Page 73 of Thaw My Heart

As sweet as that sentiment is, I can’t stop the pressure that builds in my chest, full of insecurities and lingering trauma. “What about you?”

She pauses, and her sorrowful eyes fall to the snow. “I was with someone for a long time, too… Now I’m not.” Her shoulders slump as she stares at the drink in her hand, like she’s retreated somewhere in her mind.

Somewhere dark and foreign to me. All her flair and confidence dissipates, like she’s sitting in a dark room instead of in one of the best places in Aspen Hollow.

I shuffle closer, close enough that my shoulder brushes against hers. “Well, you’re here now.”

She smiles, and damn, she’s stunning, more so than this view ever will be. “So are you.”

She leans in, hesitating at first before resting her head on my shoulder as we stare out at the sunset. The scent of her flowery shampoo wafts in my face, reminiscent of cherry blossoms, a smell just as sweet as her head on my shoulder.

Sweet and surprising.

My breathing slows, and even though I’m terrified of this feeling, of getting close to her, I can’t deny how perfect this feels.

“What was it like growing up in a place like this?” she asks after a while. “Surrounded by all of this.”

“It’s not something I think I appreciated until I came back.” After spending a decade in the city, coming home was like seeing a mountain for the first time. I loved San Francisco in its own way, but it’s nothing compared to the fresh scent of pine trees and the crisp mountain air. Open land where a man can breathe.

Fuck, Cole is right.

I do love this place. More so than I realized.

But running a ranch for the rest of my life? How in the hell am I supposed to do that? To live up to the legend that is Cole Harlow. No one can do that.

No one can take his place.

I’ll never be enough.

“Your heart is racing, Cowboy. Does this position excite you?” she teases.

I huff a laugh, releasing some tension. “Just got lost in my thoughts, is all.”

She sits up, facing me. Her long hair falls over her shoulder, draping over her jean jacket. She softly bites her bottom lip, bringing my attention to her mouth. “Thoughts about kissing me?”

A rush of heat fills my chest, sending blood to my dick as a warm smile reaches my lips. “Not exactly.” But now I’m thinking about it. I’m thinking about how good it would feel to finally kiss the mouth that aggravates me so much.

“Damn,” she exclaims as pink brushes her cheeks.

“What?”

“It’s funny how the people who never smile have the best ones.” She playfully taps my chin.

“I smile… sometimes,” I defend.

She laughs. “Hardly ever, and it’s always half-assed.”

I sip my beer, hiding my smile. The light changing around us pulls me back. “Oh,” I tap her arm. “Look.”

As the sun hits the highest peak, glimmering light rolls across the lake, the pines, and the fresh snow, sparkling with lasting intensity. It’s the brightest and purest light in existence, before it’s gone. Fading too quickly as the sun falls behind the snowy mountains.

The shadows grow darker by the second, transitioning into night. City lights twinkle as a blanket of cold darkness envelops us. Thousands of stars appear across the sky, shimmering in the indigo night.

“That was truly amazing,” she beams.

“Good,” I smile, rising from the ground. “We should get back.”

She follows my pace, crossing her arms. “You are planning on kissing me, aren’t you, Cowboy?”