Page 46 of Bennett (HC Heroes #15)
N early 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?”
“Seriously,” Laurel said. “Best artist in town deserves a permanent spot.”
She pointed to the wall across from them, where she’d already pinned a small sign that read Local Readers & Creatives Welcome Here .
As Claire wandered to the wall, Laurel watched Theo meet Bennett’s gaze. There was something there, mutual understanding. Maybe not quite peace, but it looked a lot like a beginning.
And for the first time in a long time, Laurel felt like every piece had finally landed right where it was supposed to.
“You settling in?” he asked quietly.
Theo gave a small nod. “Getting there. The place by the park is older, but it’s solid. Claire likes it. That’s what matters.”
Bennett nodded once. “Harland’s not a bad place for a fresh start.”
A beat passed, comfortable now, not strained.
“Appreciate you being part of it,” Theo said, glancing toward Laurel. “Both of you.”
Her heart softened as she watched the two men. So much pain behind them, so much possibility ahead. She gave him a small nod in return.
Before anyone could say more, the front door swung open again with a gust of humid air and the unmistakable sound of Rylee’s voice carrying ahead of her.
“I told you we’d be late if you insisted on stopping for bear claws,” Rylee announced, a brown paper bag in one hand, striding in like she owned the place. “Loni had already sent a bunch of pastries here as a soft opening celebration gift from Champion Bakery.”
Behind her came her brothers, Tyler, Josh, and Gabe, followed shortly by Mac, and Carter.
Josh grinned as he stepped inside. “This place is looking better every time I see it.”
Laurel smiled, already reaching for extra mugs. The man hadn’t been in Harland long and had already landed the DA Investigator position, because apparently, the Brysons didn’t know how to do anything halfway. “Thanks.”
“It smells like cinnamon and smugness,” Rylee said, sniffing the air. “Which is fitting, because Laurel pulled off something big.”
She gave a mock curtsy behind the counter. “And here I thought I was just bribing y’all with coffee and baked goods.”
Mac chuckled. “Whatever works. Building looks good.”
Tyler added, “Security upgrades passed inspection this morning, by the way. You’re completely and officially covered now.”
She completely and officially sighed in relief.
Carter lifted the mug she just set in from of him. “To the queen of coffee and novels. And let’s not forget, facts. Why don’t you lay one on us?”
Laurel laughed. “Okay. Did you know the smell of old books is actually caused by the breakdown of chemical compounds in the paper and ink?”
Carter grinned. “So basically, nerdy decay?”
She winked. “Exactly. Which means this place is going to smell better with age—unlike most of you.”
As laughter rippled through the shop, Gabe leaned closer to Mac. “We got word from the feds this morning. Duke’s officially under investigation. Financial misconduct, conspiracy to commit fraud, and obstruction tied to Hess’ activity.”
Mac gave a slow nod. “About time.”
“He’ll have his day,” Gabe said. “But it won’t be a good one.”
Laurel met Bennett’s gaze, and he gave her a slow, reassuring smile.
Her breath caught for half a second, just enough to remind her how close they’d come to losing all this. Words weren’t necessary. His adoration was enough, and she let the accompanying warmth settle deep in her chest.
Then Annie waved her over with a little lift of her chin, where she and Rylee stood near the rear counter, matching conspiratorial grins on their faces.
Laurel joined them, brows raised. “Okay, what’s going on?”
“Oh, good, you’re here,” Rylee said, eyes twinkling as she held up a swatch card and a cinnamon twist. “We’re talking design, pastries, and impending chaos.”
Laurel scratched her temple. “You’re in your element.”
“I know.” Rylee took a bite of the pastry, then leaned closer, her voice dropping. “I’m just excited about Jenna’s arrival.”
Since those two were childhood friends, Rylee’s excitement made sense. But the sparkle in her eyes said there was a lot more to it. “And?”
“And Jenna always had a crush on my thick-headed brother,” Rylee replied.
“We still talking about Josh? Because Gabe fits that bill too.” Laurel grinned.
Rylee snorted. “So true. But yeah—Josh.”
“Go on,” Annie urged. “Tell her the good part.”
“Neither Jenna nor Josh knows the other one lives in Harland yet.”
Laurel blinked. “Oh, wow.”
She almost felt sorry for Jenna. Even though they hadn’t met in person yet, Laurel felt like she knew her from their Zoom calls and emails.
Rylee beamed. “They don’t have a clue. It’s going to be delicious.”
Annie huffed a laugh. “You’re a menace.”
“And proud,” Rylee said, taking another bite. “I’m just here for the drama, the coffee, and the baked goods.”
Laurel shook her head, laughing. “God help us if their first run-in happens in this shop.”
“Please let me be here when it happens,” Annie said.
“No worries. Laurel has cameras, remember?” Rylee grinned.
Laurel huffed out a laugh. “Think my aunt’s right.”
By the time Laurel made it back to the front of the shop, the others had scattered, deep in conversations and pastries.
And there was Bennett, leaning casually against a large canvas-draped object in her favorite corner, a sexy grin on his face. Her heart skipped a beat as she neared. He was so damn handsome, and she was so damn lucky.
A smile tugged the corner of her mouth. “What are you up to?”
“I got you a present.” He straightened, then reached for the edge of the canvas and pulled it free with a single, smooth motion.
Beneath it stood a tall, beautifully handcrafted corner bookshelf—warm wood with clean lines, deep shelves, and her initials carved into a small heart on one of the back panels. Subtle. Thoughtful. Stunning.
Laurel’s breath caught. “Bennett…”
“Figured a place like this deserved something permanent,” he said quietly. “Something made to last.”
She lifted a hand to slowly brush her fingers across the smooth edge of a shelf. “You built this?”
He nodded. “Cut the wood last week from Mac’s place. Finished it yesterday at Harper’s wood shop.”
Harper was the girlfriend of another ESI teammate. Laurel was still learning everyone’s names and faces, but she knew the man in front of her very well.
He was too good to her. Too good for her.
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.
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