Page 97 of Scent of Home

“What did you dream of having while you were here?”

“What do you mean?” he asks, looking over his shoulder and checking for traffic.

“Like, you were keeping the resort, but what did you see in the future?”

“Well, I guess I was hoping for someone to share it with.”

“A person?”

“Anyone, a pack. Just someone who would work the bar with me while the town came out to listen to music. Laughter, the sounds of family. I just wanted someone to share what I loved.”

My heart breaks for him. “Your family would be so proud of everything you’ve done.”

“Oh, yeah?” his lips tilts up. “How do you know?”

“Because I am,” I say simply. “I want that dream with you, Finn.”

His smile vanishes, and for a moment, he looks so vulnerable it hurts.

“Don’t play with me, Erin.”

“I would never play with you about this. Do you know why I became a lawyer?”

He shakes his head, his eyes on the road again.

“Because my mother died, and I went to live with my aunt, and her ex took her for most of what she had accumulated. My aunt is exceptional. You’re going to love her. But she was barely keeping her head above water. So, I went to law school. I found out enough to scare the crap out of him. He gave her things back and stopped demanding a monthly stipend. My aunt was so proud of me she suggested I continue. But I didn’t love it.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I enjoy the challenge and picking apart contracts, finding loopholes and weaknesses. But I don’t love my job. I could not do it again for the rest of my life and I wouldn’t miss it.”

“I would miss the resort. I love bringing people out here, seeing their faces. I love the atmosphere of the dining room and the bar. If I had to give it up, it would hurt me.”

“It’s a good thing I’m okay to stay here with you, then.”

He slams his foot on the brake, stopping the car in the middle of the road. He turns to me, his face slack with shock.

“Erin, what are you saying?”

“Finn,” I tease. “I’m saying I’m going to pack my things and move in with you, or Shane’s, or the cabin. If you won’t have me, then I’ll-”

“Won’t have you…are you crazy?” He lunges across the space, pulling me into a hard hug and laughs. “I’m so fucking happy. I haven’t been this happy since my family died. Fucking hell, Erin, you’re just making all my dreams come true.”

“All of them?”

“Yes. Shane, Bray, Locke, the resort, and you. All my dreams.”

“I’m a dream?” I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything so heartbreakingly sweet. This beta is killing me.

“You are to me,” he says so sincerely it’s impossible to doubt him.

“Take me home, then, beta, and we can dream some new dreams together.”

Chapter twenty-eight

Erin

Finn holds my handwhile he drives us to Destiny’s. It’s adorable and not something I ever thought I would be doing. Holding hands? Erin Bradley? Insert insane mocking laughter here. Even in my relationship with Dezzi, we never held hands. We just fucked.

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