Page 15 of Christmas With The Broken Mountain Man
"It's perfect," she breathes, taking in the scene, children running with sparklers, vendors selling hot chocolate, townsfolk gathered in cheerful clusters. Her hazel eyes reflect the twinkling lights, making something in my chest tighten.
I scan the crowd automatically, searching for any sign of a threat. Tom texted earlier that the black Escalade was spotted near the county line but hasn't reappeared in town. Still, I'm not taking chances with Destiny's safety.
"Ready for this?” I ask, offering her my arm.
She slips her mittened hand through my elbow, pressing close to my side. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We step into the crowd, immediately greeted by Mrs. Peterson, who wastes no time announcing our engagement to anyone in earshot. Destiny plays her part flawlessly, beamingwith apparent adoration every time she looks at me. Her acting is so convincing that I almost believe it myself.
"How did he propose?" Darlene asks, cornering us by the hot chocolate stand.
Before I can formulate a response, Destiny launches into the elaborate story she's been perfecting. "It was at the mountain overlook. We'd gone stargazing, Mason knows all the constellations. The snow started falling, just these perfect fat flakes catching in our eyelashes." She sighs dreamily, leaning against me. "I thought we were just having a romantic evening, but then he got down on one knee..."
Darlene and several other townspeople hang on her every word. I should be uncomfortable with the fabrication, but something about watching Destiny spin our fake love story makes me want to live up to the man she's describing, the romantic who swept her off her feet under a blanket of stars.
"I couldn't imagine my life without her," I add, surprising myself. "Once I knew, I couldn't wait."
Destiny's eyes widen slightly at my contribution, but she recovers quickly, reaching up to touch my cheek. "He said the most beautiful things. I cried like a baby."
"Pigs must be flying somewhere." Darlene chuckles. "Our resident brooding therapist finally met his match."
As we move through the crowd, Destiny stays glued to my side, our hands intertwined. Her touch feels increasingly natural, her fingers fitting perfectly between mine.
"You're good at this," she whispers between greetings.
"At what?"
"Pretending to be in love with me."
I look down at her upturned face, her cheeks flushed with cold and excitement. "Who says I'm pretending?"
Her breath catches, but before she can respond, the mayor calls for everyone's attention. The countdown to the tree lighting begins, the crowd joining in enthusiasm.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!"
I pull Destiny in front of me, wrapping my arms around her from behind. She relaxes against my chest, fitting there like she was made for it.
"Seven! Six! Five!"
"Make a wish," I murmur against her ear.
She turns her head slightly. "That's for birthday candles."
"Four! Three!"
"Humor me."
"Two! One!"
She closes her eyes just as the massive tree erupts in dazzling light, illuminating her face in a golden glow. The crowd cheers, but I only see her, the curve of her cheek, the slight upturn of her nose, the fullness of her lips parted in wonder.
"What did you wish for?" I ask when she opens her eyes.
She turns in my arms to face me, her expression suddenly vulnerable. "Something I shouldn't."
Her gaze drops to my mouth, and this time there's no Jax to interrupt, no reason to pull back. I cup her face in my hands, giving her plenty of time to retreat.
She doesn't.
