Page 129 of Bennett

Something bright and warm filled her eyes. She rose onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Proud of you,” she said, before slipping her arm around his waist and resting her cheek against his chest.

And just like that, Bennett knew he could carry the rest of this. Knew he could start to rebuild trust with his cousin again.

Not because he had to.

Because he wanted to.

Because he wasn’t alone.

Epilogue

Nearly two weeks had passed since the fire scare, but the new sign outside over the front door still smelled faintly of fresh paint and cedar, Laurel couldn’t stop staring at it.

Book & Brew Corner.

It was real now.

Not a dream. Not a maybe. Not something she'd whispered to herself while pulling all-nighters at the catering office back in Austin. This was hers. All of it—the shop, the shelves, the espresso machine with a mind of its own, the quiet hum of something beginning.

Behind her, laughter echoed from the back where Annie was bossing Matthew around while pretending she wasn’t. Somewhere above them, Brandi was taking final measurements for Jenna and Kim’s unit. The sisters were arriving in two days, officially ending Laurel and Bennett’s brief status as the only residents in the building, which, secretly, she’d kind of loved.

She turned back toward the counter, where Bennett leaned with casual ease, one brow raised as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking.

“Gonna miss having the whole place to ourselves?” he asked, his voice low and lazy.

Yep. He was a dang mind reader.

“A little,” she admitted, stepping into his space like it was second nature now. “It’s been kind of nice, like our own little castle over a kingdom of half-finished drywall and sawdust.”

He grinned, that slow, crooked one that made her heart skip.

“Didn’t realize I was royalty,” he murmured, sliding a hand along her waist.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” she said, reaching up to brush imaginary dust off his broad shoulder. Then she met his gaze. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not running. For staying. For being here.”

He leaned in and kissed her gently. “There’s nowhere else I want to be.”

She melted just a little. Still. Always.

The front bell jingled softly.

Laurel turned, expecting maybe Gabe or Rylee, but the sight that met her pulled a smile straight to her lips.

Theo stepped inside first, holding the door open for a tall, slender girl with dark, wavy hair pulled into a messy braid. She had a sketchpad tucked under one arm, worn high-tops on her feet, and a warm, brown gaze.

Claire.

Laurel’s heart tugged. The two had just moved to Harland, and she was so hopeful that the men would continue on their path to healing.

Theo gave a nod in greeting, but his hand hovered lightly at his daughter’s back, a quiet, protective gesture that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Hey,” Laurel said, stepping forward, her smile warm. “Perfect timing. Want to see where your name’s going to hang on the inspiration wall?”

Claire’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”