“Fine.” She waves a slim, pale hand between the two of us. “But there’s nothing going on here between the two of us. So don’t get any funny ideas.”
Maggie comes back and eyes the two of us with a twinkle in her eyes. I can already tell she’s on my side. As long as I don’t fuck it up. If that happens, she might castrate me.
I lean back so she can put the food down. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks, Maggie. Looks delicious.”
She winks and walks away, leaving us to quietly eat our food. I watch her pick up her fork and take a dainty bite and I swear togod, I’ve never gotten hard watching a woman eat but I sure as hell am now.
But I don’t do a damn thing.
Instead, I lean down and take a bite of my burger, my eyes never leaving her.
It’s a quiet lunch but I had it with the woman of my dreams. The woman I intend to marry.
So it’s the best damn lunch I’ve ever had. It feels like the beginning of something amazing.
And I’m all in for it.
CHAPTER 6
Aspen
Itake a deep breath and stare in the mirror. I don’t recognize the woman in the slick surface. This woman’s red hair is wild around her head in fresh waves but tied back in a dark green bandanna with mauve flowers on it. My long-sleeve sweater in emerald is now hidden under a pale pink parka that I’ve had forever but it’s one of my favorite pieces of clothes because it’s so worn-in and soft.
It was also given to me by my best friend when we had a gift exchange in high school. He noticed that I had lost my winter coat and I was afraid to tell my parents about it since it was another girl that stole it but I didn’t feel like I could demand it back. The girl was a bully and she made sure that I knew if I tried to tell anyone, she’d make my life a living hell.
So my best friend, Jared, and the future love of my life, Mike, got together and got me this beautiful coat. And when we got older I had it altered slightly to fit me still. This coat is a piece of my old life that means more to me than anything else. Just because of all the memories.
Sighing, I cock my head. My cheeks are flushed and my eyes sparkle. It looks wrong. Mike and Jared are dead and they won’t be coming back. I should not be happy ever again.
But there’s an excitement in my eyes and I groan, shutting them. This is a mistake. The light makeup that I rarely wear that makes my eyes sparkle, the flush on my cheeks and lips. The mascara that darkens my long lashes.
Panicking, I reach for a wet cloth to wipe it all off and go bare-faced.
But then there’s a sound outside and I see him walking up the sidewalk.
Darting out of the room, I turn off the light and hit the stairs, jerking my arm as I turn the corner to the front of the house where the door is. Glancing outside, I see him still on the way to the door. I watch him walk up the path to my front door, turning to lean back on the jamb, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
The door rocks behind me when he knocks and I smack my head into it, startled.
There’s silence and then, “You alright in there, Red?”
I don’t even breathe.
“I heard you, Red. You might as well give it up. I know you’re in there.”
I open the door with a huff, glaring at him. “I was getting a coat. You don’t have to be a jerk every second of the day, do you?”
His grin is wicked and wide, amber eyes flashing. “I’m not sure I buy that excuse, Red. But we’ll let it go for now.”
His eyes run down my body and his dark brows lift when he spots my boots. “Are you going to be warm enough in those, Red?”
“I am. It’s not like I’ve never gone hiking, Jaxon. I’ve gone quite a bit. I love hiking.”
“But have you hiked in the middle of winter?”
“I have.”
