Lydia arched an elegant brow as she turned in her seat and held her hand out to Aspen. “Lydia Alexander.”
“Aspen Collier-West,” Aspen said as she shook Lydia’s hand. “A pleasure.”
“Indeed,” Lydia drawled as she pulled her hand away. “You are absolutely—”
Aspen grinned, curious what this bold woman’s assessment of her might be, but Eve interjected, “Lydia and I went to school together at Dana Hall Academy,” effectively cutting her off.
“We did,” Lydia confirmed with a little pout.
Eve smiled and shook her head in amusement at her antics. I didn’t think you were coming this year, Lyd.”
“Well, Jonathan couldn’t make it, so I had to take one for the team.” Lydia rolled her eyes. “You know how it is.”
“Unfortunately,” Eve commiserated. She smiled up at Aspen as she explained, “Lydia’s family owns The Alexander Group.”
Aspen arched an impressed brow. “The media company?”
Lydia inclined her head in a small nod. “That’s the one.” She leaned forward to tap Eve’s knee as she prompted, “Tell me about the show you did in Paris. I was so pissed I had to go to that stupid summit in Lucerne that week and couldn’t make it.”
Aspen caressed Eve’s shoulder as she sat back and listened to Eve fill Lydia in on the highlights of her career since the last time they’d seen each other. It was entertaining to watch the pair together but, more than that, she marveled at the way Eve’s entire demeanor lit up as she spoke about her work. After the way Eve had broken down before even entering her parents’ house and seeing her with Killian and Elizabeth, Aspen had known she must truly love what she did to buck their expectations, but it was still quite something to behold. Eve’s eyes shone with a confidence that made them glow like blue fire as she spoke of the new photos that she’d exhibited and the shows she’d headlined.
Aspen found herself more and more enchanted by this complex and talented woman, until a question from Lydia made her eyes go wide.
“…Fumiko-san told me one of them was of an exploding volcano?”
A flush colored Eve’s cheeks. “I just happened to be there when it erupted. I mean, no one was really expecting it right then, of course, but…”
Lydia laughed. “Oh, so you ‘just happened’ to be in Indonesia, right outside the danger zone and in perfect sight of an active volcano?”
“No one can predict volcanic eruptions, Lydia,” Eve said equably, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. “Now let me tell you about the next exhibit I’m planning. I was in South Africa a few months ago and the quality of the light out in the savanna is just unbelievable. I was also in Namaqua just in time for the wildflowers to bloom…”
Aspen’s gaze was still glued, a bit wide-eyed, onto Eve and so she didn’t miss the flicker of disappointment that flashed across her face when the Sno-Cat stopped in front of the restaurant at the top of the mountain. She pressed a gentle kiss to Eve’s temple as she resisted the urge to suggest they ride back down and go elsewhere for the evening instead. She wanted so badly to shield Eve from the forces that stole her joy and broke her down to the point she had a panic attack in the driveway of her parents’ house. But her role this weekend wasn’t to shield Eve from trouble, it was to support her as she got through it.
Still, she offered Eve a thinly veiled out as she tilted her head toward the warmly lit cabin-inspired restaurant and asked, “Shall we?”
Eve nodded. “May as well.”
Aspen sighed at the resignation that pulled Eve’s smile into a frown. “You sure?”
“Yeah.” Eve’s eyes fluttered as she lifted her chin to kiss Aspen softly. “We can do this.”
“I know you can, but you shouldn’t have to,” Aspen murmured. Her throat tightened at the tenderness that softened Eve’s expressive eyes when they blinked open, and she hummedlow in the back of her throat as she caressed Eve’s cheek. “I will whisk you away the moment you say so,” she promised. “Even if I have to deck the driver and steal his keys to do it.”
Eve’s eyes seemed to bore into Aspen’s soul as she leaned in and kissed her again. “Thank you.” Her gaze drifted across the aisle, and a delicate blush colored her cheeks as she muttered, “Shut up, Lyd.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Aspen didn’t need to look at Lydia to know her protest was accompanies by an all-too-knowing smirk, and she nuzzled Eve’s cheek one last time before pulling away. “Come on, beautiful girl. Let’s get this over with.”
Eve nodded and pushed the blanket from her legs as she stood. After Aspen folded the blanket and joined her, she took Aspen’s hand and laced their fingers together. Her shoulders lifted and fell with a deep breath as she stared out the Sno-Cat’s window, and she hiked her chin determinedly. “Here we go.”
Aspen squeezed Eve’s hand as she led them down the aisle behind Lydia, who had also taken Eve’s statement as her cue to move. She nodded to Lydia, who waited for them on the platform that did double-duty as a dining porch for the restaurant in the warmer months with a steely expression that said she was looking forward to the next few hours as much as Eve was, when they joined her, and together the three of them made their way inside.
After leaving their jackets at the coat check, they made their way to the dining room, and Aspen was disappointed but not at all surprised that Killian and Elizabeth spotted them immediately.
“And here come the parents of the year,” Lydia muttered.
Aspen sniggered. “Seriously.”
