Page 128 of Promise Me

I turn my computer on and get about fifteen minutes of work done before I see Luca pull up in his truck. He hops out, a man I don’t recognize with him. He’s huge though—broad shoulders, maybe six feet tall, and shaggy hair.

He looks familiar.

They both go straight for the door to Mrs. Whittaker’s space-— or well, now Hudson’s, and my curiosity turns to anger in a flash.

Buying that place while knowing I wanted it was cruel. Like Hudson never changed. I feel so stupid and yet, ugh, I want to know why. Why would he go through everything in the last month with me just to screw me over, again?

I don’t get much time to think it over before Miles steps into the bakery.

He looks around and as soon as he spots me, his lips split into a grin.

“Just the woman I was looking for.” He struts toward me.

He sets a folded piece of paper on the table, taps it, and then shoves his hands in his pockets.

“What’s that?”

“It’s for you.”

“Obviously.” I grin.

I don’t move to grab it, and he says, “Read it so I can leave.”

He glances at Brooke, who quickly looks away as if she weren’t watching us.

I open the note. All it says is Marriage of Convenience Margarita.

I read it again and then flip it over as if there’s more information on the backside.

“I don’t get it.”

“Me either, but if you want answers, Hudson is next door.”

At that, he turns and walks out.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

HUDSON

“What did she say?”

Miles shrugs as he walks into the space.

“I don’t know. I left after she read it, like you said.”

“You didn’t wait for her reaction?”

“She asked what it was, and I said to come over here for answers and then left.”

Okay. He’s not wrong. I did tell him to make it short and sweet, so she had to come find me.

I glance around the room where Luca, Carter, Archer, and Linc are all building shelves. I’m not making anything permanent. She was very clear that she wanted to do this on her own, but when she arrives, I want her to see her vision coming to life. I want her to see that I was listening, that I’m still the same guy I have been this past month.

I want her to see how much I love her.

With my friends and family hard at work, I walk to the front window and peek out.

There’s no sign of her leaving the bakery.

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