Page 109 of One Touch

Every cozy touch made the house feel like a home, not just a showpiece. The shelves were adorned with books and trinkets, and there were plenty of cozy blankets and throw pillows scattered throughout. The overall effect was a space that felt both inviting and luxurious, like a place where you could truly relax and unwind.

Breathe.

As we made our way through the house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of envy at whoever was lucky enough to call this place home. It was the perfect blend of style and comfort, with a sense of peace and serenity that I had never experienced before.

Hygge—the Danish word for comfort and a hot trend for creating home spaces that evoked a sense of coziness and calm, was the only word that came to mind.

“I think this is the best room in the house.” Ms. Bunny pushed open the double doors to a small room that had been transformed into a cozy library. It was the perfect escape from the rest of the house.

The room was bathed in soft light, with a comfortable high-back armchair nestled in the corner and a large bookshelf that stretched from floor to ceiling. A rolling ladder, exactly like the one I had wanted Beckett to build at Tootie’s house, was attached to the shelves, adding a whimsical touch to the space. The shelves were packed with books.

In the center of the room was a plush armchair, upholstered in a rich blue fabric that complemented the coastal color scheme of the house. A matching ottoman was positioned nearby, perfect for propping up my feet while I read. A small table sat beside the chair, holding a stack of books and a lamp with a warm, inviting glow.

As I ran my hand across the soft fabric of the back of the chair, I noticed a stunning chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The delicate capiz shell design was exactly like the one I’d gushed over with Beckett’s designer friend, Sly.

And I knew.

My heart swelled with emotion, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

“I think you should see the deck off the back.” Ms. Bunny smiled at me with kind, knowing eyes as I fought away tears.

Please. Please let it be him.

Ms. Bunny opened the sliding doors that led to the back deck but didn’t join me outside. “You let me know what you decide, dear.”

With a smile, she closed the door behind me.

THIRTY-NINE

BECKETT

I sensedher before I heard the hitch in her breath. I had used the small-town phone tree to my advantage, and Ms. Bunny was more than happy to send Kate on a wild-goose chase, showing off Outtatowner’s most horrific rentals, before bringing her here.

Home.

Duke had been a lifeline in the months Kate and I had been apart. He knew my coming back to Outtatowner while Kate and I worked on ourselves would be too difficult, so despite grumbling about it, he had made the trip to Chicago. I’d seen Duke more times in the last three months than I had in three years.

He listened as I talked through the childhood issues that came up in therapy. Nodded in understanding when I needed to vent my frustrations. Got downright pissed off whenever negative thoughts about myself reared their ugly heads. I owed my sanity to him, because without Duke, I would have gone crazy in my time away from Kate.

I was still a work in progress, but my mind was clear.

I knew what I wanted.

What I deserved.

When the back door opened, my stomach flipped. My heart thundered so loudly I couldn’t hear what Ms. Bunny said to Kate as she left.

I could see only her.

Her hair had gotten a little longer—something I hadn’t noticed when I stalked her social media pages for any kind of update on her life. She was a little thinner, too, but I loved to cook for her, and I would.

Now that I was here.

Now that she was mine.

Against the backdrop of the home I had purchased from my parents, she was breathtaking.

She looked around, still getting her bearings. “Beckett, I—”

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