Page 127 of Shadows of Obsession
My breath caught as I processed his words.
"But you... you're the one who's been caring for them, cleaning their barn, organizing their things, spending time with them. They belong with you, Anna. They should be yours." His smile widened. "And if you want to offer lessons and trail rides to generate some income with your own horses, then you have my full support."
My horses. The shock and joy of him giving me the horses intermingled, making my eyes sting with sudden tears. "Connor, I can't just—"
"You can, and you will," he interrupted firmly. "As for the Airbnb idea, I think it's brilliant. Those cabins are too nice to sit empty, and Dad would have loved knowing they were finally being used the wayhe intended. But I don't have the time to manage it or set anything up, I'm stretched thin as it is with the show schedule."
He stood, came around the desk, and leaned against it in front of me. "So since it's your brainchild, you'll be the one to bring it to life. Full creative control. You make the decisions, set the prices, create the listings, manage the bookings. I'll handle the business registration and insurance side of things, but the rest is yours."
He was saying yes. He actually believed in this idea.
I nodded vigorously, barely able to contain my excitement as I nearly launched myself around the desk to engulf Connor in a fierce hug. Gratitude and a sense of purpose swelled within me, warming me from the inside out and making my chest feel too small to contain it all.
"Thank you," I whispered against his shoulder, my voice thick. "Thank you for believing in me. For giving me this chance."
Connor's arms tightened around me, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "You don't need to thank me, Anna. You're family. And I know you're going to make this incredible."
He understood. He understood how much this meant to me; how vital it was to feel needed and independent. To build something of my own instead of just hiding from my past.
As I pulled back, meeting Connor's proud, supportive gaze, I silently vowed to pour my heart and soul into this new endeavor. To create a future for myself filled with purpose and passion, not just fear and running.
My own business. My own horses. My own future.
With Connor's blessing and the opportunity he had given me, I knew I could build something meaningful—something that would allow me to carve out a place in this world that was truly mine.
Later that afternoon, I found myself pushing with every ounce of strength I possessed, my muscles straining as I fought to maneuver the king-sized mattress up the final few stepsto Jaxon's bedroom. My arms trembled with the effort, sweat beading on my forehead despite the cool air conditioning.
Jaxon, on the other side, pulled with equal determination, his biceps flexing beneath his sweat-dampened T-shirt in a way that would have been distracting if I hadn't been so focused on not launching the massive thing back down the stairs.
The moment most of the mattress cleared the top step, it settled onto the landing with a heavy thump, the weight shifting away from my exhausted arms. I practically collapsed onto the stairs, chest heaving as I dipped forward, gulping in lungfuls of air.
I made a mental note: mattresses are heavier than they look.
Looking far less winded, Jaxon grinned as he dragged the mattress the rest of the way into the bedroom. Then he leaned through the doorway to peer at my dramatically slumped form. "Do I need to carry you up the rest of the way too?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Maybe…" I mumbled under my breath, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my mouth despite my exhaustion.
With a dramatic sigh, I hauled myself upright and trudged into the bedroom. Together, we maneuvered the mattress onto the waiting bed frame, a beautiful piece we'd spent hours assembling the day before, complete with only one minor argument about which screws went where.
Jaxon had picked up the mattress earlier that day, enlisting my help to wrestle it up the stairs after my conversation with Connor. The space was coming together piece by piece, room by room, transforming from the defiled shell it had been after the break-in into something that was starting to feel like home.
With a final shove, the mattress settled into place with a satisfying whoosh of air, and we both collapsed onto our backs, sinking into the plush surface. Laughter bubbled up from our chests, mingling with the sound of our labored breathing.
The comfort was immediate. It was worth every bit of the struggle to get it up here.
"I don't care if we ever end up moving," Jaxon declared between breaths, his arm thrown across his forehead. "This bed is staying right here. We can just buy another one."
My laughter died in my throat after a not-so-subtle choking sound.
My eyes widened as I turned to stare at Jaxon, my heart skipping a beat. He remained focused on the ceiling, chest rising and falling from exertion, but sensing my gaze, he finally shifted to meet my eyes. His amused expression faltered at the shock written across my face.
"What?" he asked, confusion etched into his features.
"You said 'if we move'…" I sat up slowly, my mind reeling. "Jax, that's way too soon. We've only been together a few weeks."
Jaxon's lips curved into a soft smile as he sat up, scooting closer. His hands found mine, calloused fingers enclosing them in a gentle, reassuring grip that sent warmth spreading through my chest.
"I didn't mean to say it like that," he began, his voice low and earnest, blue eyes holding mine. "But now that it's out there, I don't want to take it back."