Page 110 of Promised Love
“Oh, no! I love to know people like my work so much. I just don’t know how to say that.”
“You can say thank you.” Gavin’s voice booms, his boring gaze still on Minnie as she turns around.
Her voice trembles as she says, “Thank you so much for picking me up from the airport, Mr. King.”
“I was talking about the fans.” They both continue to stare at each other, and I don’t know why but my heart races. I feel like they’re communicating some secret I shouldn’t be privy to.
I clear my throat and Minnie almost jumps, but Gavin’s arm is as fast as lightning when it wraps around her.
I’m stunned by the contrast of his muscular, colorfully tattooed arm around Minnie’s white shirt and slender waist.
He lets go of her in the next second, and her eyes drop shut. Minnie shivers and goosebumps form on my hand.
What’s going on between these two?
I take a deep breath and clear my throat once more. Minnie opens her eyes, confusion and worry gleaming bright, as if she doesn’t understand what’s happening.
Right back at you, sister.
“As Chiara mentioned, I’m Autumn. This inn belongs to my family. I’m so honored that Maya and Andy chose this place for their wedding. We couldn’t believe it at first.” I try to keep my rising voice in check as excitement fills my veins.
“You have such a beautiful place, and this town, as much as I could see during the drive, is magical.” She smiles.
“Thank you so much. I want to assure you that apart from me, only Chiara, Mr. Big, and of course Gavin, know about your identity. Your secret is safe.”
“Thank you.” She nods before briefly turning to look at Gavin and then quickly looking back at me. “I’m really grateful for all this. It means so much to me.”
A raw emotion vibrates in her voice, one I always hear in her songs. I never realized how much you can experience the feelings she pours into her words.
“I’ll show you to your room, and you can rest.” We take the staircase to the first floor, and Minnie stares at everything with wide eyes.
I open the door to her room. “I hope you like it. You don’t have to go down for meals until other guests arrive tomorrow. This is Mr. Big’s number. He’ll make sure you get whatever you need.”
I’m about to hand the paper to her when Gavin snatches it from me. He grabs a pen from the nightstand and quickly scribbles something. “You call me and no one else. That’s what I’m here for.”
I look at him in confusion. It was his idea that only Mr. Big has direct contact with Minnie, and now he’s looking at me like I did something wrong.
“I don’t have a problem. As Gavin is your head of security, he has a final say in such things…unless you prefer something else.” I give Gavin a cheeky grin.
She shakes her head nervously. “No, Mr. King…is fine.”
“Okay. There’s one more thing I want to show you before we leave.” I walk to the bathroom and open the door. “You share a bathroom with Gavin. This was something Andy insisted upon,” I add, because sharing a bathroom is personal, and I don’t know how Minnie will feel about it.
She nods and then wrings her hands. “I…I’m getting threatening calls and texts.” Her voice quivers and echoes in the bathroom. “Mostly at night.”
“You have nothing to worry about anymore, Mouse,” Gavin bellows and I shiver.
If I was the one sending those calls or texts, I’d stop immediately at the knowledge she has him in her corner.
“I’m so sorry, Minnie. When Andy and Maya visited us, they told me about it. But I know Gavin will keep you safe.”
She nods. “I feel that too.”
We walk to the main room. Unlike me, ready to leave and give our guest privacy to unpack and settle down, Gavin flops onto a wingback chair close to the bed.
“I’ll send some snacks for you,” I tell Minnie, who seems equally surprised by Gavin. “Should I send a plate for you too? Here?” I ask, more to remind him that this isn’t his room.
But he nods before his face hardens. “I have to talk to Minnie more about these calls and texts.” I’m about to turn away when he adds, “She’s a vegetarian.”
