Page 131 of Somewhere You Belong

“I love you, Shauna.”

“I love you too, Willow. Now go get your man.”

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I took one more day at home to go back into Marshall Advertising and speak with my board of directors, letting them know about my impending plans should things go the way I want with Dallas. They were all extremely supportive and respected my decision. And as much as my company means to me, my time in Carrington Cove has shown me that there’s more to life than work.

And that’s my new focus for my future.

As I drive back into town, I roll down the windows of my car, letting the ocean breeze whip through my hair. The smell of the salty water, the view of the lights—it all makes me look back on each trip I’ve taken to and from here and how each time, this view has become more familiar and meaningful.

But this return holds the most weight because the next steps of my new life depend on how this trip goes.

When I pull into the back of the Bayshore house, I shut the car off and stare at the structure, the place that led me here in the first place, knowing that regardless of what happens, I will never regret coming down here at the direction of that letter.

This town, this house, and the people here have helped me see what really matters, and those things will be my focus moving forward in my life, despite where I end up.

I head up the gravel walkway on the side of the house, ready to step up on the porch, but the gaggle of geese that have been M.I.A. for weeks are waiting for me tonight of all nights, stalking toward me like a gang that is out for blood.

Just fucking lovely.

“Get out of here!” I shout, holding my purse by the handle, swinging it back and forth, ready to use it as a weapon, if necessary. These birds are messing with a woman who’s on the brink of a mentalbreakdown and huge life shift, so they have no idea what I’m capable of right now.

“HONK!” The leader turns his head to the side so our eyes meet, stopping in his path.

“Honk right back, asshole. You wanna fight?” He flaps his wings like he’s riling himself up and for a moment, I debate doing it right back to him. But I refrain. “Fine then. It’s your funeral.”

“Are you planning bird murder?” Dallas’s voice scares the shit out of me as I turn to my right and see his face behind the window, a small crack in the opening allowing me to hear him.

Distracted, I turn to him and drop my purse to my side. “What the hell are you doing in my house?”

“Do you want to wait outside while I answer that?”

The geese start honking again as I twist my head back and forth between them and the man I haven’t seen in nearly a week—the one I desperately need to talk to. “Not particularly.”

He moves from the window, opens the front door, and pops open an umbrella, blocking the geese from the porch with just enough space that I can squeeze by, ducking inside the house. Dallas shuts the door behind me and then puts the umbrella away, setting it to the side before standing tall and holding my gaze with his own.

“How did you get in here?” I finally ask, breaking the silence even though I feel frozen in place.

“Nothank youfor helping you inside?” he asks, a teasing lilt to his lips.

I set my purse on the floor by the door and plant my hands on my hips, staring at the man that has made me feel alive for the first time in my life, his mere proximity overwhelming me after five long days away. My body remembers our connection, but my heart is stillnervous about whatever he has to say. “You’re really going to start with the manners right now?”

“Seemed appropriate. And to answer your question, I’ve been here for days, waiting for you to come back.” I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallows roughly. “Penn gave me his key.”

I guess I shouldn’t expect anything less from those two.

We stand there, staring at each other, and just remembering how it feels to be in his arms has my resolve dwindling fast. But then my eyes shift, and that’s when I see what he’s done with the house, everything so bright I’m surprised I didn’t notice before.

Electric candles fill every empty surface, flickering softly as the sun sets over the ocean, casting the house in a twilight glow. Everything is bathed in a soft, golden light that takes my breath away.

On the kitchen counter sits a basket of blueberry muffins and next to it is a framed picture of us from the Carrington Cove Games, me staring up at him after we won, smiles plastered on both of our faces.

And that’s when I surrender.

“Willow…” he starts, but I drop my hands and rush over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he intercepts me, the warmth of him cocooning me and letting me know that it’s safe to fall apart. The moment his arms band around me and squeeze, my entire body relaxes and my resolve breaks. “Fuck, I’m sorry, baby.”

“Me too. I’m so sorry, Dallas.” My body shudders as I leap into his arms. He carries us over to the couch, sitting down with me still clinging to him.

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