She snuggled into him. “Neither do I.”
“Let’s just stay here all day,” he said before he dropped a soft kiss to her lips.
“I don’t know if I can do that. I’ve never spent the entire day in bed, not even when I wasn’t feeling well.” She smiled, beginning to like the idea, and laid her hand on his cheek. “But maybe you can change my mind.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He laughed before he started nuzzling her neck and she melted into his arms.
A long time later, Tresia sat across the table from Devlin, the remains of a hastily prepared breakfast littering their plates. Shewatched him finish the coffee in his cup, still amazed she could call him husband.
He smiled at her as he pushed his plate away. “What are your plans for today?”
“More cleaning at the store. It’s a complete and total mess and I’m going to take advantage of Avery staying at Montaña del Trueno for a few days to get everything in order for my grand re-opening.”
“Do you need help?”
She shook her head, pleased that he’d offered. “You have more important things to do, like protect this town. I’ll be fine. Besides, I’d rather clean by myself because I know exactly how I like things.”
“Don’t wear yourself out.” He gave her a wink as he rose from his seat. “I’m not done celebrating.”
Warmth encompassed her face. Indeed, her entire body heated, knowing precisely what he meant. “I’ll never be too tired.” She laughed and stood as well, then walked straight into his arms.
He dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you later.” He broke their embrace and walked to the front door, then just stood there with the door open for the longest time, his gaze roaming over her. “I love you, Mrs. Goodrich,” he said before he let himself out.
The heat in his stare as well as his words remained with her while she cleaned the kitchen and left the house shortly after he did. She cut across the town square, spotting Mrs. Dameron weeding the flower bed along one of the walkways.
The woman stuck her gardening spade into the rich dirt of the flower bed and rose from her kneeling pad as she approached. “I hear congratulations are in order, Tresia.” She smiled as she removed her heavy work gloves. “You and the marshal.”
“Thank you! I didn’t realize you knew.”
Mrs. Dameron patted her hand. “Everyone knows, dear. The whole town has been buzzing about it since Mr. Peabody stopped in the Silver Spur the other day and told everyone he’d married you and Marshal Goodrich. I understand he got a few free beers out of his announcement.” She smiled. “Maybe Lucy Hart can find someone for me.”
Tresia laughed. “I’m sure she could. You should go and see her.”
The woman winked at her, and in that moment, she became young again, despite the mop of white hair poking out from beneath her bonnet and the wrinkles on her face. “Maybe I will. It’s been a long time since Mr. Dameron passed.” A look of sadness passed over her features, as if she remembered the good life she’d had with her late husband. “Heard you got your store back, too.”
Not much stayed secret in Serenity. “I did. I’m heading there now to get ready for my grand re-opening.” She grasped Mrs. Dameron’s hand, noticing the strength in her fingers which belied the gentleness of her touch. “Speaking of that, I should get moving. The store isn’t going to clean itself.”
“Have a good day, dear, and congratulations once again. I hope you and Marshal Goodrich will be as happy as Mr. Dameron and I were.”
“Thank you!”
Spirits high, she continued across the town square, then stopped at the edge of the street and just looked at Sullivan’s Emporium. Pride rippled through her, as well as a sense of coming home.
Removing the key from her drawstring purse, she headed across the street and let herself into the store. She stood there in the doorway for a few moments, wondering what she should tackle first. The dusting? Sweeping? Mopping? It was all a mess,though not as bad as the apartment had been. “Well, nothing is going to get done with me standing here.”
Hours later, she came out of the back storage room with a bucket of clean water to mop the floor one more time. It was her third bucket of water, but the floor had been that filthy. Her back hurt and a blister had formed on her hand from gripping the mop so tightly. But the store looked like it once had. The chandeliers, now dust free, glowed brightly above the displays, which were dust free as well.
She placed the bucket on the floor behind the counter then glanced up at the giant bear who kept watch over the register. The thought of moving him again seemed a little daunting at the moment as she’d already moved him twice—and he was heavy, despite the wheeled platform he rested on. “Too bad you can’t move yourself out of the way.”
She walked behind him and started to push when the little bell over the door jingled. “I’m sorry, we’re closed,” she called out.
There was no apology from whomever walked in, nor did she hear the bell jingle again as they left. She moved out from behind the bear. “We’re clo—” She stiffened and her breath caught as she came face to face with the last person she thought she’d see. “Frances.”
The woman stood close to the door, wearing that smile that wasn’t a smile at all. To her left was Seth Humbolt. Devlin had told her about him. Seth was the person Frances relied upon the most to carry out her dirtiest work.
And at this moment, Tresia wasn’t sure who scared her more—Frances or Humbolt—but she wasn’t about to show either one of them her fear. “What do you want?”
“Did you really think you and that bastard I called my son-in-law could scare me away from my granddaughter? Did you really think I would not come back for her?” Frances took a fewsteps away from the door then gave a quick nod to the man, who moved in the opposite direction. “Where is she?”
