“There’s something else I learned by reading all those books last night.” I interrupt her. “Every romance novel has a grand gesture. And this is mine.”
She tilts her head and stares at me, unblinking.
“Chloe, I don’t know how I got so lucky to be here when you walked into the lodge the other day. But the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were something special. I just didn’t know how special until I saw you half frozen in the snow and my heart hurt with the thought that I might lose you.” I close the distance between us and cup her cheek in my hand. “Even before that first night together, I knew you were mine, kitten. And from the moment I had you, I’ve been trying to think of a way to tell you how I feel about you without scaring you away.”
She sucks in a breath and a tear slips down her cheek, but I have to keep talking. I need to finish telling her exactly how I feel.
“The truth is, Chloe, I love you. I’m deeply, madly in love with you and the idea that you might walk out of here today and out of my life is completely unbearable. I know this is a lot all at once and you’re probably?—”
“I love you, too.” She chokes out the words on a sob. “At first, I thought maybe the way I was feeling was just fantasy. A real-life romance novel. But now I know it’s so much more. It’s real and leaving here today was going to break me in half.”
“Stay.”
One word, but it holds so much meaning. It hangs between us for a moment. I pull her into my arms so her tiny body is pressed up against mine. “Stay,” I say again so only she can hear. “Let me draw you baths every night, and take care of you, Chloe. Marry me and have my babies. Write your books and share your talent with the whole world.”
“Your babies?”
I slip a hand to her belly. “All of my babies. I want to put so many babies in you. As many as you want.”
“I want them all.”
“You do?”
She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth and nods. “More than anything.”
“And you want to stay?”
“I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be than right here with you.”
I kiss her then because there’s no way I can’t. No one else exists but the two of us as we lose ourselves in the kiss. It’s only when I hear a wolf whistle that I turn to see Jaxon and Briggs clapping, with shit-eating grins on their faces.
“I guess you were right,” I tell them. “It happened to me, too.”
“What happened to you, Ryder?”
“The unimaginable.” Once more, I turn back to my wife-to-be and look at her beautiful face. “I fell in love. In an instant.”
SIX MONTHS LATER…
Chloe
The sun is shining overhead, warming me as I walk down the main street of Rock Creek. I still have to pinch myself sometimes to remind myself that I actually live in this amazing place now with my sexy mountain man. I’ve never been happier than I have in the last few months.
Ryder and I were married at the lodge less than a month after we met. It was a small ceremony with his family and a few of my friends from the city. It was absolutely perfect.
Just like the last few months have been.
Ryder is so supportive and encouraging about my writing. He even made me my own office in the log home we share, and I spend so much time writing. The words flow freely now and I’m always so inspired.
How could I not be when I have my very own incredibly hot mountain man helping me with research all night, every night—and throughout the day, too?
I’d finished two books since I’d been in Rock Creek and even reached out to a publishing house with Ryder’s encouragement.
But I’ve been keeping a little secret to myself, waiting for this moment.
When I reach the door to the Den, the bar and restaurant owned and operated by Ryder’s parents, I shift the box I’m carrying to one arm and push the door open.
I scan the dim light inside to find my husband at the bar waiting for me.
