Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“She flew down that hill like a pro!” Ronin glanced over at me with a smile. “And she climbed right back up and did it again.”
“No freaking way.”
“Yep, she did great until that last run.” He reached over and placed his hand on my thigh. “She took the dip a little too fast, and she went sailing into the air. She scared me. I thought she’d really done a number on herself, but she bounced right back up.”
Nathan turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“He’s exaggerating. It wasn’t that big of a hill.”
“Oh, don’t listen to her. It’s a beast,” Ronin teased. “I’ll take you guys sometime, and you can see for yourself.”
“When?” Nathan pushed.
“I don’t know.” Ronin shrugged. “We could go tonight if you guys are up for it.”
“Seriously?” Nathan quickly turned to me. “Can we go?”
The schools were closed for inclement weather, so I answered, “Um, yeah. I don’t see why not.”
“Yes!”
And just like that, the kids popped up from their seats and started gathering their cold-weather gear. Ronin chuckled as he stood and said, “I guess that means we’re going sledding.”
“It would appear so. Do you have the sleds with you?”
“No, but I can have one of the prospects carry them over.”
“Okay, great. I guess I’ll go get ready.”
After we cleared the table, I went to get ready. It was pretty cold out, so I grabbed some extra gloves and put on an extra hoodie. By the time I was dressed, the kids were ready and waiting by the door. They were all bundled up in their thick winter coats, scarves, and waterproof mittens, and they couldn’t have looked more excited.
We headed outside, and the kids exchanged excited glances as they hopped into the backseat of Ronin’s truck. The snow-covered roads were a bit dicey, so he drove extra carefully up to the same spot he’d taken me on our first date.
As soon as we were parked, the kids jumped out and gasped as they looked over at the hill. I couldn’t blame them. It was pristine, untouched by any previous tracks, and the glistening snow seemed to beckon us all to be the first to glide down its stealthy slope.
A prospect had left four sleds over by the big tree. I grabbed them and brought them back over to the kids, and there was no missing the excitement in Nathan’s voice as he took his from my hand and announced, “This place is awesome!”
“Yeah, it is,” Ronin agreed. “I’ve been sledding down this hill since I was your age, and I can guarantee that it’s the best spot around.”
With sleds in hand, we started for the top of the hill, each step accompanied by the crunch of snow beneath our boots. Once we reached the edge, Ronin turned to Nathan with a twinkle in his eye. "Ready for a wild ride?"
“Heck yeah!”
The children's cheers echoed through the valley as they launched themselves down the hill, and I couldn’t help but cheer right along with them. They flew down that hill with big smiles on their faces, and when they reached the bottom, they jumped up and yelled, “That was awesome.”
Ronin chuckled as he said, “I think they like it.”
“They most certainly do!”
My heart swelled as I watched my sweet children hike back up the hill with big smiles on their faces. A memory was being made, and Ronin had given it to them. I stepped over to him and slipped my arm around his as I whispered, “Thank you for this. They are having such a great time.”
“No need to thank me, babe.” He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “I’m enjoying it as much as they are.”
“I know.” I looked up at him, and I was overcome with emotion as I told him, “And that’s why I love you.”
“I finally did it.” He smiled proudly. “I wore you down.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Well, I got news for you. You wore me down, too.” He slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. “I love you, Maggie. I love everything about you, including your kids.”
He pressed his lips against mine, and I was putty in his hands. His tongue drifted over my bottom lip, and with a slight whimper, I opened my mouth, giving him access to delve deeper. Unconscious of my own movement, I leaned towards him, and in a matter of seconds, we were both lost in the moment. It was like the world around us had just disappeared, and it was just him and me.
Until Nathan yelled, “Ewe, gross.”
“Sorry, man.” Ronin stepped back with a chuckle. “I just couldn’t help myself.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Nathan positioned his sled at the edge of the hill. “Just be good to her, and we’re good.”
“Planning on it.”
Nathan nodded, then jumped on his sled and flew down the hill. He and Samantha went several more times, and then Ronin and I joined in. Our laughter echoed through the night air as we both hurtled down the snowy hill. Ronin was laughing like a kid on Christmas morning as he watched me fall off my sled for the second time.