Page 38 of Pretending with the Mountain Man
"I remember," she says, leaning back against my chest. "You told me the Kootenay legend about the mountains being ancient guardians watching over the valley."
"And you said if they were watching, they'd seen some things in that cabin of mine."
Her laugh vibrates through both our bodies. "I stand by that assessment."
I turn her in my arms, needing to see her face for what comes next. "This past year has been the best of my life, Melody. You brought light and warmth into a life I thought would always be solitary. You challenged me, trusted me, loved me without reservation."
Her eyes soften as she realizes what's happening. "Malik..."
"Let me finish." I take her hands in mine. "I promised myself long ago that I would never make promises I couldn't keep. So I need you to know that what I'm about to ask comes with absolute certainty."
Releasing one of her hands, I reach into my pocket and withdraw the small velvet box. Her breath catches as I open it, revealing the oval diamond glinting in the fairy lights.
"I want forever with you, Melody Washington. I want mornings and evenings and all the moments in between. I want to build a life worthy of the gift you've given me by loving me." I drop to one knee, holding the ring up to her. "Will you marry me?"
Tears spill down her cheeks as she nods, unable to speak for a moment. "Yes," she finally manages. "Yes, of course I will."
I slide the ring onto her finger, then rise to capture her lips with mine. The kiss is salt-sweet with her tears, full of promiseand passion. When we finally part, both breathless, she looks down at her hand.
"It's perfect," she whispers. "How did you know?"
"I had help," I admit. "Sage has opinions about diamond cuts."
Her laugh turns into another sob as she throws her arms around my neck. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." I hold her close, savoring the knowledge that this remarkable woman has chosen me, has agreed to share her life with mine.
The lights in the trees seem to brighten as darkness falls completely, creating our own private constellation. Below us, Crimson Hollow comes alive with evening lights, the small town that brought us together and embraced our unlikely love story.
"What happens now?" Melody asks, her head resting against my chest.
"Now we go home," I tell her. "And tomorrow we start planning our future."
"Home," she repeats, the word carrying weight and warmth. "I like the sound of that."
As we gather our things to head back down the mountain, I watch my fiancée admiring her ring in the twinkling lights. One year ago, I was a solitary man with walls built high around my heart. Now I'm planning a wedding with a woman half my age who somehow makes me feel both younger and wiser than my years.
The trail ahead is dark, but I know every step by heart. Melody's hand finds mine as we begin our descent, her trust in me absolute, even in the darkness. It's a metaphor for our relationship, I realize. Not always easy, not always clear, but guided by something deeper than sight.
"What are you thinking about?" she asks, sensing my contemplative mood.
"How unexpected life can be," I reply honestly. "How the best things often come from the most unlikely beginnings."
She squeezes my hand. "Like a fake engagement turning into a real one?"
"Exactly like that."
The cabin lights come into view as we reach the bottom of the trail, warm and welcoming in the night. No longer my refuge from the world, but our home built on choice and love and second chances.
Tomorrow there will be phone calls to make and news to share. Tonight belongs to just the two of us, celebrating the journey from strangers to lovers to future husband and wife.
A journey that began with two simple words spoken in desperation at a club one year ago. "My fiancé."
Words that are finally, beautifully true.
