The cab rounded the corner and headed up through Frostville Mansion’s front gate, and Will took his phone out.
Mel and Alexander are a match! the text read, and he grinned and tucked the phone away, knowing he could celebrate with her in person. After he kissed her senseless, of course.
He hadn’t realized how long the drive was from the front gate to the actual mansion. Plenty of times he checked the clock on the dash, bouncing in his seat with the urge to open the door and run the rest of the way. When the mansion appeared from out of the trees, he unclicked his seatbelt and grabbed his wallet, making for a quick exit.
The cab pulled through the roundabout, and he tossed the driver his money. “Could ya drop the bag just outside there?” He nodded to the front door. “Thank you, sir.”
“Hey, thank you,” the driver said, his voice fading as Will flew from the car. He didn’t know how much money he ended up handing over, but apparently it included a large tip.
Unsure if he should just walk in or not, he decided to knock. “Winter?” he called, like she’d somehow miraculously be right at the front door and not in one of the billions of rooms.
The knob turned, and he stood back, rocking on the balls of his feet.
“Mr. Monroe,” Hansen said, his brows high. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to see Winter,” he rushed, then took a breath. “If… if she’s available of course.”
He frowned, the first expression other than the intimidating stare he’d seen from the man. “You just missed her, sir.” His hand motioned to the side of the mansion. The cabbie put Will’s bag down, and Will held up his finger, asking him silently to wait.
“You know where she went?” he asked. He’d give the cabbie whatever was in his wallet to have him follow her.
“Alabama.”
He jolted back. “What?”
Hansen nodded. “Sorry, sir. She just left.”
“When?”
“Moments ago. She’s probably still on the way ou—”
Will turned to the cab driver. “Can you follow her?”
“What’s she driving?”
They both looked to Hansen.
“Silver Dodge sedan.”
“Thank you.” Will pulled Hansen into his arms, surprising himself with the sudden burst of affection. “Thanks a ton.” Then he grabbed his bag and raced back to the cab, but before he got to the door, a reflection of silver caught his eye.
“Mr. Monroe!” Hansen called from the porch, pointing at the silver sedan heading down the drive. Will nodded and ran for all his life was worth.
“Winter!” he called out, his voice raspy and weak. He promised himself then and there that if he caught her, he would dedicate a month to the gym.
Okay, maybe a week.
“Frosty!”
The red brake lights were a sign from heaven, and the sedan pulled to a sudden stop. His feet quit moving, and he bent over to catch his breath. The passenger door opened, and a dainty leg with a ridiculous heel attached to it appeared.
“Will?” she said, an adorable shocked smile on her face. He stood up, chest heaving.
“Hey.”
Her laughter met his ears, cutting through the pounding of his heart. “Hey.”
“Heard… you… were… headed…” His voice was lost to his breathing, and so he just pointed to himself. Her heels clunked against the cobblestone, her ankles wobbling the slightest bit as she made her way slowly to him.
“Alabama’s supposed to be nice this time of year, I hear.”
“It’s nice… every time of year.”
Her gray eyes batted, her teeth coming out over that plump bottom lip. “Then why aren’t you there?”
He lifted a shoulder, unashamed to admit it. He wasn’t going to let her slip through his fingers this time. “Didn’t feel like home anymore.”
A blush ran through her cheeks, and he made his way forward, meeting her halfway.
“So, where is home, then?” she asked. He reached for her hand, clasping her gently before lifting it to her heart.
“Pretty sure it’s right here.” His lip tilted up. “If that’s a’right with you.”
Her smile turned evil. “I guess I can take your grumpy butt a little while longer.”
He chuckled, cupping her cheeks and dropping his lips to hers. An adorable squeal of surprise or joy came from the back of her throat, and he couldn’t help but smile, his hands keeping her mouth pressed with his for as long as she’d let him. He hoped it would be forever.
A small laugh spilled from her lips when they broke apart to take a breath. Her fingers grazed his face. “This really isn’t soft, is it?”
“You want me to grow it out?” he said, wiggling his nose against hers.
“Heavens no.” She gave him a peck. “It’s probably better for business.”
“What do you mean?”
“Making pizzas. No one wants to find a beard hair in there.”
His brow pulled in. “Well, I don’t think I’ll be making those for a while.”
“And why not?”
He wrapped her up in his arms and put his forehead against hers, taking in her cinnamon scent. “My priorities are a bit different now.”
Her hand slithered up his chest and settled on his beating heart. “Well, I think we can arrange something that’ll work for the both of us.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “But for now, let’s kiss again, then you and I hop in the car over there.” She gestured to the sedan where Michael was now standing. “And give your sister a happy ending, too.”
Will’s brow pulled in, but after a good few seconds, the things he’d noticed about Michael and Bells started to fall into place. He bent down, grabbed his duffel bag, and slung it over his shoulder.
“You got it.”
And they kissed in the drive until Michael begged them to get going.