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I arranged the final row of books on the new bookshelf. It had taken four weeks, but the store was finally in order. Insurance had covered the damages since Claire’s dad had reported it as a break in. Claire had pinched pennies with the money they were given for repairs so she could freshen the place up. Everything received a fresh coat of white paint, and splashes of color had been sprinkled throughout in the form of decorations. The true centerpiece of the shop was the books, though. The white bookshelves made their colorful spines stand out.

“All right, here’s your usual,” Claire said as she slipped through the entrance with a coffee in each hand. She’d headed to Urban Grind to get us fuel so we could finish setting up and organizing.

“Cool, thanks. Oh, and that box came while you are gone.” I took my coffee from her and nodded toward the large cardboard box by the door.

A goofy grin spread across her face. Something was up; her grin gave her away. The problem was with Claire you never knew what it was until it hit you. The woman kept me on my damn toes, and I loved it. There was never a dull moment.

“What did you do?” I asked, arching a brow.

“Nothing much. While that box might have the shops name on it, it’s not for me, it’s for you.”

“For me?” I walked to it.

The thing was huge. It must have been heavy too because the delivery man seemed relieved when I told him he could drop it by the door.

“Open it,” Claire insisted. I could feel her excitement rippling off her from where I stood. Whatever was in the box must be good.

I grabbed a box cutter and swiped its blade across the tape holding the top closed. A squeal came from Claire as she stepped closer. I chuckled at her as I opened the box. Yeah, whatever it was, it must be good for her to react that way.

My mind went blank as I stared inside at its contents.

“Are you surprised?” Claire asked.

“How?” It was the only word I could form.

“How did I figure out those were the covers you created?” Claire asked. I nodded as I stared at the six books with covers I’d created resting on the top of probably thirty more. “It was easy. I knew your design company name. By the way, Dangerously Dark Covers? Come on, couldn’t you think of a better name than that?” she teased.

“Hey, cut me some slack. At the time, I was feeling pretty dangerously dark.” I laughed.

She moved to the empty display case in the front of the window. “This is your display case. I want people to know what a fantastic artist you are.”

I didn’t know what to say. Seeing one of my covers in a store had always been a dream of mine, but so had seeing my art on display somewhere. Claire had now given me both. She had me paint a picture of the willow tree and channel at the center of town so she could hang it behind the cash register on the wall earlier in the week, and now this.

I was over the moon happy.

“I don’t know what to say.” I reached for her and pulled her closer.

No words could express what I was feeling, only a kiss could. I crushed my lips against hers to let her know how much what she’d done meant. She responded right away like I knew she would. Claire was never shy when it came to kissing me.

Her cell rang and she pulled away to see who it was. I kissed along her neck while she retrieved it from in her back pocket.

“Sorry, but I have to get this. It’s Dad.” She pecked me on the lips one final time before stepping toward the door. “I’m gonna step outside for this. Think you can handle setting up your own display?” She winked as she pushed open the shop door and stepped outside.

Warm air blasted inside, sending her signature coconut scent to my nose. God, I loved the way she smelled. I loved her.

I watched her through the front window of the bookstore. She walked toward the willow tree. Once she reached it, she paced back and forth beneath its drooping branches in the shade they provided. She looked happy.

Beautiful and happy.

Claire had decided to stay in Willow Harbor and run her family’s bookstore, something her dad never thought she’d do. I had hoped she would, but knew if she chose not to, I’d pick up and follow her anywhere. She was where my heart was. She was my everything.

Her dad had taken the promise he made to Danny and their mother straight to heart. He’d packed up his belongings, sold his house, and went on the trip he’d always dreamed of after settling the claim with the insurance company for the repairs on the shop and signing it over to Claire.

Things had seemed to click into place for everyone over the last month, including me. I’d finally found peace. I no longer feared becoming like Aurora. Ida’s words had made me realize I had too much humanity inside me to allow something like that to ever happen. It was because of everything that happened that night I was able to feel a sense of contentment for the first time since being turned.

I reached into the box Claire had left for me to unpack and pulled out the top copies of my books. While they might not be something everyone in town would enjoy looking at in the front display case, I didn’t care. Claire didn’t either.

I glanced at her through the window again. A gust of wind blew, making the willow branches above her sway gently. Warmth settled into my soul. In that moment, everything felt right in the world. I finally felt as though I belonged somewhere.

Claire was my heart, and Willow Harbor was my home. It didn’t get any better than that.