Page 73 of Promised Love
“Hi, Lukas.”
“Hi, Laura.” My interaction with Autumn’s parents has been pretty limited. When they asked me to visit Cherrywood four years ago after her grandfather’s stroke, I was here only for a few hours and promised that I’d visit whenever they were ready for the annulment after Grandpop’s passing.
Two weeks later, I received a call from Autumn’s dad that her grandfather was doing well and had been brought home. We decided to talk about the annulment whenever the unfortunate incident happened in the near future. But that day never came.
“I see your arm is healing well.” Laura looks down at my hand.
I nod and flex my arm. “Yes. It feels almost like before.”
“Why don’t you and Autumn come over for dinner sometime? You’ve never been to our home. Though I must warn you, I don’t cook as well as Suzie.”
“I’ve been eating my own plain cooking for so long that I’m not at all picky when it comes to food.”
Her eyebrows rise. “You cook? I’ll have to tell Jasper. That man is good at everything except cooking. He’s a disaster in the kitchen. The amount of time and energy I have to spend on cleaning and then cooking after him is not worth the pleasure of seeing him fumbling with the pots and pans.”
Laughter spurts out of my mouth at her vivid description. “Then you should keep him out of the kitchen. Maybe put him on a grill instead?”
“Why didn’t I think of that?” When her eyes crinkle, I see a hint of resemblance to Autumn. “We should barbecue when you guys visit us. Let’s plan something soon.”
Laura gives me a wave before getting inside her Mini and driving away.
I knock on Autumn’s door as she’s perched on her office couch, head thrown back and eyes closed. “You look like you’re thinking about global warming.”
A small smile brightens her face when I step inside. “My problems are much simpler than that.”
“Tell me. Maybe I can help.” I flop down next to her and hold her hand in mine.
I absently make small circles on the inside of her wrist with my thumb, but I don’t think she notices it. Her gaze is focused on my face, and I don’t know what she’s searching for. But a moment later, she shakes her head and gives me another smile.
“Nothing. I’m just thinking about our meeting with Vienna Teager.”
I don’t need my training to know she’s lying, but I decide to let it slip this time.
“Vi is really cool, and Zane is my best buddy. We’ll have a great time with them.” I let go of her hand and place a soft kiss on her forehead, letting her know that I’m here if she needs me. “I’ll just freshen up, and then we can leave. Mr. Big and I have inspected a lot of places inhabited by spiders, ticks, and mites.”
She jumps off the couch and starts to shake off her clothes. “And you were sitting so close to me?”
Watching her squeal and flail as she tries to get rid of imaginary insects, I want to hold her in my arms, but I don’t think she’ll approve of it right now. So, I take a step toward her but maintain a good distance between our bodies, enough to avoid any insect transfer, and lean forward. When our faces are close, I whisper, “I won’t let any harm come to you, wife.”
The word slips from my mouth before I can stop it. But once it’s out, I don’t know why it doesn’t feel wrong.
Her lips freeze under mine for a second, and she glances at me with wide eyes. We stare at each other for a few seconds, not knowing how to fix this weirdness. But then she asks, “How? Will you shoot them with your gun?”
The curl of her mouth alerts me that she’s joking, and my thumping heartbeat slowly comes down. “I’ll squish them under my boots,” I grunt like a mountain man.
Her breath hitches. “So cruel!” But the rise in her pulse tells me she isn’t appalled by my caveman theatrics.
“I’ll keep you safe, always.” My heart fucking bursts with joy when she rubs her nose with mine.
“I love hearing that,” she mumbles before giving me a soft kiss that’s over too fast and is too tender, and I make her a promise that she always comes first, above everyone else in my life. Including myself.
* * *
“Finally.” I release a breath from where I’m sitting behind the steering wheel.
“You were missing this so much?” Autumn raises an eyebrow.
“I feel safe when I’m behind the wheel.”