Page 39 of Promised Love

The Butterfly Inn is cute; some might even say grand, at least for Cherrywood. It hasn’t been long since Zane got married here.

It was a miracle that Autumn’s family had to go out just on that particular day. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have been sulking like a teenager dragged to a family function against his wishes. I would have taken my responsibility as a best man more seriously, even though Zane’s wedding wasn’t real, at least not at the time.

“Maya apparently wants a small, low-profile family and friends gathering. I think she saw some wedding pictures of the inn posted by a food blogger on her social media. It was the wedding where none of us were here. Do you remember I wrote about it in my email?”

I nod.

Talk about a small world.

“This is why I’m nervous. Even though I handled all the preparation and planning, the actual event was handled by someone else. Maybe it was the wedding planner and how she executed everything—”

“Believe me, she wasn’t that great.” The words slip out as I remember the woman who found numerous reasons to fix my tie throughout the ceremony.

Autumn’s eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean?”

I release a shaky breath. “I was here that day for the wedding. Zane Teager is my best friend.”

“You…were…here? How?” She jerks in her seat. “Why did no one tell me?”

“Autumn, nobody knew about me at that time except Mr. Big, and I…asked him not to tell anyone.”

“I can’t believe this.” She shakes her head. “That was possibly the only day I remember in my life when neither Mom nor I were here for a function.” She stays quiet for a while and then whispers, “We could have met sooner.”

And I know what she means. Despite us being married, it feels like I’m meeting her for the first time. She’s still unfamiliar in so many ways.

When I read her emails, she always seemed like the eighteen-year-old I met. But right now, dressed in a baby-blue sweater and white pants, she’s beautiful, charming, and mature. Someone I could talk to all night. If I’d have met this girl in a bar or a restaurant, I might have asked her out.

She collects her hair and ties it into a bun. As much as I hate myself for it, I want to touch the silky strands that escape and frame her round face.

“But I’m here now,” I blurt and immediately jerk back.

Her eyes widen as if she didn’t expect me to say that.

I look away from her face, which is hypnotizing, casting some spell on me, tearing my sanity.

How the heck did we end up like this? What were we discussing before the cold night air turned hot and sweaty?

Yes, about her celebrity guests.

“If you like, I can accompany you when they’re here? I’ll probably be out of this fucker by then.” I cock my head toward the sling around my arm.

“Would you do that? Join the meeting?” Her voice squeaks.

“Yes, why not? But only if you’d like.”

“You’d be perfect. Looking at your serious face and muscular body, they probably won’t be brutal with me in the case that the inn turns out completely opposite their expectations.”

“My face and muscles are at your service whenever you need them.”

Autumn smiles. “Thanks.”

And after that, there was no reason for us to stay outside in the cold night.

“Let’s go in,” I say and my heart races as I get up. Autumn’s hesitant gaze follows my movements. I don’t feel like a thirty-four-year-old or a daredevil right this moment, but more like a teenager as I step inside. “I—”

“You—”

And then we’re both quiet.

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