“That’s because I trust you. I’d follow you anywhere.”
He flipped on the light switch. The A-frame space lit up with countless strings of lights. Some draped the walls, and others hung straight down from the ceiling. The walls were covered in photographs he’d collected from friends and family, chronicling both their lives. The bed in the center had a tall footboard, so they could brace their feet, when they lay on their backs and talked.
“It’s our treehouse.” Her voice was filled with awe. She turned towards him. “You recreated our treehouse.”
“Only higher tech.” He pressed a button and the visors covering the sunlight and windows retracted. The moon shone directly overhead.
She sucked in a breath. “This is magnificent. It’s…Oh, my God.” She found the framed photos and headed to the wall. She gasped when she saw the original plank of wood. Tracing her finger over the quote, she said, “You saved this?”
He nodded, warmed at her reaction.
And then she read it. “When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.” Tears spilling onto her cheeks, she caressed the words. “I can’t believe you did this. It’s the most amazing gift I’ve ever gotten. I love you so much.” She turned to him to find him down on one knee, a ring in his hand. “Are you kidding me? You’re proposing? Yes, of course yes. A thousand times yes.” She rushed over to him, flinging herself into his arms.
She knocked him back on his ass and the ring went flying. Only this time, with her cupping his face and pressing kisses everywhere, he didn’t worry about it. He just basked in all the love and joy pouring out of her.
“I love you so much, Cassian. Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, yes, yes.”
He’d never felt fuller, more complete.
He belonged with this woman. And she belonged with him.
Taking in the treehouse he’d recreated, he smiled. Because he’d done it.
He’d built them their palace.
Also by Erika Kelly
Thank you for reading IT WAS ALWAYS YOU! It’s the fifth book in the Calamity Fall series:
KEEP ON LOVING YOU
WE BELONG TOGETHER
THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
IT WAS ALWAYS YOU
WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
Have you read the Rock Star Romance series? Come meet the sexy rockers of Blue Fire:
YOU REALLY GOT ME
I WANT YOU TO WANT ME
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
MORE THAN A FEELING
And Erika Kelly’s super passionate Wild Love series:
MINE FOR NOW
MINE FOR THE WEEK
MINE FOREVER
Look for the next Calamity novel—WHOLE LOTTA LOVE—coming in June 2020! Sign up for my newsletter to find out when it goes up for preorder and come hang out with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Pinterest or in my private reader group.
Would you like to find out how Dean found the love of his life in a combat boot-wearing princess? Get PLANES, TRAINS, AND HEAD OVER HEELS!
Keep on Loving You
Here’s the first chapter from KEEP ON LOVING YOU, the first book the Calamity Falls series.
His boots crunched on fresh, wind-blown snow, his toes were numb, and if Fin Bowie wasn’t tied by a rope to two people, he’d jump on his board and ride the spine down to base camp.
He had to get home. He’d already missed the bachelor party; he damn well wouldn’t miss the wedding.
June snow squalls were uncommon enough, but lasting a week? The moment they’d passed, he’d called for the helicopter, so with any luck it’d be waiting for them. He’d head straight to the Innsbruck airport and catch the last flight out.
“One mile to freedom, boys.” Traci Allen, the two-time Women’s World Games snowboarding champion who led the way down the mountain, shot Fin a glance over her shoulder. “Loved coming with you but, man, do I want to get home.”
“I want meat,” one of the guys said. “It’s all I can think about. A thick, juicy burger. Salty fries. And a frosty vanilla milkshake.”
“Vanilla?” someone else said. “Who orders vanilla?”
The storms had prevented them from receiving their last supply drop, so they’d run out of everything. Fin had downed his last protein bar two days ago. Yeah, he was hungry. He’d grab whatever they had at the airport. But he didn’t have food on his mind.
The chain of flights—Innsbruck to Paris, Paris to Denver, and then Denver to Calamity, Wyoming—would take thirty-three hours total. If nothing else went wrong, he’d make the rehearsal dinner.
Which meant, for the first time in six years, he’d be in the same room with her.
Callie.
Adrenaline burst at the base of his neck. Knowing her, she’d only be in town for the weekend, so if he missed the wedding he’d miss his chance to talk to her. And he had to talk to her. He couldn’t stand this silence between them.
Couldn’t stand what he’d done.
His one fatal decision…Jesus, it crawled all over his skin like fire ants, stinging and making him burn. A constant reminder that he couldn’t take it back…and it drove him out of his mind.
He had to make it right, once and for all.
At least this time she couldn’t avoid him. Not at her brother’s wedding. His pulse spiked at the thought of seeing her again. She’d probably get in his face, all snarky and sarcastic. Yeah, that’s Callie. Call him out on his shit. Like she should’ve done at the time.
Because, yeah, he’d screwed up—colossally—and that was on him, but she’d never let him apologize, and that was on her.
An image sprang to mind of Callie laughing, her whole body shaking with it. Her platinum hair wild and tousled after a trail ride. Just like Callie herself. Wild, fierce. Uninhibited.
His body vibrated with anticipation.
“I don’t know how you can think about anything other than a hot shower.” Bram, his videographer, was the oldest and most civilized of all of them. “I stink so bad my eyes are watering.”
“I want to get home.” Fin hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Aw.” Traci tipped her chin to the treeline. “Looks like you’ll make it.”
Thank Christ. He’d get to be Ryder’s best man…
And be with Callie. Energy blasted through him. He wanted to see her more than he wanted a shower, a burger…or anything. They’d always had this combustible energy. Irrepressible, smoking-hot chemistry. Even after so many years together, it had never gotten old, never faded.
But what would he see when he looked into her eyes now? Hate he could handle—that meant she still felt something—but indifference?
The idea that she’d be over him—that she’d feel nothing—made him sick to his stomach.
No. Not possible. Determination came roaring in. She was pissed at him—he understood that—but if he could just have time alone with her, he could fix it.
“Too bad we didn’t get to finish filming.” Traci glanced back at him. “I always wanted to be in one of your movies.”