Page 28 of Her Mountain Boss
Derrick and Jenny stand, gathering their things. Sophia looks up at them, her eyes pleading. “You promise you’ll come back?”
Jenny smiles softly, cupping Sophia’s cheek. “We promise, sweetheart. We just need some time.”
With that, they leave, and Sophia watches as they disappear through the restaurant’s doors. Then she turns to me, her eyes filled with worry. “What if they don’t come around, Ford? What if they never accept us?”
I pull her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head, not caring about the curious stares we’re receiving. “They will, kitten. They just need some time. They’ll come around.”
She cuddles into me and I tighten my grip on her, murmuring soft words into her hair. Words about how proud I am of her, how much I love her, how we just need to be patient and give them time. I’m confident that Derrick and Jenny will come around.
And they can take all the time they need, because I’m not going anywhere, and neither is Sophia.
Eleven
Sophia
Two months later
Snow is falling gently from the sky as I make my way from Ford’s house—my house, now, too—towards the apple orchard. My mother helps me with my dress, making sure it doesn’t drag in the snow. The freshly fallen snow crunches softly beneath my white boots as we walk, and I take a deep breath, inhaling the scents of pine and cold mountain air. A couple of months ago, I couldn’t have fathomed not returning to the city. Now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
My heart starts to beat faster as the apple orchard comes into view, and I have to blink back tears. I’ve been blinking back tears all day—while getting a massage, while getting my hair and makeup done, while my mom helped me put my dress on. I don’t think I have a hope in hell of making it through the rest of the day with my makeup intact.
But that’s okay. The tears are welcome, because they’re from the overwhelming joy I feel. Today’s my wedding day. Today’s the day I marry Ford. Today’s the day I become Sophia Callahan.
As we get closer to the orchard, I can see that Ford’s transformed it into a winter wonderland. Twinkling fairy lights drape the bare apple trees, casting a warm glow in the fading light. At the end of the aisle, Ford stands under an arch of pine boughs, and my heart kicks against my ribs. He’s devastatingly handsome in a black suit, a stark contrast from his usual flannel and worn jeans. My stomach flutters as I drink in the sight of him. My body always responds to him when I first lay eyes on him. Every single time.
Soft music starts to play, and my mom gives my hand a squeeze as she starts to walk me down the light blue carpet serving as the aisle. Ford watches me, his blue eyes bright with unshed tears. Snowflakes cling to the lacy sleeves of my dress and melt almost instantly.
I reach the arch, and Ford takes my hands in his. They’re huge and warm, as always. They feel like home. Like they’re exactly where my hands belong. I give my mom a kiss on the cheek, and she turns, wiping away a tear. I turn to face Ford, and when our eyes lock, the rest of the world fades away. It’s just us, in our special place, standing in the exact spot where a month ago, he’d gotten down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of our lives together.
“I love you,” he mouths, his face tight with emotion.
“I love you,” I mouth back, pulling a shaky breath into my lungs.
Our families stand behind us, puffs of air misting around them. Mom and Derrick came around, just as Ford knew they would, their initial shock and disapproval melting away once they saw how happy we make each other. Once they saw how in love we really are.
The officiant begins, and I do my best to listen, but honestly, I’m lost in Ford’s eyes. Lost in the feeling of his hands engulfing mine. Hands I’m going to hold for as long as I can. I can feel the love shining out at me from Ford’s eyes, and I want to stay in this moment forever. Surrounded by family, basking in the love of the man of my dreams. My heart is so full that I think it might burst. I’m marrying the love of my life, the man who makes me feel cherished, protected, and loved. The man who makes me laugh, who shares all my burdens, who makes me come on a daily basis.
Before long, it’s time to say our vows, and Ford moves closer. I stare into his blue eyes, my stomach fluttering with butterflies, my heart beating a hundred miles an hour.
“Sophia,” he says, his deep voice resonant against the hush of the snow. “I promise to love you fiercely and faithfully. I promise to protect you, to cherish you, to make you laugh and to wipe away your tears. I promise to be your partner, your lover, and your best friend. I promise to be yours, for the rest of my days.”
Tears slip down my cheeks, and I blink rapidly. My vision swims my chin trembles as I try to stop myself from openly sobbing. It feels as though my entire life has been leading me to this moment, this culmination of happiness and love and belonging. I take a deep, steadying breath, pulling the cold air into my lungs. Ford squeezes my hands in gentle encouragement.
“Ford,” I say, doing my best to keep my voice steady. “I promise to love you with all that I am. I promise to stand by your side, to support you, to make you smile, every single day. I promise to be your partner, your lover and your best friend. I promise to be yours, forever.”
Ford blinks back tears, and he squeezes my hands again while subtly tugging me closer. We exchange rings withtrembling fingers, and then finally, the officiant tells Ford that he may kiss his bride.
He leans down, his lips meeting mine, in a soft, tender kiss. Our friends and family erupt in cheers, but I can barely hear them over my racing pulse.
Ford deepens the kiss, his hands cupping my face, and I melt into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. When we finally break apart, we’re both a little breathless, and he presses his forehead to mine. The cheers grow louder, and when I turn to look at our guests, I can’t stop the grin from spreading across my face. Mom is wiping away tears, and Derrick is smiling, his eyes bright with emotion.
We walk down the aisle, our guests following behind us. As we step out from under the pine boughs, snowflakes dance around us, and I know, without a doubt, that this is the happiest day of my life. The snow continues to fall gently, and it feels like a blessing, a benediction, and I know that this moment, this perfect moment, will be forever etched in my heart.
Thank you so much for reading Ford and Sophia’s story. Want more of their filthy goodness? Click here to download their bonus epilogue, which features Ford giving Sophia a few more good girl lessons. If you like cockwarming and blow jobs, you’ll definitely want to grab it.
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