Burning Mountains (Wind River Mountain Men #1)

Chapter 9

ZOE

Five years later…

I woke to the gentle caress of sunlight streaming through our bedroom window, quickly followed by the less gentle caress of a pinecone hitting me square in the forehead. Ah , the joys of sleeping with the windows open in the wilderness. As I sat up, my hand brushed against the solid wall of muscle that was my husband's chest. Even after five years, the sight of Axel's rugged features softened in sleep never failed to make my heart skip a beat.

As if sensing my gaze, Axel's eyes fluttered open, a slow, sexy smile spreading across his face that made him look like a manly man calendar shot gone feral. " Mornin ', darlin'," he rumbled, his voice husky with sleep.

" Good morning, handsome," I murmured, snuggling closer to him and getting a face full of beard. His arms instinctively wrapped around me, pulling me flush against his body.

Axel obliged my unspoken request for a kiss, his lips meeting mine in a smooch that started soft but quickly deepened. Five years of marriage hadn't dampened our passion one bit. If anything, it had only grown stronger.

Just as things were starting to heat up, the pitter-patter of little feet in the hallway caught our attention. We broke apart, sharing a knowing smile that was equal parts love and resignation. Three ... two... one...

" Mommy ! Daddy !" Our bedroom door burst open with the force of a small avalanche, and our three perfect children tumbled in, a whirlwind of giggles and excitement.

Five -year-old Emma , our firstborn, led the charge, her wild curls bouncing as she scrambled onto the bed like a squirrel on espresso. Close behind was three-year-old Liam , his chubby legs working overtime to keep up with his big sister, looking like a particularly determined potato rolling uphill. And bringing up the rear, toddling on unsteady feet was our youngest, 18-month-old Lily .

Axel scooped up Lily , tossing her in the air with all the casual disregard for safety that only a mountain man could muster. " There's my little wildflower," he cooed, pressing a kiss to her chubby cheek.

I gathered Emma and Liam into my arms, peppering their faces with kisses. " Good morning, my little mountain goats," I said, using the nickname Axel had given them for their uncanny ability to scramble over any terrain and eat literally anything they found.

As our bed turned into a playground, I caught Axel's eye over the chaos. The love and contentment I saw there mirrored my own feelings perfectly, with just a hint of 'dear God , what have we created' thrown in for good measure.

Eventually , we managed to corral our brood and make our way downstairs for breakfast. Our cabin, once a rustic bachelor pad, had been transformed into a cozy bed and breakfast that perfectly blended luxury with mountain charm.

As I whipped up a batch of my famous blueberry pancakes (using wild berries we'd picked ourselves), Axel entertained the kids with stories of his latest wildlife encounters. His deep voice rumbled through the kitchen, punctuated by gasps and giggles from our rapt audience.

" And then," he said, leaning in conspiratorially, "the mama bear stood up on her hind legs, looked me right in the eye, and said, ' Excuse me, sir, but you're in my fishing spot!' So I said, ' Well , ma'am, I don't see your name on it.' And she said, ' It's written in bear scat behind that tree.' And I said-"

" Axel !" I interrupted, trying not to laugh. " Maybe save the bear negotiations for when they're older? I don't want Emma trying to debate territory rights with the local wildlife again."

The kids erupted in laughter. Axel caught my eye and winked, his blue eyes twinkling. God , I loved this man.

After breakfast, it was time to get to work. We had a wedding to put on. As I kissed Axel goodbye - he was taking a group of guests on a guided hike - I felt that familiar thrill of excitement. Even after five years and countless ceremonies, I still got butterflies before each wedding.

" Knock 'em dead, darlin'," Axel said, giving me a quick peck. " Show 'em why you're the best damn wedding planner in all of Wyoming ."

I grinned, straightening his collar. " And you be careful out there, mountain man. Don't go wrestling any grizzlies today."

He laughed, the sound rich and warm. " No promises. You know how those bears like to challenge me to arm-wrestling contests."

With one last kiss we parted ways, Axel heading out into the wilderness while I made my way to the ceremony site, my heels sinking into the ground with every step"

The wedding was, of course, perfect, in that special way. The couple exchanged vows with the majestic Rockies serving as a backdrop, their voices carrying on the crisp mountain air.

After the ceremony, as guests mingled and enjoyed cocktails on the terrace, I snuck away for a moment of quiet. I found a secluded spot overlooking the valley, the same place where Axel had proposed five years ago in a moment of romance.

As I stood there, taking in the breathtaking view, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind.

" Penny for your thoughts, Mrs . Hawke ," Axel murmured, his breath warm against my ear and smelling suspiciously like he'd been sampling the wedding cake.

I leaned back into his embrace, sighing contentedly. " Just thinking about how perfect everything is. The wedding, our life here... I never imagined I could be this happy."

Axel turned me in his arms, his blue eyes intense as they met mine. " You deserve all the happiness in the world, darlin'. And I plan on spending the rest of my life making sure you have it."

My heart swelled with love for this man. " I love you, Axel Hawke ," I whispered, reaching up to cup his face.

" And I love you, Zoe Mitchell - Hawke ," he replied, before capturing my lips in a kiss that made my toes curl.

We stood there for a moment, lost in each other, the sounds of the wedding celebration fading into the background along with the distant howls of wolves that were definitely not getting closer, no sir.

" Duty calls," I said with a rueful smile as we heard the photographer calling for group shots in a voice tinged with panic.

Axel grinned, giving me one last quick kiss. " Go work your magic, darlin'. I'll see you at home."

As I made my way back to the reception, I marveled at how seamlessly my two worlds had merged. The skills I'd honed as a city wedding planner had translated perfectly to our mountain venue, allowing me to create events that were both elegant and rustic, sophisticated and down-to-earth.

The rest of the day flew by in a whirlwind of cake-cutting, first dances, and teary toasts. By the time the last guest had departed, looking happy, the sun was setting.

When I finally made it home, I found Axel in the kitchen, expertly juggling dinner preparation with bedtime stories for the kids. The sight of my rugged mountain man, his hair still tousled from his day of hiking wearing an apron that said " Kiss the Cook ( At Your Own Risk )" and making airplane noises as he tried to get Lily to eat her peas, made my heart.

" Need a hand, mountain man?" I asked, hanging up my jacket and kicking off my heels with relief.

Axel looked up, his face breaking into a wide grin. " Always , city girl. Though I think I've got this feeding thing down pat. Watch this."

He turned back to Lily , holding up a spoonful of peas. " Okay , wildflower, here comes the eagle, soaring over the mountaintops!" He made a swooping motion with the spoon, complete with sound effects that sounded suspiciously like a dying moose, and miraculously, Lily opened her mouth wide, accepting the vegetables without a fuss.

I laughed, shaking my head in amazement. " I bow to the master," I said, giving him a mock curtsy.

After dinner, we tucked the kids into bed, reading them stories of brave mountain explorers and magical forest creatures, carefully edited to remove any scenes that might encourage them to try and adopt a bear cub again.

Once the house was quiet, Axel and I made our way out to the back porch. We settled into the porch swing, a handmade wedding gift from one of our neighbors.

The night was clear, the stars twinkling overhead like diamonds scattered across black velvet. The soft hooting of an owl and the distant howl of a wolf were the only sounds breaking the peaceful silence.

" Do you ever miss it?" Axel asked softly, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.

" Miss what?" I murmured, though I had a feeling I knew what he meant.

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. " The city. Your old life. You know, where the biggest wildlife threat was a particularly aggressive pigeon."

I thought about it for a moment, trying to remember the woman I'd been five years ago. The designer suits, the high-pressure meetings, the constant buzz of city life... it all seemed so foreign now, like a half-remembered dream.

" Honestly ? No ," I said, tilting my head to look up at him. " I love our life here. The peace, the beauty, the sense of community. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Axel's eyes softened, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. " Not even when I track mud all over your clean floors? Or when the generator goes out in the middle of winter and we have to huddle together for warmth like a pair of exceptionally attractive penguins?"

I laughed, remembering some of our early mishaps as I adjusted to mountain life. " Not even then. Besides , I seem to recall you making it up to me quite thoroughly after that generator incident. I'm pretty sure we single-handedly solved the cabin's heating problem for a week."

His low chuckle sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the mountain chill. " That I did, darlin'. That I did."

As I drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the warmth of Axel's embrace, I marveled at the journey that had brought me here. Because here, in the arms of my mountain man, surrounded by the majestic beauty of the mountains in Wyoming , I had found my true home. And I wouldn't change a single thing.

And really, what more could a former city girl turned mountain woman ask for? Besides maybe a decent latte and a bear-proof trash can, of course.

THE END