Page 220 of The Sweetest Obsession

I don’t feel the cold at all.

The jacket is too perfect, insulating and comfortable. It lets me enjoy the night and the soft glow of the streetlamps shining gold paths through the darkness.

When you forget the darkness, the heaviness of the Arrendells’ shadow over this town, Redhaven really is a beautiful place. Picturesque, cozy, and while I’ve experienced terrible loss and horrifying secrets here, so many people in this town arehappy.

I’m glad I’m finally one of them.

As we walk, I’m so focused on how handsome Grant’s serene, quiet profile looks against the night sky that I don’t realize where we’re going until we step off the sidewalk and I feel grass crunching under my feet.

I tear my gaze away from Grant and realize we’re at the shore of Still Lake.

It sure lives up to its name right now.

Not even a whisper of waves. Completely glass-smooth, reflecting back the dark clouds until it’s nothing but a solid sheet of ink, this great shadow vault spread out before us.

Maybe for some that would be a dark image, but for me it’s like looking into a scrying mirror.

One where I get to imagine any future I want.

And the future I imagine now is peaceful, safe, and full of love.

Grant seems to want to linger, so I lean against his side, resting my head on his shoulder and watching the water.

When he finally speaks, the low rumble of his voice is a part of the calm night, blending into the smooth darkness like black silk.

“Have you thought about what you’re doing?” he asks. “Staying in Redhaven.” He clears his throat, a hint of almost boyish uncertainty creeping into that deep growl. “You are staying... aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I am.” There’s no doubt when I say it.

Under my cheek, his shoulder relaxes and I smile to myself, hugging his arm closer against me.

That lunk.

Not wanting to admit out loud that he was worried I was leaving again.

“So what are your plans?” he asks.

“A work in progress. I don’t really want to go back to being a nurse,” I say. There’s no doubt there, either. I’ve known that for a while now. “Cases like Mom’s, they’re rare, you know? Working in hospice, you’re mostly holding hands until death shows up. I’ve seen enough of that for one life.”

I rub my cheek on his shoulder, so grateful he wasn’t one more tragedy.

Neither was Mom or Ros.

“Go ahead and laugh, but I’m thinking about taking over Mom’s shop,” I admit. “I know she’ll want to go back to work once she’s out of the hospital, but I know what recovery after a second round of cancer is like. She won’t be able to manage alone. And Ros, she needs to find her own way instead of feeling obligated to take on the shop, especially if she was feeling so trapped that she fell into Aleksander Arrendell.” A chill breeze blows against me until I shiver, chasing me into Grant for warmth. “I think I need to do this. That shop is family. It’shome. And I think Mom would be happier knowing there’s someone to pass it on to who really wants it. So, yeah... I want to stay and make a few more memories there. Good ones.”

Grant lets out an understanding rumble.

“Only in the shop?” His head turns and he looks down at me with those hazel-honey eyes that warm me from head to toe.

“No,” I answer quietly, and stretch up to brush my lips to his, his beard prickling my cheeks. “Do I look like I just mean the shop?”

I feel him smile more than I see it, his lips moving against mine, a lazy sweet thing. A reminder that now we have all the time in the world for every kiss, every touch, every lingering glance, every secret.

Because I’m not leaving this time.

I’m not going anywhere again.

His kiss leaves my chilled lips warmed—way more than my lips, honestly.

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