Page 133 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
That, more than anything, was what had him scowling at the phone as he knotted his tie.
Up until last night, she’d at least seemed glad to hear from him. She might have sounded sad, but she’d always answered. He picked up his phone to make sure there were bars.
There were.
So there was no reason why she shouldn’t have at least responded to his texts last night, and again this morning.
“She’s turned me into a nag,” he muttered. Any other time, the thought might have made him grin. But right now he was too worried to find the humor in this situation.
He was too worried to go to a wedding, but there was no way out of it. No matter how much his heart was aching, and no matter how worried he was for his woman, one of his closest friends was about to tie the knot, and he had to pull it together to celebrate.
There was a knock on the door while he was cussing and muttering over the stupid dang tie. It’d been a long time since he’d had to tie one of these things, and he didn’t recall them being so difficult.
“Come in,” he called out.
It was probably Cody coming back because he forgot something. Or maybe Boone coming to keep him company before they left for the church.
He kept his gaze focused on the mirror as the door creaked open, and then his heart dropped into his stomach when he heard the voice behind him. “Wow. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
He whipped around, his heart doing a full-blown tap dance as he drank in Dahlia. His girl. His woman.
She looked absolutely stunning all dressed up for the wedding. Her dark hair fell in pretty waves around her face, softening her features. And whatever she’d done with her makeup made her look like she was glowing in that pale blue dress.
But honestly, she could have been wearing a burlap sack and a mud mask and his insides would have still turned to putty.
Her presence caught him so off guard, he found himself speechless.
Her expression was uncharacteristically shy as she clasped her hands in front of her, hovering by the doorway to his room. “I heard you needed a plus-one for the wedding.”
His heart squeezed so hard he lost the ability to breathe. For one long moment, he actually wondered if he was imagining this. If he’d finally lost it for good and was full-on hallucinating about Dahlia.
But there was nothing imaginary about that sweet vulnerability in her eyes, and not even in his best, most vivid dreams could he have conjured the perfection that stood before him right now.
Finally, he let out an awed laugh, and he caught her lips curving up in a tremulous smile in return.
Slowly walking toward her, he rested his hand on her waist, heartened when she didn’t move away. Some part of him was still worried she’d come back here for Emma’s sake alone. That she was here in this bunkhouse as his friend.
He leaned his head down, making sure to hold her gaze. “I’m actually looking for a plus-one for life, Lia.”
As soon as he said it, his insides knotted. He was half expecting her to bolt out the door. Lightly tightening his hold on her, he held his breath and prayed.
She swallowed hard, her eyes brimming with tears.
Those tears nearly took him out at the knees. This was it. This was the moment that she rejected him once and for all.
He only barely stopped himself from dropping to her feet to beg.
But then she reached up to touch him. She ran her fingers down his beard before winding her arms around his neck and playing with his stubby ponytail. Her gaze lifted, and when it met his, he felt that jolt of a connection all the way to his pounding heart.
“I can be that,” she whispered. “I can be your plus-one… for life.”
The words set off an explosion of fireworks in his chest. “Really?”
She smiled as she nodded. “Yeah. You see… it turns out that home is actually where your heart is.” Her voice took on a teasing lilt. “Were you aware of that?”
A laugh caught him off guard. “I think I’ve heard that sentiment before, yeah.”
Her laughter mixed with a sob of relief. “Well, since you own my heart, I guess this is home.”
