Page 37 of Snowbound with the Vineyard Owner (Angel’s Peak #6)
"The latest samples tested perfectly," he says as we walk between the rows, professional pride evident in his voice. "The acidity-to-sugar ratio is exactly what we projected, even with the unusual weather patterns this summer."
"The climate adaptation research is already paying dividends," I observe, trailing my fingers along the leaves as we pass. "Catherine says the restaurant group is incorporating our findings into their sustainability planning across all properties."
We've reached the center of the plot, where a small clearing houses monitoring equipment and a hand-built wooden bench. The space holds special significance for us—the place where Dominic first shared his experimental vision, where we began truly collaborating as professionals and partners.
"I've been thinking about time," Dominic says abruptly, turning to face me in the gentle illumination of the path lights. "How it moves differently in different contexts."
I smile at the philosophical turn. "Is this a relativity discussion or a wine aging metaphor?"
"Both, maybe." He takes both my hands in his, his expression uncharacteristically vulnerable.
"This year with you has been both the fastest and slowest of my life.
Fastest because every moment seems to slip away too quickly.
Slowest because I've been more present and aware than I've allowed myself to be in years. "
The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch. "Dominic?—"
"Let me finish," he says gently. "I need to say this properly. You know I process things thoroughly before acting."
This characteristic trait—what I once found frustrating and now find endearing—makes me smile and nod for him to continue.
"When we met, I was existing, not living," he continues. "Creating wines that expressed place and passion, but experiencing neither fully myself. You challenged that from the first moment—pushing boundaries, questioning assumptions, refusing to accept isolation as protection."
His hands tighten around mine. "You showed me that the most interesting, complex, worthwhile experiences can't be controlled or contained. They have to be lived, risks and all. "
"Like your experimental vines," I suggest, emotion making my voice unsteady. "Worth the extra effort?"
"Worth everything," he corrects, releasing one of my hands to reach into his pocket. "Which is why I want to ask you something I've been considering for some time."
Time seems to slow as he kneels before me, opening a small wooden box to reveal a ring unlike any I've seen before. The band appears to be crafted from twisted silver and rose gold, reminiscent of grapevines, cradling a stone the exact deep ruby color of Silverleaf's signature wine.
"Marianne designed it," he explains, answering my unspoken question. "The stone is a rare garnet from these mountains, the color a perfect match for our first vintage together."
My hand trembles as he holds the ring between us, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Elena Santiago, you arrived during a snowstorm and changed my landscape forever. Will you continue that journey with me? Will you marry me?"
Though I've imagined this moment during our months together, the reality of it, here in the vineyard that represents both his past wounds and future hopes, overwhelms me. Joy rises in my chest, expanding until tears press behind my eyes.
"Yes," I manage, the single syllable containing multitudes. "Absolutely yes."
His smile transforms his face as he slides the ring onto my finger, then rises to pull me into his arms. Our kiss tastes of celebration and promise, of a future neither of us could have imagined when I first slid off the road and into his life.
When we finally separate, Dominic produces a bottle and two glasses seemingly from nowhere—the same Savennières we discovered as a shared favorite during the snowstorm. He pours carefully, handing me a glass with a solemnity that borders on reverence.
"To finding the perfect blend," he proposes, raising his glass.
"To risks worth taking," I counter, clinking my glass against his.
As we sip the wine that first revealed our unexpected compatibility, I study the ring on my finger—this tangible symbol of a connection that defies logical explanation.
Like the experimental vines surrounding us, our relationship has required careful tending, occasional drastic pruning, and constant adaptation to changing conditions.
But also like those vines, what has grown between us is stronger for having overcome challenges, more resilient for having weathered storms, and more valuable for being unique to the particular conditions of our meeting.
"We should get back," Dominic says eventually, though he makes no move to leave. "They'll be missing us."
"In a minute," I reply, leaning into his side as we gaze over the vineyard illuminated by moonlight and path lights. "Let's just be here a moment longer."
He wraps his arm around me, understanding perfectly my need to mark this transition privately before sharing it with our waiting community.
Below, we can see the harvest party in full swing—Ruth gesturing dramatically as she tells some story, Martha and George dancing despite their advanced age, Merlot racing between groups collecting treats with enthusiasm.
"They'll be insufferable when they find out," Dominic observes, amusement warming his voice. "Ruth will claim she predicted it. Sheriff Donovan will take credit. Mabel will probably rename the suite 'The Engagement Room.'"
"And you'll pretend to be annoyed while secretly appreciating every bit of it," I counter, knowing him too well now to be fooled by his feigned exasperation .
His laugh confirms my assessment. "Perhaps. Though I draw the line at Sheriff Donovan officiating the wedding."
The casual mention of our future ceremony sends a fresh wave of joy through me. "I love you," I say, the words simple but profound. "More than I thought possible when I slid off that road last year."
His answering kiss tastes of Savennières and certainty. "And I love you. Beyond reason or expectation."
Together, we make our way back down to the celebration, hand in hand, the ring catching moonlight as we walk.
Behind us, the experimental vines—now strong and established—continue their quiet growth, a living testament to the rewards of patience, innovation, and the courage to pursue something extraordinary.
Like the finest wines, some connections improve with time, developing depth and complexity that couldn't exist without the perfect combination of elements: the right terroir, careful cultivation, and the mysterious alchemy that transforms something good into something transcendent.
Sometimes, as we've discovered, the most extraordinary vintage comes from the most unexpected harvest.
As he pulls me close, his mouth brushing mine beneath the stars, I know—we are that vintage.
Bold. Unconventional. And built to last.
Our roots are planted, our blend sealed, crafted through seasons of struggle and surrender. Love, like wine, only deepens when you give it time, space… and someone worth waiting for. This isn’t just our beginning. It’s our forever—and like any great vintage, we’re only getting better with age.
Love the heat in Angel’s Peak?
If you’re enjoying all the steamy, small-town instalove stories this mountain town has to offer, you’re going to fall hard for Colliding with the Coffee Shop Owner
This next swoon-worthy romance serves up spice, sweetness, and a hero who knows exactly what he wants— her .
Dive into Colliding with the Coffee Shop Owner
When tech genius Max Lawson retreats to Angel's Peak to escape the pressures of Silicon Valley and finish developing his revolutionary app before launch, he never expects to literally collide with the solution to his creative block.
Lily Brock, owner of the charming Mountain Brew Coffee Shop, has built her business from scratch after leaving her high-stress corporate job.
Her coffee shop has become the heart of Angel's Peak, but she's struggling to keep it afloat with rising costs and the seasonal nature of mountain town business.
When Max spills coffee all over Lily's carefully curated display on his first day in town, their fiery exchange leaves them both rattled—and inexplicably drawn to each other.
Max finds himself returning to Mountain Brew daily, claiming he needs the perfect workspace, but really craving more than just Lily's legendary cinnamon lattes.
As Lily watches the mysterious stranger typing furiously in the corner booth, she can't deny the electric current that runs between them whenever their eyes meet.
Their attraction is instant and overwhelming, but Max is only in town for three weeks before his app launches, and Lily has sworn off relationships with "tourists" after having her heart broken before.
As a winter storm traps them together in the coffee shop overnight, the walls between them crumble faster than either expected.
But Max's high-profile tech launch threatens to expose Lily's past she's carefully hidden, while Lily's commitment to Angel's Peak makes Max question everything he thought he wanted.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Angel's Peak's snow-capped mountains and twinkling downtown, their story unfolds with steamy nights, witty coffee-themed banter, and the meddling matchmaking of familiar town characters who can spot true love from a mile away.
As Max's departure date approaches, they'll have to decide if three weeks of magic is worth risking everything for—and whether the perfect blend might just be combining two seemingly incompatible lives into one delicious future.