AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I am.” She smiled, feeling tears come again, but this time they were happy ones. “And I think the two of us are really real … together.”
“We are. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving how really real we are.”
“I believe you,” she whispered.
“Oh, Ayla,” Jace breathed out. “I love you.”
Then he captured her lips again.
Tomorrow, they’d run with Taryn and then he’d meet her family. Her parents and grandma would adore him. They’d figure out the details of her moving to Colorado. Soon she’d be surrounded by her perfect Christmas postcard scene, his family and his people, but most importantly … Jace.
The details would work out. All that mattered was she trusted him, she believed him, and she loved him. Her dream man was really real.
His Cabin Invaded for Christmas
PROLOGUE & CHAPTER ONE
Prologue
Ammon Jardine greeted friends and family scattered around the grassy area between his family’s ski lodge and the lifts. It was a large graduation party thrown by his mom for his entire high school class. He was grateful for the support, the presents, the money, all of it, but Ivy Collier had finally pulled into the parking lot in her rattletrap Toyota Tacoma and nothing could keep him from the only woman for him. Nothing except the inspiration they’d each received.
“Where are you racing off to?” Gramma Larue, Ivy’s grandmother stepped in his path.
“Your beautiful granddaughter finally got here.” Ammon bent low to give her a hug. He loved Gramma Larue, everyone did.
“That girl. I adore every bit of her beautiful soul, but she’ll be late to her own funeral.”
Ammon smiled. It was true. Ivy was always late, but she was worth waiting for. The night of senior ball he’d waited half an hour in her living room, making small talk with her parents and sweating in his new suit. When she walked down the stairs looking like an angel from heaven in an off-white lace dress that set off her tanned skin and dark hair, he knew every second of the wait had been worth it. They’d only been dating for a few months at that point but he’d told her he loved her that night. She’d kissed him very thoroughly in response.
He grinned just thinking of it, though he wished some day soon she’d tell him she loved him back. She always kissed him when he told her he loved her so he told her often. She’d never said it back. A few times he’d asked her why. She’d explained she was too young to know what love was and wouldn’t tell him she loved him until she’d experienced life and the world and knew what love was.
He didn’t need to experience anything the world had to offer to know what love was … his angel. Now to convince her.
He wasn’t sure what had made her late simply driving up the mountain for the graduation party his family was hosting for their senior class.
“Well, don’t let me keep you, go kiss on your ‘angel’.” Gramma Larue grinned. Ammon should’ve been embarrassed that her family had learned of his nickname and teased her about it. Her young cousin Abigail called her “the sassy angel”. That probably fit better, but he loved her sass. He loved everything about Ivy. Except for the fact that she’d ditch him soon. Just like his brother Jace had. He hated them leaving but Jace had promised he’d come back after the Olympics. If Ivy would promise to come back … someday, any day, no matter how far in the future … Ammon would ditch every bit of pride he had, and wait for her.
“I will.” He winked and strode off.
“Keep it righteous,” Gramma Larue called.
“Ooh that’s asking a lot.”
Gramma Larue held up her small hand. “You might be tougher than Zeus but I can still smack your bottom, Ammon Jardine.”
“Can and probably will.” He saluted her. “I’m teasing. Of course I’ll keep it righteous.”
“Good boy.”
He laughed and picked back up his stride. Ammon always kept things righteous. His lifeline to heaven meant the world to him and was the only thing that could keep him from chasing after Ivy when she left their small town of Summit Valley to help children throughout the world.
Ivy hadn’t gotten out of her small, grey truck. Ammon jogged through the parking lot. He reared back when a black Escalade pulled to a stop right in his path. A man he didn’t recognize was in the driver’s seat. In the passenger seat … his older brother.
His throat clogged, happy to see Jace. He adored his brother. He was extremely proud of him. He missed him. Ammon hadn’t seen Jace since the family drove to a downhill ski competition in Vail to watch him in February. It meant a lot he’d take the time to make an appearance today.
Jace popped out and rushed around the SUV, a huge grin on his face.
“Ah, the famous people are here now,” Ammon teased him. Truly this would be Jace’s year to become more famous than anyone they knew. He was going to easily qualify for the Olympics and make the family so proud. Ammon was an accomplished skier as well, having grown up on the slopes and trained by Grandpa just like Jace. He’d never seen Jace’s equal on skis and he’d never personally beat him in a race. The times Jace had let him win as the sympathetic older brother didn’t count.
