Page 77 of Shadows of Obsession

I laughed, glancing at Harper, who pretended to be offended at his rush to leave. "No offense, Harper, but I think I got enough the last time I was here," I teased, giving her a playful wink. "Let's head back and grab food on the way."

Harper huffed dramatically, crossing her arms. "Fine, fine," she said, rolling her eyes in exaggerated offense.

I stuck out my tongue in response, and Harper chuckled, pulling me into a quick hug. Her perfume, something floral and light, enveloped me briefly before she released me.

As Jaxon and I walked back to the truck, his hand found its way to my lower back again, guiding me across the street. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, and a gentle breeze ruffled my hair, carrying with it the scent of hot pavement and summer flowers from a nearby planter.

Jaxon opened the passenger door for me, such a simple gesture, but one that made me feel cared for before he jogged around to the driver's side. As he climbed in, I caught him glancing at me, and I couldn't help wondering what he was thinking.

"So, where should we stop for food?" he asked, starting the engine.

I buckled my seatbelt, scanning the street for ideas as we pulled out. "How about that little diner on the edge of town?" I suggested. "We could grab some burgers and shakes to go."

"Sounds like a plan," he said, shifting into gear. "Burgers and milkshakes it is."

With each passing mile, Jaxon seemed to relax, the tension from the earlier confrontation with Jared dissipating as we fell back into our familiar rhythm. By the time we reached the diner, a small, chrome-sided building with a neon sign that had probably been there since the fifties, the easy banter between us felt as natural as breathing.

Inside, the diner smelled incredible, grease and coffee and something sweet I couldn't quite place. The air conditioning blastedthrough the room, sending goosebumps racing up my arms after the heat outside.

At the counter, Jaxon ordered our food, then turned to confirm my milkshake flavor. When I leaned in to check the menu board above us, I realized how close we were, my shoulder brushing against his arm. I could smell his cologne, that clean, masculine scent with hints of cedar I was becoming intimately familiar with, mixed with the faint leather smell of the truck still clinging to him.

I felt his gaze on me as I studied the board, and when I glanced up, I caught him staring at my lips. Heat flooded my cheeks, and something low in my stomach tightened. He was looking at me like he wanted to kiss me.

"Chocolate," I said, my voice coming out slightly breathless. "But it has to be made with vanilla ice cream."

After we got our order, Jaxon handed me my milkshake, teasing me about my "boring" flavor choice. I rolled my eyes, but the smile on my face was genuine, and the cold sweetness of the shake was perfect against the summer heat.

The rest of the drive back to the ranch was comfortable, filled with good music and easy laughter. I felt lighter than I had in days, the air rushing in through the cracked windows, tangling my hair as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.

And for the first time in longer than I could remember, I let myself simply enjoy it. The sun, the music, the taste of chocolate on my tongue, and the man beside me who made me feel safe enough to imagine a future that didn't involve fear.

CHAPTER 23

Anna

The late afternoon sun was warm on my skin as Harper and I worked outside, tidying up the yard in preparation for tonight's cookout. The air smelled of freshly cut grass and the faint, smoky scent that still lingered from the cabin fire a few days ago, a reminder that refused to fade completely.

"And then she had the audacity to tell me the return policy doesn't apply to her because she's a 'valued customer,'" Harper said, using air quotes with her fingers as she recounted her encounter with a difficult woman from town earlier that day. "I swear, Anna, some people think the rules just don't apply to them."

I laughed, shaking my head as I bent down to straighten one of the chairs around the fire pit. "What did you say to her?"

"I smiled sweetly and told her that being a valued customer means she should value our policies." Harper grinned wickedly. "She left in a huff, but she'll be back. They always come back."

The lighthearted energy between us felt almost surreal after the chaos of the previous week. The cabin fire had shaken everyone on the ranch, but we'd all rallied together to clean up the debris and restore some sense of normalcy. The work had been exhausting. Dumpsterswere delivered, tractors hauling away charred wood and twisted metal, all of us covered in soot and ash by the end of each day.

But we were determined to finish before Connor returned in two weeks.

I'd thrown myself into the cleanup with everything I had, even taking on extra tasks with the sale horses to help lighten everyone else's load. My muscles ached each night, my hands rough and calloused, but there was something satisfying about that physical exhaustion. It gave me purpose, made me feel useful, like I was truly part of something here. I was becoming part of this place, part of this family.

Through the open kitchen slider, I could hear faint sounds of Jaxon moving around inside, the clatter of dishes, the refrigerator door opening and closing. I glanced toward the window and caught a glimpse of him arranging food on trays, his movements methodical and precise.

He'd been watching us earlier. I'd felt his eyes on me when Harper and I first came outside. Not in a creepy way, but in that quietly protective way he had, like he was always making sure I was okay, even from a distance.

The kitchen smelled amazing even from out here. The smell of grilling meats and spices drifting through the door, making my stomach rumble with anticipation.

"You know he's totally into you, right?" Harper said suddenly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

I whipped my head toward her, heat flooding my cheeks. "What? Who?"