Page 108 of Wedlocked

Warm, glowing string lights were draped around the ceiling and the large window walls. The bench seats were shaped like a U with the only wall without seating being the one with the door.

The entire bench was draped with throw blankets, some of them thick cream-colored knit, some dark-gray fur, and a few red velvet.

Pillows also lined the benches in the same matching color theme, all of them fluffy. The floor of the gondola was lined with a rug that also looked like fur. Tall, battery-operated pillar candles flickered and glowed. Over to one side was a bucket with what looked like a champagne bottle sticking out of the top.

I turned to Jason. “You did this for me?”

“For us.”

I threw myself at him, hugging around his waist and squeezing as tight as I could so he could feel it through his thick coat. “This is the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“Well, there was that time I totaled my Corvette for you, but I guess this is okay too.”

I smacked him in the stomach, and he laughed.

“Wanna go inside?”

“No!” I blurted, and he frowned.

“What?”

I laughed, and the frown turned into a glower.

“I mean,of courseI do! But it’s just so warm, perfect, and cozy! I don’t want to mess it up.”

“Get inside, little siren,” he ordered, pointing at the door.

I went but sat on the floor at the doorway and started unlacing my boots.

“You’re going to freeze.”

“You can keep me warm,” I said, smiling.

He muttered a dark curse but helped me pull off my boots, then set them carefully inside. I climbed up, my sock-covered toes digging into the small fur carpet on the floor.

“Where did you get all of this?” I wondered. “How?”

“I’m a motivated man,” he said, pulling off his own boots and adding them next to mine.

When he was in and the door latched behind us, he hit a small button I hadn’t noticed and unwound his scarf, tossing it aside.

I tugged off my hat and used the reflection in the glass walls to make sure my hair was smoothed out.

Jason wrapped his palm around my elbow. “Sit down before it starts moving.”

“We’re really getting a nighttime tour of the resort?” I asked, sitting down among the blankets and pillows. I tossed a couple around to make room for Jay, and when he was beside me, we covered up with the blankets.

The air inside was still cold, but the wind was blocked by the windows and roof and the lights and candles made everything feel warm. Tucking my legs up beneath me, I sighed, resting my cheek on Jason’s shoulder.

After a moment, he tugged off his coat, and I rubbed my cheek against the cashmere sweater he wore.

The gondola lurched forward, and I gave a light squeal. It glided forward, swaying slightly with the movement and wind as we lifted off the ground.

I wrapped my arms around Jay’s middle, hugging him while keeping my cheek on his shoulder. He shifted, wrapping an arm around me, and I snuggled into his side. Everything outside was dark, the sky black velvet with stars twinkling like glitter. The tall pine trees passed like looming shadows, but it wasn’t scary because the small space Jason created was soft and safe.

Even the bright-white snow seemed to dim almost as if the world around us were black and gray and the only color was us.

“You created a world where it’s just you and me,” I said quietly, hugging him and looking out at the endless sky. “I think it’s my new favorite place to be.”

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