Page 35 of Mistletoed with the Mountain Man
She’s watching me with those expressive eyes, trying to read every emotion on my face.
Fuck it. All in.
“I’m falling in love with you,” I say. The words come out rough and unpolished. “I know it’s only been a short time, and I know all the reasons it’s complicated, but I can’t—I don’t want to hide how I feel.”
She just blinks at me, and I wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I continue, quickly. “I’m not trying to pressure you or anything. I just needed you to know.”
“I’m falling in love with you, too,” she says, gazing into my eyes, and my heart stops. “From the first day I saw you, it was like a ball of lightning hit me.”
I chuckle. “Well, I hired you because I couldn't walk away from the angel I saw in the window.”
"You hired me because you needed a decorator."
"True,” I agree. “But also because I wanted an excuse to spend time with you. Even if I fought it most of the time.” I stroke her cheek, cold from the winter air. "Best decision I ever made."
She rises on her toes and kisses me—softly and sweetly. When she pulls back, there are tears in her eyes.
“But you live in Colorado, and I live here. Your family arrives—well, more of them arrive soon, then it's Christmas, and then you leave, and?—"
"Hey." I wipe away her tears with my thumbs. "We'll figure it out."
"How?"
"I don't know yet." It's the truth. "But I'm not walking away from this. From you. Distance is just logistics. We can make it work."
"Long distance is hard, Kade. Especially when…" She sounds uncertain.
"When what?"
"When I don't even know what I'm doing with the rest of my life," she finishes. "You're established. You have a career, a life in Colorado. I'm a twenty-two-year-old with a business degree working in my aunt's antique shop. What if you realize I'm not worth?—"
"Stop." I cut her off firmly. "Don't finish that sentence. You're worth everything, Nia. And you're not aimless—you're figuring things out."
I pull her closer. "Maybe I talk to my sheriff about transferring. Maybe you start that event planning business with Zoe and Troy. Maybe we just visit each other every chance we get until we find a solution. But we can do this."
She studies my face for a long moment. "You really mean that."
"I really mean that." I smile. "In one week, you've brought more light into my life than I've had in years. I'm not giving that up without a fight."
Fresh tears spill over, but she's smiling. "You really are a sweetheart, Kade Giles. And so easy to fall in love with."
She kisses me again, deeper this time, pressing her whole body against mine. The cold doesn't matter. Nothing matters except the feel of her in my arms, the taste of her on my lips, the knowledge that somehow we've found each other.
Snow starts falling—soft, fluffy flakes that catch in her hair and melt on our joined lips.
"Kade?" Sadie's voice calls from inside. "Nia? Did you guys freeze to death out there?"
We break apart, and Nia laughs. "I thought they left?"
"Must've come back." I take her hand.
We head inside to find Sadie and Ledger in the kitchen, looking sheepish. Bear is lying by the fire again, tail thumping when he sees us.
"Ledger forgot his phone," Sadie explains, holding up the device. "And I may have noticed you two on the deck and decided hot chocolate was necessary before we left again."
"You're a terrible liar," I tell her.
