Page 19 of Mail Order Bride for the Scrooge

“Because this is your home. You’re not leaving. You’re going to stay and we’re going to build a life together. Right here. In this house that you make into a home simply by existing within these walls.”

If happiness could be described in one perfect moment, this would be it. It feels like all the colors of the rainbow swirl through my soul and radiate out of me, creating a kaleidoscope of pure joy which can’t be contained.

I grin up at Gannon and realize he’s waiting for something. A smile stretches across my face as I sass him, “Aren’t you going to ask me?”

He shakes his head slowly and grips my hand gently before sliding the ring into place. “I don’t need to ask. You’ve already said yes.”

Even though I’m sitting on his lap, I manage to launch myself at him, knocking him back onto the bed, as I pepper kisses all over his face. Pure fucking joy.

Somehow, our clothes fall away, and he slides down my body until he can bury his face between my thighs. The subtle burn of his beard against my thighs, the weight of the ring on my finger, and the promise in his eyes of forever send me spiraling through my first orgasm almost immediately.

He growls as he feasts on me. It’s like he wants to climb inside my body and take up residence. Silly man, he’s already embedded in my heart.

CHAPTER 8

GANNON

I bring the axe down on another piece of wood and I can feel my woman’s eyes on me from where she’s perched near the back of the house and looking out the wall of windows. My back is to her but only because I know she likes the show. I can practically feel how turned on she is from here.

Fuck, Lake strokes my ego with a single look and right now her eyes make it feel like she’s rubbing her curves against my body.

It’s not like other women haven’t looked at me, they have, but I didn’t like the attention. I crave the way my fiancé looks at me, the way she watches me. I love it when she lights up when I walk into the room and the way she shows me how much he cares about me with her eyes.

She’s so fucking expressive that it takes my breath away.

Everything about her soothes a piece of me and I’m feeling more and more like a man worthy of her every day. I’ll never take her for granted though. Hell no, I won’t ever give my little present a reason to walk away from me.

I couldn’t bear it.

Seeing her yesterday with tears streaming down her face as she let all her worries and fears out just about gutted me.

I’m sure I didn’t help matters because I drove down the mountain without her. I wasn’t sure if I hid my relief that she was going to stay behind, but considering her state when I got back home, I’m going with I completely sucked at hiding it from her.

I just needed the chance to go in and pick up my woman’s engagement ring. I sure as fuck didn’t want to do it in front of her. It needed to be a surprise because she deserves the romance. Especially since she showed up at my door expecting to get married.

I had planned to wait until Christmas, but I knew I couldn’t put it off the moment I saw Lake frantically searching through her stuff. She looked more lost than she did when she showed up at my door. There was no way I wasn’t going to put all her fears to rest since it was in my power to do so.

Hearing her tell me that she had fallen in love with me along with Storm and Jasper Ridge changed my entire life. Just like when I opened my front door to find her about to step up onto my porch.

I was not at all prepared to be blindsided, but I was. Hearing those words, so simple but with a huge impact, was almost too much. I wanted her to love me, and she does.

I’m a lucky fucking man.

Knowing she’s watching me, I put my axe down before I set another log up to be split. I reach back and pull the henley I’m wearing over my head before turning slightly toward where I know she’s sitting and tossing it in that direction. I swear I can hear her wolf whistle, but it’s probably all in my head.

I’ve worked up quite a sweat getting more wood ready for the fireplace. We’re expecting a few more inches of snowfall to come through tomorrow or the next day, but it won’t stick around for long. I have plans for my fiancé down the mountain and there’s no way a little snow is going to slow me down.

When I pick up the axe again, I flex my arms as I put another log in place and split it. I allow myself to get lost int the mindless task, the entire time feeling my woman’s eyes on me. I’ve never split wood with a fucking boner which could probably do the job without the axe, but there’s a first time for everything.

The longer I’m outside, the hotter I become and it’s not only about the work I’m putting in. Lake’s eyes feel like fire against my body and I’m practically buzzing just underneath my skin.

It feels like the last few logs take for fucking ever, but I know it’s just because I’m desperate to go inside and fuck my woman until she can’t walk straight. The way she’s been watching me, her focus intense and unwavering, has me feeling on edge, but in the best way.

If it were anyone else’s eyes on me, I would be a grumpy asshole, but she can look as much as she wants. Hell, I crave her eyes on me and all her attention.

I put the axe down and then stretch out my back, my mind drifting to the fact that she’s staying. I’m going to marry her as soon as I can, but I know there is one more thing that we need to deal with. Her brother.

With everything Lake’s told me about him, he’s not going to be happy to find out that she’s run off to marry a virtual stranger. I can only hope my love for her and the need I have to protect and care for her will be enough for Nico. I know it’s a job he’s taken seriously up to this point, but it’s not his job anymore.

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