Beach Daddy: A Single Dad Romance by Mia Ford (33)

“I feel terrible. I left yours at home.” I laughed.

I drank the shot and set down the glass, closing my eyes and feeling the warmth flow through me. I guessed it was a little pathetic to be getting drunk by myself on Christmas, but I had nothing better to do with my time, so I thought, why not? Besides, was it really considered getting drunk alone when the bartender was there with you? I smiled at the thought of Glen surrounded by his family this morning, unwrapping some terrible socks and some even worse sweaters. As the thoughts ran through my head, I opened my eyes, feeling a hand lay softly on my shoulder.

I looked down at the pretty, red fingernails and smiled, smelling Bea’s sweet scent. I turned in my seat and looked at her. She was standing there with her beautiful hair curled into ringlets and pulled back with a red bow. She was wearing a mid-length white dress with bells on the hem, and her lips were painted crimson in color. She looked absolutely breathtaking. I reached out and took her hand, pulling it to my lips.

“Merry Christmas,” I said, smiling.

“Merry Christmas,” she replied, her cheeks glowing bright red.

I couldn’t remember the last time I looked at a woman and felt completely blown away by how beautiful they really were. This time, I could barely speak. Bea was a vision, standing there, ready to sit down and spend at least a moment of her Christmas by my side. She was a more than welcomed vision, and I was excited to see her standing there.

“May I buy you a drink?”

“I would love that,” she said, pulling out the stool and sitting down.

“Anything that the lady desires,” I said, winking at the bartender.

“I’ll have an Irish coffee,” she replied, turning toward me. “It doesn’t count if it’s in coffee, right?”

“I never saw a thing,” I responded with a deep laugh. “So, what brings you down to the lounge this Christmas morning?”

“I figured I’d find you around here somewhere,” she said, laughing.

“You know me too well already,” I replied with a smile, glancing up at the TV and seeing the little boy all dressed up in his snow gear. “Look, it’s you, the first time I ever talked to you.”

“Very funny,” she said, slapping me on the arm. “Wasn’t that the first time you ever saw me, too?”

“No, actually,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I saw you for the first time when you arrived here. I immediately tried to find you, knowing I just couldn’t go another day without speaking to you, but then I lost you. I went out to the courtyard, seeing you down there, but by the time I got there, you were gone.”

“Wait, so I was who you were looking for?”

“What?”

“After the courtyard, I came inside and went upstairs,” she replied. “As the elevator doors closed, I saw you walk in front of them, standing there looking for someone.”

“Yes.” I laughed. “I was looking for you.”

“Well that is very serendipitous, don’t you think?”

“Very much so,” I said, looking her in the eye and wanting badly to kiss her.

“How about a shot?” she asked.

“I like how this lady thinks,” I said, pulling myself out of the trance. “Three shots of whiskey. One for me, one for the lady, and one for you, kind sir.”

“I thank you, but I am not permitted to drink.” He smiled.

“Well, I’ll have to come back when you are off and buy you one, then,” I said, smiling.

“I would love that,” he said, laughing.

He poured us both a shot, and I took mine, impressed at how easily Bea swung hers back. Usually, the women that came to resorts like this were more of a shooter kind of person than whiskey. I smiled at her and cleared my throat, already feeling a bit better than when I had arrived. She wiped her mouth and turned to me, taking a sip of her coffee.

“So, why are you here and not with family?” she asked.

“Well, my father and mother are good people, but not the most loving of parents,” I said. “My father is a big business man, and my mother owns her own business as well, and I didn’t quite live up to the standards with my chosen career path.”

“But you own your business,” she pointed out.

“Very true,” I replied. “That is exactly the argument I’ve had ten times over. But with my father being a conglomerate owner, he doesn’t really consider a business actually a business until you’ve made your first million. Something I will probably never see.”

“Well, money isn’t everything,” she said, smiling.

“How about you?” I asked, sipping my beer. “Besides the whole, ex-douche bag thing, why aren’t you with family?”

“Well, I had thought I was spending Christmas at his boss’s house, so my family went away to the islands,” she replied. “They figured if there wasn’t anyone to celebrate with, why not take in the sun and sand?”

“They sound like brilliant people.” I laughed. “But seriously, their loss, our gain.”

“Why, thank you,” she said, smiling. “However, I did come down here to see if you wanted to come spend Christmas with Hailey and me. We actually were just getting ready to open presents and send down for a yummy, room service lunch. I believe I saw that Santa may have left you something under the tree. Besides, there is enough whiskey for three Christmases in our room. And the bartender is more than welcome when his shift is over. I’m pretty sure he’s met Hailey.”

I looked over at the bartender, who smiled and looked down, nodding his head yes. I thought about it for a second, but looking at Bea’s big, beautiful eyes folded me immediately. How could I ever say no to that face?

“Yes, I would love to,” I said.

We finished our drinks, and I made Brian, the bartender, promise us to come up in a couple of hours when his shift ended. When I got upstairs, Hailey greeted me with some red confetti and a glass of whiskey on the rocks. We sat around, opening silly gifts, wearing Santa hats, and watching the worst Christmas movies we could possibly find. This had actually turned out to be one of the best Christmases that I had ever had. Even more than that, it was the first time I cared about the people and the holiday. As the sun went down behind the mountain, and Brian joined us from downstairs, I sat back, watching the girls singing Christmas carols, swaying back and forth with their drinks, and decided that maybe I was missing out on something, being all alone all the time. Maybe, just maybe, Bea was worth keeping around.

Chapter 16

Bea

That had been the best Christmas I’d ever had. We laughed, we danced, we drank, and we cuddled in front of the fire, listening to Brian the bartender read us old Christmas stories from a book he brought with him. It was one of those nights that you hoped would last forever, and that you would probably try to recreate in the future, but never fully be able to catch the exact light that the original had. There were many things in my life that I was thankful for, from my job, to my ability to keep moving in tough situations, but this was the first time that I felt truly thankful for a group of people. Hailey had been my guardian angel, pulling me out of my house and forcing me to open myself up to new experiences. She had stood by the whole time, knowing that Grant was bad for me, voicing it when she could, but knowing that it didn’t matter how hard she pushed me. I wouldn’t see it until I was ready to see it. Her love for me was beyond friendship, and I truly thought of her as my sister.

Cameron had come up to celebrate with us, and although I was nervous about it at first, he opened right up and was just as goofy as Hailey and me. He laughed, danced, and made a fool of himself, singing “I Saw Momma Kissing Santa Claus” with Brian in the middle of the suite floor. Hailey and I could not stop laughing, and I found it to be more than adorable.

When I first decided to ask him to come up and celebrate with us, I was nervous at what he would say. So, to calm those nerves and make sure he couldn’t say no, Hailey put me in one of her 1940s-inspired holiday dresses, curled my hair, and did my makeup. I was impressed and told her maybe investments weren’t her true calling. When I got downstairs, the look on his face was priceless. In the end, it worked out perfectly, and he didn’t even hesitate, making this Christmas unforgettable.

At the end of the night, or really early this morning, Brian was passed out on the couch, Hailey was passed out in her bed, and I didn’t even remember how I got into my bed. I did remember, though, that Cameron was a gentleman and had kissed my hand and stumbled out to go to his room to sleep. I was still laying in the bed, staring at the sunshine illuminating the snow outside my window, when a loud knock to the door shook my head.

“Hold on,” I said in a whisper, stumbling to find my robe.

I stumbled around my bedroom, my head pounding from the insane amount of wine and whiskey that I had consumed the night before. I grabbed the robe out of my bathroom and put it on, tying it tightly around me and looking in the mirror at the mess of curls and smeared makeup. My eyes got big, and I took a wash cloth and quickly dipped it in the water, rubbing my face and pulling my hair into a messy ponytail. I looked like a hungover Christmas Medusa. Finally, I just gave up, figuring whoever it was, they were going to get quite the eyeful when I opened the door.

I walked into the living room, looking over at the couch and giggling at Brian who was sprawled out, half hanging on the couch, the other half on the floor. I tripped over an empty wine bottle and grabbed my foot, hopping forward and grabbing the door handle. I cracked the door and peered out, thankfully seeing Cameron on the other side. I opened the door and grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him inside and closing the door behind us. I leaned back and closed my eyes, trying to stop the room from spinning, but smiling just the same.

“Well, you look well this morning.” He laughed.

“Shh, stop yelling,” I said, holding my temples and pulling myself up and into my bedroom.

“I figured I would find you like this,” he said, quietly shutting the bedroom door. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl drink that much whiskey.”

“I don’t think anyone ever has,” I replied, sitting down and looking up at him.

“Well, here,” he said, holding out a paper bag.

“I hope there isn’t whiskey in here,” I said, taking it from him. “That old wives’ tale of curing a hangover with more alcohol doesn’t actually work. I know. I went to college.”

“No.” He laughed. “That is a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel, some Tylenol, and a bottle of water. It’s a hangover cure in a bag.”

“You are a saint,” I said, opening the bag and dumping it out on the bed.

“I need you to be mobile,” he replied. “It’s time for that personal ski day.”

“Do they make wheel chairs with skis?”

“No.” He chuckled. “Eat your sandwich, take a shower, and I promise you will feel much better.”

I looked at him for a moment and shrugged my shoulders, figuring I wasn’t getting out of it, and in reality, I didn’t want to. I ate my bagel and then moved into the shower, smiling at him awkwardly as I closed the door. It felt strange to be naked with just a door between the two of us. I had every plan in the world to sleep with him, but not yet. I showered quickly and dried my hair, so it wouldn’t turn into ice when I went outside. I pulled on my snow pants, a thermal, a sweater, and the thinner, down coat that I had bought. I could move, I didn’t look like a stuffed sausage, and I was excited to get going. I pulled on my ski cap and twisted a scarf around my neck, nodding happily at my reflection.

“Okay,” I said, stepping out. “I’m ready.”

“That is much better than your multilayer, ready for Alaskan ice fishing look,” he joked, grabbing his jacket.

Our day out on the slopes was more amazing than I thought it would be. We started out on the bunny slopes, just working on techniques, talking about what to expect at the next level up, and having him show me some hip movements that would increase my control and movements. I had to admit, feeling him behind me, his hands grasping my hips and moving them where he wanted them, was slightly distracting, and I wasn’t the least bit cold at that point. I could have stayed skiing like that for the rest of the day and never had an issue with it.

After about the sixth run on the bunny slopes, we decided to move up a level and try out the intermediate slopes. I had to admit, they were a bit more daunting than I thought, and I swallowed hard, standing at the top of the slope, not sure I was ready to go plummeting down yet. Cameron walked up beside me and smiled, reaching out and running his finger across my red cheeks.

“You’ve got this,” he said. “And I’ll be right behind you. Remember, if you feel like you are out of control, just sit down. That is the quickest way to stop. I’ll make sure you have no one but me behind you.”

I nodded my head, instantly feeling more confident. It was strange how he was able to push me up, when all I had been used to for the last three years was being pushed down. I had a warm sensation in my chest, and I used that to find my brave. I pushed off and leaned forward, tucking my arms to my side and moving my hips just how he taught me. I was actually doing it, and I had to say I loved every second of it. The cold wind whipped across my skin, and for the first time in a long time, I felt completely alive. However, as I began to approach the bottom, my nerves shot up, and I realized that I had no idea how to stop. I put my poles down and dragged them through the snow, attempting to slow myself down. It was working well, but my knees were getting wobbly, and as I slowly came to a stop at the bottom, I lost my balance and fell straight down on my butt, laughing hard as Cameron slid gracefully down beside me.

“Not the most graceful end.” He laughed. “Nonetheless, you made it down and with amazing form.”

“Well, thank you,” I said, reaching out for his shoulder.

After that, we turned our skis in to the concierge and headed over to the lounge for some hot chocolate and warmth. My cheeks were red, and my hair was windblown, but I felt absolutely amazing. I held the hot cocoa tightly in my hands and sipped at it, the warmth stinging the skin on my hands. Cameron met me at the table and set some warm croissants down in front of us. I picked one up, pulling apart the freshly baked bread and shoving it in my mouth. I was hungrier than I thought.

“So, I was wondering,” he said. “How long are you going to be here?”

“Hailey and I decided to stay through New Year’s,” I said, smiling. “Luckily, the room was available for extension of stay.”

“That is really awesome,” he replied. “So, I was wondering, would you consider being my date for New Year’s? The resort holds this amazing party, and I figured we could get all dolled up in our best black-tie attire and make everyone jealous.”

I smiled and looked over at him, knowing that it sounded like the perfect way to bring in the New Year. I nodded my head, with my cheeks glowing red, and took a sip of my hot cocoa. I had never been to a party like that for New Year’s before, nor had I ever had anyone to ring the New Year’s in with. Grant was always out of town on New Year’s, and I didn’t feel right going out without him, even though it never stopped him from going out without me. This year, though, it looked like I was not only getting to attend an extremely glamorous party, but I was going to be on the arm of one of the handsomest men in the building. I was already excited about it.

“I’ll get the tickets for us today,” he said, smiling. “I’ll get a third ticket for Hailey.”

“She will be very excited,” I said.

“And you?”

“Let’s just say, I’m already wishing that New Year’s Eve was here,” I replied with blushed cheeks.

The rest of the day was spent eating lunch at the restaurant and going back out on the slopes. I had gotten the skiing bug, and now, I regretted not being out there more. I still had a few days left, and now that I felt comfortable, I could go hit the slopes while Cameron was teaching a class, not worried that I was going to eat shit or break an arm. This vacation had turned into something that I hadn’t expected, and I was loving every second of it. Though my time was drawing to a close, I still had New Year’s Eve, and I was going to bring in the New Year with love, lust, and probably a whole lot of alcohol. I felt like a brand-new woman, ready to face my life with optimism and without fear. Now, all I had to do was finish what I had promised Hailey, and that was to sleep with Cameron, enjoy the experience, but not prolong the inevitable. Hopefully, sex with him was going to be the best part of my vacation, and then I would be gone.

Chapter 17

New Year’s Eve

Cameron

I stood in my room, straightening my bow tie and smoothing my hair back with gel. I smiled at the chic look I was putting on, knowing that I hadn’t gotten dressed up like that since my sister’s wedding forever ago. Even then, I wore tennis shoes, but tonight, I was pulling out all the stops, wanting to wow Bea right off the charts. I had been watching her for several days, zooming down the intermediate slopes, having a blast while I waved from my training spot. Glen was still not back, but I was more than happy to teach the classes on my own, especially since every afternoon, on my break, Bea would meet me for lunch. It had become such a normal and comfortable thing, and I was nervous about how it was going to feel when she left. Aspen had become the glamorous and exciting place that it was for me because of Bea, not that I had long left here, either.

I walked into the living room of my suite and grabbed my tux jacket, pulling it over my shoulders and pulling my cuffs out at the sleeves. I buttoned the front buttons and put my hand in my pants pocket, turning toward the mirrored wall and looking at myself. I looked like James Bond, only without the super gadgets that his tux would normally come with. I looked down at my watch and jumped slightly, realizing I was going to be late if I didn’t hurry up. I grabbed my keys and winter pea coat and headed out the door. When the elevator doors opened, there was Brian, looking dapper as ever in his tux, and nodding at me as I climbed in.

“Picking up Hailey?”

“Yep,” he said. “Picking up Bea?”

“Sure am.” I laughed.

“This is going to be epic,” he said with a straight face.

“I believe you may be right,” I replied, patting him on the back as the doors opened to the fifth floor.

We walked out and up to the room, pushing the cracked door open and peeking inside. Both of their rooms were shut, and the living room was empty, so we strolled inside, looking around. Brian walked over to the bar and sat down the bottle of champagne that he brought. I nodded at him and grabbed the glasses over the wet bar and walked them to him. He popped open the champagne and filled the four glasses with bubbly.

“Ladies,” I said. “We are here.”

“Coming,” Hailey yelled.

I looked over at Bea’s door as the doorknob turned, and it began to creak open. Slowly, she stepped out, taking my breath away. Her hair was down, cascading in big curls over her shoulders and down her back. Her makeup was dark and striking, making her green eyes stand out more than normal. Her lips were painted with a dark red, matte lipstick, and I couldn’t help but want to immediately kiss her lips. My eyes trailed down her body to the spaghetti strap, silver-sequined dress that draped sensually over her breasts and her curves, stopping when it hit the floor. She blushed at my reaction and smiled over as Hailey walked out of the room, looking amazing as well.

“We are going to make some men jealous tonight,” I said, looking at Brian.

“Yes, we are,” he said, laughing.

We all drank a small glass of champagne and then headed down to the party. We started with a plated dinner, and then moved on to dancing and drinking the night away. We all got amazing little New Year’s Eve hats, and I had to admit that even though I probably looked damn stupid in mine, Bea looked really sexy in that silver-sequined top hat that matched her dress. While Hailey and Brian disappeared, deciding to spend the rest of their night in the suite he rented for the night, Bea and I stayed downstairs with the crowd, smiling and laughing as we danced closely together under the neon strobe lights and falling confetti. I couldn’t remember a time where I had more fun with a woman, and I didn’t want the night to end. She looked absolutely radiant in her dress, although my mind wandered from time to time, thinking about getting her out of that dress and into my arms.

We were having so much fun that I hadn’t even realized how late into the evening it was getting until the projections started and showed the New York City ball getting ready for countdown. Although being around all of these people was fun and exciting, I really wanted to have that moment where we shifted from one year to the next, alone with Bea. I leaned over and kissed her cheek, taking her champagne from her hands.

“Come on,” I said, grabbing my coat, and putting it around her shoulders. “I have a better place in mind for ringing in the New Year.”

She smiled at me and pulled the coat around her shoulders, holding it tightly in front of her. I took her hand and led her from the event room and across the marble floors of the lobby. When we reached the doors, I held them open, stepping out into the cold and snow. I walked up next to her and scooped her into my arms, cradling her as I took the semi-shoveled path around to the courtyard where I had watched her laughing and smiling the first day she got there. Who knew that we would have come this far, that we would be wrapped around each other on this beautiful New Year’s Eve? She smiled and giggled as I held her close, turning toward the slopes where I knew the resort would be shooting off fireworks. We could hear the people on the inside, coupled with the people out in the yard, counting down to the New Year. I leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Happy New Year,” I said.

She turned her head to me as the first blasts of fireworks shot up into the air, coloring the snow in blues and purples all around us. She looked absolutely gorgeous under the sparkling lights, and I leaned forward and pressed my lips gently against hers. I could feel fireworks of my own going off in my chest as our warm mouths pressed against each other. She reached her arms up and wrapped them around my neck, letting me kiss her deeper and more passionately. My hands gripped tightly to her sides as my tongue moved across her crimson lips, her breath increasing with every stroke. Her lips opened to mine, and heat took over as I plunged my tongue into her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her lips.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both out of breath, our lips curling up into smiles and laughter echoing from our chests. We looked back up at the fireworks and neon lights streaming down the slopes, the sounds of cheers and parties flowing through the air. I had never viewed New Year’s Eve quite like I was at that moment with Bea in my arms. She was everything pure and sweet about my life at that time, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do to ring in the New Year.

I carried her back to the front of the building and laid her gently back down on her feet. A crowd of people came out of the doors, laughing and smiling as they passed, but her eyes stayed locked on mine. I thought about asking her if she wanted to go back to the party, but I already knew the answer, and mine was exactly the same. Before I could speak, she reached out her hand and pulled me close.

“Come with me,” she whispered, just inches from my lips.

I could feel my cock twitch in my pants, and electricity shot through my chest. All I could do was nod my head, agreeing to follow her anywhere she wanted to lead. We walked back into the resort and over to the elevators, smiling as people exited. We climbed inside and stood to the right, letting the others join us as well. Slowly, the elevator moved upward while we stood close together, tightly clutching each other’s hand. When the elevator reached the fifth floor, we smiled at the others and exited, walking to the door and waiting for Bea to get her key card out. When we entered, I shut the door behind us and watched as Bea moved gracefully into the living room, turning on the gas fireplace in her room and the living room. She took my coat from her shoulders and hung it on the hooks, turning around and smiling sweetly at me.

I walked carefully across the room and leaned down, kissing her softly on the lips. She smiled again and pulled off her heels, setting them by the fireplace and grabbing the blanket from the chair. We sat down on the couch and watched the flames begin to build behind the glass front of the fireplace. The shadows of the flames danced across the room as the fireworks exploded outside. I pulled her in close to me, wrapping my arm around her and leaning back, undoing the bow tie around my neck. Bea rubbed her hand up and down my chest, pressing her fingertips in as she moved. The tension between us was palpable, and I could barely control the erection growing in my pants as I glanced down at her barely-covered breasts.

She swung her legs up and over my lap, the slit in her dress falling to the side, revealing her leg all the way up to her thigh. I pulled one hand up on her knee and the other to her face, pulling her in for another kiss. This time, I could feel the passion and lust behind her lips, and it pushed heat through my entire body. I leaned forward, kissing her deeper and deeper, slowly moving my hand up her quivering thigh and to the edge of her dress. She breathed heavily into my mouth, pulling her hands up to the buttons on my shirt and slowly pulling them through the holes. Her fingertips moved over my bare skin, sending butterflies shooting through my stomach.

I reached forward and pulled her fully in my lap, pushing her dress up to the slit and around her waist. She wrapped her legs around my waist and pushed her body across my rock-solid cock. I groaned, grabbing her waist and thrusting my hips upward, watching her as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Slowly, she lifted her hands to the straps on her gown and pulled them down her arms. Her dress fell down around her waist, and her breasts bounced slightly from the movement. They were perky, firm, and big, and I leaned forward, sucking her nipple into my mouth. I couldn’t take much more. I needed to get her naked, to taste her body on my lips.

I reached around and grabbed her ass with both hands, scooting forward on the couch and standing up, wrapping her legs around my waist and walking toward her bedroom. Once inside, I kicked the door closed behind me and sat down on the edge of the bed, groaning as she began to grind her hips along my restrained shaft. I pushed my cock upward as she slid along it, our motions matching and becoming more and more heated by the second. I could feel the heat between her legs, and I knew that I needed to know what it felt like to be deep inside of her, to hear her scream out in pleasure, and to feel her juices as she came.

I wanted to know every part of her before the night was over.

Chapter 18

Bea

Everything about the feeling of Cameron’s hands on my body felt right. Every swish of his tongue against my breast, every stroke of his strong, rough hands, and every thrust of his hips against my wet mound. He sat us down on the edge of the bed, and I ran my fingers up the back of his neck, tilting my head and kissing him passionately. The feeling of his tongue lapping through my mouth, the taste of whiskey on his breath, and the feeling of his heated breath in my throat turned me on more than anything else had my entire life. I felt like I couldn’t be close enough to him, like my aching wouldn’t stop until he was deep inside of me, filling me to the brim with his cock. From the feeling between my legs, my dream had been accurate, and his shaft was long and thick. My pussy was basically drooling to get him inside of it, but I had to hold out, not wanting this to be a short encounter, especially since I planned on it being the only one.

I leaned back and pulled his shirt and bow tie off of him, tossing them to the floor and then running my hands over his bulging muscles. As my fingers gripped down into his biceps, I moved my hips like a wave, sliding my pussy up and down his clothed shaft. My black satin panties were sopping wet, and I sat up slightly on my knees, undoing his belt and zipper.

“Take them off,” I whispered.

He raised his body up and pulled his pants down to his ankles, followed by his boxers. I lifted his big, hard cock upward toward his stomach and slowly lowered myself, straddling the shaft with my wet mound. He groaned, reaching around, grabbing my dress, and pulled it over my head and tossed it to the side. I ground up and down his shaft, not yet letting it enter inside of me. He bit his lips and grabbed my breasts, massaging them tightly, and I moved over him, dry humping him with my silk panties and deep, lustful stare. I wanted him to want me so badly that he couldn’t stand it. I wanted his tattooed arms to put me in my place, to throw me down and take me hard and long. To do that, I needed to tease him, to build him up so much that he couldn’t behave himself any longer. I wanted to push the animal inside of him out, ravaging my body and allowing me to reach new heights.

I grabbed onto the hair at the back of his head and yanked it backward, exposing his neck. I leaned forward and ran my tongue from his chest up to his chin and then across his lips. He smiled coyly as I attempted to take control, knowing there was no way he was having that, at all. He held me around the waist and stood up, stepping out of his pants and turning around. He tossed me on the bed, smiling as I bounced up and down, giggling to myself. I watched as he took off his shoes and socks and leaned forward, pulling my panties down my legs and tossing them on the floor. I scooted up the bed until my head was on the pillow and leaned back, watching him crawl toward me, licking his lips. I spread my legs apart, opening up for him and his cock, but he stopped short and lowered himself down on the bed.

His face collapsed into my pulsing mound, his tongue reaching out and running through my juices and up to my clit. I moaned out, grabbing onto the bed beside me, feeling the warmth of his breath on my pussy. He reached up and spread my folds apart, moving up and down while his other hand slid up my thigh and flickered through my juices. My body moved against his face as he slid two fingers up and deep inside of me. I reached down and grabbed the top of his head, moving my hips in rhythm with his mouth. I could feel the deep-down urge building inside of my stomach, and I breathed deeply, trying to control it. The tips of his fingers flicked wildly inside of me, pushing me into a frenzy of sweat and screams. He pushed down on my hips, forcing me still while his mouth opened wider and he focused in on my clit, sucking and nibbling as my thighs began to shake at his sides.

My body had never felt something so amazing, and it betrayed me at every move. I could feel the heat begin to ignite in my stomach, and I grasped down again on the bed. His fingers moved faster at my reaction, and I could feel his tongue flicking double time against my nub. Just as his hands picked up speed, my back arched high, and my head dug into the bed. An explosion erupted inside of me, and I screamed out, clamping my thighs around his face and digging my heels into the mattress. I tried to scream out, just like my dream, but the air was caught in my lungs while the passion flew through every part of my body. As the feeling began to dissipate, the air came out, along with a high-pitched whimper. My body relaxed back into the bed, and Cameron sat up, a happy look on his face.

Immediately, I sat up, pushing him backward and smirking as he pulled his legs out from underneath him and watched me ready myself to return the favor. I dipped my head down and grabbed onto his shaft with my hand, running my tongue along the length of his erection. He growled out, feeling my mouth wrap around the tip of his cock and move slowly down as far as I could go.

I gripped the bottom his shaft and began to bob my head up and down, moving deeper and deeper each time. He moaned, rubbing his hand over my head and looking down at me as my eyes darted up, meeting his. I could feel the saliva drip down his cock and into my hand. My other hand came up to massage his balls. Getting momentum and opening my throat, I pulled my hand back and deep-throated him, stopping for a moment and allowing my throat to contract on his shaft.

Suddenly, he pulled at my head, bringing my face up and pulling me forward until my face met his. I pulled my legs around him and straddled him, reaching down and pulling his cock upward. Slowly, I lowered myself down, gasping as his huge cock pushed deep inside of my body. I could feel his shaft pulsating inside of me, and I knew with all the foreplay, it wouldn’t be long. I yearned to feel him come, to hear his voice breaking underneath of me.

I put my hands behind me on his thighs and leaned back, swirling my hips in a wave-like motion, moaning loudly at the feeling of him moving in and out. He reached up and rubbed my clit with his thumb, running his eyes over my entire body.

I pulled myself upright and began to bounce up and down, pulling his shaft almost all the way out of me and then pushing back down, deep and hard. He growled, grabbing onto my hips and thrusting his upward to meet mine. I reached up and grabbed my bouncing tits, squeezing them in my palms as the heat once again returned to my belly. He grabbed my arms and pulled me over, kissing me passionately as he continued to thrust in and out of my body. Wrapping his arms around me, he rolled, using his strong arms to lay me gently beneath him while not breaking the motion of his hips. He reached down and hooked my legs over his arms and began to push hard and deep, our skin slapping against each other and echoing through the room.

I closed my eyes, my breath getting heavy and screamed out, reaching up and digging my hands into his shoulders. As his hips collided with mine, his stomach rolling against my clit, I threw my head back and arched my chest, exploding once again in pure ecstasy. My warm juices trickled down his shaft as my pussy pulsed against him. He growled and thrust himself deep and hard, leaning over me and closing his eyes as he, too, crumpled under the weight of his orgasm. All of the muscles in his body were tense, and his chin was clamped shut as he came hard and long. Once his muscles began to relax, he let out a long breath, looking me deep in my eyes. I leaned up and kissed his mouth, placing my hand on his chest and feeling his heart beating wildly over top of me.

He pulled out and fell to the side, sliding under the covers and sighing deeply. He turned over on his back, and as I turned toward him, he pulled me over onto him. I laid my head on his chest and listened as he began to calm.

“That was amazing,” he whispered.

“You are welcome,” I said with a snarky smile.

“Nice.” He laughed. “Even after all that, no one can take your away sarcasm. I love that.”

“You can take the girl out of her surroundings, but you can never take the sarcasm out of the girl,” I said, laughing. “Okay, that didn’t quite work like I wanted it to.”

“No, but good try.” He chuckled.

“Do you want to stay the night?”

“If you want me to,” he said, raising his head.

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t,” I replied, sitting up and turning over on my side, pulling him with me.

I reached up and turned off the side lamp, watching the shadows of the fire dance across the room. It was calming and serene, and the feeling of Cameron breathing behind me felt so amazing. I hadn’t ever felt that kind of comfort from Grant, or anyone else for that matter. I shook the thought from my head, remembering exactly what was supposed to happen after this. I knew that most of the comfort and excitement came from the fact that everything was temporary. There was no stress of a relationship or wondering what would come next. It was just what it was. I knew that I was never going to see Cameron again after that night.

I pulled his arms tightly around my body, feeling the warmth he provided and tracing the outlines of the tattoos on his arms. He smelled and felt so good that I was starting to have a hard time keeping myself from wanting something in the future. I took in a deep breath and thought about the conversation that Hailey and I had just a couple of weeks before. I had to convince myself that it was for the best that I was left a memory in Cameron’s mind. He was a traveler, a man with no ties to anything, and I knew it ran through him like blood. I knew that if we even tried to have something, it wouldn’t last, and I would rather be remembered just like this than in the end of a nasty breakup.

So, I decided right then and there, I was going to put all of it out of my mind and just enjoy sleeping in his arms. I hadn’t slept like that with anyone in years, and I wanted to remember what it felt like so that when I went back to the cold and empty bed at my house, I could dream of the feeling. I knew from tomorrow on, that would be all I had left of Cameron, just my dreams.

Chapter 19

Cameron

The warm sun shined in through the frosted windows, stirring me from my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes and yawned, stretching my arms high over my head. I hadn’t slept that good in a really long time, nor had I spent the night in a woman’s bed in years. In fact, the last time I did it was only due to the fact that I was too drunk to even walk out, much less drive my rental car anywhere. This morning, though, was different, and I could tell it was because I couldn’t wait to turn over and see Bea’s face. I pulled my arms back down and slowly turned myself toward Bea, lifting my head up on my hand. I looked down at her and her cascading curls spread all around her, and I smiled. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, with her fair skin, her pouty lips, and her soft features.

She moaned softly and shifted, but her eyes stayed closed, her mouth twitching into a smile. She must be having an amazing dream, hopefully about me and not some other handsome man waiting at home for her. I shook my head and rubbed my chest, feeling a very strange sensation flowing through me. I recognized it, but barely, as it was very foreign to the life I had been living. I was jealous, jealous of any man that had the chance to have Bea in his life on a long-term basis. The realization started to hit me like a ton of bricks. For the first time ever, I wouldn’t actually mind being in a relationship, but only with Bea.

I could already imagine what it would be like to come home every night to her, kissing her face, laughing, watching movies curled up on the couch, and eating dinner that we could take turns making. I could imagine taking her home to my family and having them absolutely love her, a feeling of pride running through me that I got to have her as my partner. I could imagine what it would be like to get together with Hailey and whatever man she was dating at the time, and have Christmases and New Year’s together. At the same time, though, there was only really one place that I would miss not visiting, and that was Aspen. It had always felt like home to me. The light fluffy snow, the long slopes, and the people that just loved to ski, they were what made me love the place. I do have to admit that my love for it used to also include the women, but ever since I met Bea, I seemed to have lost all interest in anyone else.

I reached down and brushed the hair gently from Bea’s face, leaning forward and kissing her gently on the cheek. I knew that she would be leaving that day, and although I didn’t want her to, she would appreciate not waking up moments before she had to check out. Bea began to stir, reaching up and feeling the place my lips had just brushed against. She smiled and slowly opened her eyes, yawning and stretching her arms over her head.

“Good morning.” I smiled. “Did you sleep well?”

“Like a baby,” she said, smiling. “You?”

“Probably better than any sleep I have ever gotten,” I said. “But unfortunately, it’s time to get up and get moving. We both have to be on our way soon.”

“No,” she groaned, turning over and burying her face in my lap.

“Well, I’m sure there is time for that.” I laughed.

“Nice try,” she said, sitting up and punching me in the arm. “What time is it?”

“It’s about eight,” I replied.

“Oh, gosh,” she said, throwing the covers from her and jumping out of the bed. “I have to check out in an hour. I wonder if Hailey is back yet.”

She threw on her robe and walked out of the room. I could hear her walking through the whole suite and then getting on her phone. It was obvious that Hailey wasn’t back yet.

“Wake up,” she said. “We only have two hours to get out of here.”

She walked back in the room, shaking her head and chuckling. I watched as she pulled a brush out and brushed her hair back into a ponytail, having no time to shower. She pulled some clothes out of the drawers and got dressed, smiling with blushed cheeks as I watched. When she was done, she collected my clothes and set them on the bed.

“You might want to get dressed,” she said, smiling. “Hailey will be here in just a minute.”

I smirked and climbed out of bed, standing fully nude by the bed. She blushed and looked away, pulling her suitcase out and starting to load her clothes into it. I pulled on my boxers and tux pants and buttoned my tux shirt far enough to walk to the elevator and down one floor to my room. I needed to start packing, too, so I could meet Glen at the airport in an hour or so. First, though, I needed to talk to Bea about the future, and if it held anything for the two of us.

“Bea,” I said, watching her walk out of the bathroom. “Come sit down for a second.”

She stopped and looked at me, already knowing what was coming. She put the last of her things in her suitcase and walked over, sitting down next to me on the bed. She turned toward me and smiled, allowing me to take her hands in mine. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. However, before the words could leave my mouth, she cut me off.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said, smiling.

“I don’t have to do what?”

I was slightly confused, not knowing exactly what she was expecting me to say. She smiled and let go of my hands, standing and walking over to her suitcase. She zipped it shut and pulled it down on the floor. She turned back to me and leaned against the dresser.

“You don’t have to tell me that you aren’t looking for a relationship,” she said.

“Well, I was going to—”

“Seriously, Cameron, it is okay.” She chuckled. “This was really amazing, the whole thing. I loved spending time with you, learning how to ski, learning about you, and having a crazy time. I really didn’t expect this out of my trip at all, but I am so glad that you found me. However, I know that your career takes you all over the country, and I know that I can’t expect you to magically want to settle down because you had a few good weeks with me.”

“That is what I thought,” I said, lowering my head. “But my heart, it is—”

“It is fighting you, I know.” She laughed. “Mine is, too, but I want us to keep this, this last night, and these last few weeks in our minds. I want this to be what we think about when we cross each other’s minds. Next year, I will come back here, and I will find you. Then, if we are both in this place, we can enjoy another couple of weeks in each other’s arms. Until then, we need to keep living our lives.”

“I understand,” I said, not sure what to say to that, but getting up and walking over to her. “I had an amazing time. So, until next year, take care of yourself.”

“Of course,” she said quietly as I leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

I grabbed my jacket from the table and walked out, not looking at her again. As I opened the door, Hailey walked in, smiling at me. I smiled back and left, turning the corner and walking down the corridor to the elevator. I paused for a moment, thinking about going back to Bea, but I sighed and continued, making my way to my room and packing my things quickly. I called a car to pick me up out front and looked one last time around the room. Part of me was really sad that I had to leave Aspen, and the other couldn’t figure out my mixed emotions over leaving Bea. Maybe she was right. Maybe this was for the best.

I took the car to the airport and walked through security, checking my tickets. We were on our way to Upstate New York to work there for a couple of months. I never really enjoyed my time there. The air was thin, and everything was always overcast and dirty. I shrugged my shoulders, figuring it was just another stop on the way. As I approached the terminal, I saw Glen across the hall, looking down at his ticket and holding tightly to his luggage. He never checked his bags after losing them on his way to Alaska and having to buy all new gear. It was almost an obsession for him.

“Hey,” he said, looking up and seeing me.

“Hey, Glen,” I said, forcing a smile. “How was your trip?”

“It was fantastic,” he said. “I saw my family and my sisters, and I had lunch with an old girlfriend. She was kind of that girl that got away.”

“Did you let her get away again?”

“Maybe.” He chuckled. “Work was calling. What was I supposed to say?”

“I knew you weren’t that willing to give up this life.” I laughed.

“You ready to get out of here and head to New York?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Sure, sounds good. You know how I don’t like to be in one place very often.”

“Did you say goodbye to Bea?”

“Yeah,” I replied and then changed the subject. “I think I’m going to grab a coffee for the plane. You want one?”

“No.” He chuckled. “I’ve had way too much caffeine already. I just had a red eye from home to here.”

“That’s right,” I said, nodding. “I completely forgot.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Huh? Yeah, I just raced out of the hotel. You know I am always late to everything.” I laughed, pulling out my wallet. “I woke up like an hour before I needed to be here, so I packed as fast as I could. I always hate it when I have to rush. I didn’t even stop by and have breakfast. Though I did make a detour and pick up our checks.”

“Oh, great,” he said, laughing. “I spent a bit more than I expected to while I was home.”

“That always happens,” I replied. “Okay, I’m gonna grab a coffee. I’ll be right back.”

I could see the look that Glen was giving me. He had known me long enough to know that I was not actually okay, and that something else was going on that I didn’t really want to talk about. Usually, he would hound me about it until I answered, but I think he knew that it had something to do with Bea. He also knew how sensitive I was to the whole idea of getting attached to someone at one of the resorts. Yet, there I was, moping around, trying to remember what happened that I fell so hard for the girl with the striking eyes. I knew that I had made a mistake, but it wasn’t one that I would have done any differently had I known how it would turn out.

Glen was a good friend, and I was really glad that he decided to not bring things up. I knew that if I had to explain, it would just make me feel worse. I didn’t know when I would feel better about all of this, but I knew I had to try. Bea had made it very clear that she didn’t want to be involved, and even though I wanted to believe that it was really because she was right, I knew part of it had to do with her own fears.

Hopefully, I would eventually be able to let this go.

Chapter 20

One Month Later

Bea

It had been a little over a month since I left Aspen, and still, every morning when I woke up, I thought about Cameron, and every night when I laid down to go to sleep, I thought of him, too. I wondered where he was and if he was thinking of me, too. I wondered if our paths would actually cross again, or would it really just be a romance left to our memories? I had picked back up at work and was writing another romance. This one was completely up to my own creativity. When I read back through the first chapter, I found that I had created a character with Cameron’s sense of humor, his charisma, his charm, and his sexy as hell smile. I guessed I thought that if I wrote him out of my head and onto a sheet of paper, I could keep him there and finally get a good night’s sleep.

This morning, though, when the light shimmered through the windows and my eyes shot open, I immediately jumped from the bed and ran to the bathroom. Getting the stomach flu had nothing on whatever was going on with me. I sat there breathing heavily, my forehead resting on the cool porcelain seat of the toilet. Lord, I felt like complete hell. I was shuddering, my stomach was doing flip flops, and sweat was pouring from my forehead. I sat there for quite a while, too afraid to get up and end up puking all over the floor. After my stomach had settled, I pulled myself off the floor with a groan and walked over to the sink, looking up at my pale face in the mirror. I pulled the thermometer from the cabinet and took my temperature. It was strange. I didn’t have a fever.

I took in a deep breath and brushed my teeth, pulling my hair back in a ponytail and walking out to the kitchen. I fixed myself some toast, but before I could even think of biting into it, I was back in the bathroom, lying across the toilet, hating my life. My phone buzzed wildly against the marble counter around the sink, and I reached up and grabbed it. It was Hailey.

“Hello?” I answered, sounding almost as miserable as I felt.

“Hey, uh, why do you sound like you are half-dead?”

“Maybe because I feel like my insides are trying desperately to become my outsides,” I said.

“Oh, gosh. Is it the flu?”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “No chills, no aches, and no fever. Well, no aches besides my lower back, but I am assuming it’s just because I have been tossing and turning like crazy at night.”

“Food poisoning?”

“I ate like a bagel and a cup of coffee yesterday,” I said. “And I’ve had food out of the same package.”

“Weird,” she said. “Well, I’ll jump in the car and pick you up some of that soup—”

“Don’t say it,” I said, feeling nauseated again. “Just let yourself in. I’ll most likely be dead on the bathroom floor.”

“Oh, good,” she said. “You know how I feel about finding dead bodies in the kitchen. It’s much harder to clean up after.”

I hung up the phone with her and took a deep breath, laying back on the cold floor and staring up at the ceiling. I laid there, not moving until Hailey showed up, walking through the bathroom door and standing over me, looking down. I groaned loudly and rubbed my face, feeling like the nausea had possibly passed. Hailey reached her hand down and helped me to my feet, leading me into the living room and sitting me down on the couch. I curled up in a ball with my head on the pillow, staring out at the snow falling outside. It was the beginning of February, easily the snowiest month of the year, and I still hadn’t been out on the slopes since I got home.

“I’m sorry you don’t feel well,” Hailey said, sitting down in the chair by the fire. “I sure hope that you aren’t pregnant.”

Hailey laughed, looking over at the fire, but her words rang out deeply in my mind. Slowly, I sat up, thinking about the period I was supposed to have three days ago. I stood up and braced myself, feeling dizzy for a moment. Hailey looked up at me and furrowed her brow, watching me hobble over into my kitchen. I ran my fingers across the cold black marble of the kitchen counters and stopped at the fridge where I kept my calendar hanging. I scanned the month before for my red dot and saw that I had kept my period for a lot less time than normal. I shook my head and counted the days until I was supposed to get the next one.

My finger stopped, lingering over the day that had long passed, and the breath went out of my chest. I had never been late on my period, not even during the most stressful times in my life. On top of that, I took the pill. At the thought of the pill, I raced over to my room and pulled my suitcase out of the closest. I unzipped the front and pulled out the little, round case that should have been empty. Slowly, I opened it and then closed my eyes, realizing that on my trip, I had completely forgotten about taking my pill. Without thought, I just went on that way, too wrapped up in my own thoughts over the last month.

I shook my head and covered my face. My head filled with visions of Cameron and me rolling around in the bed at the resort, making love without a care. He hadn’t worn a condom, and I could distinctly remember the feeling of him when he came inside of me. How could I have been so stupid and so reckless? Even when I wished for a baby with Grant, I never just forgot to take my pill. I had been extra careful with that my whole life, except for when I was in Aspen, on some quest to find my freedom.

“You’re not pregnant,” Hailey said, walking into the room. “I was joking.”

“I don’t know,” I said, feeling panicky.

“Calm down,” she said. “Get dressed. We will go get a test.”

I shook my head, and with shaking hands, I put the pill case down and walked over to my dresser. I pulled out a sweatshirt and jeans and pulled them over my head. Hailey helped to get my sweatshirt situated. I looked up at Hailey as she buttoned my pants for me, and I grabbed her hands, tears filling my eyes.

“How could I have been so stupid?” I began to cry. “Thank you for being such a good friend.”

“Okay, calm down, weepy,” she said. “Don’t let those hormones get the best of you just yet. This could just be pure coincidence. You could have some kind of virus that made you miss your period.”

“I doubt it,” I said, drying my tears.

We walked to the door and out into the snow, climbing into Hailey’s SUV and heading out to the closest grocery store. When I got there, I followed after Hailey who seemed to know exactly where she was going. I had never bought a pregnancy test before, and I felt like everyone was looking at me with disgusted eyes. She pulled one off the shelf and showed it to me, stepping closer to talk.

“This is digital,” she whispered. “It will give you a pregnant or a not pregnant. That way you don’t have to worry about interpreting the little lines.”

“What little lines?”

“Never mind,” she said, hiding her smirk. “Why don’t we get you some nausea medicine and some ginger ale while we’re here, too?”

I nodded and followed her around the store, hoping that I could get this over quickly and find out that it was all in my head. I could feel the bubbles in my stomach again, and I couldn’t tell if it was the sickness or the fact that I was absolutely terrified. We went through the aisles picking out some mild snacks and something for my stomach before jumping back in the car and heading home. As she drove along, I watched the snowflakes falling outside the window, wishing that Cameron was there to go through this with me. I had fallen for a man that I knew from the beginning I had no future with, just to find out a month later that part of him could very well be the most important part of my future.

I had wanted children for a long time, but I wanted them with a partner, not as a single mother. I wasn’t worried about money or work. I was just worried about having a child on my own, raising a child without a father, and my life completely flipping upside down. When we got home, I followed Hailey into the house, and she handed me the pregnancy test.

“Just take off the end, and hold it under your stream of pee for at least fifteen seconds,” she said. “Then replace the cap, and set it on the counter. Here is your phone. Set the timer for three minutes, and when it goes off, the test will tell you if you are pregnant or not.”

I shook my head, unable to let words actually escape my mouth. I walked into the bathroom and followed her instructions exactly. I set the test down on the counter and pressed the button on my phone to start the countdown. I pulled myself up onto the sink and sat there, grasping my hands together tightly. Three minutes had never taken so long in my life. I thought about everything in my life during those three minutes. If I could think like that on a normal basis, within ten minutes I’d have an answer to world peace.

The sound of my phone beeping loudly brought me back to the cold bathroom counter. I sat there for a moment, my heart beating out of my chest. I stood up and walked over to the test, staring down at it. Slowly, I picked it up and turned it over, holding it up to my face. On the screen, it said pregnant with a little smiley face. I closed my eyes and pulled the test to my chest, not knowing how to even move. There was a child growing inside of me, and it had Cameron’s genes. I needed to figure out how to get in touch with him. This wasn’t something I wanted to keep from him. He had a right to know that he was going to be a father.

I wasn’t exactly sure I knew how he would react, but I knew that no matter what the outcome, I had a responsibility to tell him. I knew several people growing up who never knew their fathers, and I knew that if he decided not to be part of our lives, it wouldn’t matter to our child whether he was absent by choice or by ignorance. Still, I needed to make sure that he knew about this baby. I had thought not getting his number was a good idea, keeping us from carrying on with something that would never work anyway, but it seemed that I was definitely wrong. Having a way to get ahold of Cameron at that point would have been more than helpful.

I took a deep breath and walked out of the bedroom, my eyes glazed over. Hailey stood there looking at me, and I handed over the test as I walked out of the bedroom and to the windows in my living room. I stared out into the distance, little white flakes showing themselves as the orange street lights shined down in the daylight. I could hear Hailey’s careful footsteps approaching, and I turned around, my arms wrapped around my waist.

“I have to find him,” I said.

Chapter 21

Cameron

My time in New York was thankfully cut short, the slopes being less packed than they had in previous years. The snow wasn’t anywhere conducive to a good ski, and the warming temperatures in the area left icy patches straight down the middle of the slope. I had the unlucky gift of discovering the ice, taking a pretty good spill and spraining my wrist. The resort owner felt terrible, but knowing that a resort in Utah was begging for us to come, I told him to just let us out of our contract, and everything would be fine. He was more than happy to oblige since he was barely making enough to keep us in business anyway. In our contract, there was a clause that said if we didn’t reach a minimum number of clients, the resort would pay us a flat rate. I knew he did not want to pay that flat rate.

So, we got on a plane after seeing to my wrist and headed to Utah, somewhere not that much better than New York, but at least not as packed with dirty streets and angry clients. I still couldn’t get Bea off my mind, though. I thought about her every night and every morning. I hadn’t hit on a girl at all since I left Aspen, and I had turned down several others along the way. Glen could see that there was something heavy weighing on my shoulders, but still, he kept his distance and didn’t ask too many questions. He knew that when I was ready to talk, I would talk.

Even in my dreams, Bea was on my mind, floating through the snow like an angel. The night before, I had woken up in a sweat after watching her walking away from me. She stopped and turned toward me, her belly large with a baby inside. It was the strangest thing to dream, and I could only assume it was because I had actually entertained the idea of having her in my life for a long period of time.

I took a deep breath and tried to shake the memories floating around in my head. I was in the middle of a class, listening to Glen give the rundown on safety. He had taken the lead on just about everything lately, seeing that I wasn’t quite up to the task. I wanted to be there, to be present, but I had changed, and I still couldn’t completely figure out the extent of it. I felt different, like something inside of me had taken a turn, like I wasn’t the same man I was when I had arrived in Aspen just a few months back. Every day, I looked for a sign, something telling me that Bea was looking for me, but the phone never rang, and no letters ever came. Without my information, it would be pretty hard for her to find me. My business was built on private clients, and I had never had any reason to actually advertise my company. Our name wouldn’t be in any yellow pages, and we didn’t have a website.

I knew that Bea lived somewhere in Colorado, but I had no idea where. The only thing I knew was that she was going to come looking for me in Aspen in a year. I knew no matter what that I would be there waiting, hoping that she hadn’t changed her mind. Hoping that some other man hadn’t come into her life, leaving her only briefly thinking about me on New Year’s Eve while cuddling up with him far away. I didn’t care that I might be all alone, sitting in the courtyard when the fireworks went off if it meant there was even the slightest chance that I would get to see her again.

“Cameron,” Glen whispered. “It’s time to do the movement checks.”

“Right,” I said, taking a deep breath and walking out of the building.

I hopped on the lift next to Glen and rode it up to the top of the bunny slope, trying to get my mind back on track so I could make sure this group of skiers made it down the hill without incident. Glen had been a good enough cohort that he had managed to have a whole slew of skiers go down over the last week without incident, even though I had been on another planet. I would have to eventually thank him for everything he had been doing.

We went through the movements, and I stood at the front, watching each skier go down. When the last one approached, she smiled at me sweetly and pulled down her goggles, pushing off down the slopes. As she skied, her brown hair blew behind her, and thoughts of my private day of skiing with Bea ran through my mind.

“Hey,” Glen said, rousing me from my daydream by slapping me on the shoulder. “You ready? I put everything away while you were helping the skiers down. Come on, I’ll race you to the bottom.”

I smiled and nodded my head, zipping up my jacket and looking down the hill. I realized at that moment that I hadn’t really gone skiing since I was in Aspen, not having the want or gumption to face the hill. I pushed off, already way behind Glen, but not really caring. When I reached the bottom, I slid over to the bench and unhooked my skis, picking them up and carrying them inside. There was no concierge service at this resort like there was in Aspen, so we laid our skis on the rack and headed for the bar, a place I was becoming all too familiar with once again.

The lounge was small, but adequate, with old mahogany décor and the real feeling of a mountain retreat. There were large fireplaces strewn all around the lobbies and one at the back of the bar, crackling loudly. The bartender was an older man, with a kind face that I was sure had seen a lot through the years as a barkeep in a resort. I ordered a whiskey on the rocks and turned to Glen, who I knew was waiting for the right time to speak up.

“I miss Bea,” I said, cutting him off. “I know that is what has been making you wonder. I know you’ve realized that I am not quite myself lately.”

“Yeah,” he said, looking down at his drink. “But I didn’t want to push you. I know that it wasn’t something you were planning.”

“But it happened nonetheless,” I said with a sigh. “We spent Christmas together, and that was what really started it. We had an amazing time being fools, dancing to Christmas music, opening silly presents, and just having an overall hell of a good time. That night, I asked her out for New Year’s Eve. I knew when the invitation came out of my mouth that it was already too late, but at that point, I was so involved, I couldn’t turn myself away. The night was magic, like a damn romance novel, and when we had sex, it was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. To be completely honest with you, I was waking up with the idea of trying to keep something going with her.”

“What happened?”

“She shot me down before I could even say a word,” I said. “She had made up her mind that I wasn’t a man that could change, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure that she was wrong. I completely froze and just let her make the choice, leaving without a word. The last thing I did was kiss her on the forehead and head out of there. That was why when I showed up at the airport, I was less than grounded. That’s why for the last month and a half, I’ve been all over the place.”

“It’s all right, man, everyone is entitled to that time,” Glen said. “Remember when I broke up with Marisol, right after Christmas four years ago? I was a complete wreck.”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I just never thought it would happen to me. You know me, not the settling down type. Now, I can’t stop thinking about Bea and what it could have been.”

“Why don’t you contact her?”

“I mean, I thought of that, but I have no record of who she is,” I said. “I called in a favor with the bartender, Brian, but the room was booked under some guy’s name. I guess he wasn’t able to take the reservation, so Hailey had paid him for it. Other than Bea from Colorado, I have no other information. I don’t even know if her name is short for Beatrice or something completely different.”

“What about her job?”

“She’s a ghostwriter,” I said. “She doesn’t publish her own stuff.”

“You sure know how to pick ‘em.” Glen chuckled.

“I just wish that I had done more to be with her.” I sighed. “I should have stood up in the hotel room and told her that she was completely wrong about me. I should have told her that she made me want to be a better man, that I couldn’t imagine my world without her. I should have done anything but get up and walk away. I never have been very good with women beyond the first date.”

“You don’t know that,” he said. “You just never let anything go past the first date. Look, I didn’t mean to push all that settling stuff down on you when we were in Aspen. I just wanted you to be content and happy, and I was really just projecting my insecurities onto you.”

“Aww, man, that’s all right,” I said. “It really didn’t have anything to do with it. I wasn’t looking whatsoever when I met Bea, but it just kind of happened to fall that way. My heart was attached before my brain could even catch up to what was happening. By the time it had, I was on a plane, making my way to New York. She said she was going to meet me in Aspen on the next New Year’s Eve, so I guess I’ll bide my time until then.”

“Hey, who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone else.” Glen looked up at a big chested blonde, prancing her way toward us.

“Hi,” she said happily, staring at me.

“Hey,” I said, taking in a deep breath.

“My name is Honey, and I was wondering if you would be willing to book a personal lesson with me?”

I sat there for a second, almost frozen by her words. She wanted a personal ski day with me, and I couldn’t even imagine being around another woman alone for that long. I wanted Bea, not some slutty blonde at the bar.

“This man,” I said, slapping Glen’s shoulder. “He is the man to talk to about personal lessons. He is the master of technique.”

I winked at Glen and swallowed the rest of my whiskey before standing and grabbing my coat. I walked away, glancing back at Glen flirting with the blonde. I smiled and shook my head, making my way to the front doors. It was crazy how everything had flipped since Aspen. I walked outside into the snow, looking up at the night skiers jetting down the mountain for the last couple of times before the slopes closed for the day. It was eerily quiet, and it almost reminded me of that time right before sunrise, when you could hear a pin drop. I wanted to be back in that courtyard with Bea. There was no way around it.

I needed to find her, and I needed to tell her just how I really felt.

Chapter 22

Bea

I woke up and looked outside, standing at the window and thinking about everything that had been going on. I still couldn’t believe that I was pregnant, even after spending the entire week thinking about it. I had set up my first appointment at the doctor’s and bought a couple of books that would help me through all the things I had been feeling. It was an incredibly strange feeling, and even though I had Hailey as support, I yearned for Cameron to be by my side. I knew that it was probably the hormones making me so clingy and emotional, but I wasn’t sure if I would ever get over the feeling of needing Cameron in my life. Growing inside of me was his child, and I needed to figure out a way to let him know that.

I sat down on the couch and pulled out my laptop, searching for anything I could that would lead me to him. He didn’t have social media, I couldn’t find any trace of his business, and the resort website had taken down all the ski instructor information. They were still busy, but the instructors had changed, and Cameron had jetted off to his next destination already. I picked up the phone to dial the resort, my intention being to ask them for his info. When the voice answered on the other line, though, I knew that they wouldn’t give that information out over the phone. So, instead of giving them the third degree, I made reservations in one of their rooms for the weekend. I thought that maybe, if I was there at the desk, they would give me the info. Otherwise, I was booking myself a really nice, two-night vacation in Aspen. I was pretty sure what I was paying for was a room it would take months to put back into my savings.

I hung up the phone and walked into the other room, wanting to keep moving so I wouldn’t lose my nerve. I packed a bag and went out to my car, climbing inside and taking a deep breath. I drove out of my long driveway and hit the highway, not stopping for anything but gas all the way to Aspen. When I drove into the parking lot of the resort, a nervous twinge came over me, and I found myself looking around at the faces passing by, thinking I would see Cameron at any minute. I knew he was gone, though. It was just hard being back there. I checked into my room and went upstairs, pulling out a warmer sweater and then heading back down.

When the front desk was clear of any guests, I walked up to the counter and smiled at the girl typing on the computer. She was young and pretty, with long blonde hair and an impeccably pressed uniform. She was exactly what the resort wanted as the first person to greet the guests.

“Did you forget something?” she asked.

“Huh? Oh, no, I just wanted to ask you a question.” I smiled. “For the month of December, you had some freelance ski instructors here. Their names were Cameron and Glen. I am desperately trying to get ahold of them, and I was wondering if you had a phone number, address, or an email address, even. It’s really important.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” she said sympathetically. “I personally don’t have that information. That would be with the owner, but even if I did have it, I am not allowed to give it to you.”

“Well, is there any way you or the owner could contact them and get them my information?”

“I’m sorry ma’am, but the owner is away himself,” she replied. “He won’t be back until late March. He is opening another hotel in Dubai, and he went there to sign the papers.”

“Wow, okay. Do you think there is anyone else that would have that information?”

“On a professional note, I would have to say no,” she said. “But unofficially, the bartender in the lounge had become pretty good friends with him, so he might be able to help you out.”

“Brian,” I whispered. “All right. Well, thank you for your time.”

“No problem,” she said. “If there is anything else we can do for you, just let us know.”

“I will, thank you,” I replied, turning and walking toward the lounge.

I knew that if I broke down right there, if I told this young girl the situation, she might go out of her way to make it happen. However, as I clutched my stomach, feeling a bit nauseated again, I knew there was no way that I could give her all that information. Hailey and I were the only ones that knew about the baby, and I wanted to keep it that way. I knew that if she knew, she might slip up and say something to Cameron, or even tell Brian.

I walked over to the doors and looked out the windows at the darkening sky. The ski slopes were busy still, the night skiers taking advantage of the good weather. It wasn’t quite as busy in Aspen as it had been around Christmas, but it was definitely still bumping. There was a strange feeling in my chest, like the feeling I had been having in my dreams of Cameron. It was like I could almost feel him thinking about me. I shook the thoughts from my head, knowing it was silly, and it had to be my hormones messing with me. Whatever the reason for my racing mind, I knew that finding Cameron would be the first step at stopping it. After that, it would all depend on how he reacted to the news that he was going to be a father.

As much as I wanted to run into him, I hadn’t even really thought about how I was going to deliver the news. I didn’t want to send him running off for the hills, but at the same time, I wanted to be upfront and honest with him. This was going to be a huge shock for him, probably even larger than the jolt it gave me. I was anxious about it, but it was a wasteful emotion since I wasn’t any closer to finding him than I was before. I shook my head and went into the guest bathroom to the right, peeing for the hundredth time that day and washing my face off with cool water.

I stared at my pale complexion in the mirror and hoped that the nausea I was feeling wasn’t going to come back full force. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck in a hotel in Aspen all weekend, puking my guts out. Everything had happened so fast and out of the blue that maybe taking a small weekend away from life wasn’t at all that bad of an idea. Hailey had been so worried about my mental state that she had barely left my side for the last week. I had taken some time away from work, not finding the ability to bring any creativity to the surface. Although having Hailey with me was a Godsend, I really did need some time alone to really think about everything and make a plan for the future. Whether I found Cameron or not, this baby was going to make its arrival in less than nine months. I had to start thinking about that and the fact that I needed to get prepared for it. Luckily, I wasn’t the girl that had to worry about where to live or financial stability. I had a great job and a beautiful home. Those things were just foundations, though, and there were a lot of factors that went into raising a child, one of which included having a father figure in the picture.

I pulled the paper towels from the dispenser and dried off my face, balling them up and tossing them in the trashcan. I walked back out of the bathroom and across the lobby toward the lounge. However, as I passed the receptionist, she called out for me.

“I think I might have something that can help you,” she whispered. “I can see it in your eyes that whatever reason you need to find them, it is really important to you. It won’t help you right this second, but Glen and Cameron are already booked for the same time next year. He will be back for Christmas and New Year’s.”

“Thank you,” I replied, not feeling any better. “I appreciate you going out on a limb and letting me know that. If I can’t find anything out from the bartender, then I will come and make reservations for next year.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling. “I’m glad I could help in some way.”

I took in a deep breath and walked toward the lounge, hoping it was Brian like I had expected. When I walked through the doorways, Brian looked up from the bar, a big smile crossing his lips. He wiped his hands and put the towel down, coming from behind the bar and hugging me tightly.

“Bea,” he said. “This is definitely a surprise. You look great. How are things?”

“They are interesting.” I laughed, walking with him toward the bar. “But my life seems to always fall under that category.”

“How is Hailey?”

“She’s good,” I said. “Getting back into the swing of working and taking care of my sporadic rear end.”

“You’ll have to tell her I said hi,” he replied.

“I’ll definitely do that.” I smiled. “Brian, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, anything,” he said.

“You became friends with Cameron, right?”

“Yeah, I mean, as much as I could with a guy that pretty much stayed to himself.” He chuckled. “He was a different guy when he was around you.”

“How do you mean?”

“He was alive, happy, smiling,” he said. “I have seen him here four straight seasons in a row, and he has never laughed like he did when you were around.”

“That’s sweet,” I said, blushing. “Well, did you happen to get a number for him? Or maybe a name that I could use to look him up?”

“No,” he said, making my heart sink. “Unfortunately, he left before I could connect with him again. I heard that he’s coming back next season, though.”

“Yeah, the receptionist told me that,” I said, sinking down on the stool.

“Do you want a drink? Maybe your normal?”

“No, no,” I said, breathing deeply. “Actually, could I have a big glass of ice water with lemon?”

“Sure,” he replied. “You know, when my sister was expecting, she used to chug down lemon water like it was the end of the world. Funny thing was, she never actually liked lemon until then.”

“Crazy.” I chuckled, wondering if he knew.

“You’re not pregnant, are you?” He laughed, not even waiting for an answer.

I smiled halfway, the best I could do under the circumstances. Luckily for me, he didn’t even seem to notice my hesitation. I thought about telling Brian, knowing that he was a sweet guy with a big heart. Maybe if he knew the circumstances, he would help me find Cameron. Just as I was about to say something, though, a crowd walked through the door, and I discarded the idea, burying it deep in my chest. I took a big sip of my water and smiled as he looked up at the crowd and took a deep breath.

“I’m going to leave you to it, then,” I said, smiling and standing from my stool. “If you think of anything, let me know. I’m in room 413, and I’ll be here until checkout on Monday morning.”

“That’s funny,” he said.

“What is?”

“Nothing, just that 413 was Cameron’s room when he was staying here.” He chuckled, walking around the bar and toward the guests.

How strange and coincidental was that?

Chapter 23

Cameron

On Sunday, I had pretty much hit rock bottom, not knowing what to do or what to say without Bea in my life. I sat down and talked to Glen about it, and he promised to cover the lessons so I could go look for her. The only place I knew that might have some kind of lead was the resort in Aspen. So, I scheduled a red eye on Sunday night and flew out to Colorado, hoping that there would be someone there with information on how I could find her.

As the plane flew through the clouds, my heart began to flutter, remembering all the things that had happened at the resort. Hopefully, I would be able to relax myself enough to ask questions. If nothing else, I was going to get a little bit of time alone for once. I really appreciated that Glen found it necessary to watch out for me and be there to just talk, but I could really use some good quality time alone to sort out my feelings and thoughts. When I had gotten onto the plane, I had realized I was way too tired to even think on the plane. I ordered a Bloody Mary and then set myself up for a little bit of sleep.

When the plane started its descent, I woke up, feeling more than a little groggy. I really didn’t like Colorado outside of Aspen, so I took my carry-on and jumped right into a cab, taking me over to the resort. I had booked the hotel for that afternoon, requesting my old room. They told me it wouldn’t be ready until after noon because someone was checking out that day. I didn’t mind waiting in the lounge, drinking my same old drinks, and hoping that Bea was going to walk around the corner at any minute.

When the cab pulled up out front, I grabbed my bag and paid the driver. I stepped out onto the sidewalk and breathed the ice-cold air into my lungs. It felt so good to be back in Aspen, and not just because of Bea. I was starting to think that Aspen was one of those places that was just therapeutic to me. Maybe that was why so many people flocked there on a regular basis. Even during the summer when the slopes were closed and the pool was open, the place was completely packed. I was curious to know what it was like that time of year.

I threw my bag over my shoulder and stopped as the hotel manager approached. He had a look of confusion on his face, and I reached out and shook his hand. We stepped to the side as several guests exited the resort to make their way to the slopes.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just needed a few days to myself, that’s all,” I said, smiling. “This is my favorite place to be, so I figured I’d come back here for a little R&R.”

“Very nice,” he said, smiling. “You deserve it. We got rave reviews about your instruction. If you’re ever thinking about sticking around for a longer period of time, let me know. I’m always looking for an awesome lead instructor.”

“I’ll definitely keep that in mind, thanks,” I said, shaking his hand again.

“Have fun while you’re here, and let me know if you need anything,” he said as he walked off.

My eyes moved across the parking lot as I turned to go inside, stopping for a moment as a girl was climbing into an SUV parked in the parking lot. She was tall and curvy, with long brown hair with tints of red, just like Bea. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, but I shook it off, remembering that Bea was gone, back home to her normal life. It would be too fateful if she were there right then. I shrugged my shoulders and walked inside, making my way to the desk.

There were a couple of guests ahead of me, so I took out my phone and texted Glen, letting him know I had arrived safely. I knew I needed to ask the receptionist about Bea’s information, but the guy behind the desk didn’t look familiar at all. He was tall with dark hair, perfectly cut and swept to the side. His outfit was perfectly pressed, and he screamed poster child of the resort. When it was finally my turn, I waited patiently for him to finish up what he was doing. The tag on his shirt read, Shawn, and I was hoping Shawn was willing to help me out.

“How may I help you, sir?”

“Yes, I am Cameron Phase,” I said. “I’m early checking into room 413, but I am going to be in the bar, so I was wondering if you could just let me know when the room was ready?”

“Absolutely, Mr. Phase,” he said, making a note. “Is there anything else?”

“No,” I said, stopping and turning back to him. “Actually, yes, there is.”

“What can I help you with?”

I hesitated, not knowing what to say or what to do. I didn’t want to sound like a creepy stalker, but I really needed to know if they had anything that would help me. I put my hand down on the desk and took in a deep breath, realizing it was now or never.

“I know I don’t recognize you from the Christmas holiday here, but I am one of the hotel’s freelance instructors,” I said.

“No, I was not here then.” He smiled. “I was training.”

“Gotcha,” I replied. “The thing is, I need some information on a guest that was staying here at that time.”

“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t just give that information out,” he replied. “There are rules and laws prohibiting that.”

I stood there staring at him for a moment, imagining myself like one of those mobster movies, grabbing him by the tie and slamming him down on the desk, demanding information. I knew that it would be a terrible waste of a vacation if I was kicked out before I even checked in, so I decided that slamming him down and beating it out of him probably wasn’t the best idea. Besides, I had Brian check on it anyway, and he had told me there was no trace of Bea anywhere. I guessed it just made me feel better finding that out on my own, seeing it with my own eyes. I didn’t want to make myself look like a crazy man, but I also knew that I needed to get this info. Why couldn’t the front desk clerk be some cute girl that I could flirt the information out of? Of course, that would be way too easy, and it would mean that I didn’t have to play Sherlock Holmes all week, trying to find her.

Nothing in my life ever really went easy, especially when it came to women. Even when I was just sleeping with them and not trying to lure them into a relationship, I always seemed to pick the clingiest ones. I rarely had a sexual encounter with a woman where she was perfectly okay with having sex and never talking again. Maybe Glen was right. Maybe I was a complete jerk, and this was my payback, my karma for ditching all those girls in the past.

“Can I tell you a story?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said, looking back up at me.

“I came to work here at the beginning of December, and I was sitting right there in that bar when I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen,” I said, pointing at the bar. “I looked for her for days, and then I came to find out she was in my instruction class. Well, one thing led to another, and I pretty much fell for her, like hard. We spent Christmas together, and then we spent New Year’s Eve together. Now, I’m not the type of guy that really ever falls for a girl. In fact, it has never happened before, but when I left this resort, I couldn’t keep her off my mind. I have to find this girl. I know for a fact that she is my future.”

“That is a lovely and romantic story,” he said. “However, no matter how heart-wrenching of a story it is, I still can’t give you information on another guest. I really like my job, and I would really not like to lose it. I’m sorry this is hard on you, and if there is anything else I can do, just let me know. Unfortunately, though, no matter how many stories you tell me, I can’t give you what you are looking for.”

“Damn,” I said, sighing. “All right, well thanks for at least hearing me out.”

“It was my pleasure, Mr. Phase,” he said.

“Please, call me Cameron, my father is Mr. Phase,” I said, grimacing.

“Of course,” he said, nodding his head. “I will let you know as soon as your room is ready. And good luck finding that girl. She sounds amazing.”

I nodded my head and walked toward the bar, deciding that a drink was definitely in order. As I passed through the doorway, I looked up, seeing Brian back there polishing glasses. He glanced up at me, doing a doubletake and then put the glass down and smiled big, reaching out his hand.

“Cameron,” he said, shaking my hand. “It’s good to see you, man. At the same time, it’s a bit confusing seeing you.”

“Yeah, I just needed a little vacation,” I said. “The holiday was really stressful on me.”

“Well, I figured that, but that isn’t why I’m confused,” he said.

“What is it?”

“It’s just, well, Bea was in here earlier asking about how to find you,” he said. “Like literally, she checked out just a few minutes ago, maybe fifteen minutes.”

“What? Shit.” I thought about the girl climbing in her SUV. “Hold on. I’ll be right back.”

I got up from the chair and ran across the lobby and out into the parking lot. I stopped and scanned the lot until I found the place that I had seen Bea just a half an hour before. Just as I figured, the car parked there was gone, and Bea was nowhere in sight. I went back into the hotel and moped my way across the floor, sitting back down in the bar.

“Did she tell you her last name?” I asked. “Or maybe she gave you a phone number? Anything would help me out here.”

“No, unfortunately, she didn’t give me anything,” he said.

“What about Hailey? You were seeing her while she was here. Do you have her number?”

“No, I mean, she bolted that morning since she was running late,” he said. “I never got the chance to get her number.”

“Damnit,” I replied. “This is insane. I really need to find her.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, she looked absolutely frantic to see you as well,” he said. “She didn’t even drink all weekend, except for some lemon water every few hours. Eventually, I just had a jug made for her and sent up to her room. She looked so tired.”

“Fuck,” I sighed. “I literally just missed her. And by that, I mean I saw a girl that I thought looked exactly like Bea climbing in her SUV before I got inside. I am pretty sure that was Bea.”

“No way,” Brian said, shaking his head.

“I just missed her,” I replied, taking a swig of my whiskey. “I can’t seem to catch a damn break.”

“Well, maybe she will come back,” he said. “I mean, I didn’t even realize her info might be in there until I saw her. But when I looked it up, she had booked everything under Hailey’s name because she gets special perks for being a frequent visitor.”

“Of course,” I replied.

This was starting to feel like I was running in circles.

Chapter 24

Eight Months Later

Bea

I stood at the hospital window, looking out at the beautiful October landscape. The trees were ablaze in vibrant colors, and I knew it wouldn’t be long until winter weather had knocked all the leaves to the ground and covered them with white once again. Until then, I got to enjoy a view that was strewn in oranges, browns, and fiery yellows. It made me miss home and sitting in my living room, getting a full view of everything around me. Soon, though, it wouldn’t be long until I could take Lily home from the hospital. Labor had been hard, but quick, and I was just glad that Hailey had gotten me there before I had her.

Once inside the hospital, Hailey fielded all the questions about where the father was while I focused on breathing through the pain. I wasn’t going to lie. Some of that pain was the absence of Cameron, and how much I struggled through the nine months that Lily was growing inside of me. However, I wasn’t angry with Cameron. He had no idea what was going on, and I had been the one to walk away without any ability to contact each other. It was the stupidest and most reckless decision of my life, and now, not only was I going to pay the price for it, but so was our daughter, possibly never knowing the wonderful man that I knew. I had spent the last eight months scouring the country for Cameron, always seeming to be two steps behind him, and never in front. It was frustrating as hell, but not surprisingly, they moved faster than I could investigate.

A small coo in my arms brought me from my thoughts, and I looked down at the face of my beautiful little girl. She wriggled in my arms, and I looked down at her, in awe that I created such a beautiful little human being. She was perfect in every way, from her dark curly hair to her eyes that at the moment matched mine. Up to that point, I had no idea that you could love something as much as I loved Lily, and I wanted so badly to share that with Cameron.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and laid Lily down, unwrapping her and then re-swaddling her blanket around her. She had the most perfect ten fingers and ten toes that I had ever seen. Her eyes glimmered in the lights, and her face puckered and released, waiting to be close to me once again. There was more of a rush of need to have Cameron in my life than there ever was before. I wanted to protect and provide for this little girl, and in fact, it was more than a want. It was a deep primal need that flooded me every time I looked at her innocent little face. She was given to me as a gift from the universe, and it was my responsibility to make the best choices I could on her behalf, and that included making sure that her father knew she existed. I knew how important that daddy-daughter bond really was, especially since I had a father of my own.

“Hey, hey,” Hailey whispered as she came through the door. “Where is that beautiful little girl of mine?”

She walked into the room, carrying bags of stuff, but she set them down on the bed and walked straight over to me and Lily, taking her from me and cradling her close. She was the only person in the world that I trusted with Lily, and I smiled as she baby-talked her. She was going to be a fantastic aunt to Lily.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore, tired, and overwhelmed.” I laughed. “But completely and totally in love with that little girl.”

“Well, all of those emotions make perfect sense.” She smiled. “Look in the bags. I brought you a change of clothes and some goodies like lotion and face cream. There is also makeup in there. I know you have to be in here for at least one night, but I figured you could at least look good while you were doing it.”

“You are like a guardian angel,” I said, shuffling over to the bags and pulling out a pair of stretch pants with a high waist and a big comfy sweater with a large turtleneck.

I had been lucky during my pregnancy, and I only gained a minimal amount of weight. I hadn’t been obsessed with it or anything. It just seemed I was one of those lucky women who could do that. Still, the empty belly I was carrying around was a bit awkward and uncomfortable. In reality, I was uncomfortable in the hospital, and all I wanted was to take my daughter back to my home and relax. I wasn’t sure, though, if even that would clear the ache in my chest for Cameron. It ran deeper than anything I had ever felt before, and even with the hormones trickling away, my yearning for him did not leave.

“Thank you for all of this.” I smiled. “I can’t wait until we can go home.”

“Are you all right, otherwise?”

“I don’t know.” I sighed, wrapping my arms around my body and walking back to the windows. “Cameron was on my mind through all of this, and I feel terrible that I haven’t had the opportunity to let him know. He should have been one of the people in the room with you, cheering me on, pushing me to get through this situation. I feel like I have failed Lily in the worst way.”

“Hey, you not having found Cameron before the birth was not your fault,” she said sternly. “You may have left without a phone number, but I don’t see him knocking your door down, either.”

“But why would he?” I asked, staring out at the trees. “I told him it wasn’t going to work out, and that it was better for us to stay out of contact. He had no idea that I was going to turn up, having given birth to his child.”

“I know, and you need to stop beating yourself up over it, Bea,” she said with caring in her eyes. “It isn’t too late, just because Lily is born. Now, you can relax and look for him, not feeling like you are on the clock.”

“I don’t know where else to look,” I said. “It’s like, for every two steps I take forward, he takes five. It has been incredibly hard without him.”

“I know,” she said, loosening her stern attitude. “I know it has. I have watched from afar, totally unsure of what to do to help you. I wished every day that you would wake up to a knock on the door or a phone call, or anything really. I could feel your pain and frustration a mile away. But you did good—amazing—and I am so very proud of you for what you have created.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, looking over at Lily in her arms. “I have never loved another human being as much as I love her. The feeling is absolutely amazing in so many ways. I just really feel like without Cameron, something is missing.”

“Well, then you will just have to go to Aspen and see him on New Year’s Eve,” she said with a smile.

I nodded and sat down in the chair, relieving the pain from labor. I knew that I should be resting, but my anxiety level was through the roof. I knew that Cameron was going to be in Aspen teaching, but what I didn’t know was whether he would be there waiting for me. I could show up, and he could have a completely new date for New Year’s Eve. He could have completely forgotten about us and our promises to each other for this special day. But that couldn’t matter. I needed to go under the assumption that there wasn’t anything between us anymore. My mission could no longer be for love, but for Lily, instead.

When I arrived in Aspen, I needed to keep my head held high and my feelings to the side. I needed to approach Cameron with love and caring, but my first conversation shouldn’t be about him and me. It should be about what has happened over the last year. I wanted him to know how hard I searched for him before Lily was born. I wanted him to know she had his hair and his adorable little nose. I wanted him to know that she needed him in his life. Then, and only then, would I allow myself to tell him how I felt for him. I had to come secondary now. That was one of my roles as Lily’s mother, always putting her first above my own needs.

“All right, momma,” Hailey said, walking back over to me. “It’s feeding time. And then you can put her down for a nap and use the goodies I got you. I have to head back into work for a while, but I’ll be available on my cell.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking Lily into my arms. “For everything. Really.”

“It’s no problem,” Hailey said, smiling. “I am more than thrilled to be this little girl’s auntie, and I am proud to be your best friend.”

We hugged, and she left, pulling the hospital door closed behind her. I grabbed the fleece throw she had brought over earlier and wrapped it around my shoulders, walking over to the chair by the window and wrapping myself up in it. Lily looked up at me as I prepared to feed her, and we settled in for her lunchtime.

“You know, little girl,” I said, talking to my daughter. “When I first saw your daddy, I thought he was the most handsome man I had ever met. Actually, I thought there was no way a man like that would be as sweet and caring as he turned out to be. Your daddy is a skier, a professional one of sorts. One day, I’ll take you out on the mountain and teach you to ski. We spent the most wonderful Christmas and New Year’s I had ever had to that point, right next to each other. Everything was more than perfect, and that was when you were created. When I left your daddy at the resort, I didn’t know that I was taking such an important part of him with me. He is strong and loving, and I know without a doubt that he will love you a much as I do.”

I leaned back in the chair and sighed, relaxing a bit so that Lily could get the milk that she needed. I knew that she wouldn’t remember me sitting here and talking about him, but it made me feel better. It made me feel like he was there, just on the other side of the door, waiting to be with us. I needed to feel him close right now because no matter how many times Hailey came around or how close I held Lily to my chest, it just felt like we were missing something very important in our lives.

I made myself a promise, then and there, that no matter what decision Cameron made, or even if I never saw him again, I would always tell Lily the beautiful things I saw in him. I would try to help her see him the way that I did in my head. When she got older, I would explain everything else. I hoped that it wasn’t going to be necessary, though. I hoped that Cameron would be there to show her himself how amazing of a man he was. I hoped that when I showed up on New Year’s, that everything wasn’t lost.

Chapter 25

A Couple of Days After Christmas

Cameron

I thought that when I got back to Aspen, my life would feel right again, but after spending Christmas with Glen drinking at the bar, thinking about what I was doing a year before, I realized the magic of the place had more to do with Bea than anything else. The days after Christmas had been long, too, wondering if she would show up, wondering what I would do if she did, or if she didn’t. My mind was better than it was in Utah, but I still sat around, alone in my room after work, thinking about Bea. I had gone several other places in Colorado after I missed her in Aspen, but I couldn’t even find a trail for her before it was time to get back to work. From then on out, I had just gone through the motions, working hard to relieve the stress from Glen, and spending most of my time alone. I would wake before anyone else, just to listen to the silence of the mountain.

I looked over at Glen who was sitting at the bar, laughing and talking with some of the other guys that worked there. This year wasn’t quite as packed as the year before, but the resort was still seeing almost record numbers. Our classes stayed steady, which made me happy. I didn’t like the downtime anymore. I liked to stay busy and ready. I had even considered coming up with a special on Christmas for Christmas Day skiers so that I could stay busy that day, too, but I felt bad because Glen purposely didn’t go home so that I wouldn’t have to be alone. We had some drinks, watched some football, and sat down at the restaurant for a good meal. I almost laughed to myself as I sat there, surrounded by the old couples eating their Christmas dinners without family as well. Had I reached my senility already?

The rest of my time there would be miserable, especially if Bea decided not to show up. I thought about what she was doing, about how her life may have changed over the course of the last year. I hoped that she had held onto me as strongly as I did her. I had a hope, knowing she had gone to Aspen trying to find information on me. I knew that she hadn’t given up by that point, so maybe she pulled through the rest of the year like I had. Either way, New Year’s was going to be nerve-wracking at best.

“So, have you figured out what your big plans for New Years are yet?” Glen asked.

“Um, a bottle of Jack and some bad television,” I said looking over at Glen, sitting at the bar. “I haven’t put much thought into it.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with me leaving?” he asked. “I can always fly my girlfriend out here.”

“Will you stop? It’s not like I am homicidal or suicidal, or even depressed for that matter.” I chuckled. “You have waited an entire year to ring in the New Year with a really great girl that has stood by your side, even though you decided to stay on with this job. Go home and be with her. You are a very lucky man for having something that fantastic.”

“Why don’t you come with me?”

“No.” I laughed. “You know I don’t do the whole family thing. Besides, I’ll be the third, grumpy wheel, and no one wants the third, grumpy wheel.”

I forced a smile to let Glen know that he was free to live his own life, and that I didn’t want my sad love story to affect his. I did know one thing. Something had to give. I couldn’t continue to live my life one step at a time, hoping that Bea was just around the corner. Everything I did, she was just outside my mind, waiting for that quiet moment to hit when I had nothing else to focus on. I hadn’t ever been this locked up over a girl, and I had to admit that it was kind of exhausting. I had many opportunities over the last year to pick up some really sexy women, but I just wasn’t interested. I felt like Glen did a year ago, when all he could think of was a different life, and the women that hit on him made no impact whatsoever. He was a really good friend, and I was really glad he was able to work things out with his ex-girlfriend. She was the one that had haunted him for years, just like Bea was doing to me.

“Have you heard anything about Bea yet?” he asked, knowing she was always on my mind.

“No.” I sighed. “Brian has been checking the guest check-ins every day, looking for her name or Hailey’s, but so far, nothing.”

“You think she will come?”

“I don’t know anymore,” I said. “Sometimes, I think that I’m on the wrong side of one-way emotions. I’ve told myself that I needed to hope for the best, but expect the worst. That way, I won’t be too crushed when I ring in the New Year on my own.”

“Well, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you,” he said, smiling and drinking the last of his whiskey. “All right, man. If you need me, call me. I’m heading out to the airport. I’ll see you on the flight to Utah after this, okay?”

“Yep, and try to have a blast,” I said, smiling. “You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“Thanks, man, and let me know if she shows up,” he said, smiling. “You are a good man, and she would be stupid not to. Only this time, don’t let her get away again, okay? I can’t take another year of your moping ass.”

“Get out of here.” I laughed turning back toward the bar.

Everything in me hoped that Bea would come back and be there on New Year’s Eve, just like she said she would. My entire year had been spent drowning in thoughts of spending another year lost in visions of this woman. Everything I had done, every lonely night, every drink of whiskey had, in reality, been me just trying to get through the days until New Year’s Eve again. It wasn’t until I arrived in Aspen and it all started to become reality that I was starting to question whether she would actually show up or not. I didn’t want to think that she had suffered like I had for the last year. It had been miserable. At the same time, though, I would give anything to have her walk through the doors just like she had done the first time I had laid eyes on her.

I would survive if she didn’t show up, but I knew that I would have to start picking up the pieces at that point. I couldn’t go the rest of my life waiting for a woman that didn’t want me. I had to pledge to myself that if she didn’t show up, I would pick myself up and move on, trying to find the man I was before I ever met Bea. I would wish her best and send those vibes across the mountains, but then, I would close the book.

“How you been holding up?” Brian was behind the bar, just like the year before.

“Oh, you know,” I said, drinking my beer. “Working, self-loathing, searching for Bea with no luck whatsoever, and hoping that she shows up this year like she said she would. That has pretty much been my entire year. Not one of the better ones, if you ask me.”

“I’m sorry you are going through this,” he said. “I know how it feels, and it isn’t pleasant.”

“With Hailey?”

“No,” he scoffed. “I knew Hailey was a wild card from the beginning. Our relationship was a bit more carnal than it ever was emotional. She was really cool, but not my long-term cup of tea. No, I meant my high-school sweetheart. We spent Valentine’s Day together last year, had an amazing time, and then she went back to school. We haven’t spoken since then, trying to keep separate lives since she is in college on the other side of the country. Every day, I wake up, and I think about that amazing night.”

“I hear you,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve replayed my first kiss with Bea so many times that my brain is tired. It was New Year’s Eve, right out there in the courtyard. The fireworks were going off, the love was in the air, and everything was absolutely perfect. I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t been the same man since then. In fact, those around me would probably describe me as a wreck. I spend my days trying to keep myself occupied and my nights laying around, just thinking about her, wondering what she’s doing at that exact moment. Sometimes, I step back from myself and shake my head, wondering what happened to the man that I used to be. I was wild and free, and just a couple days before I met Bea, I had told Glen how dumb he was for wanting to get into a relationship. She made me want to settle down, to think of things I used to push away, like family and the future. Now, I’m left just trying to clean up the mess.”

“Well, just remember that no matter how cheesy it sounds, the holidays have always been a pretty magical time,” he said. “If I were you, I wouldn’t give up hope just yet. You have a few days before New Year’s Eve. It’s not over until that ball hits the ground, and the countdown is over.”

I smiled at Brian and watched as he moved over to help some guests that were arriving. Maybe he was right. If I was going to carry this with me all year, the least that I could do is see it out until the countdown reached zero. I didn’t want to have another entire year of nothing but regret and what ifs. I wanted to walk into the New Year with either Bea on my arm, or the memory of her in the past. I needed a do over, a year that I could say was a good year. It didn’t need to be anything exciting or out of the ordinary, but it needed to be better than what it had been since I left this place a year ago.

I was going to forfeit my New Year’s kiss this year, hoping that if it did happen, it came from Bea. But if it didn’t happen, and I was left sitting alone in the snow, then I would pledge one hell of a New Year the next time it came around. As much as I wanted to continue to search for Bea, trying to find her to tell her how I felt, I couldn’t spend the rest of my life looking for someone that at that point probably didn’t even want to be found. There was nothing worse than chasing after a girl but having no one behind you, chasing you. I knew that the man I had been this last year wasn’t the man I wanted to continue to be. I didn’t want to end up that grumpy old man that never got married, never had kids, and all because one woman broke him so badly that he spent the rest of his life, mulling over her memories, and constantly hoping for a better tomorrow.

Brian was right, I couldn’t give up hope yet, but I knew if she didn’t show, that hope that I was clinging to so strongly would be gone in the blink of an eye. For now, though, I was going to sit there and enjoy my beer, trying to put the whole situation out of my head.

Chapter 26

New Year’s Eve

Bea

I pulled the SUV into the parking lot and stopped. I took a deep breath, looking around at the snow and skiers, wondering if Cameron was out there somewhere, waiting for me. There were so many memories attached to this place, and I could already feel my heart pounding in my chest. I looked back at Lily, who was sitting in her seat, cooing happily. She had made the journey with me so if Cameron wanted to meet her, she would be ready for him. I had already talked to the hotel about their childcare, but I was extremely nervous leaving Lily with strangers. The only person I had left her with so far was Hailey, and it was only for about an hour when I drove out to the grocery store to pick up food for the house. Hailey was different, though. She had been there since day one, learning how to care for a baby just like me.

Maybe I should have brought her with me so she could have watched Lily. That would have been nearly impossible, though, since Hailey was now seriously dating a guy from her office. They had planned out an entire evening with each other, and there was no way I was going to ruin it. She had offered to come with me, but I declined, telling her that she had given up enough of her life over the last year to take care of me. This was something that I had to handle on my own.

They had told me earlier this year when I came looking for Cameron that he was already booked to be here this year, but an entire year had passed. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure that he would actually be there, but I was working on faith to get me through. I had told him I would meet him here this New Year’s Eve, and that was exactly what I planned on doing. I wasn’t sure what I would do if I found myself ringing in the new year all by myself. I figured, if nothing else, if I couldn’t find Cameron that night, I would go back and snuggle Lily, bringing in the new year with her. She and I were a team, and we had already developed a bond that would last a lifetime. She had just experienced her very first Christmas, which was cute since we dressed Hailey’s boyfriend up as Santa Claus and took pictures of him holding baby Lily in the snow.

Lily cooed again in the back, and I could tell she was starting to get restless. I got out of the car and strapped our bags to my body before lifting her car seat out and covering her up with a blanket. We made our way inside the hotel and to the reception desk, where I checked in and headed upstairs. Before I went to the day care, I wanted to make sure we were both freshened up after that drive. I washed my face and changed Lily’s diaper before sitting down on the bed by the fireplace and letting Lily eat. Nervously, I packed her bag with extra diapers, bottles of breastmilk for feeding, and several changes of clothes just in case. She was the light of my world, and I didn’t want to let her out of my sight for even a second, but I had to approach the situation with Cameron delicately, if he was even here.

I walked out to the elevators, carrying Lily and her pack and play for her to nap in. I climbed inside and looked up at the numbers, remembering my stay on the fifth floor. This time, I was on the third floor, and although my room wasn’t quite as luxurious, it was still really nice. It was more than enough for Lily and me to be comfortable. And hopefully, if I found Cameron and everything went as I hoped it would, he would be joining us, too, or maybe we would join him in his suite. Either way, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Seldom did things ever actually go the way that I hoped they would, and I didn’t want to spend my time in Aspen in a ball of tears and baby diapers. I had to stay strong for Lily.

When the doors opened to the lobby, I took a big breath and walked across the marble floors to the concierge desk. He was talking to a couple of ladies about the best instruction to take, but I couldn’t hear him well enough to know whether he was talking about Cameron or not. I thought about asking, but figured I would know soon enough. Whether he was there alone or with someone else, my first task was to tell him about Lily, and then we could talk about my feelings for him.

“Hi,” I said to the concierge. “Could you point me toward the child care area?”

“Absolutely.” He smiled, looking down at Lily. “Right through the conference hallway at the end. You will know it when you see it. Trust me, it’s very colorful.”

“Thank you,” I said politely.

I made my way toward the corridor and glanced into the lounge, seeing Brian working busily behind the bar. He was too busy to see me, and I was okay with that. I was there for Cameron, not for socializing. Besides, the last thing I wanted to do was have to tell Brian that I had a baby, even before I had told Lily’s father. When I reached the childcare area, I smiled, seeing the brightly-colored walls inside the room. There were only two other children there, which made me feel better since I wanted to make sure Lily got the proper attention she would need. She was only two months old and not ready to be left on her own for very long.

At the front was a middle-aged woman, looking down at a stack of papers. I walked through the door, and she looked up, peering at me over her glasses. She smiled brightly at me as I approached, lugging the car seat along and setting it down at my feet. I reached down, unbuckled Lily, and pulled her out, handing the woman the pack and play.

“This must be beautiful little Lily,” the woman said, tickling her tummy gently. “And you must be Bea. It is so nice to finally meet you after all of our conversations.”

“You must be Mrs. Mouser,” I said with relief. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Well, come on,” she said cheerfully. “Let me show you around.”

We walked through the children’s area that I realized was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. She told me about their policies, about their closing times, and then explained that there would only be three or four children staying with her during the New Year’s Eve party. I was relieved since I wondered how one woman could take care of a room that full of kids.

“You look nervous,” she said, laying her hand on my arm.

“A little,” I replied. “You see, I’m meeting Lily’s father tonight. Well, at least, I hope that I am. We had a fling of sorts a year ago, and promised we would meet here tonight. We had no way to contact each other, so he doesn’t even know Lily exists. I’m going to fill him in tonight, as long as I can find him.”

“That is kind of romantic,” she said, lifting her eyebrows.

“I can’t deny that I hope there is some sort of romance involved,” I said, blushing. “But in reality, my first and foremost concern is for Lily. I am hoping that he takes the news well and wants to be part of her life. I know it will be a lot to put on him like this, but I have been searching for him for a year with no luck. This is pretty much my only shot at letting him know that he is a father.”

“It’s funny how our priorities shift when we have children, isn’t it?”

“It is wild.” I laughed. “I’ve never felt so sure about anything in my life. It is my number one priority to protect my child. Even though I know I could have just continued with my life, never telling him about her, I wanted to do what was absolutely the best for her. I am hoping he sees that and embraces her with everything that he has. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. I’m sorry.”

“No, please, don’t apologize,” she said. “I think that it is amazing that you are here, putting yourself out there for the sake of your child. You seem like a wonderful mother. And to be honest, Lily is one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. I’m sure that her father will be more than happy to embrace her as his own. Love between two people can often be complicated and messy, but your love for your children is never that harsh. The love for a child is open and free, and it is very rare that a man or a woman has to fight to feel that way about a child, even if that child is already born before finding out. I think that your daughter’s father is going to jump for joy, maybe not initially, but once he meets her, he won’t be able to stop himself.”

“Well, I hope so,” I said, smiling.

“In the meantime,” she said, smiling at Lily. “I am going to take very good care of that beautiful baby. I can give her some fun tummy time and turn on Baby Einstein and get her little brain moving and developing. Don’t worry. I promise that Lily is in excellent hands.”

I smiled and walked back over to the desk where I filled out a ton of paperwork and then kissed Lily gently on the face. I handed her over to Mrs. Mouser and stood there for a moment, not wanting to leave her at all. Sensing my reluctance to leave, the sitter walked over and put her hand on my shoulder.

“It’s okay.” She smiled. “You go now and get ready for tonight. It is quickly approaching.”

I smiled and shook my head, knowing that she was right. The hardest part was the fact that I was struggling to walk away. Once I was away from the room, I started to feel more comfortable and more at ease than I had moments before. I took the elevator back up to my room and took my dress off of the hanger. I showered and changed, looking at myself in the mirror in awe. Ever since my sixth month of pregnancy, I had been living in yoga pants and sweatshirts, but seeing myself standing there with my long, black, velvet dress cascading over my hips, my confidence started to show again.

Before I could lose that confidence, I turned and grabbed my bag and faux-fur shawl that I had brought to stay warm. I smiled kindly at the other guests passing me in the hall and made my way down to the lobby. I stood there on the marble floors for a moment and wasn’t quite sure where to start. I glanced over into the lounge, and Brian was there, pouring a row of shots. I clutched my purse tightly to my chest and walked into the lounge, smiling as Brian lit up. He walked around the bar and hugged me tightly.

“You look amazing,” he whispered. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Have you seen Cameron?”

“Actually, yes,” he said. “He just walked outside about two minutes ago.”

“Thanks,” I replied, picking up the bottom of my dress and racing for the door.

Carefully, I walked to the right, stepping inside the large footprints leading around to the courtyard. As I rounded the corner, I stopped, staring over at Cameron sitting comfortably on the bench. He was alone, and that alone made my heart skip a beat. Now, I just needed to make it through the hard part.

Chapter 27

New Year’s Eve

Cameron

I had put my tux on, even though I didn’t have a date to impress, and walked down to the lounge to get a drink. The crowd was already in the ballroom, but I didn’t feel like being surrounded by all of those people. I did a quick sweep of the room to make sure Bea wasn’t in there and then headed outside, figuring if she was going to find me anywhere, it was going to be where we first kissed.

I walked across the path, leaving large footprints in my wake. I sat down on the covered bench and stared out at the snow-covered slopes, lit up with bright colors. There was still twenty minutes until the countdown, but I had exhausted my anxiety, and I knew the best thing for me to do was to sit in one place and hope that if she came, Bea would find me. As I stared out at all the partygoers, my heart was starting to sink, feeling like I was destined for a night alone. However, as the thoughts passed through my mind, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes for a moment and smiled, making sure it was not just another dream.

Slowly, I turned in my seat and looked up at Bea, standing in the snow. She stepped back and placed her hands in front of her, her cheeks red from the cold. She looked absolutely stunning, and I felt like the words that I wanted to say were stuck in my throat. Her long, black, velvet gown moved over her hips and down into the snow. Wrapped around her shoulders was a fur shawl with a diamond snowflake pin stuck in the right corner. She grasped her hands tightly together in front of her, and I couldn’t tell if she was cold, nervous, or a bit of both. I looked up into her beautiful green eyes and smiled wide, standing up and taking her hands.

“Bea,” I whispered. “I didn’t think…”

“That I would come?” she finished for me. “I wasn’t sure that you would be here. In fact, I was terrified that I would find myself standing here all alone when the ball dropped. But I couldn’t believe you came. I have something I want to talk to you about. Something that has been in my life and on my mind for the last year.”

“Me too,” I said, taking her hands. “Come here. Sit down next to me.”

She smiled and allowed me to pull her over to the bench. Gracefully, she sat down and turned toward me, something different in her eyes. She looked almost scared to be there talking to me. I reached out and grabbed her arms, pulling her into me.

“Come here,” I said. “I am so happy to see you.”

“I am so happy that you feel that way,” she said.

“How have you been?”

“Busy, to say the least,” she said, smiling. “But I have to admit, a little lost.”

“I know how you feel,” I said, deciding that if I was going to tell her how I felt, it had to be then and there. Otherwise, I feared I would lose my nerve. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“You have?”

“Yes, for the entire last year,” I said. “In fact, when you came to look for me, I saw you, but I didn’t realize it was you until you had already left. We crossed in front of each other without even realizing it.”

“That is insane,” she said, shaking her head. “I thought everything was strange. When I checked in, Brian told me I was staying in the same room that you had stayed in during that month together.”

“That was you? The hotel couldn’t let me check in until the room was clean because they said a guest was staying there.” I laughed. “Talk about that little thing called fate.”

“Yeah,” she scoffed. “I’m starting to think that I may have been wrong about that whole thing. Maybe fate does have some sort of truth to it.”

“Look,” I said, taking her hands. “I want to tell you some things, and I need you to just listen. I am afraid if you talk back, I will lose my nerve.”

“All right,” she said with a worried look on her face.

“From the moment that I left you in your room and went to the airport, on that last morning together, I have felt completely lost,” I said. “There hasn’t been a day that has gone by that you haven’t been on my mind. There has been no one else since you, and I was starting to worry that I would never find anyone again. I searched and searched for you, but I didn’t have enough information to find you. So, I sat around, barely living for the last year, counting down the days until New Year’s Eve. I didn’t know if you would actually come here today, or if you would still feel the same connection that we had back then, but I couldn’t go another day without at least finding out how this would end. Bea, you are the first woman to ever make me want to change who I am. No, more than that. You are the first woman to ever change my mind about the things I thought so strongly about in my life. You have made me want to stop, to settle down, and to embrace a beautiful life that I know that we could have together.”

“Cameron,” she said quietly, putting her hand on top of mine. “You can’t even know how happy I am to hear you say all of these things. There are so many personal things I want to say to you about the way I feel about you, but first, there is something I need to talk to you about.”

“All right,” I said, feeling nervous. “You can tell me anything.”

“Well, for the entire month after we parted ways, I was miserable, wanting you, yearning to be close to you,” she said, lightening my heart. “Then one morning, I woke up, and I was terribly sick. Hailey had to come and get me up off of the floor of the bathroom.”

“Oh, no,” I said, worried. “Are you all right?”

“Well, I am now.” She smiled. “But I didn’t have the flu or food poisoning or anything else like that.”

“Okay, then what did you have?”

“I didn’t have anything,” she said. “I found out that I was pregnant. Immediately, I knew I had to find you, to tell you what was going on. I spent the last year trying to track you down, but I lost you at every turn. So, when it got to the point where I was too pregnant to continue chasing you down, I came to the conclusion that I would have to wait until after the baby was born, when I could meet you here in our spot and tell you everything.”

“Wait,” I said, looking into her eyes. “Wait just a second. Let me process this. You had a baby? You had our baby?”

“Yes,” she said calmly. “Her name is Lily Eliza, and she is a little over three months old. She has your hair and your nose, and she giggles at everything. I have to admit, at first, I was terrified, especially when I realized that I might not find you, but when I held her in my arms for the first time, I fell completely in love with her. I know this is a lot, and I didn’t come here expecting anything from you. I just thought that you had the right to know that you had a child out there.”

I turned and clasped my hands in front of me, staring down in the snow. I had so many emotions running through me that I could barely get ahold of all of them. I was in complete shock by this news. Suffice it to say, this was not anywhere in the conversation that I thought we would have. I took in a deep breath and absorbed the information into my brain. Then, I opened my eyes and turned back to Bea.

“Where is she now?”

“She is in the nursery,” she said, smiling.

“Here? Like in Aspen?”

“Yes, right inside.” She laughed.

“I have to meet her,” I said, standing up and smiling big. “I have to meet my daughter.”

Bea giggled and stood up quickly, looking at my face as if she were trying to figure out if I were serious or not. I turned to her and grabbed her, pulling her into a huge hug. She laid her face on my chest and let out a deep breath, something I felt like she had been holding since we left each other.

“I can’t believe that I’m a father,” I said, looking down at Bea. “This is absolutely amazing. Unexpected and a little confusing, but amazing nonetheless.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” she asked, reaching out her hand. “Come meet your little girl.”

I smiled and grabbed onto her, following her around the corner and back into the resort. The atmosphere of the inside seemed completely different than when I left, and there was an excitement in my chest that I just couldn’t shake. The colors were brighter, the laughter louder, and the fact that Bea was by my side was so amazing that I felt like I was in a dream. I followed her around the corner and through the corridor where the conference rooms were. At the end of the hallway, there was a brightly-painted room with the sound of children’s laughter coming from the inside.

“Well, hello,” a woman said happily as we walked in the door. “You’re back early.”

“We are,” she said, winking at the woman.

“Lily is in the infant room in her pack and play, listening to music and watching the mobile,” she said.

“Wait here,” Bea said, smiling before disappearing into a back room.

My palms were sweating, and I could feel my heart racing. I was about to meet my daughter, a little girl that I didn’t even know I had. As Bea emerged from the room, I took in a deep breath and watched her get closer. She stopped in front of me and smiled. I looked down at the most beautiful baby I had ever seen in my life. She was cooing and moving all over the place, and her little hands and feet were so cute, I wanted to eat them. I melted into a giant puddle right then and there.

“Cameron, meet your daughter,” Bea said, handing her over to me.

I held her tightly in my arms and looked down, watching her eyes search for me. She reached up and grabbed at my face as I leaned over and kissed her softly on the forehead. Tears pulled at the corners of my eyes, and I looked up at Bea in amazement. She had created this little life, and the whole time, I was thinking that she didn’t want me around. I had hoped for one love, and I had been given two. This was hands down the best New Year’s I had ever had. I knew right then and there that I wanted to be with Bea, and I wanted to be the father to Lily that I should be. This baby was now my life, and I couldn’t have been happier if I tried.

Chapter 28

New Year’s Eve

Bea

“Why don’t you guys come stay in my room?” Cameron asked, leaning over and kissing me on the forehead. “I have an adjoining office in my room where we can set up the baby.”

“That sounds perfect,” I said, laying Lily in her carrier and covering her with a blanket. “Let me just get her things.”

I walked around with Mrs. Mouser, collecting Lily’s bag and pack and play. My heart was racing a million miles a minute, and I couldn’t even catch my breath. That had gone even better than I could have ever imagined. Not only did Cameron tell me how much he cared about me, he embraced Lily with open arms. Now, some of that excitement might fade when he realized how hard it was to take care of a child, but I had complete faith that he was ready to be an amazing father to Lily. I walked back out, and Cameron took the bag and pack and play from me. I leaned down and picked up the carrier and thanked Mrs. Mouser for being so amazing.

We walked through the lobby as if we were actually a real family. Inside the elevator, Cameron was beaming, staring down at Lily as she gave a big toothless yawn. He laughed and looked at me with every coo, every twisted face, and every little stretch that came out of her. He was completely enamored by her. When we got to his room, I set up the pack and play in the office and carefully lifted the sleeping Lily from her carrier, kissed her on the forehead, and laid her down in her crib. I stared at her for a moment, so excited that my beautiful little girl wasn’t going to have to grow up without a father in her life. It was definitely a dream come true on many levels.

When I walked out of the room, Cameron was in bed with the blankets thrown back, waiting for me. I grabbed a pair of his boxers and a t-shirt and changed really fast, blushing, knowing he was watching me the whole time. I climbed into the bed and sighed, sinking down into the covers. I had almost forgotten just how comfortable these beds really were.

“Can we talk, or will we wake her up?”

“She is fine,” I said. “I’ve been playing louder music randomly throughout her daytime naps to get her used to outside noise. She is a pretty heavy sleeper, when she does sleep, that is.”

“Thank you for doing that on your own, and I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there,” he said shaking his head.

“Don’t apologize,” I replied. “I’m the one that didn’t even give you a chance to decide what you wanted. I do have to say, though, I’m so happy at the reaction that you had for Lily. I mean, I knew you were an amazing man, but I was terrified at what you might say or think.”

“I can understand how that might have been terrifying for you,” he said. “You carried this child on your own, without my support for nine months, and then you were facing the possibility of raising her on your own. That had to be scary.”

“It was, but not for myself, for her,” I replied. “I want her to have everything in this life, including a beautiful relationship with her dad. Now that you are here and happy, I can finally take a deep breath. I don’t think I have slept since the last time I saw you.”

“Me either.” He chuckled. “But I’m here now, and I will do everything I can to make up for lost time. Bea, I knew my feelings for you were stronger than anyone I had ever been with, before I ever even talked to you. When I saw you standing in the courtyard, I swore you were an angel sent by God. Everything that you touch turns to gold, and I am no exception. You have changed me in a way that I can never fully explain. You have made me a man instead of a boy. I want to thank you for that, and I want to tell you that I love you.”

He reached over and turned me toward him, grabbing my chin and kissing my lips softly. I leaned into his body, allowing a whimper to escape my throat, finally feeling Cameron close to me once again. I hadn’t fully realized the agony that I had been through over the past year until that moment. I never wanted to be separated from him again. I didn’t care if it meant Lily and I had to move or travel, or whatever he needed me to do. Before I could get any deeper in my thoughts, I felt his hands rub up my sides and across to my breasts, grasping them firmly over my shirt and massaging them as his tongue flittered across my lips. I reached forward with my mouth and nibbled gently on his bottom lip before pulling it into my mouth and sucking hard. He groaned at the feeling, his hands tightening even more.

I pulled my leg up over his hip and pushed my hips inward, feeling the light brush of his huge cock between my legs. Immediately after that, I could feel myself wanting more, wanting all of him, wanting to feel so close that we would never again be split apart. My breathing increased as his hands slipped under the edge of my shirt and touched my bare skin, sending pulses of electricity surging through my body. I reached my hands over and did the same, running my hands up his side and back down, pressing my fingertips in as I came back down. He groaned, and I could feel the goosebumps rising on his skin.

I sat up in the bed and pulled my shirt over my head, flinging it to the side. I reached down and undid his pants and pulled them off and to the end of the bed. He leaned up and pulled his own shirt off, watching me as I ran my fingers down his rock-hard body to the edge of his boxers. Slowly, I dipped my fingers inside and grazed the head of his cock, biting my lip and taking in a deep breath. I slid his boxers down and off of his body and reached down, grabbing his long, hard shaft. I looked over at him and then back down, leaning over and spreading my lips as his dick pushed through and down my throat. He groaned and grabbed onto the blanket next to him as he watched me suck his big, hard cock. Up and down I went, feeling his shaft grow stronger as it filled my throat, pulsating with each swipe of my tongue. As I pulled my head back up slowly, I sensually wrapped my lips tight and sucked hard in the back of my throat.

I could see his legs tensing with each bob of my head, and I turned, looking him in the eye as I slid back down, deepthroating his erection. He chuckled nervously, pulling his hand up to his face and grabbing his hair. He bit his lip as I came up to the top and paused for just a moment before going back down, listening to him let out a deep groan. Suddenly, I felt his hands around my waist, and he lifted me up, pulling my pussy toward his mouth. I reached down and tore my shorts away, feeling it as he slid my panties to the side and began to lick me feverishly. I moaned with a mouth full of his cock, feeling the warm, soft touch of his tongue swirling around my clit. Immediately, I started to move faster and faster on his shaft, taking out my inability to scream on his dick. He reached his hands forward and pulled my mouth free, pushing me up into a sitting position.

I screamed out, grabbing my tits and grinding my pussy against his face. He flicked his tongue wildly against my clit, and I watched as one of his hands stroked his cock while the other held on firmly to my hips, not letting me squirm away. I could feel the heat burning in my stomach as my hips moved back and forth, feeling the suction of his mouth against my nub. My juices ran through my folds, and his tongue lapped wildly at them. I breathed deeply, trying to control myself, but there was no use. I was going to come, and I was going to come hard.

“God,” I said breathlessly. “I’m gonna come, baby.”

“Yes,” he said, the vibrations of his deep voice bouncing off my clit.

As my hips moved faster and faster, I felt the heat in my stomach completely explode. I threw my head back and covered my mouth, feeling my whole body shaking with ecstasy. My pussy vibrated around his shaft as my juices flowed down it. I couldn’t move, my body was so engrossed with pleasure, and I moaned out as he lifted me up and laid me down on the bed. I was helpless to do anything but submit to his control, and I was perfectly okay with that.

He moved up close to me and kissed me gently on the lips as my body began to relax. I could feel the warmth of his body moving over me, and I spread my legs apart, welcoming him in. He grabbed the base of his shaft and rubbed it up and down through my juices before stopping and pushing into me. I gasped, and my eyes rolled back, feeling every inch of him moving deeper and deeper. He shifted up on his knees and pulled my legs up on his shoulders, reaching down and grabbing my hips. He thrust his hips into me, pulling me forward at the same time, his penetration filling my body with waves of pleasure. I breathed deeply and opened my eyes, staring up into his, the lust between us so heavy I could barely stand it.

Over and over again, he pulled me into him, driving deep and heavy inside me. His gaze stayed locked on mine, and I could see his jaw begin to clench. I reached my hands over my head and grabbed the headboard, keeping myself from sliding under his massive blows. He reached between my legs and grabbed his cock, pulling out and turning me on my side. He slid in behind me and lifted my top leg in the air with one hand, while gliding his cock back in with the other. He lowered my leg and reached around, rubbing my clit with his hand and breathing heavily into my neck.

Instantly, the fire was back in my belly, and I laid there feeling him moving rhythmically inside of me. His hands were gentle and slow, but his hips told another story. I leaned my face into the pillow and let out the sounds trapped in my chest, a choir of moans that flowed with the force of each thrust. His hips moved faster, his breath heavy, and deep grunts whispered into my ear. He then pushed deep and hard inside me and moved his fingers fast against my nub. He erupted inside, and so did I, feeling his cock pulsing, fighting the quivering of my pussy.

I grabbed his hand and pulled it up around my mouth, screaming into his warm skin, soaked in my juices. He grabbed tightly to my arm, every muscle in his body tensed as pleasure flowed through him rapidly. He thrust just two more times before letting out a deep breath and relaxing his body into a pile behind me. I breathed heavily, trying to slow my pulse before turning over and taking his face in my hands. I leaned forward and kissed both of his cheeks and leaned in toward his ear.

“I love you, too,” I said.

Chapter 29

Two Months Later

Cameron

I got out of my car and walked up the path toward the resort. The grounds were sparse with tourists, and the last of the skiing was being done. It was March, and a rather warm one at that. The slopes were getting harder and harder to keep white. It was the first time I had seen grass in Aspen, and I looked over at the courtyard and smiled, watching birds flutter around in the trees over the bench. There were tufts of bright green grass trying to push their way through, showing signs that an early spring was coming. Luckily for places like Aspen, an early ending to winter only meant an early start to the tourist spring and summer seasons. This place made money all year round, and they were perfectly happy to start changing over the seasonal staff.

Before I walked into the building, I pulled out my phone and opened up a text from Bea. It was a picture of Lily, smiling big with her gummy grin. She was five months old now and was really starting to get interesting. She loved to follow objects, pick things up, and drop them just to watch you pick them up again. She played with her rattle and listened to the noises, and she recognized my voice almost immediately now. Bea sent me little texts all the time, and it really did brighten up my day. They had been back at Bea’s house for over a week now, packing up the house and putting it on the market. We had decided that the best move to make would be to Aspen. It was a place that held some really amazing feelings for us, and since Bea could work from anywhere, we picked out a gorgeous house farther up on the mountain with amazing views.

I smiled and closed my phone, shoving it in my pocket and pulling down on my pea coat. I walked into the building and took off my coat, slinging it over my arm and fixing my tie. As I walked forward, I heard a familiar voice, one I had been working with for almost four years. It was the owner, Mr. Longhill. He had just gotten back from another run through his Bali hotel plans and was coming in just to meet with me.

“Cameron,” he said, seeing me walking toward him. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too, sir,” I said, shaking his hand.

“Come on, let’s go into my office,” he replied, turning back to the hotel manager. “Just fix it. Whatever it takes.”

I smiled at the manager and followed Mr. Longhill down the conference corridor and to the left, where he spent most of his time. I was kind of shocked that he put his office across from the daycare as I didn’t see him as much of a child kind of man. We walked into the large room, and he nodded at his secretary before passing through another set of large mahogany doors that led into his office.

“Take a seat, Cameron,” he said. “Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you,” I said.

“I’m really glad that you decided to join the team,” he said.

“I’m really grateful that you had a place for me here,” I said.

“How could we turn you down? You have been one of our greatest assets during the busy winter months, and now, you will be helping all year round. So, your official titles will be lead slope maintenance during the summer months, and Head Instructor during the winter months. You will be responsible for keeping the slopes nice in the warmer months, fixing any issues you come across. That way, when we hit the winter months, we aren’t scrambling to fix the slopes before the season starts. I really want a smooth transition.”

“That is perfect,” I said, smiling. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

“All right, then,” he said, standing up. I followed suit. “We will see you on Monday and start our planning for when the snow melts.”

“Perfect,” I replied. “And thank you again, from my entire family.”

“It’s my pleasure,” he replied.

I left his office feeling like a million bucks, so thankful that I had the opportunity to stay in Aspen full time. When I decided that I wanted to be part of this family with Lily and Bea, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to find a year-round position. Bea insisted she made more than enough for me to just work seasonally, but that wasn’t good enough for me. We had big plans for the future, and I wanted to bring in as much money as I could to help us reach those goals. Right now, we were just trying to get her and Lily moved into the new house and everything settled in and calm.

When I pulled up to the house, I smiled, realizing that Bea and Lily had come home early to surprise me. I looked at her truck as I walked toward the front door, seeing all the boxes packed inside. A thrill ran through my chest, knowing that the two most important women in my life were inside, waiting for me. I hurried inside, shutting the door and dropping my keys on the table. I slipped off my wet shoes and walked down the hall, seeing the beautiful sunlight streaming into the house from the floor-to-ceiling windows that Bea insisted we have. I had to admit, they were pretty amazing. As I rounded the corner, I stopped and leaned up against the doorway, watching Bea sitting next to Lily.

My little girl was having tummy time, and from the looks at how strong she was getting, it wouldn’t be too long before she was running around the house like a wild child, at least, if she turned out anything like me. Bea rolled her over on her belly and kissed her cheeks, talking to her softly and smiling. Bea looked up and met my stare, a huge smile crossing her face. She reached her hand out and signaled for me to join them. I grinned and walked forward through the dining room and down into the sunken living room. I got down on my knees and kissed Bea passionately, letting her know just how much I loved and missed her.

As my lips moved across hers, I stopped and opened my eyes, looking down at Lily. She was glaring up at us, reaching for me, little squeals coming from her chest. I chuckled and leaned down, kissing her gently all over her face and then blowing softly on her belly. She reached up and grabbed my face with her little hands and squeezed my cheeks, causing a deep belly to laugh to roll from my stomach. She squealed again in excitement as I laughed, my eyes watering at the corners. I reached over and grabbed her rattle and shook it in front of her, letting it go when she reached up with jerking movements and took it from my hand. Instantly, she put it into her mouth, and I smiled.

“I don’t think that’s where that goes, little panda bear,” I said, pulling it out and shaking it. “Make beautiful music, Lily.”

We sat there on the floor, letting the sun shine brightly over us, bringing the house to life for the first time since we closed on it. Sure, we didn’t have it fully furnished yet, and the boxes were still packed tightly, but I realized in that moment that none of that was what made a house a home. Inside these walls were two people that I loved with all of my heart, and what made the house really feel like a home were the sounds and feelings that were bursting through the open spaces. The sounds of Lily squealing and shaking her rattle, the laughter coming from deep inside Bea, and the chuckles that I couldn’t seem to get over when I was with them. Everything about who we were as a family unit made anywhere we went feel like home, as long as we were together when we did it.

Bea laughed and cooed at Lily, and I watched her interact with our daughter. It was like she was made to be a mother, someone who cared deeply for her child and wanted everything that she could give her to be perfect. She shined brighter than I had ever seen her shine when she was with Lily, and that warmed my heart. I had never thought in a million years that I would be settled down, buying a house, and working for one man, but this was the best thing that could have happened for me. In the end, it was also the best thing to happen to Glen.

When I told him, he was ecstatic, revealing to me that he had proposed to his girlfriend. He was going to talk to me about it when he got back. This got him off the hook, and we just dissolved the company. My days of traveling, living out of hotel rooms, and eating bad room service were finally over. At that moment, from where I was standing, that was an amazing thing, but if you had asked me two years before, I would have laughed you all the way down the slope.

I reached out and grabbed Bea’s hand, thinking about all the time I had spent in agony, wishing and hoping that she would find her way back into my arms. I pulled her close, lifting her up into my lap. She sat sideways, blowing kisses to Lily and turning to me, wrapping her hands around my neck. Her eyes shimmered under the light of the sun cascading over her face, the light reflecting off the streaks of red naturally intertwined in her long, brown hair. She smiled at me and leaned in, kissing me on the cheek. I smiled back and shook my head, taking in a deep breath.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I smirked. “You know, I really love you.”

“Thank you.” She laughed.

“No, I mean it. I love you without even the shadow of a doubt lurking nearby. There has not been one moment since New Year’s Eve that I questioned my feelings for you and how deep they truly run. You are the woman of my dreams.”

“You are the man of mine, figuratively and literally.” She laughed. “And I love you, too.”

I smiled and leaned in, kissing her lips and holding her tightly, my head resting on her chest. I listened as her heart beat steadily inside, pulsing the amount of love she had in her heart out into everyone within close range. It was amazing to me that over a year after she captivated me with her smile and her charm, she was still doing that today. I never got tired of her voice, of her giggles, and of her warmth. I never got tired of coming home and seeing her there by my side, excited to have me back home. I already knew that in the blink of an eye, fate had given me everything I needed in my life, but I just refused to acknowledge it at the time. There wasn’t a single part of me that missed my old lifestyle, not even for a second. I knew now that the men that complained about being in a committed relationship because they missed their freedom were never really in love with the other person. It took a cosmic connection, a partnership, and emotions that I couldn’t control if I wanted to, to make me never want to go back to my old life ever again.

I loved Bea, and I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.

Epilogue

Six Months Later

Bea

I tossed my towel over my shoulder and walked into the kitchen, laughing as Lily sat up and giggled at the cartoon on the screen. I turned back to the sink and finished rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher. I had finally found a rhythm between work, keeping up with the house, and taking care of Lily all day. Of course, I never had to do it alone. Cameron was on point every time he came home from work. He knew that I worked hard, too, and instead of treating me like a housewife, like Grant had done a lifetime ago, Cameron split everything with me, making sure we were partners and equals in our relationship. Truth be told, I loved having my little family. It was exactly I’d always wanted and more. The love I had for Cameron just kept growing, even when I thought I couldn’t love him any more than I already did.

Work was amazing, and they found that I had a real knack for writing romance. Not only was I still ghostwriting, but I had put out my own series of chick-lit with the publishing company. It was doing amazing, and this last book had hit the top ten within hours of going on sale. I never actually thought I would enjoy writing romance, but now that I wasn’t bitter and unhappy with my life, I had a lot to pull from. The first story I wrote was actually about my journey with Cameron, only I changed the names and added a few extra romantic gestures for the readers that liked the overload of love and mush. Cameron thought it was funny, and he read every book that I put out.

I looked over at Lily as I reached up to put away the coffee mugs. She was sitting quietly, playing with her new blocks with drool just dripping all down her chin. The poor girl was teething, and it was keeping her, and us, up at nights. I loved watching her grow, being so amused and enchanted by the smallest things in life. Lily reminded me to slow down, to take in the moment to moments, and to really stop and be thankful for everything that was around me. She made me see the world with a new light and a new curiosity, just like she did every day. I was almost jealous at how new everything was for her, and she wasn’t tainted by the Grants of the world quite yet. My hopes were that she would grow up to be strong and independent enough to never fall for the Grants of the world.

The house phone rang just as I was thinking about that, and I walked over and picked it up. The caller ID was from the resort, and I figured Cameron was calling to check in on his lunch break. Sometimes, he would call ahead, and I would fix lunch so that we could sit down together and eat. It was a nice treat, especially right now when the resort was getting ready for the normal end of October winter weather. The jump off to ski season was right around the corner, and I was happy for Cameron because that meant he could start teaching again.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey Bea, it’s Brian,” he said.

“Oh, hey, Brian. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, yes,” he replied, calming my nerves. “I was calling to ask you if you would pack up Lily and come up to the resort? Cameron needs you up here.”

“Um, okay,” I said, looking over at Lily. “What’s this all about?”

“Honestly, I really don’t know,” he said, sounding suspicious. “I was just asked to give you a call and have you come up. Do you want me to send a car?”

“Um, no, I can drive,” I replied. “Give me about fifteen minutes, and we’ll be over.”

“Great, see you soon,” he said, hanging up before I could ask any more questions.

I clicked off the phone and looked down at it with curiosity. Why in the world would Cameron need Lily and me to come to the resort in the middle of the day on a Tuesday? I shrugged my shoulders and walked into the living room, scooping up Lily and taking her upstairs to get ready. I brushed my hair and threw on a t-shirt and jeans with a light jacket. I changed Lily’s diaper and packed a diaper bag full, just in case we ended up being there all day. Before I left her room, I checked my phone to see if Cameron had texted me. It was so strange and so very vague, but I had agreed to come, so I figured why not?

I slung the diaper bag over my shoulder and picked Lily up, carrying the car seat out and snapping it into its base. I fastened Lily in, realizing she may be getting ready to move up a size in car seats, and I shook my head and sighed, wishing she would slow down already. I went around the car and climbed in, starting it and pulling down the driveway. We only lived about ten minutes from the resort, but in the opposite direction of the town, so the view was beautiful, and the drive was always pleasant.

As I made my way there, my mind skipped all over the place, from worrying that something was wrong, to wondering what in the world Cameron was up to. It wasn’t often that we surprised each other with anything, except maybe an extra hour of sleep on the weekends. Nonetheless, I needed to turn off my brain. I didn’t want to ruin whatever it was that he had in store. When I got to the resort, I parked the car and lifted Lily out of her seat, putting her on my side and grabbing the diaper bag. As I walked forward, I saw some bright neon yellow signs stuck in the ground, which was not at all like the resort. They were very neat and orderly all the time. As I got closer though, I realized that the message written on the sign was for me.

“Bea, turn right here,” the sign read.

I turned right, looking around to see if I could see anyone, but I was all alone. I followed the stone steps down the side of the building and stopped at the next sign. Cameron had planned something, but I couldn’t possibly imagine what for. It wasn’t our anniversary or my birthday.

“Keep going until you reach ‘our spot,’” the next sign read.

I took a deep breath and smiled, thinking about the courtyard where we had made all the most important decisions in our lives. Even when we decided to buy the house, we brought the papers to the bench and sat there reading them, enjoying the warmer spring temperatures. When I rounded the corner, I stopped, frozen in my tracks. I looked around the courtyard in awe at the paper flowers that had been strung through all the branches of the trees. The iron bench that we normally sat on was covered in a red cloth, and there was a sign that read, “Stop here.” I turned and looked at Brian, standing at attention in his tux.

“This way, madam,” he said, offering his arm and walking us over to the bench.

He nodded his head and walked back to his position, staring off at the mountain. I scrunched my eyebrows and giggled, looking down at Lily who was laughing as the paper flowers flowed with the still warm breeze. I looked up at the sound of footsteps and smiled, watching Cameron walk in front of us, dressed up in his New Year’s Eve tuxedo.

“Thank you for coming,” he said, smiling and walking over to me. “I remember exactly what you looked like when you were standing here in the snow, wrapped in your white bubble jacket, your tight jeans, and your fur-topped snow boots, looking around with Hailey. I remember what you looked like when you laid in my arms as the fireworks shot off over our heads and our lips touched for our very first kiss. I remember what you looked like dressed in that black velvet gown, coming to tell me the most important announcement of my life. I remember sitting here, going over the paperwork for our first house together, and now, I will never forget what you and Lily look like, sitting here now.”

Cameron sat down next to me and looked up at the slopes across the way, still filled with green grass and life. He took a deep breath and looked down at his hands, obviously nervous about something. I reached over and touched his hand, smiling and nodding my head.

“Everything in my life had been a whirlwind of events, starting from the first time I picked up a pair of skis,” he said. “When you came into my life, it immediately calmed, leaving a man with dreams, aspirations, and a whole lot of love to give. Just in the short time we have been together, you have given me so much. You have shown me what it means to love someone. You have given me the courage to push myself to the next level. You have shown me patience and caring, even in the moments I might not necessarily deserve them. And most importantly, you gave me our little girl. The two of you light up my life like nothing I have ever experienced before.”

He stood up. “Do you see that mountain up there?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, watching as people moved across it.

One by one, they each held up a sign with big, bold letters on them. I stood up and took a few steps forward, tilting my head. The message read, “I Have a Question.” I scrunched my eyebrows together and stood there for a moment, trying to figure out what that was supposed to mean. I turned back to where Cameron was standing, lowering my eyes down and finding him kneeling in front of me. In his hands, he was holding a black velvet box.

“Here, let me take her,” Hailey said, popping out from nowhere and smiling big at me.

“Bea, beautiful Bea, I could barely go a year without you in my life,” he said. “Seriously, one day more, and I was pretty sure I was going to lose it. I can’t think of anyone on this earth that I would rather spend my life with, grow old with, and flutter off into the stars with. So, please, please, will you be my wife?”

“Yes,” I shouted out in a mixture of laughter and tears. “Of course, I will.”

Cameron stood up from the ground and scooped me into his arms, tears flowing down his cheeks. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, feeling every ounce of my love for him beating in my chest. He sat me down and softly kissed my lips, pulling away and slipping the beautiful diamond ring onto my finger. I shook my head as it sparkled in the rays of light cascading through the branches. Hailey walked over smiling, and handed me Lily, kissing me on the cheek. I beamed from ear to ear and then gasped as Lily muttered “dada” under her breath.

I looked up at Cameron and smiled big as he pulled us both into a hug. This was everything I had ever dreamt about. I had the man of my dreams, I lived in the most beautiful place ever, and I had an amazingly smart and beautiful daughter. Fate had finally gone and done it, proving me wrong and bringing everything I ever wanted into my life, in a messy but perfect package. I looked up into Cameron’s light brown eyes, and my heart fluttered all over again, like the first time we met.

“I love you, Bea,” he said.

“I love you, too, forever,” I replied.

* * *

* * *