Page 64 of Better Together

“Why are you outside? I would have knocked,” Alexis chastised her friend.

“I know. Come on. I need your help. I have something at my old cabin I need to bring to Ethan’s.”

“So, we’re walking over?” Alexis looked at her best friend bundled to the hilt in cold-weather gear. With her cute headband and matching mittens, her outfit screamed “adorable snow bunny.”

“Yeah. Will you be warm enough? I have extra mittens.”

“Nope, I’m good. Let me grab my headband and gloves from the truck.” She turned and reached into the cab. “Okay, I’m ready,” she said, pulling them on.

“Great.” Maggie, clearly involved in texting someone, quickly stored her phone in her jacket pocket. Her smile hinted that she was up to no good.

The resort in winter reminded Alexis of a magical fairy tale. The snowflakes that had fallen this morning were now glistening in the beams of light from the cabins. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

Maggie stopped at cabin twelve, where she had lived before she and Owen bought the family home. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Alexis noticed a man walking out of the woods. Not just any man, but the man she couldn’t get enough of. How had she not noticed the trail of lights leading through the woods? She stood frozen in place.

Zeke came to a stop in front of Alexis and his sister, but his focus was all on Alexis, the woman he wanted in the worst way. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Alexis said.

“Well, that’s my cue to leave.”

Zeke heard the words Maggie spoke but didn’t comment, then heard Maggie’s footsteps crunching on the snow behind him as she walked toward Ethan’s place. He reached out for Alexis’s gloved hand. He gently tugged and nodded toward the illuminated trail. “Come with me.”

“Aren’t we going to Paige and Ethan’s?” Alexis sucked on her lower lip, and all his attention was drawn to her mouth.

“Yes. But I have a surprise for you.”

Zeke cupped her face and kissed her. Feeling the warmth of her lips, his insides and extremities heated. He pulled back and gazed into her glacial blue eyes. “Do you trust me?”

“I do.”

He smiled at her choice of words, took her hand, and led her through the pine trees, holding her close to his warm body.

“Zeke, I thought maybe we could ditch everyone and enjoy some alone time. I hoped maybe we could go back to your place.” When Zeke didn’t respond, she hurried on. “Did you get my text? Did Maggie explain about date number four?”

He looked down at her and kissed her forehead. “I’m well aware of date number four. I want to show you something first.”

She giggled. “I’ve already seen it.”

Alexis was his one. She made him laugh. “Well, yes you have, but I have a different surprise for you. Although I think the latter could be arranged.”

He knew the minute she noticed the incredible treehouse. She stopped and squeezed his hand, her eyes wide open.

With the help of his friends and family, he had organized the building of the treehouse in record time. Tears streamed down Alexis’s face as she moved closer to the string of lights that shone on the carved sign at the stairway entrance. The sign read “KEEP OUT,” and in the bottom corner, their initials, ZR plus AW, were surrounded by a heart.

Alexis wiped at her tears, her eyes blurry. She removed her glove and traced the heart. She looked to Zeke for answers.

“How did you know?”

“How would I not know? We’ve been friends a long time. So, you like it?”

“You mean the amazing fortress high in the trees? The sign? Or the sexy, handsome, loving, and kind man in front of me?”

Alexis wrapped herself around him. “I love you, Zeke Reynolds.”

After she released him, he said, “Follow me.”