Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls Book 5)

“You’ll deal with that, too.” I stretched up on my tiptoes and pressed my mouth to his. “I. Love. You.”

“I love you.” I whispered the words into the silence between us, the quiet syllables louder than any scream.

Trace’s body jerked as if he’d been struck, but he didn’t let go of my hand. “You shouldn’t.
”

“Too bad. I do. And you’re just going to have to deal with it.”

He stared down at me. “Bossy.”

“Damn straight.”

“I love you, too.”

“I love your braid, bestie,” Keely said with a grin.

Ellie’s fingers deftly wove a design I couldn’t have mastered, even with hours to spend on it. “Thank you. It makes me feel like a princess in hiding.”