Page 24 of Peaked Desires

My eyes catch Tracy who smiles at me and wipes away a tear from her eye. Somehow, even the girls from the office are there. Wait, who the hell is helping the guests?

“Huxton, what is-” I turn but Huxton is gone from behind me. “Huxton? Huxton?”

He’s nowhere to be found and I’m spinning around in circles as everyone stares at me.

“Huxton!”

A tap on my shoulder spins me around one last time but this time, Huxton is there. Before I can say anything, he presses his finger to my lips, and leans down to kiss my cheek.

“Elise,” he starts, his deep voice more gentle than I’ve ever heard.

“Huxton, what are you doing?”

He smiles and grabs me by the shoulders, holding me still. He’s been doing that a lot this week.

“Elise, today is the most wonderful day of my life. Not because I’ve seen my dream become a reality, but because I got to wake up next to you,” Huxton says, loud enough for the gathered crowd to hear. “Today is a day of dreams coming true. Mountain Retreat Lodge was the vision of my father, but without your help this week, without your courage and passion, none of this would have happened.”

There is a gentle applause, but I hardly feel I deserve it. Huxton must notice because he nods assuringly at me.

“You bring the best out in people, and without even knowing it, you’ve brought the best out in me.”

Huxton drops to his knee and reaches into his pocket. I swallow down hard, staring in disbelief. He’s not… he’s…

“Elise, I’ve fallen so fast and hard for you. You make each and every day on this mountain better than the last.” He pops the box open, and the sunlight catches the sparkling diamond ring. “I want to spend every day with you. I want you to be my wife, forever. Will you do me that honor?”

I reach for him, grabbing Huxton by the shirt and kissing him repeatedly. I’m nodding with every kiss, and when we finally break apart, I shout out “Yes!”

Huxton slides the ring on my finger and pulls me in his arms.

I never expected to find my happy place in the mountains, but now I have my mountain man and the rest of my life. I couldn’t be happier.

EPILOGUE

Elise

Thirteen months later…

“Would you take this fucking thing off me?” Huxton growls in front of me.

I nudge my arm in the center of his ridged back. “Dammit! Why do you have to be so damn strong!”

“I won’t give in until you tell me what’s going on!”

I give up trying to shove Huxton. Instead, I get my index finger and shove it straight into his ribs.

“Move forward, five more steps and I’ll remove the mask!”

Huxton grumbles something about getting payback later tonight, but I ignore it and move to where I can see his face. I want to see his expression when he sees the anniversary present I’ve got for him.

My stomach gives a nervous twitch as Huxton’s heavy boots crunch forward. He’s right where I need him, and I take one last look in front of us before giving him the all clear.

It’s taken me months of work. It’s not easy stalking around these mountains in secret, especially when the giant man in front of me knows every last hiding place these hills can provide.

But I’ve managed to do it.

“Okay. Take the blind off and open your eyes.”

Huxton lifts his hand up slowly, one big hand sliding the eye mask off his face. He immediately cups his mouth, hunching down with shock coursing through his body. I watch his breathing change, from short, sharp inhales to exasperated breaths.

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