Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
As we drive down the winding road that leads away from the cabin, I feel the weight of everything we’ve been through lift from my shoulders. The wind blows through the open windows, carrying with it the fresh scent of the forest, and for the first time in a long while, I feel... free. Not just from the past, but from the fear that used to grip me, the fear of losing control, of letting someone in.
Perry leans her head back against the seat, closing her eyes for a moment as she breathes in the mountain air. “This feels right,” she says softly, almost to herself.
I nod, my hand still resting on her thigh. “It does.”
We drive in comfortable silence for a while, the road stretching out before us like a promise. The truck handles smoothly, the result of all those long hours we put in, working side by side, covered in grease and sweat but always in sync. It’s not just a machine—it’s a symbol of everything we’ve fought for, everything we’ve built.
I glance over at her again, my heart swelling with a sense of pride, not just in the truck but in the life we’ve created together. She catches me looking and raises an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“What?” she asks, her tone playful, but there’s a softness beneath it, a tenderness that makes my chest tighten.
I shake my head, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Just thinking how damn lucky I am.”
She rolls her eyes, but her smile widens, and she reaches over to take my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. “You’re not so bad yourself, Steele.”
Her hand is warm in mine, her touch grounding me in a way that nothing else ever has. I’ve spent most of my life trying to keep people at arm’s length, afraid of getting hurt again, but with Perry... I don’t feel that fear anymore. All I feel is a certainty that she’s the one person I’m meant to hold onto.
The road curves ahead, and as we continue down the path, the mountains rising up around us like silent witnesses, I know without a doubt that this—this right here—is what I’ve been missing. Not just the truck, not just the cabin, but her. Perry. The woman who walked into my life and turned everything upside down, only to help me see that what we’ve built together is stronger than anything that’s come before.
We pull over to the side of the road, the truck rumbling to a stop as I turn off the engine. The silence that follows is peaceful, the kind that settles deep in your bones and reminds you that, sometimes, it’s the quiet moments that matter the most.
Perry turns to me, her eyes searching mine, and I know she feels it too. This isn’t just the end of a project—it’s the beginning of something new. Something lasting.
I reach over, cupping her face in my hand, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “I love you,” I say, the words coming easily now, without the weight they once carried.
She smiles, leaning into my touch, her eyes shining. “I love you too.”
And in that moment, sitting in the truck we rebuilt together, I know we’ve not only restored something old but created something new—something stronger, something unbreakable.
Together.
Chapter Thirteen
Perry
The smell of fresh flowers fills the air as I move around my shop, surrounded by vibrant blooms in every shade of pink, red, and cream. Roses, peonies, and ranunculus stand in delicate vases on the counter, each arrangement more stunning than the last. The late afternoon light spills through the wide windows, casting a golden glow across the room and making everything feel warm, alive. It’s hard to believe this place was once a quiet refuge where I used to hide from the chaos of my past. Now it’s buzzing with life, filled with customers, laughter, and the constant hum of possibility.
I swipe a loose strand of hair out of my face and focus on the bouquet in front of me. My hands move automatically, fingers deftly adjusting stems and flowers until the arrangement is perfect. I take a step back, satisfied with the result, and breathe in the heady mix of rose and peony. The shop feels different these days—like a reflection of who I’ve become. Stronger. Confident. Free.
The door creaks open behind me, and I don’t even need to look up to know who it is. I’d recognize the solid, familiar presence of Knox anywhere. My heart does that little flip it always does when he’s near, and I glance over my shoulder to see him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his broad chest, a faint smile playing at his lips.
“This place looks amazing,” he says, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine. There’s always something in the way Knox speaks to me that makes everything feel more charged, more intense. His words aren’t just compliments—they’re promises.