Page 44 of Falling for the Bombshell (Falling for #1)

Mile High Honeymoon

The morning after the wedding was slow and sweet.

Sunlight spilled through the windows, the smell of fresh coffee filled their little house, and Linnie ’ s head rested on Blaine ’ s bare chest as the sound of Daisy and Ember playing in the living room reminded them that real life—and real love—had already begun.

But before life fully resumed, they had a honeymoon to plan.

They didn ’ t want sand or fancy islands or plane rides to faraway places.

They wanted heart. They wanted home. They wanted

Denver.

Blaine pulled up his laptop and grinned. “ Okay, hear me out. Broncos game. Honeymoon. Mile High Stadium. What do you think?”

Linnie sat up with sparkles in her eyes. “ Only if we go full out—

jerseys, tailgate, nachos the size of my face.”

They booked everything that night. Lower-level 50-yard line seats. A sleek downtown hotel with a city view. A list of restaurants, rooftop bars, and hole-in-the-wall taco joints to explore. And a rental Jeep to cruise through Red Rocks and the surrounding mountains.

The week after the wedding, they hit the road for their Denver honeymoon. Blaine wore his favorite #58 , and Linnie had her hair up in a ponytail with a blue and orange ribbon tied around it, repping her new last name— Mrs. Austin.

They visited the Broncos Training Facility in Dove Valley, snapping photos next to giant posters of players, Linnie playfully kissing the nose of Blaine ’ s jersey twin on the wall.

They explored the Denver Botanic Gardens, shared milkshakes at a classic diner downtown, and hit the Cherry Creek mall where Linnie found the cutest Broncos hoodie to match Blaine ’ s .

Game day came with perfect fall weather—sunny, crisp, and electric.

The stadium roared with fans, orange and navy everywhere.

Blaine ’ s hand stayed laced with hers the entire time, and when the Broncos scored in the fourth, he scooped Linnie up and spun her in the air like they ’ d just won the Super Bowl themselves.

That night, back in the hotel room wrapped in blankets with the Denver skyline twinkling outside the window, Linnie looked over at Blaine and whispered, “ This is the best honeymoon I never knew I wanted.”

He kissed her forehead. “ Just wait ‘ til our anniversary. I ’ m already planning stadium vows renewal.”

She laughed, tackled him onto the bed, and they spent the rest of the night tangled in laughter, love, and the soft hum of the city that had become the perfect backdrop to the start of their forever.

Returning from Denver, the high of honeymoon magic still lingering in every kiss and inside joke, Blaine and Linnie stepped back into their cozy Billings home hand in hand, ready to start this new season—married, grounded, and full of hope.

The days quickly became a rhythm of work, cuddles, and laughter.

Mornings were filled with shared coffee on the porch swing, Blaine brushing sleepy kisses against Linnie ’ s forehead before heading to the site.

Evenings were for dinner experiments, Daisy and Ember begging for scraps underfoot, and late-night game battles that usually ended in Linnie trash-talking Blaine mid-laugh.

That October, they threw a little backyard birthday for Daisy— complete with pupcakes, party hats, and Ember in full big sister mode.

They snapped so many pictures, they made her an Instagram account.

Halloween came with a rush of trick-or-treaters.

Linnie dressed as a fairy (complete with glittery wings), Blaine went full cowboy, and Daisy wore a tiny bumblebee costume she barely tolerated.

They handed out candy with spooky music playing and even got a couple of kids asking if they were “ the cool house.” It became an instant favorite memory.

Thanksgiving rolled in with a full house—Blaine ’ s entire family gathered again, this time with Linnie confidently helping in the kitchen, passing pies and dodging kisses from Grandpa after he made a second joke about "accidentally" trying to kiss her again.

They laughed until they cried playing football in the backyard with all the cousins, muddy and full and completely content.

December arrived in a flurry of snow and string lights.

They bought their first married Christmas tree, went overboard with decorations, and Blaine surprised Linnie with a new record player and a stack of vintage vinyls.

She surprised him right back with a custom photo album titled Our First Year As The Austins, full of moments and memories already becoming legend.

For Blaine ’ s birthday on New Year ’ s, Linnie organized a surprise party at a cozy lodge just outside town.

Bria helped her plan it all—rustic, warm lighting, wood-fired pizza, and all Blaine ’ s closest friends and family.

When they yelled “ Surprise!” and Blaine saw everyone there, even Logan who flew in, he looked at Linnie like she ’ d just handed him the world. Again.

Then the milestones started flying in.

Bria graduated high school in the spring, a glowing light of potential.

She hugged Linnie like a sister and announced she was heading to Rocky Mountain College to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

“ You inspired me,” she whispered when Linnie started crying during her speech.

Linnie and Blaine visited Jade, Karter, and baby Callum in Washington that summer.

They soaked in the coastal air, took long walks, and Linnie fell in love with baby giggles all over again.

They made time to see Logan after he returned from Iraq, just before shipping off to his next location. Blaine hugged him longer than usual, eyes glassy but proud, and Linnie gave him a letter full of memories and prayers. “ You ’ re always with us,” she said.

Then came Sadie ’ s first real concert—packed house, high energy, and the moment she got called backstage and came back with a record deal. Linnie screamed louder than anyone, tears in her eyes as she saw another dream unfold for one of her people.

Cleo called later that month from Arizona. “ Girl, I met a tattooed hottie who rides Harleys and bakes sourdough. I think I ’ m getting married.” Linnie practically screamed and immediately began sketching wedding plans on napkins, because of course she was planning that too.

But even in the whirl of joy and celebrations, real life found them.

They began dreaming of starting a family.

At first, it felt like magic. Hopeful and full of promise.

But as month after month passed with no double lines, Linnie quietly began to crumble.

Blaine held her every time she cried, wrapped her up and reminded her: “ It ’ s us.

No matter what. You and me and whatever life brings. ”

It wasn ’ t easy—some days were full of tears, doctor visits, and bitter quiet. Others were full of strength, of sunshine and long walks with Daisy and Ember, of hope found again in Blaine ’ s gentle hands and the way he made her laugh even when she didn ’ t want to.

But through it all, they stayed together. One team. One love. They were the Austins. And this life—messy, beautiful, loud, and quiet—was theirs.

The Broncos were Super Bowl champions. It still felt like a dream.

Blaine had cried actual tears when the final whistle blew, lifting Linnie up off the couch in their living room and spinning her in circles.

Daisy barked wildly, Ember sprinted around the house, and Linnie wore her custom “ Mrs. Austin” jersey like it was armor.

It was the perfect start to the end of an unforgettable year.

They framed the championship photo in their hallway, right next to their wedding photo—two milestones, both equally life-altering in their own way.

Through the seasons, they had built a rhythm that made even the smallest days feel big.

They had a “ Rainy Day Playlist,” featuring their go-to comfort songs, a Sunday morning routine of pancakes and slow dancing in the kitchen, and a weekly challenge where each person had to plan a surprise for the other—some were simple, like a new flavor of ice cream; some were grand, like Blaine secretly booking a weekend in Red Lodge just to escape with Linnie for 48 hours.

The backyard became their sacred place. They bought lawn games, planted flowers, even hung twinkling lights from the trees.

Blaine taught Linnie how to throw a perfect spiral, and Linnie taught Blaine how to salsa dance barefoot in the grass.

They hosted their first official dinner party with Chase , Sadie, Bria, and even Summer and Brittany dropping in.

Linnie burnt the rolls, Blaine forgot to chill the drinks, but no one cared because the laughter never stopped.

They framed the guest list from that night too, everyone scribbling messages like:

“ To forever love & late-night snacks!”

“ When ’ s the baby coming?”

“ I saw Blaine sneak four cupcakes.”

And when summer rolled around again, they laid in the hammock one night under the stars, the Montana breeze just right, Ember snuggled by their feet, Daisy snoring. Blaine whispered, “ You ’ ve made every day my favorite.”

Linnie smiled sleepily. “ You ’ re my forever memory.”