Page 48 of Sweet Surrender

And there it was.

The echo.

Big Sur without the bathroom stall. The same spark, but deeper now. Back then, they had been two reckless women colliding in a place they were never supposed to be. Now, they were inside the life they had chosen, surrounded by sawdust, canvas, fresh paint, and a turned-around portrait that was probably furious to be missing the steamiest part.

Barra smiled slowly.

“Allie Chen, are you about to ruin your own gallery?” she murmured.

Allie kissed the corner of her mouth. “No.”

“No?”

“I’m about to christen it.”

Barra laughed once, breathless and bright, before Allie kissed her again.

And this time, there was no jungle watching them. No cameras hiding behind leaves. No game waiting to punish them for wanting too much.

There was only the gallery, the locked door, the painting facing the wall, and sweet Barra Jones surrendering with a smile.