AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As far as the eye can see, it’s couples laughing, holding hands, and anticipating late night sex after a vigorous run.
“I was just caught off guard by losing the property.” I’m still upset by that, but I’m more upset by the growing conviction that Bran and I had potential to be something fabulous and I let it slip through my fingers because unlike the accountant from Naples, I’m afraid of risking it all.
My heart. It hurts.
I rub my chest through my ski jacket and try not to dig too deep into the fact that nearly losing my father as a kid might have made me unwilling to lose anything or anyone else.
“Kayley.”
“I should text him, right? I should just go for it.” I pound my poles into the snow for emphasis. “What am I doing? Bran is everything I’ve ever wanted in a man! Why am I holding back? I’m so annoyed with myself.”
“Kayley.”
“I’m going to text him,” I declare. “Or even call him. There’s no misunderstanding anything if I just call him.”
“Will you just listen to me?” Violet says, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. “Look to your right.”
“Hmm?” I’m already mentally composing what I’m going to say to Bran, including that I always want to share my caramel corn with him and I will wear my ski bunny pants every time he’s in town, if we can just give this a shot.
“Look. Right,” Violet says through gritted teeth.
I absently glance where she’s now vehemently pointing.
It’s Bran.
Standing there with his ski goggles looped around his wrist, his gaze intent on me. He also has a box in one hand, wrapped up in a big red and pink bow.
I try to speak but my throat is tight, and my greeting emerges a garbled. “Framb er hare.”
“Hey. Yeah, I’m here.” Bran glides toward me with an easy grace, looking sexy and determined.
“You always understand me,” I marvel as I rise from the bench, amazed. “How do you do that?”
“Because you’re my person,” he murmurs.
If my skis weren’t holding me up I would topple over. My heart swells. “You’re my person, too.”
“I miss you. The last two weeks have been hell. I love you, Kayley, even if that’s crazy.”
For a split second, I close my eyes, overwhelmed with emotion.
His free hand cups my cheek, caressing my bare skin as his brilliant blue eyes shine with affection. “And I’m sorry for not picking up the phone and calling you. I was stubborn and stupid, but I’m here now, with my heart in my hand and your resort expansion in this box.”
“What?” I glance at the gift box. “What are you talking about?”
“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t close on the property. I’ve been making excuses and dragging my feet and I finally figured out that your happiness is more important to me than any business deal. So, it’s yours. Bought and paid for, all in your name.”
He hands me the box. I take it, knowing how much the community project means to him, and yet he’s gifting the mountain to me.
He’s giving me a mountain, and it’s magic.
Tears fill my eyes. “Bran,” I breathe. “I love you, too.”
“You do?”
He looks startled by that fact and I give a watery laugh, nodding. “Oh, hell, yes, I do. I’m sorry, too. I was just about to text you and tell you to get your butt here tonight so that I could tell you I don’t care about the property, I just care about you.”
What’s a thriving business without the love of my life?
