Page 50 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

“Nice. I’m sure he will. We can take some to go. Mrs. O’Hare, would you be so kind,” I said, clearing my throat and trying to hold my tears at bay.

The front door opened, and with it a burst of chilly wind flew inside.

“Sugarplum? Hey, Avery. Is Jez here? Emmet is coming in a few minutes for her,” Max said and went straight to the living room.

I barely acknowledged his greeting. My eyes were on the figure standing behind him.

“Danny!” Rosie yelled and ran to Dante who scooped her up in his big, capable arms.

He nuzzled her cheek and said all the right things to Rosie’s million questions, but his velvet eyes were on mine. I knew he could tell something was wrong, and right then, that meant everything to me.

“Coat on, Baby Girl,” I said, and Rosie went to grab hers off the hook.

I sucked in a sharp breath, the kind that felt like it expanded every corner of my chest, and Dante stood there, waiting.

His posture was steady, unmoving, but there was something in his eyes. An intensity. A quiet plea.

It spoke louder than words. I felt something tugging inside my chest. Like a thread wrapped around my heart, and it was leading me to him.

He didn’t hound me. He was giving me space, letting me come to him when I was ready.

Without thinking or hesitating, I ran straight into him.

Dante didn’t falter. Not an inch.

The moment I reached him, his arms opened wide, enveloping me in a hug that felt like home.

He pulled me close, holding me tightly to his warm, solid body, and I let out a shaky exhale, everything in me finally releasing.

The scent of him wrapped around me. Crisp, clean, like winter wind carrying the fresh bite of pine trees.

It wasn’t just comforting. It was grounding.

Like stepping barefoot onto cool earth after wandering lost for too long.

Dante was great at giving hugs. His embrace was firm yet tender, as if he knew exactly how much strength I needed without overwhelming me.

I pressed my cheek against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear.

That sound, that steady thrum of life, soothed my frayed nerves in a way nothing else could.

Dante didn’t speak yet, and neither did I. We didn’t need to. In that moment, his presence said everything I needed to hear.

I’m here. You’re safe. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, my angst began to fade, replaced by the calm certainty that I wasn’t alone.

“What happened, Honey?” he asked, kissing my temple.

“Nothing. It’s nothing. My emotions are just all over the place.”

“Did you wanna stay for dinner? Max invited us.”

“No,” I replied too quickly. “I want to go home.”

“Home?” he asked, and my heart jolted.

“Oh, um, I meant your cabin,” I said, tearing up and feeling like a fool for thinking of it as my home.

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