Page 129 of Promised Love

“You told them?” I ask Autumn after her parents’ car leaves the inn’s parking lot.

“I wanted to show you that what you consider your biggest disadvantage, is irrelevant to most people. They love you for who you are.” I pull her into my arms and soak up her words, burying them in my memory. I know it won’t happen overnight, but I eventually do want to believe what she’s saying.

When we walk back into the dining room, it’s only Gavin, Minnie, and Chiara, who’s grilling the superstar, asking anything and everything in a hysterical voice.

“Minnie is going to regret staying here,” Autumn whispers before she calls Chiara. “Chi, can you help me with something over here.”

Chiara makes an annoyed sound and lumbers toward us. I give Autumn’s hand a squeeze before walking to the round table to meet Gavin.

“Can I have a word with you?” I ask.

“I can’t leave Minnie,” he drawls, saying the words I never thought I’d hear from his mouth.

“Excuse me?” My eyebrows rise more in confusion than surprise.

“I can’t leave her in the room alone,” he explains, which makes slightly more sense, but I still don’t understand what dangers he’s expecting in this room.

“It’s about work. Can we at least move aside?” I nod to a corner before glancing at our famous singer, who’s staring at her coffee. “Minnie, I don’t mean to sound rude, but for our clients’ safety, I prefer we discuss our work in private.”

She nods. “I understand, Mr. Spencer.”

I’m having a hard time imagining this timid girl as a singing icon. If I had to guess who could be Dreamcatcher among the three girls in this room, she’d probably be my last.

“You don’t want to talk about work.” Gavin crosses his arms over his chest as we stand next to the coffee table. “There’s no interesting case right now. Connor is going crazy with boredom. He might start looking at the old unsolved case files just for fun.”

“That’s true.” I release a deep breath. “I want to thank you for—”

“For pulling your head out of your ass,” he finishes, and as usual, there isn’t a grin on his face.

I nod. “Whose idea was it?”

“Hers, of course. I told her multiple times that you’re not worth burning a barn for, but she won’t listen.” He shrugs, eliciting a chuckle out of me.

“I have no doubt you would have said that.”

“You know I don’t sugarcoat, Spencer.” Gavin grabs my shoulder. “So take it seriously when I say she really wanted to be inside that barn. She didn’t want you to think that everyone was tricking you. Only when I said that I wouldn’t even consider it did she begrudgingly agree.”

My mouth goes dry and my legs weak just imagining what could have happened if Autumn hadn’t agreed. “Thanks a lot, man.”

“So, is there anything more you want to discuss about work, or can I go back to the table?” He raises an eyebrow.

“What are you still doing here anyway?”

“I took the case from Andy Bruno.” He shrugs and looks away.

“What case?” My curiosity is piqued when Gavin’s face hardens.

“Minnie’s. I’ll find out who’s threatening her, and then I’ll make him pay for everything he’s put her through. By the time I’m done with him, he’ll regret the moment he ever heard her name.” Gavin storms past me and flops back into his seat with his arm curling around the back of Minnie’s chair.

Have I done the right thing in assigning someone like Gavin to Minnie?

EPILOGUE

LUKAS

“You won’t tell me where we’re going, even now?” Autumn asks after taking a sip from her bubble tea as she leans against my bike.

I shake my head, trying to bite back my smile. It’s been two weeks since the fire, and my life couldn’t be happier.

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