15. Mila #2
"What? No. I would never—" I hurl it at him mid-sentence.
It hits him square in the chest. He looks down at the snow splattered across his jacket, then back at me with an expression that makes my stomach drop with delicious anticipation.
"You're in trouble now."
"Luke, wait?—"
But he's already moving, scooping up snow and chasing me across the yard. I shriek and run, laughing so hard I can barely breathe. He catches me easily, wrapping one arm around my waist and threatening me with a handful of snow.
"Take it back," he demands, grinning.
"Never!"
He dumps the snow down the back of my coat and I scream, wriggling in his hold. We end up on the ground in a tangle of limbs, both laughing and covered in snow and completely ridiculous.
Luke pins me beneath him, his weight braced on his forearms so he doesn't crush me. His cheeks are flushed from cold and exertion, his eyes bright with happiness that makes my chest ache.
"Hi," I say breathlessly.
"Hi." He kisses me, cold lips and warm tongue. "You're insane."
"But you had fun."
"Maybe a little."
"Admit it. That was the most fun you've had in months."
"The most fun I've had in months involves significantly less clothing and happens indoors."
Heat flashes through me despite the cold. "We could go inside right now."
"Yeah?" His voice drops, rough and promising. "What would we do inside?"
"I could show you better than I could tell you."
He pulls me to my feet, already moving toward the cabin. "Best idea you've had all day."
The holidays pass in a blur of ranch events and family gatherings and stolen moments between the chaos.
We attend the local Christmas market in town where I drag Luke through every booth despite his protests. He buys me hot chocolate and a ridiculous knit hat with a pom-pom because I joke that I'm freezing to death. I buy him nothing because he refuses to tell me what he wants.
"I have everything I need," he says when I press him.
"That's a cop-out answer."
"It's the truth."
We go to Sadie's Christmas party where she immediately pulls me into the kitchen away from the crowd.
"Okay, you're glowing," she announces. "Like actually glowing. What is Luke doing to you?"
"Sadie!"
"What? I'm your best friend. I'm legally required to ask invasive questions about your sex life."
"That's not how friendship works."
"It is for us." She leans against the counter, studying me with sharp eyes. "But seriously. You look happy. Like actually, genuinely happy. Not the 'I'm fine' happy you've been faking for months."
The observation lands heavier than it should. Because she's right—I am happy. Deliriously, almost alarmingly so.
"Luke's great," I say carefully. "We're having a really good time."
"'Having a good time.'" Sadie makes air quotes. "That's what you're calling whatever the hell you two have been doing?"
"What else would I call it?"
"I don't know. Dating? Being together? Falling completely head-over-ass in love?"
My stomach flips. "I'm not—we're not?—"
"Mila." Her voice softens. "It's okay to admit you're all in. I know you're scared after everything that happened, but Luke's not that guy. He's not going to waste your time or string you along."
"I know that." The words come out sharper than I intend. "I just... I'm enjoying what we have right now. I don't want to push it into something bigger before we're both ready."
Which is true. But also not the whole truth.
The whole truth is that I'm terrified of admitting how much Luke means to me. How much this life means to me. Because admitting it makes it real, and real things can be taken away.
"Okay." Sadie squeezes my hand. "Just don't run because you're scared. You deserve this, Mila. You deserve to be happy."
Harper corners me the next week when we're all at the ranch for one of Caleb's famous bonfire nights.
We're standing near the fire, watching Luke and Dean argue about the proper way to roast marshmallows while Colt and Rhett place bets on who will cave first.
"You're staring," Harper says with barely concealed amusement.
"I'm observing."
"You're watching Luke like you want to climb him like a tree."
I choke on my hot chocolate. "Harper!"
"What? It's true." She grins, bumping my shoulder. "And before you deflect with humor, I just want to say I think it's wonderful. You and Luke together. It makes sense."
"Does it?" The question comes out more uncertain than I intend.
"Of course it does. You push him to actually have fun. He gives you stability and safety." She pauses. "You're good for each other."
I watch Luke laugh at something Dean says, his whole face transforming with genuine happiness. My chest does that dangerous squeeze again—the one that's been happening more and more lately.
"I don't know how to do this," I admit quietly. "The relationship thing. Last time I tried, it ended with me jobless and heartbroken and hiding in this tiny town."
"Luke's not your ex."
"I know. But I don't trust my judgment anymore. What if I'm just..." I gesture vaguely. "What if this is just me rebounding into something that feels safe but isn't actually right?"
"Is that what this feels like?" Harper asks gently. "A rebound?"
I think about waking up in Luke's arms. The way he makes me coffee exactly how I like it without asking. How he listens when I ramble about nothing and remembers every detail. The way he touches me like I'm something precious he's afraid of breaking.
"No," I whisper. "It doesn't feel like that at all."
"Then maybe you should trust that." She squeezes my arm. "I'm not saying you need to have your whole future planned out right now. But don't run from something good just because you're scared it might hurt later."
Before I can respond, Luke looks over and catches my eye. He smiles—that small, private smile that's just for me—and mouths "You okay?"
I nod, and the worry eases from his expression immediately.
"He checks on you constantly," Harper observes. "Have you noticed? You could be across the ranch and he'll still find a way to make sure you're okay."
"He worries."
"He cares." She pauses. "And you care about him too. It's written all over your face every time you look at him."
"Is it that obvious?"
"To everyone except maybe you two." Harper laughs softly. "But that's part of your charm. You're both so busy trying not to admit how gone you are for each other that you don't see what everyone else sees."
Luke crosses the yard toward us, his expression questioning. When he reaches my side, his hand finds the small of my back automatically—like he needs the contact to confirm I'm really here.
"Everything okay?" he asks.
"Perfect." I lean into his touch. "Harper was just telling me embarrassing stories about Caleb."
"I was doing no such thing."
"You should, though. I need ammunition."
Luke shakes his head, but he's smiling. "You're trouble."
"You love it."
"Yeah," he says simply. "I really do."
Something passes between us in the firelight—something warm and true that makes my heart stutter.
Harper makes an excuse and slips away, leaving us alone in our little bubble while the party continues around us.
"Having fun?" Luke asks, pulling me closer against the cold.
"Always do when I'm with you."
The words come out more honest than I intended, revealing more than I'm ready to admit. But Luke just kisses my forehead and holds me tighter, like he understands everything I'm not saying.
And maybe he does. Maybe we both know exactly what this is becoming, even if neither of us is brave enough to name it yet.
For now, I let myself sink into his warmth and enjoy this moment. This perfect, terrifying, wonderful thing we're building together.
Whatever comes next, I'll deal with it when it arrives. Right now, I'm exactly where I want to be.