Page 89 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
“Yeah.” I clear my throat and fumble with my phone before showing it to her.
It’s a few seconds before the recognition sets in. She looks up at me. “Theo, what is this?”
“I reserved a booth for you to sell your earrings at the Rocky Mountain Winter Festival.”
I hold my breath as I watch her reaction. I remember going to this festival a bunch of times as a kid. It’s huge, with tons of local small businesses in the Denver area participating.
At first, she says nothing. She stares at me like she’s confused.
“You what?” she finally says. She blinks a few times like she’s dazed.
My stomach drops. Crap. She’s not excited like I hoped she’d be.
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I probably should have asked you before signing you up. But the way you talk about yourself as a designer made me think you wouldn’t. You downplay yourself and your skills, but you shouldn’t. You’re amazing. You’re so talented, Maya. Your earrings are beautiful you should put them out there for people to see. I promise you, people will love them and want to buy them.”
She blinks once before the focus in her eyes returns. She bites her lip like she’s thinking hard.
I grab her hand gently in mine. “I’m sorry I sprung it on you like this.”
She shakes her head before the corners of her mouth curve up in a gentle smile. “Don’t be sorry, Theo. This was so sweet. I just…” She glances off to the side and gazes out the huge floor-to-ceiling window that looks out at the snow-covered mountains. “You really believe in me, don’t you?” she says, her voice quiet, like she can hardly believe it.
I cup my free hand over her cheek. “Of course I believe in you. You’re incredible.”
She smiles.
“I’m not the only one who believes in you, Maya. Ingrid and your cousins see how talented you are too. That’s why they’re always telling you to showcase your designs. They see how good you are too.”
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.” She glances back down at the confirmation message on my phone. “Thank you for believing in me enough to surprise me with this.”
“Does that mean you’ll do it? You’ll showcase your earrings at the festival?”
She grins wide and nods. Relief and excitement course through me.
I let out a “whoop!” and kiss her.
When we pull apart, she cups her face in her hands. “I’m nervous. What if no one buys my stuff?”
“I told you. I’ll buy all of it.”
She chuckles and kisses me.
“No way, that’s gonna happen,” I say. “The people at the festival will go wild for your earrings.”
She downs half the coffee in her mug and straightens up. She shakes her hands at her sides and shuffles her feet like she’s restless and excited.
“I’m going to showcase my earrings at the Rocky Mountain Winter Festival. This is actually happening.” She lets out a squeal and does a little jump. I laugh.
“You have to be there with me,” she says. “I’ll be so nervous if I have to stand there all alone…”
I reach out and pull her against me. “Nothing in the world could keep me away from you, Maya.”
I don’t miss that flash of emotion in her eyes as she gazes at me. She bites back a grin before grabbing my face in her hands and pulling me in for a kiss that leaves me dizzy.
“I need to work off my nerves. In the bedroom, preferably. Think you could help me out?” she growls against my lips.
A wide grin splits my face. And then I lean down, throw her over my shoulder, and head for my bedroom.
The whole way she’s giggling. “Wow. Eager?”
