Page 28 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty (Delectable Protectors #5)
ONE YEAR LATER: MIA
“ D o you remember the first time you brought me to this cabin?” I lean back in the hot tub, my hair cascading over the edge, the cool winter air prickling against my exposed skin.
Aiden smirks, toying with the bikini top that’s hanging over the edge of the hot tub. “I think we already reenacted that part of the trip.”
My cheeks warm as I stare at him, still unable to believe that he gives me the same butterflies he used to a year ago. There’s something about the way he looks at me that sets my soul on fire.
“I’m glad the renovations are going to be finished on the house soon.” I slide my fingers through the water, sinking lower as bubbles rise. “I thought we’d be settled in there by Christmas, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case.”
“It doesn’t matter. I thought you were planning on spending Christmas here with Rosie and Ryder?”
I tilt my hair back, getting some of it wet and warm. “Yeah, yeah, I want to spend Christmas here. Rosie keeps sending pictures of the tree that they have in the lobby. It’s gorgeous, and the presents waiting under it look too beautiful to unwrap.”
The corner of his mouth tips up into that boyish smirk I love. “I have something you can unwrap.”
I laugh and shake my head, sending a wave of water toward him. “You’re going to have to give me a break. You haven’t kept your hands off me since we got here this morning.”
Aiden crosses the hot tub, coming to sit beside me with a little grin on his face. “Can you blame me?”
“I very much can blame you. We would be further along with the house by now if you hadn’t insisted on making use of every room before they started working.”
“Listen, the rules are that you gotta break in a new house. I didn’t come up with them. Those are just the rules.”
Honey pops up on the edge of the hot tub, her big paws hanging over the edge, her toes getting wet. She gives out a bark, her tail thumping against the post beside her.
Aiden gives me a cocky look and arches an eyebrow. “See? The dog agrees with me.”
“The dog barely likes you.” As if to prove my point, Honey’s tongue drags over the side of my face.
“I’m still convinced you rub yourself in bacon to get her to like you that much. It’s really the only explanation that makes sense.”
Laughing, I get out of the hot tub and grab a towel, wrapping it around my naked body and padding into the cabin. Aiden follows behind me, catching me around the waist and pulling me into his embrace. He kisses my temple, and I melt back into him.
“I love you,” he says, his tone husky. “And I’m so happy we decided to stay in Colorado.”
“So am I. Something about it feels like home.”
He nods and motions to the bedroom. “Go get dried and dressed, and then we’re going out on our hike. I have a surprise for you.”
Our hike takes us along the path my mom used to hike, though this time it’s easier going. There’s no storm coming out of nowhere, and I don’t have to huddle in a sleeping bag to stay warm.
After reaching the summit of that hike, Aiden leads the way down another trail that descends partway down the mountain before curving back up.
The stars are shining brightly overhead as we finish making our way up to the little shack where we had snacks that one day a year ago. My mother’s name is still carved into the side, my name beside it, and Aiden adds his beneath.
My breath comes out in short little bursts, white puffy clouds appearing in front of me. I turn to face him, tears gathering in my eyes. “I think she’d be proud of us.”
“I think she would be too.” His hand slips into his pocket, and he pulls out a little box before he gets down on one knee in front of me.
My hand flies to my mouth, covering it as he flicks open the box and shows off a gorgeous oval ring with a gold band. “Aiden, what are you doing?”
“Mia Kirk, it was a year ago today that I knew you were going to change my life forever. You saw me in a way that nobody else did, and I like to think that I got to see you that day too. I may have been an idiot, but I’ve only gotten smarter with time.
” He stumbles over his words a little, laughing as Honey throws herself down into the snow and starts rolling around.
I point to Honey, happy tears shining in my eyes. “Is that part of the proposal?”
“Wasn’t supposed to be, but I guess it is now.” He gives me a broad smile and shakes his head. “I love you, Mia. The love I have for you only continues to grow, and I want to keep it growing for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!”
I grin and pull off my glove, holding out my shaking hand. He slips the ring onto my finger before standing and kissing me. When he looks at me, my heart pounds in my chest, but it’s a steady sort of pounding. The one that tells me I’m right where I need to be.
As I push onto my toes and kiss him again, I get lost in the moment. His tongue tangles with mine, and we kiss each other until we can’t breathe.
“I love you too.” I trace my fingers along his jaw as we separate. “It’s hard to believe that this is where we ended up after the way we started.”
Aiden keeps his arms looped around my waist, kissing my temple. “I just needed to get out of my own way first.”
“And look at us now that you have.” I glance at the glittering ring on my finger. “A house and a wedding.”
“And a bunch of friends to celebrate with.”
I nod, already thinking about asking Rosie and June to be my bridesmaids. We’ve kept in close contact over the last year, and I couldn’t think of getting married without them there.
Aiden kisses me again, holding me tighter. “What do you think about going down to the resort for dinner and sharing the good news with everyone?”
“Rosie invited us to dinner at the mess hall with the others tonight.” I take him by the hand, already leading the way back down the mountain. “So, how does the start of forever feel?”
He smirks and looks down at me as Honey goes racing by us. “It feels like everything I’ve ever wanted.”
And as we hike back down together, I think he’s right.
I came to Aspen looking to find myself and a sense of family. I was chasing ghosts, and instead, I found a new life. A better life.
Aiden is everything I didn’t know I wanted or needed, and he came along at a time in my life when I was entirely lost.
We’re going to get to spend the rest of our lives finding each other, and there’s something so exciting about that.
He’s the reason I believe in soulmates.
The End
I hope you’ve enjoyed Mia and Aiden’s story!