Chapter 7
SEVEN
LUCY
My heart stops as Jude disappears beneath the pile of snow. Jumping off the snowmobile, I dig at the pile of snow. I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. As I dig and dig, trying to reach him, dry sobs erupt from deep inside of me.
“Please be okay,” I beg to him and God and anyone else who might be listening. “Please be okay.”
He has to be okay. I’ve only just found him. He’s the one. I know he’s the one. I can’t lose him now. We have too much living to do.
My lungs and fingers ache from the cold, but I don’t let up. I won’t stop searching for him until he is safe.
Minutes pass, but finally, I catch a glimpse of his dark hair. Releasing a breath—that’s part sob—I dig faster.
Once his head is clear, I call out his name.
He opens his eyes. “Hey, gorgeous.”
I sob. “Are you okay? Can you move?”
“Almost.”
We work together, me digging more snow out from around him. Once he has the use of his arms, he helps to push off the rest of the snow.
I wrap my arm around his waist, pressing my cheek to his chest, shouldering some of his weight as I guide him to the clearing.
“That was lucky,” he says a second before collapsing.
I sink to the ground, pulling his head into my lap. He gazes up at me with a goofy grin.
I shake my head at him. “How can you possibly say it was lucky?”
“For one, that wasn’t a bad avalanche.”
I snort. “It looked bad to me.”
“I’m serious. That was just a bit of snow. A lot of times, there’s even more and it has rocks and tree limbs in it.”
I shiver, not wanting my mind to go there. “I think it was plenty of snow as it is.”
“If you say. Thank you by the way.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to say thanks.
“But I will.” He sighs. “I could sit here forever.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” My heart starts to slow to a relatively steady beat.
He snuggles his head against my lap. “When did you say you were headed back to Chicago?”
“I didn’t.” I stroke his hair. “And it’s funny you should mention that.”
“Is it? Am I really going to laugh?”
I grin at his dry tone. “You might. Anyway, I was going to say, I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“And I’ve particularly enjoyed the time we’ve spent together.”
“Right.”
I bite on my lip to keep from laughing. “Well, I know it’s only been a few days. And I know all of this is new.”
I fall silent, suddenly feeling shy about what I want to say.
He opens his eyes and glares up at me. “You were saying.”
“Well, I’m not happy with my life in Chicago. I didn’t realize how unhappy I was until I was here. With you. I thought love was for other people. Not me. And, well, I don’t know how it happened. But I’ve even fallen for this place.” I gesture around us, even as I chatter on and on and on. “Yes, it’s covered in snow and ice. Yeah, it’s a little bit scary. But it’s also exciting and beautiful. I feel like I’ve lived more here in a weekend than I have in the past decade in Chicago.”
He sits up suddenly and cups my cheeks. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, I think I want to stay here. In Alaska.” I take a shaky breath. “With you.”
His eyes crinkle around the edges as he rests his forehead against mine. “That’s just about the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Is it?”
He nods. “Here I was thinking I might have to re-embrace city life and find a clinic or hospital in Chicago.”
My heart leaps into my throat. Then, to show me he means what he says, he captures my lips in a sizzling kiss.
I know some people will say I’m crazy. Heck, even my friends who are living out their own Camp Mountain Man fantasy won’t be able to believe it.
But it doesn’t matter if they believe it. It doesn’t matter if people think it’s insane.
All that matters is it’s clear to Jude and me. Everyone else can catch up in their own time.