Page 29 of Promised Love

“That’s wonderful!” Grandma claps before she throws a discreet wink to her husband.

These two are trouble for me and experts at getting what they want.

“Then we’ll let you rest. We have to arrange the house and prepare the guest room for the both of you.” Grandma is already getting up to leave.

“I’m not moving back to the house.” Autumn’s hands are curled into fists, resting by her side.

I know she moved into one of the suites at the inn only a few months back. She even sent me pictures of her and her best friend, Chiara, having a housewarming dinner.

“Autumn, your husband needs you.”

And as much as I want to stop my brain, I can’t help but imagine Autumn fussing over me, taking care of me.

“I can move to the inn if there’s a room available,” I provide.

“Not at all. You are husband and wife. You need to live together.” Grandma stands up and plants her fists firmly on her waist.

“If you don’t mind, Lukas, you can move into Autumn’s suite,” Jasper says. He presses his lips into a thin line. I’m sure he isn’t pleased with this development, but it’s not an easy task to convince the grandparents when it comes to this promise.

Laura’s eyebrows furrow. “But there’s not even a kitchen there.”

“If I really care about my husband, it’s better that I don’t cook for him.”

There’s a moment’s silence, and my heart thrashes like I’ve run a mile.

My husband.

She’s called me many things. Mr. Spencer. Lukas. Daredevil. SEAL.

But never this.

I’m still coming out of the surprise, not only because of what she said but how her words felt, when Autumn’s family bursts into laughter.

“That might be good, tums.” Jasper’s hand rests over her shoulder.

Autumn’s family leaves with a promise they’ll have everything ready for me at the inn when it’s time for me to leave, and now it’s just the two of us in the room. But I know Connor would have stationed some of our guys around the hospital. Maybe two in the waiting room. Two hanging around the reception desk, and even one on the street.

“Is it weird?” Autumn’s words break my chain of thought.

“I…don’t understand.” I glance at her as she pulls her hair out of her ponytail and starts combing it with her fingers.

“Seeing me after all these years.”

“I’m surprised. You grew up so much,” I blurt without thought. Her slender fingers hypnotize me. But when her hands halt, I get my senses back. “Your emails and letters still read like before.”

“So I’ve grown up physically, but mentally, I’m still sixteen.”

It’s a challenge to keep my gaze focused on her face as she bites her bottom lip, clearly amused by her statement.

“I didn’t say that. I mean you’ve grown up.”

“But only physically?”

“God, Autumn, can you stop saying that word?” I close my eyes, struggling to think of her as the teenager I met four years ago. But when I look at her again, I smile as she shakes, trying to hide her laughter.

“I’m sorry about this.”

I shake my head. “They wouldn’t be your grandparents if they didn’t put us in uncomfortable situations. But they did one good thing.”

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