At the sight of a tear, Brayden reached out and brushed it away with his thumb. “That experience gave me pause. It caused me to take a step back and realize the path I was on wasn’t the one I was destined to travel. My grandma begged me to take some time off, so I did.”
“Then how did you end uphere? From Texas.”
His hand fell gently on her folded knee. “My grandparents honeymooned in Sunset Ridge. My grandma suggested it when I told her I was taking time off and getting away.”
“So you just drove your truck toAlaskaand ended up staying?”
Brayden shrugged. “Yeah, that’s pretty much how it happened. I kept finding reasons to stick around and fewer reasons to go back. I was high up on the corporate ladder, but I found more purpose here.”
“So your mom—”
“Will be fine. She didn’t understand why I wanted to stay until she saw everything for herself. I half suspect she’ll buy a vacation rental so she has an excuse to visit.”
Ava’s eyes illuminated. “You’re staying?”
“I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving.”
“But your mom’s company—”
“Will be fine without me.” He wanted to kiss her again, but as he started to lean in, the first brush of color danced across the clearing sky. “The northern lights are out.” He cut the headlights and pushed open his door. “Come on.”
They met at the front of the truck, their gazes turned high up into the night sky. Brayden pulled Ava into his arms, her back against his chest, and they watched with rapt interest. Fluid strokes of green appeared, one by one, as if someone were running a paintbrush through the sky. With each stroke, the lights danced and reshaped. Hints of purple came next.
“I’ve seen these lights so many times,” Ava said as snow flurries lightly dusted her hat, “but it always feels extra special when they turn purple. A rare treat.”
This. This moment was what he wanted. Maybe for the rest of his life.
The realization should’ve shocked Brayden. Maybe overwhelmed him with the urge to run. But instead, it calmed him. He had no doubts that Ava Monroe was his future. He’d stay in Sunset Ridge without her by his side, but his life was more colorful, like the skies above, with her a part of it.
“I don’t want to do this fake relationship thing anymore,” Brayden said.
Ava stiffened against him. “I shouldn’t be surprised after yesterday—”
“That’s not what I meant.” He wriggled her out of his arms so he could spin her around to face him. Brayden cupped her cheek, tilting her head up until she met his gaze. “I don’t want it to befakeanymore. I want to try this for real.”
Ava’s parted lips attempted to pass words, but the heavy emotion in her eyes said it all. “I’d like that.”
With the northern lights above putting on quite the show, snow flurries dusting their coats and teasing the edges of Ava’s hair, Brayden leaned in slowly, carefully. This wasn’t to be a kiss forced under the mistletoe. As his lips gently brushed hers, he surrendered all his inhibitions to the moment. A moment he would cherish for the rest of his life.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down as the kiss deepened.
Brayden could lose himself forever in this magical moment. He wanted to. But he had another confession to make. “I have to tell you something else,” he said when their lips broke apart.
“No,” Ava said with a shake of the head. “Not tonight.”
“It’s important,” he implored.
“This is the first really wonderful moment I’ve had in a very long time.” Her eyes sparkled and pleaded with his. Ava’s hand combed through his beard, pulling him down to her eager and waiting lips, still slightly swollen from their last kiss. “Please, whatever it is, save it for tomorrow and kiss me again instead.” He could no more deny her another than stop the clock from ticking forward.
ChapterFifteen
Ava
“Coffee, as promised,” Brayden said the next morning, handing Ava a cup after she locked her front door.
“Thank you.” But her smile had much less to do with gratitude and a whole lot more to do with memories of their snowy kisses beneath the northern lights. She yearned to kiss him again, and almost did, except Laurel honked the horn. “Guess we better go. Big day and all.”
The familiar knot in the pit of her stomach returned, reminding her how much was riding on today. Either she’d write a check that wouldn’t bounce by the close of business, or the bank would assume ownership of the family store.
