Chapter 28 Anna/Shane—New lives
Six months later - Anna
Anna meant to take it slowly. She really did, but four months after their first kiss, she’d moved in with Shane.
Living with her dad was nice but she was used to her own space.
It was hard living with your parent as an adult who had experienced living independently.
She’d considered buying a place. She had her trust money and had no reason not to invest, but Shane had sweet-talked her into moving in with him.
They were going strong, and her experience with him showed her that her relationship with Mason hadn’t been healthy.
It wasn’t toxic exactly, but it was liberating to have a partner who shared the housework and prioritized quality time.
He cared for her, no matter what. When she truly had come down with a violent bug (Madame Celeste was not happy and insisted everyone sanitize their hands after each class), he’d been there.
He rinsed her vomit bucket out; he brought her soup and was stern with her when she refused to drink electrolytes.
He rubbed her back when she had her period.
He went to every one of her dance competitions once she’d recovered from her ankle injury and was back in action.
He picked her up on Thursday nights when she’d begun teaching a new class for young people with disabilities.
“It’s dark Anna, there’s sickos around,” he argued.
“My car is right outside the back door. I literally walk about 20 feet from the studio and I’m in my car.”
“Don’t care. I’ll be there 10 minutes before you finish,” he insisted and apparently the argument was over.
He even starred in a few of her Insta posts as her dance partner. He wasn’t great, but he was learning, and he was generating a huge following of women who loved to watch a huge, sexy man try to dance.
Elisa and Robert were amazing. In the two months she’d been living on the ranch, they’d become close.
On weekends when Shane had to work (rare, but they happened), she spent her time either horse-riding with Elise or baking in the older couple’s spatial ranch home.
Elise was an expert baker and cook, and Anna sucked up her knowledge like a sponge.
James liked Shane but Anna knew he had his full approval when she turned 25.
She was set to move out the following week when Shane surprised her with a beautiful necklace (with a Tinkerbell charm) and a manilla envelope.
He’d signed papers removing any claim he’d have on her inheritance, regardless of whether they ever married or had children.
She offered to sign the same. His business was growing, and he’d arguably end up with more than she had within a few years. He refused to have the papers drawn up.
Sometimes, Anna wanted to push further. The thought of marrying Shane was exciting and made her feel secure, but the thought of being engaged and planning another wedding gave her a strange feeling of heaviness. She was happy with where they were, and surely someday she’d feel light again.
Shane
Shane never knew life could be so happy.
He no longer dreaded returning home from work.
His home wasn’t a tomb anymore. It was bright, airy, and full of joy and pet hair.
Barnabus had adjusted well but considered it his duty to stalk their new dog, a Golden Retriever they’d named Snickers.
Snickers didn’t seem to care and loved his grumpy, furry friend.
Anna spoiled him and he spoiled her in return.
He felt truly loved, truly accepted. With Anna’s love and enthusiastic responses, he’d grown bold and confident in bed.
He’d recovered the confidence he’d lost in his years as April’s whipping boy and become what Anna termed “the world’s best dirty talker.
” Anna genuinely seemed to love him. He sometimes caught her staring at him with a dreamy look on her face and couldn’t believe his good fortune.
She baked for him, was interested in his life, and let him lay his head on her chest after a hard day, stroking his hair and patting his face.
He’d never felt as loved by a woman as he did by Anna.
He’d completely redecorated his home, with Anna’s help. April was fully purged from his life. They rarely discussed Mason or April, seeing them only as the catalysts that brought them together. They belonged in the past, along with the hurt and anger that saga had wrought.
Shane wanted desperately to propose. He needed Anna in his life permanently as much as he needed his heart to beat.
But he was a patient man. He could sense she became uncomfortable when people made jokes about marriage or children, so he held off.
He kept one secret from her though, but didn’t feel guilty about it.
She knew nothing about the beautiful diamond ring he’d placed in his parents’ safe.
He’d bought it two months into the relationship.
One day, when she was ready, he’d come clean about it.