The silence left behind by Preston's departure was deafening. I turned slowly to face Luke. He had dropped the crowbar, leaning heavily against the rusted doorframe of the shop. He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"He's gone," Luke said, his voice flat, carefully devoid of the fierce emotion he’d shown moments ago. "You stood up to him. You don't need to hide anymore, princess. You're free to go figure out whatever grand life you want."

He was giving me an out. He was stepping back, expecting me to realize this was just a gritty vacation from reality. I walked toward him, my heavy boots crunching loudly on the gravel. For twenty-five years, people had told me what I should want. Prestige, wealth, compliance. Luke was the only one who ever gave me the space to figure it out for myself. I didn't want the penthouses. I wanted the smell of coffee and motor oil in the morning.

"I did figure out what I want," I said, stopping mere inches from his chest. I reached up, my hands gripping the collar of his faded gray t-shirt. "I learned how to want something without apologizing for it."

Luke finally looked at me, his hazel eyes wide and entirely unguarded.

"I want you," I whispered.

The last of his walls shattered. He let out a ragged breath, his rough, calloused hands coming up to cup my face. He pulled me in, and the kiss was everything—desperate, deep, grounding, and overwhelmingly real. He didn't rescue me like a prince; he gave me the tools to rescue myself. And standing there in the dust and the fading sunlight, wrapping my arms around his neck, I knew my life was finally just beginning.

 "I want something without apologizing. I want you." BRB, sobbing! 😭 This slow-burn romance healed our hearts and gave us all the feels! What was your favorite moment of Claire and Luke's incredible journey? Hit ❤️ to celebrate their beautiful beginning and share this series with a friend who loves a good small-town romance! 🛠️💖