Page 13 of Getaway with the Mountain Man
He buries himself deep with a final, powerful thrust, his body going rigid as he empties himself inside me. For long momentsafterward, we remain connected, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.
"Kitchen table next time," I murmur against his lips, making him laugh.
"Next time might be in about ten minutes," he warns, pressing soft kisses along my jaw. "I'm not done with you yet."
I chuckle softly. "This feels right, Jakob. More right than anything in my life has ever felt."
His arms tighten around me. "Welcome home, Lottie Smith."
And as I drift off to sleep in his arms, I know with absolute certainty that I am home. Finally, completely, perfectly home.
Lottie
One Year Later...
ThemorningofSilverRidge's Harvest Festival dawns crisp and clear, the kind of October day that makes living in the mountains feel like a privilege rather than a choice. I stand at the window of our cabin, watching mist rise from the valley while coffee brews in the kitchen. Jakob expanded last month to accommodate my newfound love of elaborate breakfast preparation.
"Ready for the big debut?" Jakob asks, wrapping his arms around me from behind and pressing a kiss to my neck that still sends shivers down my spine after all these months.
"Nervous," I admit, leaning back against his solid warmth. "What if nobody comes? What if they think my cupcakes are terrible? What if this whole business idea is a complete disaster?"
"Then we'll figure out plan B," he says with the steady confidence that first drew me to him. "But Lottie, your cupcakesare extraordinary. Half the town's been begging me for your recipes since you moved here."
Lottie's Mountain Bakery officially opens next month in the renovated space next to Juniper's Diner, but today's festival will be its unofficial debut. Four varieties of cupcakes, two types of cookies, and a mountain berry pie that's already generated pre-orders from festival committee members who sampled it during planning meetings.
"I still can't believe I'm doing this," I murmur, watching early festival-goers begin setting up booths along Main Street.
"I can," Jakob says firmly. "You're the bravest person I know, Lottie Smith. You left everything comfortable and familiar to chase something better. That takes extraordinary courage."
The past year hasn't been easy. Leaving Nemoy & Associates required burning bridges I'd spent years building, forgoing the partnership I'd worked toward for five years, starting over professionally. There were nights I questioned every decision, days I wondered if I'd made the biggest mistake of my life.
But waking up every morning in Jakob's arms, in this cabin we've made into our home, surrounded by mountains and community and love—those doubts fade in the face of such overwhelming rightness.
"Speaking of courage," Jakob says, his voice taking on a tone I don't recognize, "there's something I want to ask you."
I turn in his arms, noting the nervous energy radiating from him. Jakob is never nervous—steady, calm, unflappable Jakob who handles everything from business crises to my occasional emotional meltdowns with equal composure.
"What's wrong?" I ask, immediately concerned.
"Nothing's wrong," he says quickly. "Everything's right. That's the problem—everything's so right that I can't wait any longer to make it official."
Before I can process his words, he's dropping to one knee, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. My heart stops, literally stops, as understanding crashes over me.
"Lottie Smith," he says, his voice rough with emotion, "you turned my world upside down from the moment I saw you in those woods. You made me believe in love at first sight, in taking chances, in building something beautiful from impossible circumstances."
I'm crying now, tears streaming down my face as he opens the box to reveal a ring that takes my breath away. It's not a traditional diamond solitaire—it's a stunning emerald surrounded by small diamonds, set in white gold that catches the morning light like captured starfire.
"The emerald's from the same region where my great-grandfather first settled," Jakob explains, his hands shaking slightly as he holds the ring. “It's completely unique, just like you, just like what we've built together."
"Jakob," I whisper, my voice breaking on his name.
"I know it's only been a year," he continues. "I know some people will say it's too fast, too impulsive. But Lottie, I knew I wanted to marry you three weeks after we met. I've just been waiting for the right moment to ask."
"And this is the right moment?" I manage through tears.
"Every moment with you is the right moment," he says simply. "But today, on the day you officially introduce your dream to our community, surrounded by all the people who've become family. Yes, this feels perfect."
He's right. Through the window, I can see the community that welcomed me, supported my transition, embraced my dreams. They're all here, ready to celebrate another milestone in our evolving story.
