I glance back toward the house, where I know she’s still inside.
Sleeping.
Breathing.
Close.
And for the first time since she showed up—I don’t feel like I’m drowning in it.
I feel focused.
Locked in.
Because now?
I’ve got a direction.
A purpose.
And a woman I intend to figure the hell out—whether she likes it or not.
Chapter 6-Esme
I wake up warm.
That’s the first thing I notice.
Not the kind of warm that comes from summer heat or too many blankets, but something deeper.
Safer.
Like I’ve been wrapped up in something solid all night.
For a second, I don’t move.
Don’t open my eyes.
Because I don’t want to lose it.
And then I breathe in.
My eyes fly open.
Benji.
The scent hits me all at once—clean soap, worn cotton, and that unmistakable male musk that’s so uniquely him it makes my chest ache.
God, I remember this.
I close my eyes again, just for a second, pressing my face deeper into the pillow.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
I’ve missed this.
Missed him.
More than I ever let myself admit.
