Page 31 of Promise Me Never

The truth is his mother was a class A bitch. She acted as though I was dirt under her feet. I know she has money, loads of it. But so what? Just because my family didn’t own a company with a product that’s a household name doesn’t make me nothing. It’s crappy cereal anyway! But she acted as though I was a gold digger. I have no desire to come between anyone, but Bennett already had one foot out the familial door when he met me. Her treatment of me pushed him out the rest of the way.

I heard a horn beep and walked to the window. Henri’s BMW.

“He’s here.”

“Nice manners,” Bennett muttered under his breath.

I put a hand on his arm. “You don’t make him feel very welcome.” I stood on tiptoes to kiss him, and he pulled me closer to him.

“I love you, my Poppy Seed.” It was a silly nickname, but I loved it.

“And I love you.” I put a hand on his chin where the dark stubble was. “I thought you were going to shave.”

He shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about growing it back.”

He was clean shaven when I met him, but I’d seen book jacket photos with a heavy stubble, I think they call them short, boxed beards, and he looked sexy.

“Now’s the time when I’m gone for a couple of days. It won’t scratch me after a few days’ growth.”

He nodded.

The horn sounded again. “Ugh. I gotta go.” I texted Henri that I was on my way down, then zipped up my suitcase. “Can I bring you anything from New York?”

“Only you, safe and sound in one piece.”

| Thirty |

Savannah

Savannah was still shaking when she pulled into the driveway, the note sitting on the seat next to her, an unwelcome passenger. She tried to remember if anyone had been in the parking lot when she pulled up. Upon further reflection, she realized whoever wrote the note had to be some sort of stalker. No one could have known that Savannah would be driving Bennett’s car or even who she was for that matter unless they were following Bennett. It had to be someone close by. But what did it mean? Could it be some deranged fan jealous that Savannah had married him?

She opened the back door and let Finn out and they entered the house. “How about a treat?”

His tail thumped on the floor.

She walked over to the freezer and pulled out the tray containing the yogurt and pumpkin treats she’d mixed up yesterday. She’d done some research on healthy treats for dogs and thought it would be better for him than dried biscuits.

“Sit.”

She opened her hand for him to take the treat she offered. “There you go, love.” He took it without his teeth touching her hand. He was so gentle.

She wanted to tell Bennett about the note but debated whether to disturb him while he was writing. She couldn’t wait. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on his office door. A moment later, he opened it again, blocking her view.

“Savannah, I thought I—”

“Something’s happened. I need to talk to you.”

His brow creased. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Can you please take a minute?” She pushed against the door, but he blocked her.

“I’ll come out. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

A minute later he joined her. “What’s going on?”

She thrust the note at him. “This was on the windshield when I got back to the car. Who could have left this?”

His eyes scanned the note, and he shook his head. “Some crazy fan.”