Chapter Five

The drive out to the cabin was peaceful, the kind that made me feel like I was leaving the rest of the world behind. Tall trees lined the road, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns across the gravel path. My fingers twisted in my lap, a mix of anticipation and nerves bubbling in my stomach. I hadn’t expected to find something I felt so drawn to so quickly.

The real estate agent, Melissa, gave me a reassuring smile as she pulled the car into a small clearing. "Here we are," she said. "It’s even better in person, I promise."

She wasn’t wrong. The pictures hadn’t done the cabin justice. It was nestled perfectly among the trees, the wooden exterior rich and warm in the afternoon sun. A stone chimney jutted up from the roof, and the front porch had a wooden swing that swayed gently in the breeze. It looked… perfect. Like home.

My breath caught as I stepped out of the car, taking in the scent of pine and earth. This was it. This was where I wanted to be.

"The owner should be here any minute," Melissa said, glancing at her phone. "He wanted to meet you in person before moving forward with anything."

I nodded, suddenly curious. What kind of person owned a place like this but didn’t live in it?

As if on cue, the low rumble of an approaching truck filled the clearing. A dark blue pickup pulled up beside us, and when the driver stepped out, my heart stopped for a second.

Jace Danvers. He hadn't introduced himself with his last name before.

I stared at him in disbelief as he shut the truck door, his piercing eyes locking onto mine with clear recognition. He still wore that same rugged confidence as he had at the diner, only now, there was something else in his expression—curiosity, maybe even amusement.

He let out a short chuckle and shook his head. "Well, I guess the little traveler is making permanent roots here then."

I blinked, trying to form a coherent response. "You own this place?"

"That I do," he said, stepping forward. He stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, glancing toward the cabin before looking back at me. "Didn’t peg you for the cabin-in-the-woods type, but I have to admit… it suits you."

Melissa cleared her throat, clearly sensing some unspoken history between us. "I take it you two know each other?"

"Something like that," Jace answered, his gaze never leaving mine.

I found my voice and nodded. "We met at the diner."

"Small world," Melissa mused before turning her attention to the cabin. "Well, shall we take a look inside?"

Jace nodded, stepping onto the porch and unlocking the door. He pushed it open, gesturing for me to go ahead. "After you, traveler."

I shot him a look before stepping inside, and the moment I did, I knew I wasn’t leaving. The warm wooden interior, the stone fireplace, the cozy furniture—it felt like stepping into a dream. My dream.

Jace leaned against the doorframe, watching me as I moved through the space, trailing my fingers along the edge of the kitchen counter. "What do you think?"

I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. "I think… this is exactly where I want to be."

Melissa beamed. "That’s what we like to hear. I’ll go over the details of the rental agreement, but if you two want to discuss anything, take your time."

Jace nodded before looking at me again. "The place is solid, well-maintained. If you have any concerns, now’s the time to ask."

I hesitated, glancing out the large window overlooking the woods. "How isolated is it?"

He smirked. "Pretty quiet. Nearest neighbor is about a mile down the road. No one’s going to be knocking on your door unless you want them to."

That sounded perfect. "And in winter? Does the road stay clear?"

Jace nodded. "I make sure of it. Snow can get heavy, but if you’re okay with a little effort, it’s worth it."

I studied him, appreciating his honesty. "It sounds like everything I’m looking for."

He crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the wall. "You planning to stay long-term?"

I hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yeah… I think so."

Something flickered in his expression, something unreadable, but he only nodded. "Then let’s talk business."

Melissa handed me a folder with details, but my focus stayed on Jace. The idea of him being connected to this place made it feel even more like fate.

"You know," Jace said after a beat, "if you need anything, I’m not far."

I raised a brow. "Are you saying that as my potential landlord or something else?"

His lips quirked into a smirk. "Guess you’ll find out."

I shook my head, trying to suppress a smile. There was something about him, something about this town, that made me feel like I was right where I was meant to be.

And just like that, I was one step closer to making this place my home. But what I didn't know was that this little town had secrets... and those secrets would soon consume and change my whole life.