Chapter 47
CHAPTER
FORTY-SEVEN
EMMETT
The early morning light creeps through the curtains, hitting me in the eyes.
Next to me, Aspen sleeps peacefully, and I can’t help the smile that tilts my lips as a few seconds of watching her stretches into minutes.
I sit up beside her.
She has one arm thrown over the spot where I slept. My hoodie swallowed her whole sometime during the night, and her hair is a tangled mess across my pillow.
She fits here.
And not just in the camper or on this land, but in my life.
I push a hand through my hair and slip from the bed before I’m selfish and wake her. Because looking at her right now, all I want is more of her.
Quietly, I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. Grabbing a few essentials from the tiny kitchen, I shove my feet into the old shoes by the door and ease outside.
It’s a miracle the hinges don’t squeak.
The morning air is cool enough to bite. The kind of mountain morning that makes you appreciate a warm cup in your hands.
I drag a chair toward the firepit, strike a match, and coax the flames to life. With it going, I hang a kettle above the fire and wait as the valley wakes slowly around me.
For once, my mind is quiet.
It’s just me and the crackle of the fire.
All because of the woman sleeping twenty feet away, in my bed.
Pouring myself a cup of hot water, I add instant coffee. It’s nothing like the fancy brew at Aspen’s but out here, it works.
I wrap both hands around my coffee mug and watch the sun crawl over the mountains. As I do that, I think about a future that doesn’t feel like something happening to me, but something I want.
The camper door clicks behind me and a second later, warm arms slide around my shoulders and Aspen presses a sleepy kiss beneath my ear.
“Good morning.”
Her voice is rough with sleep, and it’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.
“Morning, Angel.”
Reaching around, I pull her to my front and settle her in my lap.
Right where she belongs. The thought sneaks up on me as Aspen steals my coffee and takes a sip.
Immediately, her nose wrinkles.
“That’s terrible.”
I bark out a laugh.
“It’s no salted caramel latte. But you can’t beat the view.”
She sets the mug aside and cups my face.
“Come here.”
I don’t argue.
Her lips find mine in a warm, unhurried kiss, and I forget every place I’ve ever been except right here. Every moment except this one.
Her fingers disappear into my hair.
Mine settle at her waist.
The sun climbs higher.
The fire crackles.
For one perfect moment, everything feels exactly the way it’s supposed to.
Then my phone rings.
Aspen pulls back first.
I glance at the screen.
Connie.
All peace inside me fractures.
There’s no good reason why she’d call at this hour.
Over the years, I’ve gotten dozens of calls. None of the past ones matter when her name lights up my screen, though. Every time, the same thought hits me.
What if this is the one?