Page 54 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

I hold my breath, hoping there’s more.

“A place where the three of us can be happy. Because I love you too, and I want to be with you.” A slow smile spreads across her face. “I want a place where you and I can do all those things and so much more. Along with couples therapy because apparently, we could do some work on learning how to communicate with each other.”

“I like the sound of that.”

I pull her into a tight hug, swinging her around before setting her down and kissing her. Her soft lips find mine, and fireworks shoot off in the background. Or maybe that’s just the sound of my soul finally coming home and finding its other half in Mia Kirk.

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER: MIA

“Do you remember the first time you brought me to this cabin?” I lean back in the hot tub, my hair cascading over the edge, the cool winter air prickling against my exposed skin.

Aiden smirks, toying with the bikini top that’s hanging over the edge of the hot tub. “I think we already reenacted that part of the trip.”

My cheeks warm as I stare at him, still unable to believe that he gives me the same butterflies he used to a year ago. There’s something about the way he looks at me that sets my soul on fire.

“I’m glad the renovations are going to be finished on the house soon.” I slide my fingers through the water, sinking lower as bubbles rise. “I thought we’d be settled in there by Christmas, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case.”

“It doesn’t matter. I thought you were planning on spending Christmas here with Rosie and Ryder?”

I tilt my hair back, getting some of it wet and warm. “Yeah, yeah, I want to spend Christmas here. Rosie keeps sending picturesof the tree that they have in the lobby. It’s gorgeous, and the presents waiting under it look too beautiful to unwrap.”

The corner of his mouth tips up into that boyish smirk I love. “I have something you can unwrap.”

I laugh and shake my head, sending a wave of water toward him. “You’re going to have to give me a break. You haven’t kept your hands off me since we got here this morning.”

Aiden crosses the hot tub, coming to sit beside me with a little grin on his face. “Can you blame me?”

“I very much can blame you. We would be further along with the house by now if you hadn’t insisted on making use of every room before they started working.”

“Listen, the rules are that you gotta break in a new house. I didn’t come up with them. Those are just the rules.”

Honey pops up on the edge of the hot tub, her big paws hanging over the edge, her toes getting wet. She gives out a bark, her tail thumping against the post beside her.

Aiden gives me a cocky look and arches an eyebrow. “See? The dog agrees with me.”

“The dog barely likes you.” As if to prove my point, Honey’s tongue drags over the side of my face.

“I’m still convinced you rub yourself in bacon to get her to like you that much. It’s really the only explanation that makes sense.”

Laughing, I get out of the hot tub and grab a towel, wrapping it around my naked body and padding into the cabin. Aidenfollows behind me, catching me around the waist and pulling me into his embrace. He kisses my temple, and I melt back into him.

“I love you,” he says, his tone husky. “And I’m so happy we decided to stay in Colorado.”

“So am I. Something about it feels like home.”

He nods and motions to the bedroom. “Go get dried and dressed, and then we’re going out on our hike. I have a surprise for you.”

Our hike takes us along the path my mom used to hike, though this time it’s easier going. There’s no storm coming out of nowhere, and I don’t have to huddle in a sleeping bag to stay warm.

After reaching the summit of that hike, Aiden leads the way down another trail that descends partway down the mountain before curving back up.

The stars are shining brightly overhead as we finish making our way up to the little shack where we had snacks that one day a year ago. My mother’s name is still carved into the side, my name beside it, and Aiden adds his beneath.

My breath comes out in short little bursts, white puffy clouds appearing in front of me. I turn to face him, tears gathering in my eyes. “I think she’d be proud of us.”

“I think she would be too.” His hand slips into his pocket, and he pulls out a little box before he gets down on one knee in front of me.

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