Page 76 of Beau & Autumn

I put my hand on the mirror, scooping it up into my hands as she shrieks. “You mean this little guy?” I turn to face her, grinning.

“I swear to God, if you throw that at me, or even pretend to throw it, you’ll be feeling the wrath of Fifty Shades with my fists.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Sounds promising, Wifey. I didn’t know you were into that, but okay.”

“This isn’t funny! Take it outside!” She covers her eyes with her arm and I move toward the door.

“I’m going, I’m going.” She steps out and follows behind me, keeping her distance. “What are you doing?”

“I’m making sure you put it outside and not into the pot plant or something. I’ll come back in here in the morning, and it’ll be staring me in the face while I brush my teeth.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re hilarious. Go back in the bath, I’ll put him outside. Scouts honor.”

She watches on, but stops walking. “I don’t get how any sane person could just pick that up in their hands.” She shakes her head, trying to fathom such a travesty.

“You’re in the country now, baby girl. Us southern men do things the manly way.”

She rolls her eyes as I disappear outside, chuckling the whole way as I let the little guy go free.

21

Autumn

We’re off to Memphis without a hitch, we’ve managed to keep our wedding news at bay. I originally planned to call them straight away, but I quickly realized I would rather tell my parents and gran in person. Of course Anton knows, but I know he’ll keep it to himself until we get there. I don’t think Anton will have too many qualms with Beau, they’ve met here and there over the years I’ve known him, and heard me talk about him. So it’s not exactly like I’ve married a stranger.

However, when we’re finally at my parents’ place after a three hour drive, we pretty much launch straight into it after we’re served some sweet tea and shortbread on my parents back porch. Gran has come around to see us, so at least we don’t have to recap it all over again. Anton hasn’t arrived yet.

Mom almost drops her teacup when she sees the wedding bands and knows we’re not joking. She almost chokes. “You what?”

“Yes, it must come as a shock, I know.” Beau tries to fill in the gaps, especially when my dad sits there unmoving. “But we’re in love, Mr and Mrs Davenport. Autumn and I couldn’t wait a second longer.”

“But you’ve only been dating a few weeks?” My dad scrunches his brow. I’ve been told dad and I have similar features, it’s in our eyes. Mine are the same blue as his and he’s definitely the reason for my olive complexion.

Looking at his concerned face now though, his lips in a firm line and his hands on his hips, I can see that from Beau’s point of view he can be pretty intimidating even if they’ve always gotten along. That was obviously before Beau married his daughter without his knowledge.

“But we’ve known each other for several years now,” I say. “It was just a whirlwind romance, Daddy. I’m so happy.” I even throw my arms around his neck as he reciprocates my hug, patting me on the back.

Gran turns to Beau with a surprised smile on her face. “You’re married?” She gasps.

We both hold up our left hands as if to say, ‘guilty as charged’.

“Autumn, what brought this on?” Gran asks, the perplexion on her face showing as her eyebrows knit tightly together.

“Well, Beau and I have been friends for years, Gran, and we started dating a few weeks back, quickly realizing how we’ve had these feelings for a very long time. We just never acted on them.”

She raises her eyebrows in surprise and looks alongside her to where Beau sits. He gives her an almost shy smile.

“It’s true,” he says. “The more time we spent together, the more we realized.”

“It’s just so soon!” my mom chimes in. “I mean, Autumn, didn’t you think to talk to your family first?”

“We got caught up in the moment, Mom.” I don’t know how many times a person can go to Hell in one lifetime, but I’m sure to be getting a one way ticket at the rate I’m going.

“Getting caught in the moment is a far stretch from marrying someone!” She flicks her head towards Dad. “Say something, Chase!”

Chase Davenport, the most renowned and respected real estate tycoon the south has ever seen, sits back as I pull away from him and back to my seat. He’s contemplating Beau with his forefinger and thumb pressing into the side of his face.

“You love my daughter?” he says simply.

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