Page 141 of Falling for Love

As I helped Hayden climb onto the snowmobile, I couldn’t help but glance at her. She was standing there, bundled in ared jacket that made her cheeks glow and her eyes sparkle. She looked so at home out here in the snow, with Hayden giggling and her teasing me.

“Alright, hold on tight, dude,” I said to Hayden, starting up the engine. The machine roared to life, and Hayden whooped in excitement.

Evie climbed onto the second snowmobile, giving me one last warning look before we took off down the trail.

By the time we stopped for lunch, my face hurt from smiling.

Hayden had screamed in delight every time we hit a bump or zipped around a corner, and Evie? She’d been right there behind us, laughing as she tried to keep up.

We’d found a clearing surrounded by trees, the snow untouched and glistening in the weak sunlight. I pulled out the thermos of hot chocolate and passed the cups around.

“Okay, who won the snowmobile race?” Hayden asked, sipping his drink like a seasoned negotiator.

“Obviously me,” I said, raising my hand.

“Uh, no,” Evie cut in. “I totally lapped you on that last stretch.”

“Lapped me?” I feigned shock. “Evie, you were so far behind, I thought you’d stopped for a nap.”

Hayden snickered, his hot chocolate nearly sloshing over the edge of his cup.

“I was pacing myself,” she retorted, taking a dramatic sip of her drink. “It’s called strategy.”

“Strategy or excuses?” I teased, leaning closer to her.

She nudged me with her elbow. “Careful. I’ve got a snowball with your name on it.”

“Oh, it’s on,” I said, setting down my cup and grabbing a handful of snow.

Within seconds, chaos erupted.

Hayden was pelting both of us with snowballs, Evie was laughing so hard she could barely aim, and I was doing my best to dodge while tossing snowballs in every direction.

At one point, Hayden managed to nail me square in the chest, and I dropped to the ground in mock defeat.

“You got me,” I groaned, clutching my chest like I’d been mortally wounded.

Hayden stood over me triumphantly. “I win.”

Evie shook her head, brushing snow off her jacket as she helped me up. “You’re such a good sport.”

“Hey, anything for the kid,” I said, brushing the snow from my gloves and flashing her a grin. “Besides, I’ve got to keep my title as the favorite adult, right?”

She rolled her eyes, but a softness in her gaze made my body ignite.

When we returned to the cabin, the warmth welcomed us with the coziness we needed after a day in the snow. The fire I’d left, crackled in the stone fireplace, and the scent of pine filled the air.

Hayden kicked off his boots and flopped onto the couch, grabbing the TV remote like he’d just run a marathon.

“Alright,” I said, ruffling his hair. “You chill here while your mom and I make dinner.”

“Okay,” he said, his attention already on the cartoons.

Evie followed me into the kitchen, pulling off her gloves and scarf.

“What’s on the menu?”

“Well,” I said, opening the fridge with a flourish, “we’ve got steak and potatoes.”

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