Page 91 of Promised Love

“Thank you,” I reply, forgetting about getting tied up, because this is no less perfect.

When I come out of the bathroom after taking a shower, I find Lukas sitting on his bed, waiting for me.

I quickly put on my shoes and throw my sling bag over one shoulder.

“I’m ready.”

But he doesn’t get up, and I notice a small wooden box in his hands. Lukas looks up at me and gives me a smile before tilting his head to the side, asking me to sit beside him. His hands almost shake when he opens the box, and that scares the hell out of me. Lukas Spencer doesn’t do scared.

“This was my mom’s. She liked collecting antique jewelry.”

I nod, because he’s told me about that. He holds my hand, where my wedding ring sits.

“This is a gimmel ring she had purchased many years back. When I placed it on your finger, I was so nervous. It felt like I was giving away a part of her, a part of me. And she was the best thing in my life…until you came along.”

He then takes out something from the box. A necklace hangs between us with the pendant spinning round and round until I grab it. There are two wolves forming a heart shape and nestled between them is a triquetra symbol.

“I don’t know if it’s true or not, but my mom told me a triquetra interwoven in a circle is a symbol of eternal love. Happy Valentine’s Day, Autumn.”

My brain is too hazy to process everything as Lukas ties the necklace around my neck, and the pendant drops above my blue pullover.

Before I can ask him what this means, what he means by giving me something…eternal, he slides the box into the nightstand drawer and gets up.

“Come on, let’s go. I’m sure you have lots to do at the inn.”

Lukas and I drive in our different cars, as he wants to bring his Jeep to Cherrywood. And all through the ride, in the silence of my car, I can’t stop thinking about the past few hours.

I saw a side of Lukas that wasn’t familiar to me. The vulnerable Lukas Spencer.

A guy who is surrounded by all these people but is truly a loner. Tears run down my cheeks, and I push them away with shaky fingers.

I know this is probably the worst time to cry while I’m driving down the highway, but I’ve lost all control over my emotions.

All the moments, yesterday in the woods, last night in Lukas’ bedroom, and then this morning, each rip a piece of my heart out. The pendant resting over my chest feels heavy, like it’s bearing the weight of Lukas’ loneliness.

When I finally park outside the inn, Lukas is waiting for me, leaning against his jeep. Dressed in his signature leather jacket, which is chestnut colored today, and a black T-shirt peeking out underneath it, he looks impossibly handsome.

He opens my door. “What took you so long?”

“I’m a slow driver,” I reply with a smile, hoping he doesn’t spot the pain I’m trying to hide.

“Autumn. Lukas. Thank God you’re here.” My mom waves at us from the inn’s main entrance, and Lukas and I rush toward her.

“All okay?” I ask upon seeing her this harried.

“It was, but all of a sudden, things seem to be so out of hand.”

“What happened, Mom?”

“We’re overbooked. We’re soon going to be out of food if guests keep coming in at this speed. Suzie is panicking. Two of our waitstaff called in sick.” My mom is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Mr. Big walks out from behind the reception desk and helps me in guiding her to a chair.

“Relax, Mom. Take deep breaths. I’m sure everything will be fine. You stay here and let me check.”

I dash into the dining hall, which looks fuller than I’ve ever seen. Jesus. My hands shake as I run them over my arms.

Chiara is taking orders, and when she returns, she gives me her wowza face.

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