Forever Winter

“I feel the same. You okay living out here? I own a place in the city, too, but I remember you saying you don’t like crowds.”

“Do you like it here, too?” I don’t want him to stay out here because of me when he really wants to live in the city.

“I just want to be near you. I can work from anywhere and I plan on doing a lot less work now anyway. Besides that, out here I get you all to myself.” He lets out a long sigh. “There are a lot of things I need to change.”

“Cory?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah, that’s a big one. Get dressed. No talking about other men while you’re naked.” He smacks my ass, making me laugh as I hurriedly put on my clothes. I choose thick socks and slippers over shoes. I braid my wet hair that Robert already brushed for me as I sat on the countertop in the bathroom.

When I turn around he’s leaning in the closet doorway, watching me.

“He works hard to make you proud of him. I think he looks at you more as a father than a brother. At least that’s what it feels like when he talks about you to me,” I tell him.

“He also has some misplaced shit in his head. No one looks at him like some wild partying billionaire. Sure he had his moment in college. We’d just lost our father.” He pushes off the doorframe. “I knew he’d get it together. Just not as much as he has.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want him all about work. I didn’t want that before and I really don’t fucking want that for him now when I can see for myself what it’s like having a woman you love in your life.” He moves towards me, pulling me into him. “I’ll fix it.”

“Good. Cause he loves you.”

“I love him, too. He’s my baby brother. Our child’s godfather.” I smile in agreement with that. “Now let me show you one more thing before Mom comes tracking us down again.”

He pulls me from the room and down the long hallway. I think we’re going to his office, but instead of turning right we go left to a set of double doors that match the ones that lead to his office.

“A million boxes came for you before you got here. I had no idea what there were, so I might have opened them, too. I guess Cory thought you might want to paint while you were here, so I made you a space.” He swings open the doors. I gasp at the sight in front of me. The whole room is filled with art supplies and canvasses. “It’s not done. I think it needs a few things, but I liked the idea of you being close to my office and thought you might enjoy the view too.” The thick curtains are pulled back, showing the snow-blanketed lawns.

“It’s perfect,” I tell him. “You’re perfect.” I turn to him.

“You can’t paint yet. I looked over the products and I don’t think they are safe to use while you’re pregnant. I already have my assistant tracking some down for you.”

“I think I’ll be too busy to paint for a while.” I lean into him, burying my face in his chest and breathing him in. He lets out a chuckle, making my body shake, too.

“You’re probably right.” He steps back from me and drops down to one knee, a ring box in his hand. “Angel, will—”

Before he can finish I’m all over him. “Yes yes yes!” I tell him. We fall to the ground softly, him turning to make sure I land safely. I feel him push the ring onto my finger. I lift it to look at the ring. “Is that a green diamond?” I ask. I never knew there was such a thing.

“Yes, they are very rare. It not only reminded me of your eyes, but you too, my angel, are rare. I knew the moment I saw it that it was meant for your finger.”

“I love you so much,” I tell him. I’ve never felt this happy in my whole life.

“Love you, too, angel.”

“And I was meant for you,” I let him know. This time I kiss him first, knowing that he’ll always make sure I’m this loved and I will always love him.

Epilogue

Bo

Seven years later…

I laugh as my son nails me with a snowball right to my shoulder. “You had it coming.” He points his little finger at me. “Don’t be throwing snowballs at my sister.” He points to his twin sister Rachel, who is now lying in the snow making a snow angel and looking just like her mom.

“I didn’t even hit her!” I laugh. He’s been protective of his twin sister from day one. I stare into the same dark eyes as my own. With that look on his face he could be my twin.