Page 40 of Midnight Lessons

“The Cowboy and his Purple Anaconda? Yeah, that was me, and you’re welcome.” Mark smirks. “Page sixty-nine, am I right?”

“Oh, my god,” I groan, covering my hot cheeks with my hands.

Owen shifts uncomfortably, glaring at his friend. “Mark?—”

“I’m going, I’m going.” Mark chuckles, holding up his hands. “Got a hot date.” He winks and lifts his hand in farewell before returning to the SUV.

My gaze snaps to Owen. “I can’t believe you?—”

The sheriff steps forward before I can say more, his gaze softening as he looks at me. “Willow, let me know if there’s anything else we can do. And don’t worry—he’s not getting out of this easily.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” I say quietly, offering him a grateful smile. “For everything.”

With a final nod, Sheriff Midnight heads back to his car, leaving us standing in the cool night air. For the first time in weeks, I can breathe again.

Owen pulls me into his arms, his bright blue eyes locked on mine. “Did you mean what you said?”

I frown. “About what?”

“The whole ‘I love Owen. I’ve loved him for what feels like my whole life, and I’ll continue to love him until I draw my last breath,’” he says in a squeaky voice.

“Was that supposed to sound like me? It was terrible!” I burst out laughing. “But yes, I meant every word. I never stopped loving you, O, even when I thought I hated you. You’re my lobster.”

Owen looks confused. “Your lobster?”

I wave a hand dismissively, chuckling. “Never mind. Just something I saw in a re-run ofFriends.”I look into his blue eyes shining under the moonlight, knowing I’ve found my mate for life. “Let’s go home,” I whisper, leaning into his warmth.

“Home sounds perfect,” he murmurs, kissing my forehead.

We turn and walk away from the now-empty pumpkin patch, hand in hand, leaving the shadows of Matthew Crane—and the past—behind us for good.

Chapter 14

Willow

Owen is on me the second I close my apartment door. All the heated looks and promising touches in the car on the way home have both of us burning hotter than my bakery ovens.

He backs me up against the door, his eyes heavy with lust. “Fuck, I need you, Low. Need inside my woman.”

“Need you too,” I whimper, grinding my hips against his. “So much.”

I kiss him with the intensity of a tidal wave crashing against the shore. Land and sea colliding, and he’s my safe harbor.

I’m thrilled when he kisses me back. Butthrilleddoesn’t even begin to capture it. It’s too ordinary. I’m euphoric. Over the moon. Like every problem in the world has vanished, everything is perfect as long as we’re connected.

He parts my lips, our tongues moving together in perfect rhythm. There’s no awkwardness, no hesitation—just a familiarity that feels like we’ve shared this moment a thousand times. I surrender to it completely, letting instinct guide me.

Not for long, though, as Owen is determined to take control. He releases his hold on me and cups my ass, giving it a firm squeeze. It’s as if I’m drowning, yet I have no desire to come up for air. I finally remember to breathe when he pulls back to trail soft love bites along my neck.

“Your hand okay?”

“What hand?” I mumble, drunk on his kisses. On him.

He chuckles. “We’ll ice it.”

“Later,” I moan, tugging his T-shirt free of his jeans.

His fingers locate the zipper of my jacket, moving with a deliberate gentleness as if he’s afraid of damaging it. When it finally slides down, I shrug it off quickly, my shirt following close behind. That’s when he pauses, stepping back slightly to take in the sight of me.

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