Page 21 of Promise You Forever

“How do they do in winter here?”

“They do well, but occasionally we have to bring them into the stable where it’s heated. Just on the really cold snaps.”

“Good to know. I’m glad you came over here while I was in the kitchen.”

His eyes snap hopefully to mine. Every time I speak to him, his expression is open and pleading. It’s such a huge change from how he was years ago. I’m unsettled by his newfound openness.

“I spent all of last night looking through Grandma and Grandpa’s finances and paying bills, but I couldn’t find anything for the business. Do you know where they keep that?”

“It’s all in my office. I’ve been running the business side for them the past few years.”

“Oh, really?” I had no idea. I wish I understood why they didn’t tell me. Maybe I would if I actually opened the letter from Grams, but I’m scared. And I’m sad.

“Yeah. I’ll bring it all over tonight. We can sit down, and I’ll walk you through it.”

I give him a nod and watch him turn and walk off down the steps. I hate how attractive everything he does is. Even his gait is hot, the way his long strides are matched by his pushed back shoulders and head held high. Confidence just oozes out of him.

Makes me sick.

I turn away and growl with frustration because that’s just a wishful thought. The sun catches my ring as I reach for the coffee pot again and I stop. Maybe I should take it off. I did basically call off the engagement.

I know I’m not going to marry Brandon. I’m sure he’s off licking his wounds in LA, but it’s likely more just his pride and ego hurt rather than his heart. He didn’t even put up a fight. Our relationship was more about convenience and connections for him than it was about us, especially once I started working at Patrick’s firm.

He was always too busy for a date night in, but if there was a work-related event for me, he was there with all his charm. Always ready to schmooze with the best of them, as long as they had ridiculous amounts of money and may someday need another property. At the beginning, I’d laugh at the jokes that weren’t funny and sip champagne proudly watching him interact with people. But that charm loses its appeal when you realize it’s just a façade.

The sound of Gramps calling out for me jerks me from my melancholy thoughts. I find him in his bedroom at the little table in front of the windows with Jasmine. She gives him a genuinesmile as they play cards, her brown skin wrinkling with joy around her eyes.

“He’s beat me twice in a row,” she says to me. “I think he’s an ornery old cheater.”

Grandpa throws his head back with laughter in a way I haven’t seen him do in years. My heart squeezes, and I blink tears. Happy tears. I didn’t know if I’d get anymore memories with him like this.

“I think you should come try to beat him. I’ve got too much pride to lose three times in a row.” She squeezes my arm as she walks past, her brown eyes meeting mine with understanding.

“Thank you.”

I’ll take this moment and every other I’m lucky enough to have with him.

Eight

LUKE

Eli is sitting on the couch with Charlie curled up beside her watching a movie with Paul and Jasmine when I walk in the house with all the files and my laptop tucked under my arm. Her eyes meet mine in acknowledgment, not cold but definitely not warm, either. I get it, but it doesn’t stop me from wishing she’d look at me the same way she used to. Even the way she would look at me before we started sleeping together would feel better.

“I’m going to take a shower and then we can go over everything,” I say quietly. “There’s a lot, so it might take a bit.”

“Okay,” she says with a slight nod.

I give Jasmine a nod, she’ll probably get Paul to bed and be gone before I’m done cleaning up. Before I even go upstairs, I stop in the laundry room and pull my mud-caked jeans and flannel off. The best thing Paul and Jo did when they built this house was make the back staircase. I’ve walked nearly naked up these steps so many times in the months I’ve lived in the house with them that I’ve lost track.

As I walk past Eli’s door, her scent hits me right in the chest. I pause, dragging the notes of strawberry and rose greedily into my nose. I’ve never forgotten the intoxicating combination of her body wash and shampoo. It’s torturous.

Instead of going into my own room, I walk into hers. I just want to look around, just a quick glance. Her bed is perfectly made but with a Charlie size imprint at the foot. A perfume bottle sits alongside some jewelry on the dresser. It smells expensive and not bad but just not like Eli. I set the bottle down and walk out of the room before she comes up here and finds me half naked and snooping.

I bethebought her the perfume. It smells likeEliana, not Eli. I’ve never been so happy to see a person drive away from the ranch. If I had to listen to him use her full name, his tone dripping with condescension, one more time, I would have put my fist through a wall while wishing it was his face.

I strip out of my remaining clothes and step into the shower, letting the hot water soothe away my irritation. I have to decide how I’m going to approach Eli in terms of working together. Am I going to keep it professional? Respect her relationship?

Knots coil in my stomach as an image of Eli walking down the aisle to him filters through my mind. Everything about it is wrong. My body reacts violently to even the thought of her being with him.

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