"Me, too, baby." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and tugged me in tighter.
We still had the old truck, namely because he wouldn't part with it. I think he enjoyed the fact that I could sit right against him and not more than one person could fit on the other side of me.
"I had the kitchen prepare a bunch of different stuff, just in case everyone had different traditions." I moved to my side of the truck as we pulled up to the lodge.
"It's going to be great, Chloe. Go on up there, and I'll meet you shortly. I want to see if anyone needs help with bags or anything."
I nodded and got out of the car, jogging up the stairs and letting the beauty of the Christmas lights against the large snowy mountains take my breath away. I'd learned to love Colorado – not the cold, but the serenity and beauty it offered. I had loads of jackets and various sweaters that I'd designed with functionality in mind, but not forgetting about fashion. They sold like crazy, but the best part was wearing them myself and enjoying a ride down the slopes with my man in them, too.
The smell of pumpkin pie and roasted meat filled my senses when I walked into the main hall, and I paused to look around. It was odd to see the place empty, but Finn was quite serious about not booking anyone for the days right around Christmas. He wanted it to be all about us. He promised that next year we could open it up to the public, but for this first year he wanted just family and friends.
I agreed readily and I was glad I did. Warmth enveloped me and strong emotions washed over me. My life was nothing like I'd expected and yet so much better than I could ever imagine.
"Chloe..." Finn called to me, and I turned as he walked through the large ornate doors I'd just come through. Everyone piled in behind him, and my heart skipped a beat.
"What, baby?" I stood in stony silence, feeling like something was upon me, but not knowing what.
"I wanted our family and friends to be here tonight for a special reason." He smiled and moved to stand in front of me, taking my hands and leaning down to brush his lips past mine.
"What reason is that?"
"When we first met I was a different man. A man I didn't at all want t
o be, but I didn't know how to move past it. I had such big dreams, and yet I left them tucked behind a reality that tore me down and left me barren. When you showed up...the first day I met you..." he paused as his eyes filled with tears.
Mine did, too. "When I almost busted my head on the ski lift?"
He laughed with thick emotion in his throat. "Yes. You changed everything. You helped me find myself, making me want to be a better man, if nothing else, then for you. I owe you everything, Chloe. I want to build our house together and make it a home with babies that drive you nuts and rule the place. I want to hold you as we grow older and continue to make plans together that go as far out as we can see."
I pressed my hands to my mouth, pushing back the soft cry that beat against my teeth as he dropped to one knee in front of me and lifted a beautiful diamond ring up toward me.
"Will you be mine forever, baby? Will you marry me?"
"Of course, I will. Yes." I got on my knees with him and knocked him over with a hug that turned into a long kiss.
"Oh, God. Get a room!" Parker yelled, and everyone erupted in laughter, reminding me that life was so much bigger than we sometimes let it be. It was about friends and family, dreams and love.
It was about me and Finn.
The waves and the snow.