Page 69 of Snowed In

“About work?”

He grunts an agreement.

“I don’t know yet. I’ll probably do freelance work, I guess. I haven’t really had a chance to think about it too much.”

I’d been in shock most of the morning after talking to Daryn, and then this afternoon, we decorated the tree, and then… I smile against his chest, pressing a kiss next to his nipple and then settling in once more.

“Maybe I’ll actually focus on helping small businesses like I always wanted to.”

He makes a soft humming noise but doesn’t comment otherwise. Part of me starts to feel vulnerable. Would it be presumptuous to ask if I could come back once the snow clears? Or maybe he sometimes leaves the mountain. Would he be interested in visiting me?

Instead of spiraling about the future, I chatter softly about family and what it was like growing up in Stonewood Ridge with a million cousins. He mostly just listens, not sharing too much about himself, but I don’t take it personally.

When sleepiness starts to take over, I finally let us fall into comfortable silence.

Whatever the future brings, I won’t ever regret this time with him.

I’m just about asleep when I hear him say, “Stonewood Ridge is only about forty minutes from here.”

That wakes me back up in a big way. I lift my head to get a good look at his face, but he’s not looking at me. His eyes are closed, and he seems completely relaxed.

“Felt like longer yesterday.”

“Who knows what route your GPS took you.”

“That’s true.” Even before my phone died, it seemed like it had gotten confused about where we were going. “Do you go to Stonewood Ridge very often?” I ask tentatively, settling back down on top of him.

“I try not to.”

Disappointment washes over me, eyes prickling. “Oh, okay.”

His big hand cups the back of my head again, fingers digging in just a little. “But I might have reason to now.”

I can’t help it. I raise my head again and look at him. This time, I find him looking back. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, West.”

I sink my teeth into my lower lip, doing my best not to squirm with happiness. It’s hardly a declaration of love, but then again, we haven’t known each other that long. But his words make me think he’s willing to give us a chance to get to know each other, to venture down the mountain.

Relaxing into him, I smile against his salty skin.

I don’t know what a future between us will hold, but I do know my sweet mountain Scrooge went out of his way today to make me happy. I know he loves and cares for Carla. I know he’s willing to try.

And for right now, that’s enough.

---