‘We did have fun, didn’t we? It wasn’t all bad,’ he murmured.
Her stomach flipped over.
It had been glorious. A daisy chain of perfect hours. He had made her laugh and dream and live.
‘It was never bad,’ she said quietly.
Not until the end.
Now, more than anything, she wished she could change that.
Maybe this would make that wish come true?
‘Your choice, Nia.’
She glanced down at the disappearing ATVs and then moments later, the car crested the slope.
Beneath them, the estate stretched out towards the Cairngorms in the distance. Even after all these years it still took her breath away, and always when she came up here she felt humbled.
It was epically beautiful.
But that wasn’t why her heart was knocking against her ribs. After everything she’d promised herself this morning, she’d almost lost her head again a moment ago when they were talking, but now his eyes on hers were clear and determined.
‘I’ll get the sledge,’ he said softly.
Tiny shavings of snow fluttered past her eyes. It would be too risky, too easy to lose track of time. They should come back tomorrow, or another day.
But she couldn’t say the words out loud—didn’t want to risk losing the sweetness of this renewed intimacy.
And yet… ‘The forecast is for more snow—’
‘Come on, Nia,’ he urged. ‘When was the last time you had some fun?’
That was easy. She knew the day…the date. She could probably tell him the exact time too. It had been a day just like this—a day of pure white snow and happiness and wonder.
How could she resist that? Him?
Five minutes later she was standing at the top of the hill, gazing down the slope.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
She nodded.
Farlan was beside her, his green eyes glittering. Taking her hand, he pulled her onto the sledge, slotting her in between his legs. His arm curved around her waist, anchoring her close to him.
She had missed this.
She had missed him so much.
And it felt so right—as if their bodies recognised each other.
He brought his face close to hers and she felt his stubble graze her cheek.
‘Hold tight,’ he instructed.
Time rewound. She was back in Holyrood Park and Farlan was in love with her. He was seconds away from asking her to marry him.
She was trying to stay strong, detached. But his nearness suffocated her resolve…her senses reacted dizzily to the snatch of his breath and the smooth muscles of his thighs on either side of hers.