Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“Thought you didn’t do relationships,” he teases, his grin widening.
“Thought you didn’t either,” I shoot back, jerking my chin toward the curvy brunette stepping out of the lodge behind him. Winter, Zane’s girl, gives me a polite wave before wrapping Indie in a warm hug. The two women start chatting immediately, their laughter ringing out into the crisp evening air.
Zane steps closer, lowering his voice. “She’s good for you.”
“Don’t start,” I warn, though there’s no heat behind it. He knows me too well to push, and I don’t need his approval anyway. I already know Indie’s the best thing to ever happen to me. “Whaddya think you know me just because we did a few tours in the sandbox together?”
“Damn right, brother. You know how it is, go into the desert with a few dozen strangers and come out family.” Zane slaps me on the back with a smile. It’s been over a year since we last saw each other even though we only live a few hours apart, but it’s like no time has passed at all. Zane Warner and his family are as good as my own and just as welcoming.
Before I can say more, a deep voice calls out from behind us. Flint, Zane’s younger brother, strides over from the barn, his firefighter frame as solid as ever. His gaze snags on a tall, striking woman with a camera in her hands who just stepped out of the lodge. He freezes for a beat too long.
Zane notices and smirks. “Looks like Flint just met his match.”
I shake my head, but I can’t help the chuckle that escapes. Inside, the lodge smells like roasted meat and fresh bread, the kind of meal that feels like home. The long dining table is already set, candles flickering in the center, casting warm light over the room. Indie’s laughter fills the space as she helps Winter set out dishes, her movements graceful and easy.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
“You gonna stand there gawking, or are you gonna help?” Zane asks, clapping a hand on my shoulder.
“Shut up,” I mutter, though my lips twitch. I grab a stack of plates and bring them to the table, keeping one eye on Indie the entire time. She catches me staring and arches a brow, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
“Something you need, cowboy?” she asks, her voice low enough that only I can hear.
“Just enjoying the view,” I say, leaning in close enough to catch the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
Her eyes narrow, but there’s no mistaking the heat in her gaze. “Behave,” she whispers, though there’s no conviction behind it.
“Not a chance,” I murmur back, brushing my fingers against hers as I pass.
Dinner is lively, the table filled with laughter and the occasional burst of teasing banter. Flint and the woman he had eyes on earlier–a videographer named Juniper–sit across from each other, their conversation charged with a tension that’s impossible to ignore. Indie catches my eye and grins, clearly amused by the sparks flying between them.
“He’s so smitten,” she whispers, leaning closer.
“Flint has his hands full with that one, I can tell already,” I say, though I can’t help the satisfaction that comes from seeing him squirm a little. He’s spent years giving me hell about my solitary life. About time he got a taste of his own medicine.
As the night stretches on, the conversation mellows, and we find ourselves gathered outside under the stars. The northern lights dance across the sky, their colors reflected in the snow-covered peaks. Indie stands beside me, her arms wrapped around herself as she stares up at the display.
“I’ve never seen the northern lights before. The sky is so clear out here,” she breathes, her voice filled with wonder. “It’s beautiful.”
I step closer, draping my jacket over her shoulders. “So are you.”
She looks up at me, her eyes wide and shimmering in the faint light. For a moment, the world fades away, leaving just the two of us. I reach for her hands, holding them between mine as I take a steadying breath.
“You’ve shown me a world I didn’t know I wanted, Indie,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “You’ve made me believe in things I didn’t think were possible—things like love, family, a future.”
Her lips part, but no words come out. I drop to one knee, pulling a small box from my pocket. The faint gasp that escapes her is enough to send my heart racing.
“Marry me, Indie,” I say, my voice firm and sure. “Let me give you the life you deserve. Let me spend every day protecting you and proving how much I love you.”
Her hand flies to her mouth, and for a terrifying moment, I think she might say no. But then she’s nodding, her eyes brimming with tears as she throws herself into my arms.