Page 28 of Winter's Kiss

“You sure?” I asked against his chest, my lips a slow descent along his skin. I hated to be selfish, but not when it came to him. I couldn’t get enough. I wanted him every second of the day. I had spent long enough without him and would never again if I could help it.

“We have forever.” He replied, his words a shock to me. I brought my gaze back to him, confusion plastered across my face.

He remained still, tall, his hand lifted to the side of my neck. “That is, if you’d marry me.” I wanted to scream, cry, attack him, pretty much every emotion there was. Was I dreaming? I couldn’t help myself from asking, hoping if I was, I never woke up.

“Did you just ask me to marry you?” I had to make sure he meant it. That he didn’t just say it because of the moment we shared. “Are you sure?” I asked, tears in my eyes as I watched him lick his lip. His gaze lowered momentarily.

“I never thought I would be married the first time. When I lost her, I swore to myself I would never marry again, because I would never love again.” He paused. “Then you came into my life and, like a winter storm, you took over my world. I am building this house for you, for us. I didn’t know if you still wanted me after I let you go, but it was something I had to do. I needed to prepare for you, to ensure you got the life you deserved.” He paused once more. “That is, if you would still have me.”

If I would still have him? Was he insane? I came back for him. I wanted him and nothing more, always. I had no idea he felt the way he did, let alone thought of a life with me before I had even left. I ran my hands along the sides of his face, tears fell down my cheek as I nodded my head with a smile.

“I love you, Rowland Quinn. Of course, I’ll marry you.” We both smiled before our lips once more collided with a forceful kiss. I knew that my parents wouldn’t approve. They would find something wrong with him, Muddy Waters, and, of course, my choices since I’d never made them. But I knew what I wanted, no matter how crazy it sounded or perhaps was. And what I wanted was Rowland.

The following morning, I woke up happier than I had ever been. I hoped the night before wasn’t a dream and when my sleepy gaze lifted to find Rowland still asleep, his arm around me, I knew it wasn’t. I had returned to him; he had welcomed me back and not only had he told me he loved me but asked me to marry him. With a smile, I lifted to kiss him on the cheek before I pulled the blanket from over me.

My body felt as though I had run a marathon, and a smile pulled along my lips at the flashes from the night before. The bed. The shower. The kitchen counters. The small couch in the living area. The kitchen table. Against the wall. On the floor just inside the main entrance. Every inch of that camper was rocked by our love.

I snatched up his shirt that rested on the floor and wrapped it around my body with a smile as I inhaled his scent. With a glance back at him, I made my way out of the small room and pulled close the accordion door before I made my way to my pants that had remained where he took them off, next to the kitchen table.

With a grab of my cell phone, I unlocked the screen and sighed at the missed calls and texts that instantly alerted me. Ten calls from my sister, and fifteen messages between my parents. And of course, missed calls from Andrew, who hadn’t been pleased I remained with my sister or heard of my time with Rowland. I made my way to the couch with a quick sit down next to Tucker, who had woken when I entered the room.

“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!” The scream from my sister as soon as the phone rang one time. I knew she would be shocked by my news, but she had always supported me, and I figured this time would be no different.

“I have been with Rowland,” I answered, my lips curled to another smile as glanced down at his shirt. “We were, well, busy.” I continued. My cheeks instantly blushed.

“I suppose then it was a good welcome.”

“Very,” I replied. I wanted to give her details but knew my time while he slept would be short and needed to get the big news out before he woke. “But there is something else.”

“Well, you can’t be knocked up already.” Laurel joked. “Don’t tell me, you’re getting married.” She continued with a laugh, one that faded when I didn’t respond. “Damn, Cookie, I was kidding.”

“I love him, I do Laurel.” My sister remained silent with my confession, my news. I glanced down at Tucker, my hand a soft caress on the top of his head.

“Are you sure? I mean, sure. You hardly know this guy and, well, he let you go before.” I understood her questions and her concerns.

“I’ve never been surer,” I answered.

“What about his late wife? I thought you said he was still hung up on her. Are you ready to live in a ghost shadow?” Laurel asked swiftly.

“He said goodbye to her,” I replied softly. “He said goodbye to her because he fell in love with me. Laurel, he’s building us a cabin on land he hadn’t been on before me since she died. That’s why he let me go. He said he wanted to make sure he could give me everything I deserved.”

“Okay, I can’t argue with that.” I laughed lightly at my sister’s words when I heard the door to the bedroom area open. My gaze lifted at him as he walked out in just his boxers.

“He’s amazing,” I said, my stare locked on him. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.” Rowland smiled and made his way across the small space. I leaned forward as he moved behind me, his arm around my frame with a pull back against him.

“I’m not the one you should be worried about.” It was then I remembered I needed to tell my parents.

Seventeen

It took me multiple calls and pleas for my parents to understand and then agree to travel to Muddy Waters to meet Rowland and the family. My mother was devastated. I would make such a decision without talking with her. My father was angry I would pick a man who, in his mind, hadn’t asked for his approval. I knew better. I knew it was the control they were upset about losing, nothing more.

I knew things wouldn’t be easy, but I had never imagined the fear that I would have. My entire life, I had succumbed to what they wanted, what they had picked for me. Could I stand up to them and stay true to what I wanted this one time? This is the most important of times. Could they scare Rowland off? Would they make him second guess, being with me? The questions began to roll through me and as the days passed, their arrival day had arrived.

Theo, Anna, and the entire town were excited about the upcoming and quick wedding. Some were shocked, none expected Rowland to get married again, let alone to a stranger and so quickly. Yet, for him, for the Quinn family, every person came together to prepare not only for the nuptials but the arrival of my family.

Rowland worked overnight, every night, in the cabin. As though he knew he wanted to prove he could provide for me. Theo and what men weren’t helping Rowland ensured every road was cleared, sidewalks salted. The weather called for no storms, but something you learn quickly in the limits of Muddy Waters is snow could pop up without warning. Anna ensured the main house was cleaned and fully stocked with food and, of course, the grill was prepped.

The wedding was going to take place while my family stayed in town. Both Rowland and I wanted to not wait another minute. We had both waited long enough to find one another, another month or year just made no sense. It would be simple, classic, at the barn just behind the main house of the farm. I found myself more nervous about my parents arriving than the wedding itself.

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