Page 25 of Aspen Heat
"Maybe I can take a break."
"Maybe you should."
He leaves my side briefly to tell someone he's taking a break and then gently grabs my arms and leads me into the forest. He only stops to get something from his truck and then we move along the trees, deeper into the mountain.
We walk for about ten minutes, just to make sure we're not in hearing distance from the people working on the house. We find a nice spot and I finally see what he got from the truck. It's a blanket, and he arranges it on the floor.
I start to get down but he holds me upright. I'm not sure what's happening, but he starts nervously pacing in front of me.
"I've been waiting for the right time, but now it's just burning a hole in my pocket."
I'm not sure I understand what he's saying until he brings out a little velvet box and shows it to me. My knees go wobbly and I think I'm going to pass out. He grabs my hand and keeps it in his while he kneels in front of me.
"Shit, I know this is not the perfect proposal you deserve, but we've always done things differently than others, haven't we?"
I nod my head because I'm definitely in agreement that we have our weird and wacky ways. My hand is shaking, heck my entire body is one big trembling mess, but I have to hold it together. I mean, I want him to pop the question!
"My sweet Mel, you came into my life like a wrecking ball. You made a huge Mel sized hole in my heart and my life changed completely since then. It's only been a month, but it has felt right since the first week. I had this made by an artist in town as soon as I came out of the clinic."
I gasp. I didn't know the ring was custom made or that he made the decision so long ago. He opens the box and I see a beautiful ring with a butterfly on it and two small diamonds in its body. The ring matches the design on my mother's necklace and tears start to flow down my face.
"Oh god, Mel, don't cry."
I give him a smile and squeeze the hand that's holding mine so that he knows he can continue. Meanwhile I'm speechless and I don't have anything to dry up my tears so I'd rather just keep crying silently with joy.
"You are strong, beautiful and capable. You are kind to others and help the community whenever you can. You light up my life with every action you take. I want that light forever and that's why today I'm asking you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Melissa?"
I'm silent for the longest time and he starts to frown. I'm still speechless and don't know how to tell him this is the most perfect proposal of my life. Finally, I take pity on him and clear my throat. I'm not sure what's going to come out, but it better be something resembling 'yes' or 'I do'.
"I was so angry that day you came into my life. Not because you tore down my door, though that was a big part of it, but because I felt out of control once again. Life had taken my choices and trampled them right in front of me. You saw I was in distress, and you came in like the hero you are and got me to safety."
He's still holding up the ring box with the beautiful ring on it, as he looks up at me probably wondering what I'm doing instead of just answering with a yes.
"Oh god, I don't know how to say the million things I want to say to you right now, Aspen."
"All I need is one word."
He's right, of course, so I go down on my knees in front of him and squeeze his hand.
"Yes, Aspen Brooks. I will marry you."
He gives a huge sigh of relief and places the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly and I let my heart explode with happiness. Aspen kisses me hungrily and I immediately know how we're going to celebrate our engagement. Thank goodness for the blanket!
The kiss is hot, passionate and thankfully never ending. I could kiss this man for hours and sometimes in the weekends during our free time we do just that. Most of the time we have to hide at the back of restaurants or somewhere in the mountain where no one can see us because we still didn't have a home.
The fire department has been quick to repair most of the homes that were damaged during the fires, and this week is our turn. I'm very thankful of the community and for a moment my mind goes off track.
"Hey, kitten, where did you go?"
"I was just thinking of how lucky I am to not only have you, but a home as well."
"Come back to me. I need reassurance that you want to be Mrs. Aspen Brooks."
"I do."
He gives me a bright smile at that answer and places kisses all over my face. His hands are busy undoing the buttons on my shirt and before I know it my shirt is off and he's workingthe button on my jeans. I let him undress me as I watch his handsome face.
My handsome devil. He's gentle with me and pretty soon I'm naked in his arms. His strong, capable hands caress my body as if I'm the most precious thing in his life. I say this to him in wonderment and he's quick to reply.
