Page 47 of Promised Love

But even if I tried, I couldn’t look away from Lukas Spencer dressed in a green T-shirt, even in the cold weather. The sun is shining, but intermittently, a gust of wind whips around. I have no idea how he’s not freezing.

“Welcome, Ms. Castellanos,” Mr. Big greets Maya.

She looks around with her burgundy-painted lips curling into a smile. She’s so pretty, standing on the driveway wearing a gray suede skirt and a white turtleneck that matches her long platinum hair.

I take a step toward our guests when Andy pulls Maya closer. She looks up at him, and for a second, they’re lost in each other, in their own world.

A powerful, swoony feeling sparks in the air, and I’m sure no one misses it. The moment Andy proposed to Maya on stage in front of thousands and thousands of guests flashes before me. My chest hurts with foreign feelings. These two are so lucky.

I don’t even know why my gaze drifts to Lukas, but my breath hitches, almost forcing me to take a step back when I find him staring right back at me.

My heart leaps into my throat, and images float before me. In my imagination, Lukas and I exchange places with Andy and Maya. His arm is locked around my waist as if he needs to touch me every waking minute. The way he looks at me, like I’m his whole world.

“I’m sorry,” Maya says, pulling my attention back to the gorgeous couple.

I gulp hard.

“This is so new. I still get carried away sometimes.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and the pink in her cheeks calms my anxiety. She’s exactly like the media describes her: a sweet girl-next-door type.

“Don’t worry, no one blames you,” Chiara squeaks out as she fans her face, earning a chuckle from everyone.

I make quick introductions, telling Maya and Andy that if they decide to use The Butterfly Inn as their venue, they’ll be working closely with Chiara and Mr. Big, in addition to me.

“And this is Lukas Spencer. Lukas is…” The words stop in my throat, and breathlessness strangles my voice. “Um…my husband.”

“Really? Did you guys get married recently?” Maya’s voice pitches higher with excitement.

“Not really. Four years ago.” I spill the words out in a rush, hoping we can wrap this introduction session up soon.

But Maya is suddenly more curious about me and my husband than the inn. “You look so young,” she whispers, almost in amazement.

“Um…” I try to swallow down the nerves, but guess I’m not overly successful.

“I’m sorry for being so intrusive.” Maya takes a hesitant step back, and the drop of her smile is a bad sign before we’ve even started the meeting.

“I was eighteen then,” I explain, burying every anxiety inside.

“So it was a childhood love?”

I look at Lukas, and something flares in those blue eyes for a fraction of a second before a familiar smile returns to his face. He gives me an encouraging nod, which I pass on to Maya.

Childhood love sounds much better than our reality.

“It’s wonderful. None of my friends are married, and I’m so nervous on what to expect and what not to expect when getting married so young. But you were eighteen.” Maya squeezes my hand as if I’m some long-lost childhood friend and not a fan. “I’m only twenty-three, and Andy is twenty-nine. I feel like we’re rushing, and he’ll soon realize I’m too immature.”

God, why is she telling me all this? I’m already nervous about this meeting, but this added pressure of talking to Maya on such a foreign topic is too much. She thinks I’m an expert at age-gap relationships and marriages, unaware that I haven’t experienced even the R of a relationship.

Her nervousness is so contagious that I blurt, “Lukas is twelve years older than me.”

“Seriously?” This time it’s Andy whose eyebrow rise. The celebrity couple almost gapes at Lukas and me before Maya squeezes my hand.

“I’m so happy to meet you, Autumn. We have so much to discuss.”

And I know she’s not talking about the wedding preparations. Crap! What have I done?

Mr. Big leads our guest couple into my office, and my heart hammers hard against my rib cage as I walk next to Lukas.

Chiara mutters from behind us, “Whether Maddy gets married at The Butterfly Inn or not now depends on how good of a husband and wife you are.”

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