“Done,” I murmur. He slowly turns to look at me, lingering for a beat, eyes dark, soft, and unreadable. Finally, he slides back behind the wheel. The hum of the engine fills the space between us, but I can still feel him, close, silent, alive. He drives slowly, headlights glinting off the wet pavement as the late afternoon sky darkens. One hand grips the wheel, while the other slips over to rest on my bare thigh, thumb tracing lazy circles across my skin.
I lean into him, cheek against his shoulder, breathing him in. His hoodie is warm, his touch steady, grounding me in a way I never knew I needed.
“Better?” he murmurs.
“Perfect,” I whisper.
His lips twitch like he’s holding back more, but he just squeezes my leg gently, keeping me close as the truck hums along the mountain road.And I notice I don’t feel lost anymore. With Cas, I feel at home.
CHAPTER 16
Penelope
The next morning, I head over to Sugar & Spice for good coffee and a chat with Summer. I printed her family pictures and can’t wait to show her how beautiful they are.
As I park my car in front of the shop, a shiver crawls over my skin. The air feels…wrong. Heavy. Like someone’s eyes are glued to me. I glance around the street, empty sidewalks, parked cars, the faint hum of morning traffic. No one moves. No one breathes. Still, the feeling lingers, twisting my stomach into knots.
Another thing Mark stole from me. My peace.
I force a laugh under my breath.No one’s there, Penny. Get a grip.Still, my fingers fumble as I lock the car. My palms feel clammy, and I can’t stop glancing over my shoulder as if the street might suddenly bloom with danger.
The little brass bell above the door jingles when I step inside, and the warm scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh espresso wraps around me like a blanket. It should be comforting, but the unease clings to me like a second skin, crawling along my spine and settling in my chest.
“Hey, girl!” Summer’s voice cuts through the haze. She’s behind the counter, sleek black hair framing her face, striking blue eyes lighting up the room.“What’s up? You look spooked!”
I jump, hand flying to my chest.“Oh, hi. No, it’s nothing.” My voice sounds unconvincing, even to me. I slide onto a barstool and shrug off my coat, trying to push down the panic curling in my stomach.
“Uh-huh.” Summer narrows her eyes at me, leaning a little closer.“Penny, you look scared. Everything okay?”
I stare at my hands, twisting them together. My voice drops to a whisper.“I just… had this feeling someone was watching me out there.”
Her cheerful expression softens. She reaches across the counter, laying her hand gently on my shoulder.“Honey, I don’t want to spook you more, but I’ve learned one thing, never ignore your gut.”
I glance toward the windows again, squinting at the morning sun spilling across the street. For a long beat, nothing. Then, a flicker of movement.
A man in a gray hoodie lingers on the far side of the road. His head jerks up as if sensing our eyes on him, and then, just like that, he pivots sharply and walks away, long strides swallowing the distance.
A cold shiver slices down my spine, settling somewhere between my stomach and throat.“Who’s that?” My voice barely escapes my lips.
“I don’t know,” Summer murmurs, her brows knitting together.“But I don’t like people who hide behind a hood like that.” She shrugs, though her eyes stay sharp.“Want me to call Cas for you?”
I shake my head too quickly.“No, no. I’m sure I’m exaggerating. Just my paranoia acting up.” My pulse hammers in my ears, my stomach twisting.
Summer doesn’t look convinced, but she lets it go.“Here,” I say quickly, pushing the wrapped prints toward her.
“They’re ready?” She unwraps them, eyes widening.“Penny, they’re gorgeous!”
“My two gorgeous models made it easy,” I say with a smile.
“Thank you!” She grins and carefully tucks the prints into a drawer.“Mia’s going to love them!”
Steam hisses as she turns to the espresso machine, and the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air, warm and grounding, a small anchor in the swirl of my thoughts. She brings me my usual: a cinnamon roll still warm from the oven and a pumpkin spice latte crowned with whipped cream. My stomach growls, betraying my nerves. I take a sip, letting the sweetness melt across my tongue and calm the shaking inside me.
“Alright, change of subject,” Summer chirps, leaning on the counter, that mischievous glint back in her eyes.“How was the second date?”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. I stall with another sip, the foam clinging to my lips.“Well… he took me out on the lake. Rowboat, picnic basket, the works.”
“Oooh, romantic.” She wiggles her brows.“But get to the good stuff. Did he kiss you again?”
