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From the corner of my eye, I catch Luke’s smile, and it positively melts me like a snowball in May.
15
LUKE
The crisp winter air nips at my nose as Mia and I step out of the warm house, the scents of pine and snow hanging in the air. The car idles in the driveway, a sleek black vehicle that promises adventure. I glance at Mia, her eyes bright with curiosity and a touch of hesitation. I clear my throat, suddenly aware of the fact that I have Mia all to myself.
“Anywhere in particular you were heading, or are you up for a little impromptu adventure?” I ask, my voice casual but my heart pounding with anticipation.
Mia grins, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “I’m up for anything. Lead the way.”
I open the car door for her, letting her slip inside first, and when she slides across the bench to the far seat, I follow her in and shut the door. Mia rubs her glove-clad palms together, warding off the cold as the car’s heater surrounds us with warmth.
“Where to?” Mia’s driver asks, his eyes looking at us from the rearview mirror.
I give him the address rather than the name of the business, hoping to prolong Mia’s anticipation a little longer.
I know that Zach spent time with Mia in her room this morning. And I don’t particularly want to think about the details of what they were doing in there together. Frankly, I don’t know that it’s my business—even if I had half a mind to interrupt them. Somehow, I managed to find the self-restraint to leave them be, mostly because I don’t want to just be riding Zach’s coattails, disrupting whatever it is they have rather than proving that I’m the right man for her.
I have to accept the fact that, for whatever reason, Mia went to Zach first about being the father of her child. So, rather than trying to prove her wrong for approaching him, I intend to take her on an adventure around Aspen to show her I’m not just the work-driven man Zach is probably making me out to be.
In truth, I’ve been slowing down a lot this past year. I started thinking more about life beyond work once I turned forty, and I’ve been happy with my choice to focus more on my relationships—both friends and family. I’ve even been thinking about starting a family of my own. So, to have Mia—a dream girl in any straight man’s book—turn up pregnant after our steamy night together on Halloween? I could almost consider it a sign.
Not that I think she looks at me in the same way.
I’m one of three potential men she could see raising this child with her. So now I need to show her why I’m the best man for the job.
The car glides through the winding roads of Aspen, the towering snow-covered trees creating a magical winter wonderland around us. The silence between us is comfortable, filled only with the soft hum of the engine and the occasional crunch of snow beneath the tires.
We arrive just outside of town, and the car comes to a stop. I open the door for Mia, and we step out into the chilly air once more. Before us looms a barn, and standing before its sliding doors is a horse-drawn sleigh adorned with twinkling lights.
Mia’s eyes widen with surprise and delight. “Luke, is this—”
“A sleigh ride through the snowy forest, complete with a picnic. What do you say?” I finish her sentence, a grin playing on my lips.
She nods eagerly, and I help her climb into the sleigh, my hand resting beneath her gloved palm as I guide her up. Then I follow her, snuggling beneath the warm blankets provided as an excuse to get close.
The jingle of the bells on the horse’s harness spring to life as we venture into the heart of the winter landscape, and Mia watches the world slide slowly past us as she huddles close to my side, my arm around her shoulders.
The snow-laden branches form a canopy overhead, casting a soft glow over everything. I steal a glance at Mia, her cheeks rosy from the cold, and a warmth spreads through me. This is the side of life I want to share with her, away from the hustle of work and the chaos of the city.
The sleigh comes to a gentle stop in a clearing, and I help Mia down.
“Luke, this is so sweet,” she gushes as her eyes land on the picnic laid out just for us.
A thick checkered blanket is spread on the pristine snow, adorned with a spread of delectable treats. I motion for her to take a seat, and I join her.
“Overall, it looks more savory to me,” I joke, pointing to the cheese and cured meats laid out before us.
Mia giggles, the sound music to my soul, and our laughter blends with the crisp mountain air.
“So, how has it been, figuring life out after college?” I ask, waiting for her to take her first choice in cheese before I follow suit.
“Honestly? A mess. Daddy keeps pressing me to take a job at the company ‘until I know what I want to do with my life’, but we both know he just wishes I would take over his shares when he retires.” Mia’s tone borders on bitter, but I know the constant struggle between her and Mike.
He just wants what’s best for her. She just wants to make her own decisions in life.
“I…” Her sentence dies on her lips as she glances at me, then her eyes fall back to the picnic before us.
