hang in the café while he finished up with Jake.

Adam was tending to a customer when she walked in, and she pointed to the lobby chair. He nodded, as she sat down until he was finished. She noticed Fitz's door was closed, so she assumed Jake was already in there.

She didn't hear the door open, despite and tinkle of the bell. She was staring out the window watching some leaves fall with the wind. It wasn't until he began talking that the chill of disgust ran through her body, and she realized he snuck up on her.

"Leaf Lady, I thought you'd have been long gone by now. Told you Fitz wouldn't be around for you." Jake sat next to her, getting just a bit too close to comfort. Liv squirmed and moved over in her seat, still staring out the window.

Jake looked at what she was staring at. "Aww, look at all the leaves flying away from their homes, does that make you sad?" Jake laughed.

Liv had enough and went to stand to walk away. Jake grabbed her shoulder. "Whoa, calm down there, beautiful, I was just joking with you."

Jake, and Olivia, for that matter, had no idea Fitz was watching it all unfold from the cameras in his office. He watched as Jake approached her and could tell how uncomfortable she was the moment he sat next to her.

When his hand touched her shoulder, Fitz's face flushed with anger. He had known Jake for 20 years, and he knew what kind of man he was, but now he was treading in the wrong water.

Before Liv could say a word, Fitz's door flew open. "JAKE, I'LL SEE YOU NOW!"

Jake's head flew around, startled by Fitz's yell. Olivia looked around, it was just her and Adam as the customers had left the lobby.

"Fitz", Jake said nervously, "I thought you were in..."

"Well, I'm not and we have some talking to do." His eyes never left Olivia's who nodded to assure him she was fine.

"Why didn't you go on your trip?" He stopped and looked back at Olivia. She was staring back at him squinting.

She walked up to Fitz, as Jake slowly followed. She handed Fitz the bag. "I thought you may like a little snack." She kissed his lips gently, but his eyes were now focused angrily on Jake.

"Thank you, baby, I'll see you later."

He walked into his office, as Olivia headed to the café, nodding to Jake with a wave.

Jake swallowed hard as Fitz waited for him in the doorway. "Come on in Jake." Fitz slammed the door hard as Adam just stood there wondering what just happened.