Page 23 of Mountain Man Crush
His arms tighten around me and I take a deep breath, letting it out in a sigh, savoring this moment. I’ve been through a lot of winter storms in my life, but that last one is by far my favorite. This all started with a winter storm where we were snowed in together and now, I count the days until we can be snowed in together again.
I fall into a deep sleep because Jack’s by my side now. Just like I know he always will be.
Epilogue
JACK
It’s been one year since the storm that changed our lives and now here we are, preparing for another. A lot of things have changed in the past year. Bethany has moved into my house and has been turning my man-cave into a home. The walls are no longer bare. Now they hold pictures of us and her family that I consider my own. She’s filled my cabin with love and furniture. Even though we’re living together in my cabin, we’re still holding onto hers. We figure we could always tear it down if we want more land, or we can keep it maintained and rent it out as a vacation house. Eventually, we’ll have some kids that will grow up, and maybe they’ll want it. Either way it goes, we’re keeping it and weighing our options since we’re too busy enjoying every single day together to worry about our future.
Another thing that has changed is that I’m no longer living off the land and unemployed. I took that job with Shepard and he made me an equal partner. Not only do I go to work every day off this mountain, but I have a whole company and employees beneath me. Things have really turned around and I find myself in a place that I never thought I’d see again. I’m happy, surrounded by family, friends, and the woman I love the most.
I make it home from work and walk into the house to find her still sitting behind her computer. “Nope, it’s after five. Work is done for the day.”
Bethany smiles. “I know. I’m logging out now. How’s the weather looking out there?”
I kick off my boots and toss a log in the fire. “It’s really coming down. The roads are slick. I almost slid into a ditch a couple of times.”
She stands from the desk and pulls back the curtain to look out. “Wow, it’s a total whiteout. Looks like you made it home just in time.” She heads in my direction.
“Yep, and my truck didn’t break down this year,” I point out.
“That’s good, because if some lady tries forcing you into her car, she and I are going to have problems,” she jokes, wrapping her arms around me.
I pull her closer, hugging her and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Sit and relax. I’m going to start dinner,” I tell her.
Her brows shoot up. “You’re cooking tonight?”
“Yep.”
She flops onto the couch, and I hand her the remote. “Am I forgetting a special occasion?”
“Nope, but it will be special by the time I’m done,” I tease, leaning down to kiss her.
She starts to wrap her arms around my neck, but I know if she does, I’ll never get away so I pull back before she can. “Focus. Relax.”
Bethany laughs and shakes her head, but she aims the remote at the TV and turns it on.
I walk into the kitchen and get busy on dinner. I brown the hamburger, chop the vegetables and mix up the margaritas. I set the table and when everything is done, I call her in. I hear the TV shut off and she appears in the doorway.
Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. “You made tacos?”
I laugh nodding at her excitement. “And margaritas,” I point out.
“Mmm, my favorite!” She rushes up to me and gives me a quick kiss before sitting at the table and grabbing a chip to dip into the salsa. She moans and I take that as an approval.
I take my seat across from her and we both grab a tortilla and start making our tacos. She takes the first bite, her eyes closing as she chews.
“Is it good?”
“Sooo good,” she says around a mouthful of food. “I love this. Thank you.”
I laugh. “It’s so easy to please you.”
She giggles. “I love that you thought to make it all romantic by adding the candles like we’re having some kind of fancy food.”
I scoff. “This is tacos. It’s fancy.”
“Any food you eat with your hands isn’t fancy.”
