Page 141 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
“I love it so much!” She wrapped her arms around his neck for a quick squeeze before letting him take in some more. “It’s a tree house!” She clapped a hand over her mouth with a laugh. “In the safari!”
He chuckled as he scratched the back of his head, looking unbearably adorable and boyish as he watched her. “Yeah, well, I couldn’t afford a trip to Africa just yet, so…”
“So you found a safari on the West Coast,” she finished. “It’s perfect.”
And it was. The conservation retreat had giraffes and other wildlife that they could check out on expeditions into the “wilderness.”
“It’s a little less rustic than the cabin,” JJ murmured as he scratched his beard and looked up at their luxury tent, which was set up on a platform in the trees.
“Somehow I think we’ll manage with a little luxury in our camping experience,” she teased.
Though truthfully, she’d become a fan of roughing it, both out at the cabin and tent camping now that the weather had finally grown warm enough in Aspire.
“I figured we’d both need a little reprieve after a few nights in the big city,” he said.
She nodded. “You were right.” Turning to him, she added quickly, “Don’t think I didn’t appreciate the city portion of this trip, though. I don’t think I realized how much I’d missed ethnic food and culture until we got to San Francisco.”
“Mmm, was it the museums and food you missed or the sporting events?” he teased as he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
She laughed. “Okay, fine. You caught me. The highlight was getting to see the Giants play at Oracle Park.”
He grinned. “That was fun for me too. I thought watching you holler at the TV was entertaining, but seeing you do the wave…” He arched his brows like he didn’t even have the words for how much he’d loved it.
She leaned into him with a laugh. “You were such a good sport in the city. But you’re right, a few days of dealing with the crowds and the noise and I was ready to get back to nature.” She pursed her lips and looked around them at this crazy safari in the middle of wine country just north of a major city. “Or the closest thing to it.”
He laughed as he picked up their luggage and headed toward the stairs of their new abode. “One day I’ll take you all over the world, my love. But until then, I’ll do my best to bring the world to you.”
Her heart was in her throat as she followed him up, and when they found themselves in a magical tree hut with green all around and sounds of wildlife filling the air, she reached for his hand. “You are my world, JJ. I love that you brought me here, but you know that, right? You know I don’t care when we can travel or where we go, just so long as you’re by my side.”
The look of love on his face made her want to weep all over again.
Turned out that once Dahlia learned how to let her armor down and her family and boyfriend into her heart, she was actually kind of a softie.
And much to her horror, she was an emotional one at that.
But luckily, JJ didn’t seem to mind her newfound need to cry at the drop of a hat. If anything, it always had him looking at her with this soft tenderness that spoke of adoration and love more eloquently than any words ever could.
“I’m actually really glad you said that,” he said as he took her hands in his. “That’s exactly the opening I was hoping for.”
Her brows drew together in confusion, but then…
She gasped when he dropped to one knee before her.
He grinned up at her. “Lia, my love, I know we’ve both had a lot to learn about love and relationships and what makes for a true partnership. But I think we’ve helped each other get to a place where a lifelong commitment isn’t scary but a joy to imagine.”
His hands squeezed hers as her heart beat so loud and fast that it rivaled the sound of drums they’d heard when they’d first pulled into this safari retreat.
“I want to have every adventure with you from here on out,” he said, his eyes burning with love and sincerity. “From making a home together to traveling the world to starting a family. I want it all. And I want it with you.”
She made a noise that was part laughter, part sob as she joined him down on the ground so she could kiss his beard, his cheeks, and his nose.
He was laughing as he finished. “Will you do me the greatest honor of my life and marry—”
“Yes!” She threw her arms around him and knocked them both over onto the rug. “Yes, yes, yes!”
He laughed and hugged her tight before going up on one elbow, his eyes shining with emotion. “Lia, you’ve made me the happiest—”
A loud snorting sound interrupted him, and they both gaped at each other.
