Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I thought back to the night she’d shown up at Madigan, rain-soaked and sobbing. “Yeah. It does. So what do you want, Calliope?” Whatever it was, I’d do my damnedest to give it to her.
“I want to be the best extreme sports photographer in the Rockies.” She said it with the kind of confidence that made me grin. “And I want you.”
“You have me.” She could have whatever she wanted from me.
“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it, Weston.” She tilted her chin even higher. “And don’t tell me that you flew all this way and that should prove it, because I know that if Sutton wrote to you and told you she needed freaking toothpaste, you’d be on the next plane—”
“You have every part of me. I love you.” I let my forehead rest against hers, and my heart seemed to slow and steady. “I know it’s love because I don’t just want you. I need you, Callie. I need you more than air, or flying, or skiing, or anything else that makes me…me. I need you to survive, and yet I will walk away if that’s what you want. I’ll do whatever makes you happy.” I picked up her hand and put it on my chest. “You just have to know that this is yours. You don’t have to want it, or need it, or accept it. It belongs to you, no matter what.”
She sucked in a breath, and her fingers moved, gripping my shirt and tugging me closer. “You love me.”
“I. Love. You.” My hand curled around the back of her neck. “And I’m praying that you still love me too. Because I swear, if you do—if you need me the way I need you—I’ll never let another day go by where I don’t tell you what you mean to me.”
“I won’t say that I need you, because I never want you to feel that kind of obligation. But I do want you. God, do I want you.” She grinned. “I love you, Weston. It’s kind of impossible to stop.”
I kissed her, and the world fell back into place. It was as simple as that. This is where everything made sense, where I saw my future—with Callie…which reminded me.
“I bought you a house,” I said against her mouth.
“What?” She pulled back, her eyes wide with shock, and I lifted my head to give her space, since she couldn’t retreat past the door.
“Technically, I’m under contract on a house.” I grinned. “You might know it. It’s a cute little Victorian on the corner of Hudson and Vine.”
Her mouth hung open.
“Right now, the contract is only in my name, since Sutton wasn’t around to forge your signature, but we’ll add you as soon as you want. Or I’ll assign the whole contract to you and find somewhere else to live. I don’t care, as long as you’re happy, as long as you get what you need. Owning it would mean nothing if I didn’t have you and Sutton living there with me.” I shifted my hand and stroked my thumb along her jaw.
I was never going to stop touching her. Ever.
“The Rupert place?” she whispered.
“That’s the one.” The corners of my mouth pulled into a smile. “Someone told me it’s her dream house, and it turns out the Ruperts are more than happy to sell to a local.”
“I’m not a local.” Her arm wound around my neck.
“You’ve lived there over ten years—” I smirked. “With a little vacation to South America. Trust me, you’re local enough.” Slowly, I bent and brushed a kiss over her lips. “What do you say, Calliope?”
She kissed me right back, nipping my bottom lip. “I say take us home, Weston.”
EPILOGUE
Callie
* * *
Five months later.
* * *
The lodge was gorgeous, decorated in pinks and florals for Reed and Ava’s wedding. Family and friends filed in, filling the chairs in the ballroom. They’d chosen the week before the resort was scheduled to open to tie the knot, and even the snow had cooperated, leaving the roads clear so everyone could get here.
And as much as I loved photography, I was more than grateful I got to be a bridesmaid instead of the photographer for today. Sometimes life was even better outside the lens. I’d debated leaving my camera at home, perched on the table beside the piano Reed had given us, but brought it just in case Ava wanted some special shots. Reed had the piano delivered from their parents’ house the day we closed on our dream home.
Weston had it tuned within a couple of weeks, and I’d even caught him playing it once or twice.
Our home was exactly what I’d dreamed of. It was a little too organized for me and a little too cluttered for Weston. And though we never abided by it, our roommate contract was framed on the wall in the kitchen. Plus, it was only a block away from the studio space I’d just signed the lease on.