Page 132 of Bennett

A lump formed in her throat. She truly was so damn lucky. “This is…” Her voice softened. “This is everything.”

He stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck. “You once said if I was really the romantic type, I’d build you a bookshelf.”

Laurel’s heart squeezed. “And you did.”

He met her gaze, a slow smile pulling at his lips. “Yeah, well… turns out I’m annoyingly good at proving people wrong.”

She laughed softly. “It’s one of your more charming qualities.”

“I love you, Laurel,” he said, kissing her softly on the lips. “Probably since the day you tried to knock me out with a bottle of hand sanitizer.”

She hiccupped a soft, emotion-filled laugh. “Good. Because I’ve been in love with your grumpy, overprotective self since you threatened my front door with a new doorknob.”

Joy and warmth mixed in his eyes as he set his forehead to hers. “Guess we finally found our corner.”

And right there, with the scent of books and coffee in the air, and the low hum of laughter in the background, Laurel realized something simple and true.

She hadn’t just found a home.

She’d built one—with him.