Page 31 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
“It’s easy to feel like you’re failing when things don’t go as planned, but you’re here, you’re trying. That’s what matters.”
I can see how her breath catches, how her gaze drops to my lips and then flickers back up to my eyes. It’s the kind of moment where anything could happen, where a simple tilt of the head could bring us together, close enough to kiss.
And damn if I don’t want to kiss her. The urge hits me hard, this primal need to close that distance, to feel her lips against mine. That’s why I keep talking instead.
“Sometimes, you just have to adapt to the moment,” I say. “That’s what we do in the field. You can plan all you want, but when the wind shifts, you’ve got to move with it, make the best of the situation.”
I’m still touching her, my fingers lightly tracing patterns on her arm because I can’t bring myself to stop.
Just as I’m about to close the distance between us, the door to the bar creaks open. Emily and I both jerk our heads up to see Collie standing in the doorway.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Collie says, but the twinkle in her eyes says she knows exactly what she walked in on.
Emily, flustered, quickly waves her hands. “No, no, you didn’t interrupt anything,” she insists, her voice a bit too high-pitched, betraying the tension that had just filled the room.
Collie’s smile widens a fraction, but she doesn’t push it. “I was just passing by and saw the door ajar. Thought I’d investigate, make sure everything was alright.”
I raise my glass, trying to play it cool. “We helped ourselves,” I say, flashing her a grin. “Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Collie replies, glancing at the bar. “Though if you’d like something special, I can send someone down to mix up some proper drinks.”
Emily shakes her head, still looking a bit frazzled. “No, really, we’re fine.”
Collie nods, about to turn away when she pauses, something clearly on her mind. “You know,” she says, her tone casual but with that same twinkle in her eyes, “couples in Colorado can just marry themselves. No need for an officiant.”
“Really?” Emily asks, her voice almost a whisper.
Collie nods. “Really. All you need is a marriage license, and you can just say your vows wherever you like. Could be an option, given the circumstances.”
Collie leaves before either of us can say anything.
“You know, she’s not wrong,” I say. “You could save Hailey’s wedding after all. Just get her and Sam to say their vows up there. It could work.”
“Really? What about everything else?”
“Don’t worry. Me and the guys will help you with the other stuff.”
“Really?” she says, looking hopeful.
“Yeah, of course.”Anything for you,I almost say.
She smiles, but I can see the gears turning in her head. Whatever just happened here is not something either of us will forget easily. But for now, we both know we’ve got bigger things to focus on.
“Now, come on. Let’s go save that wedding.”
CHAPTER 11
EMILY
Axel slidesa notepad across the counter, his pen poised as he looks at me with those sharp blue eyes. The air between us is thick, crackling with something unspoken, something electric. I take a sip of my drink, feeling a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the alcohol.
“Alright,” he says, leaning closer to me, his elbow brushing mine as he steadies the notepad. “Let’s figure this out. If we can’t get anyone up here, we’re gonna need to improvise. So, what do we need for a wedding?”
My heart skips a beat, and I find myself gripping my glass a little tighter.
“Uh, well,” I start, trying to focus on the task at hand, though my mind keeps drifting back to the way his fingers brushed mine earlier, the way his eyes linger on my face just a little too long. “We need the basics. Vows. Rings. A space that isn’t filled with pots of frozen flowers.” I add the last part with a laugh, and he grins at me.
Axel nods, jotting things down as if he’s planning a mission instead of a wedding. “We can probably make the lodge work. A fireplace, some candles—it could look pretty decent if we try.”
