Kissing Jenna (Big Sky 2)

“This is incredible.”

I smile, pure joy bubbling up inside me as it always does when I’m here. This is truly my favorite place in the whole world.

It’s warmer in the trees than down by the water, and the lake isn’t completely frozen over. The edges are crusted with a light coating of ice.

There are animal tracks that lead down to the water. They look like deer tracks.

I lead Christian to the shoreline and set my pack down. He’s standing, transfixed, looking at the mountains on the other side of the lake.

“Jenna,” he says and swallows hard. “This is…unreal.”

“It’s real.” I join him and slip my hand into his. “And this little piece of it is mine. It’s everything that I want in the world, Christian. It’s the perfect place.”

He glances down at me. The tip of his nose is red from the cold, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

“Okay, let me show you my vision. You’ve seen the view, now turn and look at my vast property.”

He does as I ask and leans on his pole. “Okay, tell me.”

“So, it’s going to look just like the Ponderosa,” I begin, using my arms as I talk, so I drop my poles and trudge my way through the snow. “And it’s going to sit back here in the trees. I want it to look like it’s always been here, blending into the flora.

“I’m only going to knock down these trees that are already dead. The others stay, and it should give me plenty of space for the building. I’ll reconfigure the inside a bit so there is a view of the lake from pretty much every room.”

I prop my hands on my hips and take in the trees facing the water, weighed down with powder. I can see it so clearly in my head.

Now, I just have to make it a reality.

And I will.

“There are so few private residences in the park, Christian. It’s rare, and it’s a privilege to have this, to be able to share it with others. It’s a magical place.”

I turn back to him now and find him watching me with hungry eyes.

I can’t read his expression.

“Well? What do you think?”

He looks back out to the water, and then the shoreline and the trees around me, then walks to me.

“I think it’s amazing,” he says. “I think you’re amazing. And absolutely stunning as you talk about this passion of yours. You’re so fierce, so determined, and I admire the hell out of you.”

He takes my face in his hands and leans down to kiss me.

“You said earlier that you don’t have a claim, and that my life isn’t any of your business.” His voice is hushed, the silence surrounds us, and it’s as though we are truly the only two people in the world. “But you’re wrong, Jenna. You do have a claim, and you have a say. I love you.”

My breath catches in my throat. My God, did he just say what I think he did, or is the cold freezing my brain?

“For a thousand reasons, many of which I’m still learning, I love you. Your kindness, your passion for everything around you. You have quickly become the most important part of my life, and I’m so honored that you brought me here today, to share your dreams with me.”

“It’s important to me,” I whisper, and gaze into his eyes. “And you’re important to me.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he says honestly and tips his forehead against mine. “But I can tell you that I’m crazy about you, and I will be forever grateful that I met you, Jenna.”

“I love you, too,” I whisper and then tip my head back to take a long, deep breath before tackling us both into the soft snow. “You’re a crazy man, you know that?”

“Crazy about you, fancy face,” he says, then pins me down, kissing me silly. “I’m tempted to see if we can get this snow to melt.”

“I refuse to get frostbite on my lady bits,” I inform him, but I happily let him kiss the hell out of me some more.

Holy shit! Christian Wolfe just professed his love for me. I have so many questions, and the type-A side of me wants to drill him, make plans, figure it all out right now because I’m not one who loves surprises.

Well, the “I love you” was a good surprise.

But I’m going to take Natalie’s advice, and I’m going to go with the flow. This is one thing in my life that I can’t schedule the hell out of.

“I love this place,” he whispers against my lips. “It’s absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.”

That means he’s planning to come back!

I’m full of hope and love. Desire.

“I can’t wait to show you,” I reply. “I hope I don’t have issues with my contractors like I did last time, but we’ll see.”