"And then," Luke said, eyes dark with promise, "I'm going to kiss you on your porch. And then I'm going to come inside. And then—" He leaned down, mouth brushing her ear. "Then I'm going to show you exactly how much I've missed you."
Grace shivered. "That sounds like a very good plan."
Luke pulled back just enough to look at her. His expression was soft now. Wondering. "I love you," he said quietly.
Her heart was doing something embarrassing—too fast, too loud, the kind of racing that made it hard to think in straight lines. She was aware of his hands on her, of the festival sounds around them, of the fact that her face was probably giving everything away.
She'd wanted this. Had wanted it for so long that she'd taught herself to stop wanting it, had buried it under pride and practicality and the very sensible decision to protect herself from exactly this man.
And now here he was. Saying it like it was simple. Like it had always been true.
Maybe it had.
Of course he loved her.
Of course she loved him.
Grace kissed him again. Softer this time. Sweeter.
"I love you,” she murmured against his mouth.
His arms came around her fully then, sweeping her off the ground and up into his arms. Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed.
Around them, the festival continued—music playing, children laughing, the familiar rhythm of Crystal Lake on a perfect autumn day.
And Grace was right in the center of it all. With Luke Bennett's arms around her and his heart beating steady against hers.
Exactly where she belonged.
Epilogue
GRACE
The restauranton Main Street had been there since before either of them were born.
Grace had walked past it a thousand times. Had looked through the window at the white tablecloths and the candles and the couples leaning toward each other over shared desserts, and had thought—someday, maybe. If she was lucky.
Now it wasn’tsomeday, it was just… every other Friday.
Luke's hand warm at the small of her back as they stepped inside. Their usual table—they had a usual table now—was tucked in the corner by the window where the spring evening light came through golden and soft.
"You're doing the thing," Luke said, once they were seated.
Grace looked up from the menu she didn't need. "What thing?"
"The thing where you look slightly surprised to be here."
"I'm just—" She set the menu down. "Appreciating it."
Luke reached across the table and took her hand. Just like that. Easy. Like he'd been doing it forever.
She turned her hand over and laced her fingers through his.
Outside the window, Main Street was doing what it always did on a Friday evening in spring—families, dog walkers, couples sharing ice cream. There were freshly hanging baskets of flowers the town council had approved.
It had been during her first official meeting as a council member.
She was still getting used to that.
