Page 58 of Fated Love with You

“What about a new dress to wear tomorrow?” She beams. “For the pictures.”

“I sent them with Miss Jane’s masquerade ball options,” I say. “Did they not come in?”

“We must’ve overlooked them.” She hugs me tightly before rushing inside the house.

Walking inside, I loosen my tie and see Autumn standing near the main room with her arms crossed.

Even in grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt, she’s fucking stunning.

“Hello, Autumn,” I say.

“Mr. Rochester.”

“I hate when you call me that.”

“Adele was a total joy to be with while you were away, Mr. Rochester.” She avoids looking into my eyes. “I requested that one of your men pick up a birthday gift for her on my behalf, since I couldn’t leave, and he should be back with it any minute now.”

“I appreciate that.”

“She’s far ahead on all her classwork, Miss Foglienne had zero critiques from her playing this week, and her swim teacher is impressed with her progress.”

“Can I get a similar update on you?”

“I believe I’ve finally earned an off day,” she says. “I would like to go to my Airbnb and get some things. Goodnight, Mr. Rochester.”

“Autumn…” I grab her wrist before she can walk away, gently pulling her forward so she has to face me.

Her cheeks flush pink, betraying her formalities, but I play along.

“What’s on your mind today, Miss Jane?”

“Staying alive.”

I arch a brow. “Did something happen while I was away?”

“No.” She shakes her head, and I try to glean her eyes for the truth, but she seems to be telling it. “Nothing happened.”

“Then why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“What are we, Ryder?” she asks. “Like outside of me being a temporary nanny and doing things for your business here and there... What is this between you and me?”

“You need a title?”

“I need some guarantees... I need to know you’re not just using me or setting me up to be the fall girl.”

“I see…” I make a mental note to check her phone records, to see who the hell she’s been talking to. “I’m not setting you up to be a fall girl, Autumn.”

“And you’re not just using me for sex.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve had sex…” I thread my fingers through her hair. “But no, I’m not using you for that either.”

“Then what is this? Was the whole point of you pursuing me just to keep me as an employee?”

To keep you around me… “No, Autumn.”

“And I can’t sever the job from just being with you, so I just—I’m really trying to understand why I?—”

“Stop.” I press a kiss against her lips mid-sentence, tasting what I’ve been thinking about every day since I left.