Her eyes meet mine, searching. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
We reach a blue house with white trim and a small, well-tended garden out front. A wreath of dried herbs hangs on the door, and lanterns flicker on either side of the three porch steps.
"This is me," Savannah says, stopping at the gate.
I follow her up the short path to her porch, our pace slowing as if by mutual agreement, neither wanting the walk to end. At the steps, she turns to face me, and I'm struck again by how beautiful she is.
"Savannah," I say, suddenly serious. "Go out with me tomorrow night."
She blinks. "What?"
"On a date," I clarify. "A real one. No pretending, no covering for anything, no chaos dragging us into each other's arms. Just dinner, or a movie, or whatever you want. But a real date."
A smile spreads across her face, slow and genuine. "Are you asking me out, Lieutenant Price?"
"I am," I nod. "Officially."
She pretends to consider it, but the effect is ruined by the way she can't stop smiling. "Well, since you asked so nicely... yes. I'd like that."
I step closer, hands finding her hips, drawing her gently toward me. "Good."
Her fingers curl into the collar of my jacket, her face tilting up to mine. When I kiss her, it's different from the desperate heat of last night—slower, softer, a promise rather than a demand. She sighs against my mouth, body melting into mine as if it belongs there.
We take our time saying goodbye, trading soft kisses and softer words on her porch as the afternoon fades toward evening. Each time I try to leave, she pulls me back for one more kiss, and I'm powerless to resist.
"I really should go," I finally murmur against her lips. "Or we're going to scandalize your neighbors."
She laughs, reluctantly stepping back. "Tomorrow night, then?"
"Tomorrow night," I confirm. "I'll pick you up at seven."
As I walk back toward town, the panic of the morning feels distant, replaced by a calm certainty that settles in my chest like it's always been there.
Yesterday, I grabbed Savannah's hand in desperate improvisation, a shield against my own embarrassment. Now, I can't imagine letting go.
Epilogue – Savannah
Three Years Later
I'm wiping flour from my hands when the bell above The Enchanted Bean's door jingles, sending a rush of cold December air swirling into the warm space. Logan steps in, snowflakes melting in his dark hair, cheeks flushed from the cold.
Even after three years, the sight of him still catches me off guard sometimes—how tall he stands in the doorway, how his eyes find mine immediately, how his smile shifts from polite to something softer when he spots me behind the counter.
"How's the holiday rush going?" he asks, glancing around.
He bends to kiss me, his lips cold against mine, the faint taste of mint lingering. When he pulls back, his eyes crinkle at the corners in the way that still makes my stomach flutter.
"Surprisingly manageable," I tell him. "Gloria came by earlier to pick up Nathan's birthday cake. She said to tell you they're still on for dinner Friday."
Logan nods, unwinding his scarf. "Good. I've been trying to get Nathan to try that new pizza place for weeks."
"Ready to call it a day? I'm officially off-duty, and you promised to close up the Bean early so we could all meet at the tree lighting."
I lean back against his chest, feeling the solid warmth of him. "Almost. Just need to put the snickerdoodles in the display case."
"I'll help," he offers, but makes no move to release me, instead pressing a kiss to the side of my neck.
