Page 98 of Bennett

Laurel laughed. “I’ll be sure to put that in your contract.”

Bennett’s gaze moved thoughtfully over the space before flicking back to her. “It suits you,” he said softly.

“Thanks.” The longer she held his warm gaze, the more everything inside her softened.

“Okay then, Laurel,” Brandi said, gaining her attention. “Do you have a name in mind for this place?”

Laurel froze mid-sip. “Ugh. That.”

Rylee raised a brow. “You don’t have one yet?”

“Technically? No.” She shrugged. “I signed everything as me. The name’s still up for debate.”

“Perfect,” Brandi said, grabbing a pen from behind her ear like she meant business. “We’ve got paint swatches we can write on, champagne, and a half hour to brainstorm brilliance.”

As the others moved toward the folding table to start tossing out wildly impractical suggestions—Bards & Brews was already in the mix—Laurel hung back for a moment, letting their voices fade into the background.

Bennett stood near a wall, cup gone and his arms crossed loosely over his chest, watching her in that quiet, unreadable way that made her want to fidget.

“You really think it suits me?” she asked, setting her empty cup down before moving closer to him.

His mouth quirked. “I do.”

She glanced around the room, taking in the dusty floor, the scuffed walls, the beams of late afternoon light angling through the front windows. “It’s a lot rougher than I remembered.”

“So were you,” he said, shrugging. “Didn’t stop you from turning into something solid.”

Laurel blinked. Heat curled low in her chest, part embarrassment, part something else entirely.

“Thanks,” she said, not quite able to look at him.

“Don’t thank me yet,” he added, pushing off the wall. “I hear naming a bookstore is serious business.”

Laurel glanced at him. “Yeah, well. No pressure. It’s only the thing people will Google when they can’t remember what street I’m on.”

His mouth curved, the barest hint of a smile. “I’m sure you’ll pick something good. Something…you.”

“That’s the problem,” she said, half-laughing. “I’m not even sure what me is right now. Book nerd with big dreams and a mostly moved in apartment above a construction zone?”

At some point, she was going to have to return to Austin to pack up her things and get her townhouse on the market, although Aaron had already expressed interest.

Bennett regarded her for a long moment. “Sounds like someone finally stopped waiting for perfect.”

Laurel's breath hitched just a little, not because of the words, but because of the way he said them. Like he knew what it cost her to take the leap.

She held his gaze. “You always this encouraging, or is this just a champagne and drywall mood swing?”

“Maybe I just like seeing you take up space,” he said, voice low and deliberate. “You fit here.”

That one landed somewhere between her ribs, sending a flutter through her chest.

Before she could respond, Brandi called out, “Hey! ‘The Dusty Chapter’ or ‘Plot Devices’. Too weird or just weird enough?”

Bennett stepped back, his voice barely audible now. “Don’t let them name it something you’ll hate.”

“I won’t,” she murmured. “But it’s kinda nice to be surrounded by people who believe I can actually pull it off.”

He reached over and lightly brushed her cheek with his thumb. “You already are.”