Page 70 of Hero Mine

Hers.

She was under no illusion that there wouldn’t still be hard moments, but her house was no longer permeated with ghosts.

Sloane leaned against the doorway, a hand on her pregnant belly. “I think that’s as good as it gets.”

Lincoln nodded, surveying the place. “The wall repair is structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. The paint color choice was optimal.”

Scarlett grinned. “And the kitchen was only a little traumatic.”

All Joy could do was shrug, looking around at all of them. “Thank you. I literally couldn’t have done it without you guys.”

Callum squeezed her shoulder before helping Sloane put on her coat. “You would have. We just made it faster.”

As they filed out, Joy stood in the center of her living room, inhaling the scent of pine cleaner, fresh paint, and clean air.

For the first time in a long time, the house didn’t feel like a crime scene.

It felt like home.

And tonight, she was staying right damn here.

Chapter20

The house was quiet.

Not the suffocating silence Joy had been drowning in for weeks, but a peaceful quiet. The kind that came after a long day of hard work, after laughter, after people who cared made sure she wasn’t going through hard things alone.

She stood in the center of her freshly cleaned living room, arms crossed, surveying the space. The air wasn’t heavy with ghosts. The memories of that night were still there, but they weren’t choking her anymore.

She picked up the phone before she could talk herself out of it and sent the text.

Dinner at my place tonight?

The response came almost immediately.

You sure?

Joy exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Yeah. I’m sure.

A pause. Then?—

What time?

Her heart did an annoying little flip. Two hours should give her enough time for what she had planned.

Seven.

She could practically see his sexy smile when the next text came in.

I’ll be dessert. Ahem, I mean I’ll bring dessert.

Joy rolled her eyes, but warmth spread through her chest anyway. She set the phone down, staring at it for a long moment.

Tonight, Bear would be here in her house. She’d be able to show him without words that he was making a difference in her life. That she was doing better. That things weren’t perfect, but they were moving in a positive direction.

The past week since their time in the cabin had been amazing. The sex had been mind-blowing each time. But tonight, she had plans. Much more than just showing him the house. She wanted to show him…her.