Burning Mountains (Wind River Mountain Men #1)

Chapter 8

8

AXEL

I stood there, my heart pounding, as I watched Zoe's eyes ping-pong between me and her city slicker ex. The air was so thick with tension you could cut it with a butter knife.

Her eyes finally settled on me. " Axel ," she said, her voice soft, " I choose you. I choose us. I just can't resist."

For a moment, I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Then , like a flash flood of emotion, joy surged through me. I swept Zoe into my arms, lifting her clean off her feet. She let out a surprised yelp.

" You mean it?" I asked. " You're staying?"

Zoe nodded, her smile bright. " I mean it. I know it's crazy, but... I love you, Axel Hawke . I want to build a life with you here in these mountains."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her ex-fiancé's shoulders slump in defeat, looking like a sad, expensive sack of potatoes. Without a word, he turned and slunk away, his polished city shoes kicking up dust.

" I love you too, darlin'," I murmured, my voice rough. " More than I ever thought possible. More than millennials love avocado toast."

Zoe leaned into me, her eyes closing for a moment. " It's going to be a big adjustment," she said, nervousness creeping into her voice. " I've never lived anywhere but the city. What if I can't hack it? What if I'm like a fish out of water?"

I tilted her chin up, making sure she was looking right at me. " Hey now, none of that. You're tougher than a two-dollar steak. Besides ," I added with a grin, "you've got the best guide in all of Wyoming to show you the ropes."

That got a laugh out of her, which was exactly what I was aiming for. " Oh really?" she teased. " And who might that be? Bigfoot's better-groomed cousin?"

I puffed out my chest. " Why , yours truly, of course. Axel Hawke , mountain man extraordinaire, at your service. Part -time lumberjack, full-time dreamboat, occasional bear wrestler."

Zoe rolled her eyes. " Well then, mountain man, what's our first order of business? Bathing in pine sap? Yodeling lessons?"

A plan started forming in my mind. " First ," I said, taking her hand with tenderness, " I'm gonna show you something special. Something that'll make you fall in love with these mountains all over again."

I led her to my truck. As we drove away from the lodge, winding our way up into the mountains, Zoe gripped the door handle.

" Don't worry, darlin'," I reassured her. " I could drive this road with my eyes closed."

She shot me a look that could've curdled milk. " If we die, I'm going to kill you."

I laughed, reaching over to give her knee a squeeze. " Just trust me, okay? We're almost there."

A few more hairpin turns and we finally reached our destination. I pulled off onto a small overlook, cutting the engine.

" Alright , prepare to have your mind blown."

I came around to her side of the truck, offering my hand to help her down like a true gentleman. As soon as her feet hit the ground, I saw her eyes go wide.

" Holy guacamole," she breathed, her jaw dropping.

The view was spectacular, even by my standards. Snow -capped peaks stretched as far as the eye could see, their jagged silhouettes stark against the sky. A pristine lake nestled in the valley below, its surface a mirror reflecting the clouds above.

I wrapped my arms around Zoe from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. " Welcome home, darlin'," I murmured. " Where the WiFi is weak but the views are strong."

She leaned back against me, her hands coming up to cover mine. " It's breathtaking," she said softly. " I've never seen anything like it."

" And this is just the beginning," I told her, excitement building in my voice. " Just wait till you see it in the fall, when the aspens turn gold. Or in winter, when everything's blanketed in snow. And don't even get me started on the spring, when the wildflowers bloom and the allergies hit harder than a freight train."

Zoe turned in my arms, her eyes shining bright. " Tell me more," she said. " Tell me everything. Paint me a picture of our life together."

So I did. I spun her a tale of our future life. I told her about mornings spent watching the sunrise over the mountains with steaming mugs of coffee in our hands. Afternoons exploring hidden waterfalls and secret meadows, armed with nothing but our wits and a large can of bear spray. Evenings curled up by a roaring fire, listening to the coyotes howl in the distance and debating whether that noise was the wind or a Sasquatch .

" And just think," I said, warming to my subject, "we could turn my cabin into the coziest little bed and breakfast this side of the Mississippi . You could plan intimate mountain weddings, and I could take the guests on guided hikes or fishing trips."

Zoe's face lit up like a Christmas tree. " We could host winter weddings too," she added, getting caught up in the vision. " With sleigh rides and hot cocoa by the fire. And instead of throwing rice, they could throw snowballs!"

I grinned, loving the way she said "we" more than I love bacon (and let me tell you, that's a lot). " Exactly . And in the summer, we could do outdoor ceremonies right here on this overlook. Can you imagine it? Brides and grooms exchanging vows with this view as their backdrop."

" It sounds perfect," Zoe said softly. But then I saw a flicker of doubt cross her face.

I cupped her face in my hands, making sure she was looking right at me. " Zoe Mitchell , you are the strongest, most adaptable woman I've ever met. Trust me, you've got mountain life in your blood. You just didn't know it until now."

She smiled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. " You really think so?"

" I know so," I said firmly. " And besides, you've got me. I'll teach you everything you need to know. How to start a fire with nothing but two sticks and your burning desire for s'mores. How to track game through the wilderness like a slightly less murdery Liam Neeson ."

That got a laugh out of her. I pulled her close. We stood there for a while, just holding each other and looking out at the view. The sun was starting to dip lower, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.

And suddenly, I knew this was the perfect moment.

" Zoe ," I said, my voice rough with emotion. " There's something I need to ask you."

She looked up at me, curiosity in her eyes. " What is it?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Then , never taking my eyes off hers, I slowly dropped to one knee.

Zoe's hand flew to her mouth. " Axel ," she gasped. " What are you doing?"

I reached into my pocket, pulling out a small velvet box that looked like it had seen better days. Inside was a ring - my grandmother's ring. It was a simple thing, just a band of gold with a small diamond.

" Zoe Mitchell ," I said, my voice steady despite the way my heart was thundering. " I know we've only known each other for a few days. I know this is crazy. But darlin', I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

I opened the box, holding it up to her. The diamond caught the light of the setting sun, sending little rainbows dancing across Zoe's face.

" You're it for me, Zoe . My soulmate, my forever, my partner in crime-fighting and s'more-making. You're the woman I want to wake up next to every morning and fall asleep beside every night, even when you inevitably steal all the blankets. The one I want to build a life with, right here in these mountains. So I'm asking you, Zoe Mitchell , will you marry me? Will you be my wife, my partner, my everything? Will you join me in this crazy adventure called life?"

Zoe's eyes were filled with tears, but she was smiling wide. She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could get a word out, something caught her eye.

I followed her gaze, looking up just in time to see a pair of bald eagles soaring overhead. They wheeled through the sky, their wings spread wide, crying out to each other.

" Would you look at that," I breathed, awe in my voice. " I've lived here my whole life, and I've never seen anything like it. It's like America itself is giving us a thumbs up."

Zoe laughed, a sound of pure joy that echoed off the mountains. " I think that's a sign," she said, her voice thick with emotion. " A blessing from the mountains themselves."

She looked back down at me, her eyes shining with love. " Yes ," she said, nodding emphatically. " Yes , Axel Hawke , I will marry you. I will be your wife, your partner, your everything. I will face bears, blizzards, and questionable plumbing with you. I will learn to start fires, track game, and possibly yodel. I will love you through thick and thin, through hunting seasons and tourist seasons, through bad hair days and bad Bigfoot sightings."

My heart soared higher than those eagles as I slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, like it was made for her.

I stood up and pulled Zoe into my arms. I kissed her with everything I had, trying to pour all my love, hopes, and dreams into that one kiss. She kissed me back just as fiercely, her hands fisting in my shirt like she was afraid I might float away on a cloud of happiness.

When we finally came up for air, I rested my forehead against hers. " I love you, Zoe Mitchell -soon-to-be- Hawke ," I murmured. " More than hikers love trail mix. More than bears love picnic baskets."

She giggled, the sound music to my ears. " I love you too, Axel Hawke . My mountain man, my forever."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a riot of colors, I held my fiancée close. The future stretched out before us, as vast and beautiful as the wilderness around us. There would be challenges, sure. Adjustments to be made, compromises to navigate. But standing there, with Zoe in my arms and the ring on her finger catching the last rays of sunlight, I knew we could handle anything life threw our way.

Because we had each other. Because we had love. And because, sometimes, when you least expect it, fairy tales do come true - even for gruff mountain men and city girls who think "roughing it" means a hotel without room service.

And so, as the stars began to twinkle overhead, we stood there, basking in the glow of our ridiculous love story. It was a moment so perfect, so cheesy, it could have been the climax of every Hallmark movie ever made, mashed together and deep-fried in pure, unfiltered romance.