The sun had just finished setting when Aspen closed the door to the single-stall garage at the back of the house where she stored her snowmobile, and her breath caught when she turned around to find Eve kneeling at the edge of the yard with her camera, taking pictures of what looked like the rocks in the river below.
Eve straightened, and affection swept through Aspen as she drank in the soft, easy smile that bowed Eve’s lips when she checked her work on the camera’s small display. She’d known before that Eve was special, but after spending the day learning about all the little things that made her tick, she was absolutely smitten with her.
She understood that it was crazy to think she could be falling for someone she’d only just met, but that understanding did nothing to mitigate the feeling of rightness that warmed her from the inside out every time Eve so much as looked at her.
God, this whole thing is like a Hallmark movie come to life, she thought with a wry shake of her head.People don’t just fall in love in a weekend, and yet…She lost her train of thought as Eve turned to her with an absolutely radiant smile, and her heart swelled as she instinctively returned it.Yeah, this is definitely some storybook romance type shit.
Eve held out her hand that wasn’t holding her camera. “Areyou going to just stand there staring, or are you going to come join me?”
That she would join her was a foregone conclusion, but Aspen couldn’t resist teasing, “Dunno. It’s a really nice view from here.” She laughed at the exasperated but affectionate look Eve gave her and shook her head as she crossed the yard to where Eve was standing. “What? It really was a great view,” she insisted as she took Eve’s outstretched hand.
“You’re ridiculous,” Eve murmured, and Aspen’s pulse stuttered at the gentle affection that softened her voice.
Aspen was glad she hadn’t pulled her gloves back on so she could revel in the warmth and softness of Eve’s skin as she lifted her free hand to caress Eve’s cheek. “Ridiculously charming, you mean?”
Eve’s eyelids fluttered as she leaned into her touch. “Mm, that too.”
Aspen smiled and dipped her head to kiss her. “I’m so very glad you think so.”
“Your lips are cold,” Eve whispered. It didn’t seem to be a deterrent, though, because she punctuated the observation by pressing closer to steal another lingering kiss.
Aspen sighed and tucked their joined hands behind Eve’s back to pull her closer. Her stomach swooped deliciously when Eve’s hips pressed that little bit harder into hers, and she angled her head to deepen the kiss as she pushed back into her. By the time they broke apart, neither of their lips were cold, and Aspen hummed as she brushed a gentle, adoring kiss across Eve’s forehead before forcing herself to pull away. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s go inside.”
The easy, comfortable silence that fell over them as they made their way inside shifted as they dropped their boots and outer layers in the mud room, and Aspen’s stomach clenched as she watched the joy that had lit Eve’s expression all day falter.She didn’t have to guess what brought on the change; she knew it was because it’d soon be time to head to the Morrisons’ stupid dinner event for the evening.
She was proven right when Eve muttered, “We should probably shower before dinner.”
Aspen hated the weariness that had crept into Eve’s voice with the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns. “What if we skipped it?”
“Skipped a shower?” Eve frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I mean, I’m pretty sure my hair is a disaster from wearing either that helmet or a beanie most of the afternoon.”
“It’s not, but that’s not what I meant.” Aspen shook her head. “I was talking about dinner.”
Eve huffed a soft, sardonic laugh. “God, I wish.”
It was clear Eve meant it, and Aspen took her hand as she offered, “So let’s blow the whole thing off and stay in, instead.”
Eve looked tempted, but shook her head. “But they’re expecting…”
Aspen lifted Eve’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “Sweetheart, you know I will back you up two million percent no matter what, but it’s just a stupid dinner at the Saint Regis. Do you want to go?”
Eve shook her head. “No.”
It wasn’t lost on Aspen that Eve even admitting that was a huge step, and she rewarded that bravery with a sweet, lingering kiss. “So let’s stay home. We can put on some sweats, make dinner, and then just snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie or something.”
“That sounds so nice,” Eve murmured wistfully.
Aspen’s heart felt like it was going to burst as she watched Eve come back to life before her eyes. She had disliked the Morrisons before, but seeing Eve’s entire demeanor lighten at the idea of not having to face her parents made Aspendespisethem now. She pulled Eve into her arms and kissed the top of her head. “So let’s do it. Tomorrow we’ll get all dolled up and hit the gala looking like a million bucks with our middle fingers up, but let’s just take tonight for us.”
“Middle fingers up,” Eve echoed with a chuckle.
Aspen smiled and rubbed Eve’s back. “They deserve worse, but I’ll settle for that.”
She pressed a kiss to the crown of Eve’s head as Eve hummed and tucked her face in the crook of her neck. She’d said her piece, but, in the end, the choice was Eve’s to make. She’d go along with whatever Eve decided. One just carried a greater risk of her being booked for assault, because she was pretty sure she’d haul off and deck Killian if he so much as looked at Eve sideways.
“I am so glad I met you,” Eve whispered.
Aspen squeezed her eyes shut to try to hold back the tears that suddenly threatened. “I am so glad I met you, too, beautiful girl.”
