Page 101 of The Daredevil

CHAPTERFIFTY-THREE

MICHELLE

Dressedin thick coats and boots, Royce and I trekked around the campsite. Domes that looked like glass igloos offered the residents the perfect view of the night sky. Royce had reserved a dome near a cliff for us.

Royce squeezed my gloved hand. “Are you warm enough?”

He didn’t have his hood on, whereas I wore a knit hat and scarf. “Yes.”

Snow crunched under my boots as I observed the illuminated domes surrounded by pine trees. The domes offered a lovely glow to the night sky. It was only eight in the evening, and we’d just had dinner at a local restaurant.

Before I left, my website had returned to normal, but I still got emails from random trolls who asked if that was me. Most of them were men, and I’d blocked them. I’d asked Royce if he knew who was behind it, but he didn’t have an answer for it. I dropped the subject because I didn’t want to waste any more energy on it.

Usually, when I took a vacation around Christmastime, it was to go to a warmer climate, but this year, I exchanged one winter wonderland for another. Winter was the best season for a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

I glanced around and smiled as we made our way toward our dome. “They must look like glowing eggs from afar.”

He grinned. “Very perceptive.”

We arrived at our dome, which was more private and a lot bigger than the others.

“Do you want to look inside?”

We took two steps down, entered with a key, took off our snow-covered boots at the door, and browsed. One large bed sat at the center, and a tiny kitchen took up one section of the dome. An electric fireplace flickered on the opposite side. The sign on the wall gave directions for internet access. I could see the sky from all directions. Anyone walking by would need to be extremely tall or require a ladder to see into our space.

“When did you buy this resort?” I asked.

“A few years ago when the owners didn’t want to take care of it anymore. It’s a magical place. I didn’t buy it for profit, though that has increased since I took over. I got it for what it offered. The view and the feeling you get when looking at the Northern Lights is priceless.” He pulled me to him. “I wanted you to experience it with me. This dome is reserved for me only.”

I rose to my toes and kissed him. “Let’s go out and wait for it.”

“You sure? You can see everything from here. It’s also warmer for you.”

“No, I want the real deal. I’m not cold if you’re hugging me.” I tightened my arms around him.

We sat on a metal bench, and he gathered me into his arms, keeping me warm. I glanced at the beautiful landscape with snow-covered mountains in the distance and the vast sky and sighed. The foggy breath slithered into the air, and I waved a gloved hand through it.

All the concerns that had boggled my mind seemed minuscule compared to the magnificent scenery before me. Life was about the profound wonder and joy that made us speechless. These were the moments that counted—not issues I had no control over.

“Thank you for this trip. I appreciate it.” I tilted my face to look at him.

This beautiful man had been there for me long before I knew about him. He saved me when I didn’t have the will to live. When I lost hope, he gave it back to me through his wish bottle. And now he’d helped me rebuild my reputation, my career, my heart—my soul. He did all of this without asking for anything back—without a guarantee that I would reciprocate anything. There was no guarantee in love. A person in love gave because they loved unconditionally.

Did he love me? Did he even know what love was? Would it frighten him if I pointed it out?

No, let him acknowledge it for himself.

I’d let him find his answer just as I discovered mine.Emotions swelled within my chest, and love glowed in me like the dome radiating through the night.

I love him so much.

As tears blurred in my eyes, a stream of light flowed across the sky and took my breath away.

I straightened and clasped his hand. “It’s more beautiful in real life, Royce.”

My body relaxed from the peaceful glow of the Icelandic starry night sky with curtains of light moving slowly in front of me. I was completely immersed in the beauty and wonder. Nothing compared to seeing the real Northern Lights. The colors mesmerized me as they changed shades when they fluctuated. In the distance, a ribbon of pinkish-purple emerged as though God had splashed a new neon paint onto the dark sky.

“What gives off the colors?” I asked, making a mental note to cross off seeing the Northern Lights from my bucket list.

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