Page 51

Ronni

2 Months Later

A fter lunch, we get in line for the gondola. Tanner and I get in the car easily and watch as Collin and Lizzy stumble and fuss with their skis, failing to get on the same gondola with us. It almost looks like they’re ignoring the help of the lifties. Somehow, even with all that practice two months ago in Jackson, Lizzy still hasn’t figured it out here in Aspen Valley. Laughing, we look back at her and my brother. I see an amused look on her face and a shit eating grin on his. I must be seeing things because I swear I even see Lizzy wink.

I groan. “Those two. Always causing trouble.” Across the gondola car, Tanner looks at me, his eyes that familiar, smoldering green. Somehow it never fails to make my stomach flutter and make my skin tingle.

“Oh no,” I wave my hands in surrender. “No no no. Not again,” I say, practically giggling. “We have no idea how long this gondola is and this one isn’t nearly as tinted.”

He laughs, but his gaze never leaves mine. It’s been that way for the last two months since the mudroom . The two of us, his loving eyes always on me. And I’ve learned so much about myself since then. Tanner and I have pushed each other to be the best versions of ourselves. He’s helped me to focus more on the moment, to only worry about what I can actually control, and to keep learning to let go of the rest that I can’t. I’ve pushed him to keep opening up, to stop bottling up his feelings, and to focus on what brings him joy, because I’ll always be there for him.

Together, Tanner and I are learning we can both have what we’ve always wanted.

Jackson feels like home more than it ever has, for us both.

After our whirlwind drive home with Tanner, I put my house on the market. Collin took advantage of his ability to work remote and did the same. Now without mortgages in Ohio, we don’t have to rent the condo any more and Collin is moving into it. He’s going to keep his online clients, but he’s taking on new clients at one of the local yoga studios from time to time.

Looking across the gondola, I can’t help but feel my heart melt by the way this man makes me feel. He takes off his gloves and helmet, setting them neatly by his side before leaning across the gondola. I feel my cheeks flush as he smirks at me.

That smirk. Those dimples. He shows them more and more now and I make sure I never take them for granted. I feel like everyday he feels more comfortable about sharing his feelings instead of bottling things up. I’ve watched him become more focused, like a weight’s been lifted off of him and he’s free to focus on his property management company and making knives. With Collin’s excitement about driving a plow, they plan to partner and grow that business.

He’s even been dedicating more time and energy to his knives too. He seems so inspired to create. Now, instead of a case at the Eclectic Elk, he has a full wall dedicated to his work. Earlier this month, a chef at a big name restaurant in Seattle bought a set of his knives. He’s working with Giselle to create a waitlist for custom pieces too.

Across from me, he lowers himself onto his knees, only pure worship in his eyes as the smirk leaves his face.

“I thought I just said we’re not doing that , Tanner.” I playfully raise an eyebrow at him. I can’t believe I’m telling him no , but I’ve got to have some self control from time to time, as hard as that is around him.

“Ronni, I will always get on my knees for you. There’s nothing you can do to stop me from loving you.” His voice is gravel and strained. I’ve only seen him like this once before. That night in the mudroom when it looked like he was tormented about whether or not to kiss me. The night he finally leapt and we’ve never looked back.

And that’s when my heart stops. He pulls a box from his pocket, one I’ve seen before. The velvet box I’ve kept my grandmother’s engagement ring in all these years, hoping for my person to come into my life.

“Oh my god. Oh my god, Tanner.” I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth. I can feel the tears already building in the corners of my eyes.

“Will you marry me, Ronni? I’ve been kicking myself for waiting this long to ask. But with you, I never want to waste another second that we could be together.” His eyes stare deep into me, pleading yet confident, immediately grounding me the way he always does.

“Yes, Tanner. Yes!” I squeal through tears. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” He says, grinning wildly before leaning forward to kiss me like I’m the only thing in his world.

I still feel like I’m living in a fairy tale. He really was the missing puzzle piece in my life. With him by my side, it feels like the rest of my life has fallen neatly into place.

I have my person .

Someone that reminds me I’m strong and lifts me up. Someone that will take things off my plate without even being asked. Now I’m finally building my career to where I’ve always wanted. I’m surrounded by people that bring me up, make me better, and empower me to do more.

The first week back in Wyoming felt like the start of an entirely new chapter. I didn’t know exactly what was next, but I was happy to be away from Fischer and looking for a fresh start. I still felt like I needed to close out that chapter of my life though, so I followed up with Cindy, as I had promised.

She was frankly not shocked that I left Fischer. As for the special project she wanted to talk about. Well, it was an offer to be the new Director of Marketing at Earth SnaX. One month into that job, and it already feels like I’m where I was always meant to be, like I found my professional home. I realized it wasn’t the work that I hated, just the toxic environment that I was in and the people I was surrounded by. And the best part about my job at Earth SnaX is that I work remotely, except for the occasional in person meetings I’ll need to attend every few months.

Now I realize I needed the closure of going back to Dayton, to see just how much my life there was no longer what I wanted. Going back there, leaving the happy bliss of Jackson with Tanner, was the wake up call I needed. It made it that much easier to know I made the right choice to quit and do literally anything else besides stay at Fischer.

“I can’t wait to get you back home and all to myself again,” he says, his ever confident grin back. Those words, the thought of home with him, have never sounded better.

Instead of going into a dreary drab office five days a week, my new commute will be walk across the yard from the cabin to the old barn. After taking the job with Earth SnaX, Tanner started turning the loft of the old barn into a bright, airy, cheerful office for me. Instead of a worn gray cubicle with a view of a windowless hallway, I’ll have a cozy room to myself with white shiplap walls and salvaged wood floors. Beyond the oversized picture window is going to be an incredible view, looking out over the yard and the mountains.

I look down at my hand now, staring at my Grandma’s engagement ring on my finger, the one that my Grandpa had custom made for her, the one that I thought I would never find that special someone to wear it for. It’s the perfect reminder of my grandparents’ love for each other, their love of Wyoming and skiing, and now my love for Tanner.

Looking back into his eyes, my heart pounds. “I love you, and as good as that sounds, I’m pretty sure Lizzy will kill us if we go home early. She’s been looking forward to this trip so much.” I say, still grinning ear to ear. “But we’ve got a big comfy bed back at her condo we can put to use tonight.” I wink at him, getting a gruff laugh in return.

“Alright, horny badger.” He smirks and I can’t help but giggle back at him. This man has my heart and it’s so painfully obvious.

I have to admit that I can get a little distracted daydreaming about what our life will be like. I imagine looking out my office window into the yard to see Tanner playing with Rex, or listening to him work on knives in his shop. The feeling of warmth I get from picturing him smile out in the yard or hearing him use the forge, knowing he’ll always be nearby, always there for me, is borderline overwhelming in the best of ways.

I know he would always say that Jackson isn’t all fairy tales, but after living here now, with him, it feels like a dream come true. I can’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be. Building a life with this man in the mountains.