Page 108 of Where the Roses Bloom
I watched her instead.
The fireflies had come out in force, blinking like stars low to the ground, floating over the grass and toward the woods. The trees rustled beyond the porch. Someone had brought out the good moonshine, and the older ladies were cackling like they were about to either fight or flirt with somebody’s grandpa. Or both.
It was perfect.
Jasmine and Caleb swayed together beneath the lights, Anita Mae tucked sleepily against Caleb’s chest. Jasmine’scurls were wild and backlit, and her laugh carried on the wind as Caleb stepped on her toes and muttered an apology.
Delilah was out there too, looking like she owned the place, barefoot now, her hair coming loose and wild around her shoulders. Whit was spinning her like he’d forgotten there was anyone else on the damn lawn. The two of them moved like they’d been dancing together all their lives—grinning, breathless, Whit’s sleeves rolled up, his shirt half-untucked. Every time Delilah laughed, he tried harder, like he couldn’t help himself. The hem of her lavender dress kept catching the air, and when he dipped her low, easy as breathing, I swear half the crowd stopped to watch. The man had no idea he was in love with her—but the rest of us sure did.
Holden and Beau were playing fetch with Milo near the house, both buzzed, both happy in a way I hadn’t seen in years.
And then there was Silas, standing off by the tree line, half-hidden in the shadows, alone with his drink. He looked like he wanted to stay that way—until June crossed the lawn and stopped beside him. She said something, soft enough that I couldn’t hear it, and he startled a little. But then he turned toward her like he’d been waiting for her to speak all night. The way his shoulders eased, the way his head bent a little closer—it told me everything I needed to know.
“Good crowd,” I murmured into Willow’s hair.
She hummed. “The best.”
I leaned back a little, looking out over our land—our people. “I don’t want to speak too soon,” I said, “but I think…I think he’s gone. Carter, I mean. I think the wexorcism worked.”
She didn’t even flinch. “Not ridiculous at all. The roses seem to have been a pretty strong indicator. This is Hazel’s house, not his. She decides who gets to haunt this place.”
That made me grin. “Reckon she’ll stick around?”
“Oh, I hope so,” Willow said, her gaze flicking toward the arbor still heavy with blooming roses. “If anyone deserves to see what comes next…it’s her.”
I couldn’t help it—I turned and pressed a kiss to her temple, tasting salt and sweat and something sweeter. She smelled like summer and soil and love.
“What comes next for us?” I asked, my voice low.
She turned to me with a slow smile, the kind that got under my skin and stayed there. “Well,” she said, “first we sneak off like scandalous newlyweds. Then maybe later we come back for cake.”
I raised a brow, heat stirring low in my gut. “You tryin’ to lure me into the woods, Mrs. Ward?”
She grinned, eyes sparkling in the dark. “I just think it would be irresponsible not to make sure the curse is good and broken.”
That made me laugh, low and rough. “So this is what due diligence looks like now?”
She tilted her head, playing innocent. “It worked last time.”
That grin of hers…God help me. I was already halfway to dragging her off this porch.
“Don’t suppose you packed a change of clothes?” I murmured, brushing my knuckles over the curve of her knee.
“Nope,” she said sweetly. “Guess you’ll just have to help me out of my dress.”
I swore under my breath and stood, pulling her with me. She squeaked, laughing as I swept her into my arms like I hadn’t been fantasizing about doing it all damn day.
Milo barked once and someone behind us catcalled—but I didn’t look back.
“Where we goin’?” I asked as we crossed the yard, her fingers laced behindmy neck.
She looked over her shoulder toward the woods. “Back to the grove.”
The fireflies parted as we passed, like they knew exactly what we were doing.
And I couldn’t help it—I kissed her right there, walking through the wildflowers and dew, with the stars overhead and her heartbeat against mine.
Because if we were gonna seal this thing forever, I wanted to do it where everything started.
