A Winter's Date (48 page)

“Noah? Can we get breakfast first? I’m starving, and I want bacon.”

“Bacon it is, baby. We’ll head downstairs. I believe they have breakfast every morning.”

Twenty minutes later we’re seated at a table for two, looking out at the lake. We eat breakfast quickly, and I down a cup of coffee while she steals a strip of bacon off of my plate.

“Okay, I’m done,” she says excitedly while wiping her hands on the linen napkin.

“All right, let’s get going.”

I take her hand as we walk outside and down to the dock, where we meet a gentleman who instructs us on the canoe and where on the lake would be a great place to paddle out to. He holds onto the end of the canoe, as I take Heather’s hand and help her down into it, before following her in. We’re handed our oars and told to have a good time.

“Are you ready, ballerina?”

“Are you kidding me? I was born ready, Greek god.”

We’re gently pushed away from the dock, and we both start paddling, each of us with an oar on either side of the canoe. I’m surprised we didn’t have to establish who gets what side.

“I can’t believe you found this place. I’m still trying to take it all in.”

I pull out my phone and take a picture of her, her back turned to me with the lake, trees, and mountains in the background. No matter how dramatic the beauty is around her, she’s still all I see. I quickly set the picture as my phone’s wallpaper before putting it back into my pocket and sinking the blade of the oar into the water. Tranquility and silence surrounds us; the only sound is the slicing of the oars through the water repeatedly as we slide along the glassy surface.

We spend an hour paddling around and exploring the lake, before we head back to the docks to get out of the cold. Hell, it’s colder up here than I thought it was going to be.

We take a seat in the common area in the lodge, in front of a vast fireplace that heats up the room. I watch as she takes her rain boots off and props her feet up on the ottoman in front of us. I follow her lead and remove my shoes before pulling her into my side.

“Damn, baby, you’re cold.”

“But it was so worth it. Plus, now I have an excuse to be in your arms for the rest of the night.”

“I like your thinking. Oh shit, I almost forgot to tell you that I made plans for us tonight, so don’t double-book us.”

I’m stoked for Coen, Dillen, Dani, Brannon, and Lana to fly in this afternoon. They have flights into Calgary International Airport. I have a rental SUV set up and ready for them once they all get in. I just hope that Dillen doesn’t do anything stupid because Lana is coming. Lana and Heather have gotten rather close, and I didn’t want to be the one to jeopardize their friendship if I didn’t invite her on this vacation.

“Tonight? What are we doing?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.” I’m thankful that a waitress comes around with a tray full of mugs of steaming hot chocolate, because it distracts Heather for the moment.

“Oh, I love everything about this place, Noah,” she says as she reaches for a mug. She wraps her hands around the white mug before she blows on the steam.

I kiss the top of her head as we watch the flames in the wood-framed fireplace dance over the logs and behind the bars that hold the logs in their grate. The whispers of others around us are barely audible as the flames crackle lively and bathe us in their warmth and light.

NOAH

The day goes by leisurely as we lounge around the lodge and make small talk. After dinner, we get our coats on and head outside for an evening stroll. The sunlight is fading hastily, leaving pink hues of color running across the sky. My ballerina seems to be transfixed by and incredibly enamored of her surroundings at the moment, and in a way I’m thankful. I need this ten-minute walk to gather my thoughts.

“Oh!” she pauses mid-step along the path and tugs at my hand. I look down beside me at her, and she’s peering across the way about twenty yards out.

“Noah, look!” she gasps quietly, and I follow her gaze. I chuckle when I see two deer grazing and walking lazily beside each other.

“Yeah? Is this your first time seeing wildlife?” I ask her, a little surprised.

She only smiles and nods. “Oh my God, they’re so pretty. I want one.”

“In your dreams, sweetheart. Watch your step,” I add as we walk over the roots of an ancient subalpine fir tree. I step up onto a rock and help her clamber up, and then do the same for another and another and before too long, we’re higher than the lodge.

“It’s getting dark, Noah. Shouldn’t we head back?”

“Nah, we’ve got a few more minutes. Come on.” I squeeze her hand to encourage her. I’m glad she doesn’t put up a fight as she walks next to me.

“Oh my God, what if there are bears out here?” she asks and I keep her hand in mine because I feel she’s about to bolt and run in the other direction.

I laugh but keep my voice low. “There undoubtedly are bears out here, and with as much candy as you ingest, your blood probably tastes like honey, so stay close.”

“Noah, that’s not funny,” she scolds, walking closer to me. “I think we should turn back now. I’d rather not fall down these rocks.”

“Settle down, girl, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

We’re walking in almost complete darkness—well, I’m walking and dragging her along.

I step up onto a larger rock formation, which acts as a platform overlooking the lake; I look back at Heather to offer her my hand when I realize that the rock is half as tall as she is. I chuckle and hold out both of my hands to her, wrapping my fingers around her wrists with her doing the same to me, so I can lift her up and onto this larger rock.

“My, my, my, Greek God, are you trying to show off?”

I laugh because she weighs practically nothing; it’s like lifting a cracker.

“Hardly,” I reply.

As soon as I know she’s steady on her feet, I take her hand and lace our fingers together. I know this is the perfect spot because I can see it from here. I feel her shiver beside me, and I pull her in front of me to wrap my arms around her tiny frame. It’s pitch black now—just what I was wanting.

“Noah, what are we doing up here? I can’t see a thing. Are you trying to kill me and dump my body off the edge?” she kids, but it’s a horrible joke.

“Shh . . . I have a flashlight. We’ll be able to get back just fine.” My eyes are adjusted, and I’m surprised that she can’t see it yet. Is she that unobservant?

“What? You’ve had a flashlight this whole time?” she whispers loudly and half turns to look up at me.

“Yes, ballerina, I’m not going to go traipsing through the mountains without a flashlight at least.” I laugh and kiss her forehead. “Now turn around and look. Do you see it?”

“See what? It’s pitch black out here.”

I wrap my arms around her and turn her around to face the dark area below us where the lake is nestled between the mountains. She gasps and covers her mouth when she sees it: a vast constellation of stars and galaxies light up the night sky as it gets darker. The iridescent beauty of the Milky Way slightly reflects in the glassy cerulean lake. It’s a vertically stretched panorama of the most awe-inspiring view.

“Is that what I think it is?”

I grin to myself because I’ve been able to give her the twinkling stars she always dreamt of. And not just any stars, but the Milky Way. This feels good, being able to do this for her. It’s taken so much time and planning, but her reaction is well worth the wait. I peer up ahead of us and stare into the millions of stars. The pitch-black night sets the glistening stars off effortlessly, and the snowcapped mountains provide the unspoiled setting. There’s not a more unblemished place on this earth. I move my arms from around her and slowly crouch down beside her. She’s too completely awestruck and engulfed in what she sees above us to even notice.

“Heather?”

“Mmm?” she says before she turns and glances down at me. “Noah?”

“Heather, from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew it was a pivotal moment in my life. I set out to leave you in my past, but you danced your way back in, and I couldn’t be happier. You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen and I am so lucky you wanted me—I adore you. I want to wake up to you every morning, fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I want to grow old with you, and I want nothing more than to live a long and fulfilling life with you by my side. I want to make you happy in every way possible. Being with someone has never been so simple or pleasurable before. I’d walk to the ends of the earth to have you for the rest of my life.”

I reach into my jacket to retrieve a little blue box from the inside pocket. She’s watching me intently when I shift from a crouch onto one knee. Her eyes glow under the starlight when she realizes exactly what I’m doing—damn I could get lost in those jade green eyes.

“You’re the most precious gift I’ve been given, and I want to take care of you. If what you need is for this to be a long engagement, I’m more than okay with it. I want—no, I need—to be promised to you in any way I can be.”

I open the unmistakable blue box and reveal a three and a quarter-carat pear-shaped diamond, hand set in a diamond halo platinum ring, while I watch and gauge her reaction. I can feel my heart palpitating savagely against my chest.

“Heather Adalyn Lane, will you do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?”

HEATHER

My heart feels like it’s going to explode in my chest. I have such a burst of energy but I can’t move. I’m rooted to the spot.

He reaches for my hand and runs his finger down my left ring finger. “Heather?”

“Noah, are you serious right now?”

He looks up into my eyes as he waits for my answer. I glance down at the blue box in his hand and at the most gorgeous ring I have ever seen. I can’t seem to find my words, not a single one as a tear runs down my cheek.

He brings my hand to his lips and places a kiss to my ring finger. “Baby?” he prods.

“Of course I will! I love you so much. My answer is yes, yes, yes, Noah. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He smiles a smile I’ve never seen before, and he drops his head before shaking it in . . . what? Disbelief?

“Yes? Damn, baby, I love you so much.” He gets up and takes the ring out of the box, before slipping it onto my left ring finger. My heart does a somersault and aches all at once. I love this man so much that it physically hurts.

“Yes . . .” I repeat softly.

Without warning, he picks me up and takes my mouth in a passionate kiss. I throw my arms around his neck and kick my legs up behind me as I start to kiss my man.

My fiancé.

His arms tighten around me, and I know that this is real. I followed my heart, and it led me to this man. He makes every moment I’m with him feel like magic. I’ve decided that, yes, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, and I want the rest of my life to start right now.

He pulls back from me and takes my left hand, pressing his lips to the oversized diamond. I look down at it shining on my finger and squeal excitedly, “Noah, we’re engaged!”

He chuckles and kisses up and down my neck. “You’re damn right, sweetheart. You’re mine forever.”

“I know. Oh Noah, I’d choose you over and over again without any doubt. I love you.”