“Blake,” Mac said, as they exchanged handshakes. “Is everything in place?”
“All set,” Blake said, handing over the winter gear as he tossed a smile Jess’s way. “Hey Jess,” he greeted, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Mac cast him a warning glare and Blake laughed. He held his hands palms-up. “I know. I know. She’s all yours,” he said and Jess laughed along with him.
Grumbling and tugging Jess close to show possession, Mac helped her into her gear, pulled on his own, and ushered her off the plane. Eyes wide, she glanced around to take in the snow-dusted dude ranch. It was beautiful in the summer, but words couldn’t even begin to describe how cozy and romantic it felt in the winter.
A cool breeze moved over her face and she shivered.
Mac rubbed her arms. “Come on. Let’s get you out of the cold.”
They started toward the lodge, Blake by their side, but then Mac said, “Thanks for everything Blake. We’ll catch up with you at dinner.”
Blake nodded and disappeared inside the lodge while Mac turned her toward the mountain.
“Where are we going?”
Instead of answering, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over her eyes. Her pulse leaped, but she wasn’t about to protest because she trusted Mac with her body, heart, and soul.
“I told you I have a surprise for you.”
He held her tightly as he led her up the mountain, and a short while later, he stopped and whispered in her ear. “Ready?”
“I’m ready,” she said, excitement building in her.
He pulled the kerchief off and she stood at the top of the mountain, the same spot she’d said she never wanted to leave. A spot where Mac had made sweet love to her. Before her stood a quaint cottage, puffs of smoke coming from the chimney.
“Mac?” she asked.
“Six months ago you stood on that exact spot and told me you never wanted to leave here, remember?”
“I remember.”
“I built this for you. So you can come here in the summer or the winter, to the exact spot where we fell in love.”
“I think I was in love with you long before that, Mac.”
He grinned. “Yeah, me, too.”
“It’s beautiful.” She put her arms around him and gave him a long, loving kiss. “Thank you.”
“Now, about my fantasy…”
She laughed. “I knew there had to be a catch.”
He grabbed her hand, pushed the door open and scooped her up to carry her over the threshold. Embers sparked in the hearth and the warmth of the fireplace washed over her. As she took in the sofa facing the fire, and the bedroom loft overhead, she shed her coat, her heart soaring with the love she felt for Mac.
“Here’s the catch,” he began. “No electricity. We’ve both been working so hard, and are so busy back home, we need time away. Now, when we come here, we can really unplug.”
“I love it so much.”
“That’s my fantasy, sweetheart. Having you here, all to myself, the outside world unable to get in as I put all your needs first.”
She cupped his cheeks. “You are the sweetest man in the world.”
He touched her shirt. “And you, my darlin’, are completely overdressed.”
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Acknowledgments
Huge thank you to the FOXY gals who had a piece in shaping this book. Rhonda Brant, Crystal Yawn, Danita Montes, Franci Neill, Chrissy Dryer and Debbie Watson.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn has two teenagers who keep her busy and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found laughing over lunch with friends, hanging out with her kids, or watching a big action flick with her husband.
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