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“I can help you take them to her,” he offered again.

“Nah, a cup holder is fine.”

I’d been in Bliss Peak long enough to know Sincere was taken, three times over. And yet, the thought of anybody but me hand-delivering True’s favorite things had my blood running hot in my veins. I wanted to be the one who gave her this.

With a nod, he reached under the counter and pulled a cupholder out. Then he sat each cup inside. “There you go. See you next time.”

I gathered everything in my hands and dropped a cash tip in the box by the register. When I walked through the door leading to the book store, my eyes found True right away.

She was hard to miss and I took my time appreciating her before she noticed I was here. It was becoming my favorite thing to do.

There she was.

In brown corduroy pants, a cream sweater and brown leather loafers she seemed to like more than most things. Her red hair was back in its naturally curly state and pulled into a puff at the top of her head.

She was so beautiful.

“Okay and how will you be paying for this today?” Goldyn’s voice snapped me into action and I was rushing to close the distance before True could reach in her pocket.

True’s expression went from shock to smug in a matter of seconds once I put the money on the counter.

“Just so you know, I was gonna use your credit card before you swooped in here.”

Fuck. She wanted to spend my money. Why did that turn me on?

“And now you can use it for something else because I still don’t want it back.” I kissed her nose. Sheletme.

True went to get Ms. Ruby and I ran my gaze over the bags of books we needed to take to the car. When she was back at the counter, I gave her the cup holder and grabbed all the bags. She didn’t protest and let me lead her and her grandma outside to my truck.

“It’s gonna snow,” Ms. Ruby said as True helped her into the SUV. “I can feel it in my hip.”

Itdidsnow. A full week earlier than the town had been expecting. The first flurries came down when True and I passed the resort on our way home four hours ago.

Now, we were on the living room floor while a fire Noah started, burned in the fireplace. Noah was in his room. Duchess was on the lowest level of her cat tree in the corner of the living room, knocked out. And True sat in front of me, with her legs crossed and a tipsy smile on her face.

There wasn’t a feeling I could name to rival how I felt now that everyone was under one roof. Me, Noah, True and Duchess. Even without us being in the same room, something in me felt settled. At peace.

“Do you want to see the books you bought me today?” True grabbed the bags, tugging at their handles before I could reply and I watched it all with a lazy smile.

After taking Ms. Ruby home, she convinced us to stay for a late lunch. Lunch turned into three hours with True’s grandparents around a kitchen table, telling me things I never would have thought to ask her. The more I learned, the more questions I tucked away to ask her when we were alone.

True had sat there, laughing quietly at the stories they told me about her childhood and college years, and I ate it up, feeling closer to her every time they started another story. Before we walked in, True had hung back a step, cornering me on the porch while Lady ran circles around our feet.

“Are you sure you want to stay? I know you only like eating at home. I can tell them we have to go.”

“Red, I trust your grandmother’s kitchen over most restaurants in this country. We’re staying. I wanna spend time with them.” I kissed her quickly. “And you.”

The rustling of paper bags pulled me to the present moment, forcing me to focus on the woman with a wine glass in one handand a book in the other. “This isPucking Around. It’s thick as hell, but Goldyn said it’s good and I trust her.”

She went through five different books and I watched her in silence.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m processing everything I learned about you today.”

A shadow of uneasiness flickered over her face. “Is it too much?”

“Is what too much?”