Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“Never,” he growls, his arms tightening around me. “You’re mine now, my sweet girl. And I’m never letting you go.”
We spend the rest of the day by the fire, sipping coffee and talking about everything and nothing. Shep curls up at our feet, his tail wagging lazily as if he knows he’s finally got his family. And for the first time in years, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Later that evening, the fire crackles softly, casting a warm glow over the cabin as the day winds down. Finn sits across from me, his gaze steady and intense as he watches me sip my tea. There’s a quiet contentment in the air, a sense of belonging that I didn’t know I was missing until now.
“You’re staring,” I tease, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Can’t help it,” he says, his voice low and rough. “You’re too damn beautiful.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, but I don’t look away. “You keep talking like that, and I might start to believe you.”
“Good,” he says, his lips quirking into a smirk. “Because it’s the truth.”
He stands and crosses the room in a few easy strides, pulling me to my feet and wrapping his arms around me. “Dance with me,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.
“There’s no music,” I point out, though my hands are already finding their way to his shoulders.
“We don’t need it,” he says, swaying gently as he pulls me closer.
The world fades away as we move together, the only sound the soft crackle of the fire and the steady rhythm of our breathing. His hands slide down to rest on my hips, his thumbs brushing against my skin in a way that sends shivers down my spine.
“You make me feel alive,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple.
I tilt my head up to look at him, my heart swelling at the raw emotion in his eyes. “You make me feel like I’m finally home,” I whisper back.
“Damn, right. Because I’m never letting you leave. Me and Shep are claiming you.” His lips find mine, soft and slow at first, but quickly building into something more urgent. He lifts me effortlessly, carrying me to the couch and laying me down with a tenderness that takes my breath away.
As he hovers over me, his eyes searching mine, I realize that this—he—is what I’ve been searching for all along. A love that’s real and messy and beautiful in its imperfection. A love that feels like coming home.
And for the first time in years, I let myself believe that I deserve it.
Chapter Sixteen
Finn
Living with Tessa the last few weeks is a paradox. It’s both chaos and calm, like a sudden spring storm followed by clear skies. Her laughter echoes through the cabin like sunlight breaking through clouds, warming corners of my life I didn’t even realize were cold. I should be annoyed—scratch that, I am annoyed—but not at her. At myself. For how easily she’s tangled herself into my life, rearranging everything I thought I wanted.
She’s in the kitchen now, humming some pop tune under her breath as she fusses over a plant she’s placed on the windowsill. She has a knack for it—making things grow. The stubborn green shoots in her hands seem to bend toward her touch like she’s some kind of plant whisperer.
I lean against the doorway, my arms crossed. “If I’d known my cabin was going to turn into a greenhouse, I might’ve reconsidered this mail-order bride arrangement.”
She doesn’t look up, but her lips twitch into a smirk. “You’re welcome, by the way. Without me, this place would still look like a rugged miner’s bachelor cave.”
“It is a miner’s bachelor cave.”
“Correction,” she says, her voice teasing. “It was. Now it’s a home.”
A home. The word lands heavier than I expect, settling somewhere in my chest. I glance around the cabin, taking in the small changes she’s made—her sweater draped over the back of a chair, a vase of wildflowers on the counter, Shep’s new habit of curling up near her feet instead of mine. It’s different, sure, but... better. Warmer.
I grunt, walking into the room. “You’re lucky Shep likes you. Otherwise, I might’ve kicked you out by now.”
She finally looks up, arching a brow. “Shep knows a good thing when he sees it. You could take notes.”
I can’t help but laugh, low and rough. “You’re starting to sound like you enjoy being here.”
Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t back down. “Maybe I do.”
The admission hangs between us, charged and electric. I clear my throat, turning toward the back door. “C’mon,” I say gruffly. “I’ve got something for you.”
“For me?” She follows, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.” I push open the door, leading her outside to where I’ve been working for the past few evenings. The handcrafted birch planter sits near the porch, its wood smooth and polished, ready for whatever flowers or herbs she decides to grow.