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"I'm looking."

"At what?"

"The scenery."

He glances toward the mountains. "You've seen mountains before."

"Not these mountains and not with you.”

He brings my hand up and kisses the back of it.

By the time we turn off the main road toward his aunt's home, the snow has begun to fall again.

The house sits beyond a small village, tucked into the Austrian countryside with the Alps rising behind it. Bare branches line the drive, and the garden beds lie dormant beneath a thin blanket of snow. A greenhouse stands against one side of the property, its glass catching the weak winter light.

Rez parks and kills the engine.

"Ready?"

I turn to him. "Ready.”

"Meeting my aunt."

His mouth twitches. "Last chance to run."

"From you or your aunt?"

"Both."

I laugh and reach for my coat.

Before I can open the door, a deep bark carries from inside the house. Another answers it, followed by the unmistakable sound of something large moving across a floor.

I turn to Rez. "I am so excited to meet them."

He laughs, gets out, retrieves our bags, and opens the door for me. Yes, I am capable, but every time I’ve done that, he looks offended.

The barking grows louder as we approach the house, and the front door opens before we reach it.

Two enormous Leonbergers appear first, their thick coats shifting as they crowd into the doorway. Behind them, a German Shepherd watches us with considerably more composure. It’s ears forward and its attention fixed on Rez.

I stop on the path. "Oh, my God."

Rez laughs beside me.

One of the Leonbergers pushes his head against Rez's chest, nearly knocking him backward. The other circles his legs, tail sweeping enthusiastically against the doorframe.

The German Shepherd approaches me more cautiously, nose working as she inspects my hand.

I hold it out and let her sniff. "Hello, pretty girl."

Her ears lift.

"Well," I murmur, scratching behind one, "you know how to make a person feel welcome and terrified at the same time.” I laugh. “I know someone very much like that.”

"Careful," Rez says. "You'll hurt my feelings."

I look over my shoulder at him. "You love it."