Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Junie leaned forward in her seat as the truck bounced along the narrow dirt road, her eyes widening when the cabin finally came into view. It wasn’t anything special from the outside—just a sturdy-looking log structure tucked among the trees. Nothing that would make anyone stop and stare.
But the moment Tanner opened the front door and let her step inside, her breath caught hard in her throat.
“Oh my god…” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The space opened up wide and bright, nothing like what the outside had promised.
The inside was massive. Wide-plank wood floors stretched out beneath her feet, and the ceiling soared above her.
To her left, a big seating area faced three tall windows that framed the mountains like a painting.
Straight ahead, a long dining table sat ready for a crowd, and along the back wall, a beautiful kitchen waited. Her kind of kitchen.
It was like stepping into the TARDIS. So much bigger on the inside.
She turned slowly in a circle, trying to take it all in. “Tanner… this doesn’t seem possible.”
He stayed quiet behind her, letting her look. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her reaction.
Junie wandered toward the kitchen first, drawn to it like it was calling her name. The counters were wide and smooth, the appliances looked professional, and there was more than enough room to work. She ran her fingers along the edge of the island, almost afraid to touch anything.
Tanner’s voice came low from behind her. “That’s one of the things I’ve been doing the last year and a half. I gutted it, reinforced the structure, and then built it the way I wanted it to be.”
She turned to him, heart thudding.
“I renovated it with you in mind,” he said simply.
Junie’s throat tightened. She looked back at the kitchen, then at the big dining table that could easily fit the whole Daniels family, then at the cozy seating area facing the mountains. Everything was thoughtful. Intentional. For her.
She didn’t know what to say.
He took her hand and showed her the rest. The master bedroom was beautiful, with a stone fireplace and a door that led to a stunning bathroom.
Across the great room, there was another bedroom, smaller but still lovely, with a guest bath and laundry room nearby.
When he casually mentioned it could work as a nursery someday, her cheeks went hot, and her stomach flipped.
Out back, a wide deck stretched across the length of the cabin. A fireplace sat on one end, and a huge built-in stone grill with a spit took up the other. Comfortable chairs and tables were arranged for outdoor seating and dining.
Junie stood there for a long moment, trying to absorb it all.
He had done this. For her. For them. And he’d never said a single word about it, even though they’d seen each other almost every day for the past two years but hadn’t gotten serious until relatively recently.
For at least a year, she’d only thought of them as friends with possibilities, and he’d been building a dream cabin for her. And she’d missed it.
You really did let your fears blind you.
She was still trying to figure out what to say while he carried their bags inside and started unpacking. She helped, moving slowly, still a little stunned by the wonder of it all. Once everything was put away, Tanner came up behind her and rested his hands on her hips.
“Come on,” he said quietly. “I want to show you something outside while there’s still light.”
They stepped out into the cool mountain air. Tall spruce, fir, and pine trees lined the back and sides of the cabin. It was beautiful. Peaceful. Junie breathed it in, letting the quiet settle around her.
Something on one of the trees near the edge of the clearing caught her eye. She took a few steps closer, squinting.
“What’s that?” she asked.
Tanner’s voice was careful. “Only way to know is to go look, baby.”
That only made her more curious. She walked over to the tree, and when she got close enough, her breath stopped.
There, carved into the bark, was a heart. Inside it were two names.
Tanner + Junie
She traced the outline of the heart with her fingertip as her chest tightened so fast it almost hurt.
These names hadn’t just been carved either.
Darker spots spoke of exposure to the weather for who knew how long.
It meant that Tanner had carved their names into this tree way before the two had finally become a couple.
As if he’d known all along that they were meant to be.
All the little moments over the years, all the quiet ways he’d shown her he was waiting.
All the things he’d built without ever saying a word. It all crashed over her at once.
She turned around and threw herself into his arms.
Tanner caught her easily, one arm banding around her waist as her feet left the ground. Her hands came up to his face, and she kissed him like she was starving for it.
The second their mouths met, heat exploded low in her belly.
She pressed closer, needing to feel every inch of him.
His lips were warm and firm, and when he deepened the kiss with a low sound in his chest, she opened for him without hesitation.
His tongue slid against hers, slow and deliberate, and a soft, helpless sound escaped her throat.
She loved the strength in his arms as his hands splayed wide across her lower back, holding her against him. Her fingers slid into his hair, gripping tight as she kissed him harder, pouring all the shock, the overwhelming love, and the years of wanting him without ever saying it out loud.
Tanner kissed her back in full possession of her heart, like he’d been waiting just as long.
One of his hands came up to cradle the back of her head, tilting her just how he wanted her, and the possessive way he held her made her knees go weak.
When he finally pulled away, it was just far enough to rest his forehead against hers.
Junie kept her eyes closed, her fingers still tangled in his hair, heart hammering against her ribs. She loved this man so much it scared her. Hand in hand, they turned back to the cabin.
Junie froze, then jumped behind Tanner, pointing toward the front porch.
“There’s… there’s a wolf at the cabin.”
Tanner’s gaze followed where she pointed and smiled. “Technically, he’s a wolfdog. More wolf, but we really don’t know how much.”
How could he take the appearance of this monster with such calm?
“His name is Dodger,” he said.
That name tugged at her memory. Kenzie had mentioned the name a few times, but she couldn’t make sense of it now.
How could anyone attach it to this clearly dangerous animal right in front of her?
The stories she remembered painted a much gentler picture.
This wolf or wolfdog showed zero signs of being tame.
Wildness and unpredictability rolled off him in waves.
“Is he dangerous? And why is he looking at me like that?”
“He’s probably deciding on whether to eat you now or later, kinda like me.
” Dodger bounded away from the cabin and disappeared into the woods on the far side.
Shifting her around from his back where she’d ducked to hide, Tanner scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the cabin.
She tucked her face against his warm chest.
“I know Dodger scared you,” Tanner said, “but believe me, I’ll sleep better tonight knowing he’s around.”
“Is he a pet? He didn’t look like a pet.”
“I don’t know what Dodger is. He’s like the guardian angel of the ranch. He always seems to turn up, usually when someone’s in trouble. I can’t explain it. It’s like he shows up when he’s needed and then he’s gone. Believe me, he’s a mystery, but it’s a good one.”
She’d have to be satisfied with that explanation. “I won’t worry about him eating me if you say it’s okay. But didn’t you have an option on eating me as well?”
Tanner kicked the cabin door open. “That’s not an option, babygirl, it’s an already done deal,” he said as he carried her inside with a grin on his face.
The next morning, Junie woke slowly, curled tight against Tanner’s side with one leg thrown over his thick thighs.
He stayed fast asleep, his chest rising and falling in deep, even breaths.
He looked so peaceful, softer than she usually saw him, and she lay there for a long moment, just drinking him in.
This strong, protective man hadn’t just built her a house.
He’d built her a home. Her heart swelled until it felt too big for her chest.
She slipped out of bed barefoot, wearing nothing but one of his large T-shirts that fell to her thighs, and padded into the kitchen.
She’d been dying to try out this beautiful kitchen he had made for her.
The pantry and fridge were stocked with everything she could need, right where she wanted them.
Soon, the comforting scents of honey, cinnamon, and warm sugar filled the air as she mixed and fried a batch of homemade donuts.
Reaching into the drawer, she pulled out a dusting bag, a little cheesecloth pouch that reminded her of the ones she used at the bakery. After she filled it with spiced powdered sugar, she gave it a gentle shake and sent a fine cloud of sweet goodness drifting over the warm donuts.
“Perfect,” she cooed softly, a smile tugging at her lips. “You are going to make Tanner so happy this morning. Just look at you.”
She loved this part. The quiet rhythm of baking always calmed the busy thoughts in her head.
With a practiced flick of her wrist, she dusted each pastry again, then turned them to coat the other side.
The faint cinnamon sweetness blended so well with the warm vanilla already drifting through the kitchen.
“Morning, Cupcake.”