Page 126 of The Curse of Redwood

His breath came out rough as he pressed our foreheads together. “A life at your side is all I wish for.”

We returned to the bed and got under the covers.

“I’ll tell Ben and Taylor about you tomorrow,” I said, tracing a design on his smooth chest. “They’re not going to believe it. I still don’t. I’m afraid I’ll wake up tomorrow, and this will just be a dream.”

“I understand what you mean.” Zeke held me closer. “I worry I’ll open my eyes in the morning and find myself back at Redwood. Still trapped there.”

“I heard today that someone bought it and will be turning it into a bed and breakfast.” I tilted my face up to look at him when he was quiet for several seconds. “Does that bother you?”

“Strangely, no. It’s freeing in a way. The curse will no longer claim any more innocent lives, and all the tortured souls trapped there have been released.”

“But it’s your home.”

“Youare my home.”

“Keep saying stuff like that and I’ll attack you again.”

A raspy chuckle left him. “I regret to say my recovery isn’t what it once was. Damn this human body. Will I always feel so tired?”

“Not always.” I laughed.

“We should sleep. It’s getting late.” He reached over to turn off the lamp before stopping. “You kept it.”

“Kept what?” I asked, then looked at the table where his book sat. My cheeks heated. “Yeah, I did. Is that pathetic?”

“No.” Zeke kissed my temple. “It’s sweet.”

“I know you’re tired, but…” My heart leapt up into my throat. “Will you read to me? Just for a little while?”

He regarded me with a tender look before grabbing the book and propping it up on his chest. I snuggled in beside him and smiled.

“Chapter One,” he began to read.

I closed my eyes as his voice drifted through the room. My heart was whole once more.

Chapter Twenty-Two

One Month Later

Redwood Manor stood tall against a gray sky. Snow covered the grass and weighed down the branches of the trees. The windows were frosted over, though an orange glow came from inside.

Zeke stared up at the mansion as we stood in the courtyard. His cheeks were pink from the cold and his breath fanned in front of his face as he slowly exhaled. He wore a black beanie to warm his ears, and his long blond hair ruffled at the cold, winter breeze.

“Are you ready to go inside?” I asked, grabbing his hand.

He squeezed my fingers and nodded.

We walked up the porch and opened the door. Zeke softly gasped as we stepped inside the mansion. A massive Christmas tree stood in the entrance hall directly across from us, fully decorated with red and gold and twinkling with lights.

“Welcome to Redwood Inn,” a friendly looking man greeted us in a southern accent. There was something familiar about him. “Help yourself to some cider, hot chocolate, or coffee and have a look around.”

“Thank you,” I said, before pulling Zeke with me toward the sitting room where people gathered.

“It’s different… yet stunning,” he said, stopping to survey the area. “I don’t remember when it last looked this inviting.”

The new owners had done a few renovations, though it hadn’t been anything too extreme. They’d chosen to keep the mansion as close to its original design as possible and had mainly just fixed safety concerns, like floorboards in the upper floors and any electrical issues. The bed and breakfast wouldn’t officially open until next week, but they were allowing people to visit the Inn and look around. A great advertisement to help build excitement.

Not that there was any lack of excitement from the people of Ivy Grove. Redwood had been a curiosity to so many for years, and people came in droves to see it now that the gates were open.