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“You gave me back my book,” she whispers.

“Our book.”

Her breath catches.

I feel her smile against my neck before she leans back. Tears shine across her cheeks, but happiness lives beneath them.

“Our book,” she repeats.

I wipe beneath one eye with my thumb. “The notebook stays with it.”

“Always.”

She kisses me slowly, holding my face between both hands as the Christmas lights warm the space behind my closed eyes. When she finally pulls away, her gaze moves toward the thin rectangular box waiting beneath the tree.

Her expression changes.

“I have one more present for you.”

Charm reaches for the box and settles onto her knees. She holds it against her chest tightly enough to crease the ribbon.

That gets my attention.

“Why do you look nervous?” I ask.

“I’m not nervous.”

“You’re squeezing the box.”

She loosens her grip. “Open it.”

I take it from her and pull the ribbon free. There is no weight to the box beyond paper. I lift the lid and find a folder with ENCANTO stamped across the front in the gold lettering she uses on everything connected to her boutique.

I open the folder.

The first page contains the floor plan for Encanto’s Milwaukee location. I recognize the showroom, fitting rooms, design space, and enormous storage area Charm defended as though the lease negotiations involved territory acquired through war.

The back corner of the boutique is different. A wide arch now opens into a library enclosed by black-framed glass. Floor-to-ceiling shelves cover every available wall, interrupted only by tall windows and a fireplace flanked by two chairs. A long desk faces the glass, positioned so whoever sits behind it can see directly into the boutique.

She has marked sections for Victorian literature, poetry, contemporary fiction, and the books I refuse to let anyone borrow. A sign above it reads Navaro Library est 2026.

My throat closes as I turn to the final page and find a brass key taped beneath the word Yours.

I look at her. “What the fuck is this?”

“It’s your library, baby.”

“You put it inside Encanto?”

“Inside our Milwaukee Encanto.”

I return my attention to the plans. “You removed part of your storage.”

“I have plenty of storage.”

“You told Aura you would commit a felony before surrendering six feet of it.”

“She was aware of why. I was not willing to budge on your space.” She shrugs so fucking sweetly my heart stops. “It was the principle, babe.”