Modern Fairy Tale: Twelve Books of Breathtaking Romance

by Kristen Proby

  She turns the computer around, and we all sigh, immediately falling in love with the different shades of pink in the romantic bouquet.

  “Oh, that’s perfect,” Hannah says. “Can you do this?”

  “Absolutely,” Brooke says. “I’ll have to order in a few of the flowers from South America because they won’t quite be in season here yet, but we can make it work.”

  Brooke is a few years younger than me, and I don’t know her well, but she’s so nice. And beautiful, with the darkest hair I’ve ever seen, and big brown eyes. She’s petite and has a mole above her lip, Cindy Crawford style.

  Maisey could be her twin, minus the mole, but I believe they’re about a year apart in age.

  “Okay, we need the lemon poppy seed with the huckleberry filling,” Hannah says. “And I think the raspberry swirl with the white chocolate ganache.”

  “You’re speaking my language,” I say, taking another bite. “Being a bridesmaid is awesome. I get free cake, and I get to help pick out all the girlie things.”

  “I can’t believe we’re six weeks out from the wedding,” Willa says.

  “Thanks for waiting until I had the baby,” Grace says.

  “So many life changes this past year,” I add and smile happily at my girls. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

  “Do not make me cry,” Grace says. “I cry at everything these days. My hormones are out of control. I need this baby to come out.”

  “Soon,” Hannah says. “Okay, it looks like we have the cake and the flowers figured out. Brooke, you guys are awesome.”

  “Oh, we know,” Maisey says with a wink. “But, thank you. We’re just thrilled for you, Hannah.”

  “And I made up a little something for each of you,” Brooke adds, walking into the cooler. She comes back holding three smaller versions of the bouquet she made for Hannah. “We couldn’t let you walk away without something pretty.”

  “Oh, thank you.” I bury my nose in a rose and breathe deeply. “This does smell like spring, and I think that’s something we all need right now.”

  “It’s been a long winter,” Hannah agrees. “Thank you, ladies.”

  “You’re welcome,” Brooke says. “And don’t worry about any of this. We have it handled, and I’ve already coordinated with your venue to get all of the details worked out. Don’t give us another thought.”

  “You’re seriously the best,” Willa says and picks up a tiny piece of cake to go. “I’ll eat this on my walk back to the shop.”

  We wave goodbye to Brooke and Maisey and leave the flower shop, pausing on the sidewalk to exchange hugs.

  “I’m going to help Grace to her car,” I announce, taking Grace’s hand in mine. The snow is still falling in big, heavy flakes. “I don’t trust this clumsy pregnant girl on the ice.”

  “Good plan,” Hannah says. “Thanks so much for coming, you guys. This whole wedding planning process has been fun because of you, and I love you.”

  “It’s going to be a beautiful wedding,” Grace replies before we all go our separate ways. I walk Grace to her car and make sure she’s carefully inside before I walk to my own and head home.

  All three tree houses are full on the mountain this week, so I have nothing to do up there. In fact, all of my properties are currently rented out, which makes me a happy business owner.

  And on a snowy day like this, I have two options. I can go home and be sad on the couch, or I can go to my park property and be sad there.

  It’s no contest. Now that the roads are open, I’m excited to get back up there. I haven’t been since I showed it to Christian.

  It’s the best place to think.

  * * *

  Well, that didn’t work out the way I thought it would. The road into the park was still closed from the storm, so I had to turn around and go back home.

  But at least I wasn’t wallowing in my own self-pity on the couch, and that’s a step in the right direction.

  I have been, however, making myself crazy with self-doubt and frustration. I didn’t know that I could miss someone so much. My whole body aches with it. I shouldn’t have listened to Nina, and I should have talked to Christian. I should have trusted him.

  I should have been brave.

  I turn onto my street and frown at the SUV parked in front of my house. I don’t recognize it.

  I pull into my driveway, step out of my car, and when I turn around, my heart lodges in my throat.

  Unless the snow is playing tricks on me, or my brain injury from the accident has resurfaced, Christian is walking across the snow toward me. My feet are planted, and I’m unable to move as he approaches and stops an arm’s length away.

  “Hi.” His voice is rough, full of emotion, and his blue eyes are hungrily taking me in.

  “Hello.” I shake myself out of my trance and reach back into the car for my handbag and the bouquet of flowers. He shuts the door for me and follows me to the house.

  “You’re not parking in the garage?”

  “The door opener broke, and I haven’t had a chance to call someone.”

  Are we really talking about my garage door? I want to jump on him, wrap my arms around him, and hold on so tightly that he can’t ever go away again.

  But that’s not possible.

  I lead him inside and set my flowers down while I shed my jacket and boots, then I turn to him. He’s hovering inside the door, the same way he did that very first day when he arrived at the tree house early.

  But this time, I don’t know why he’s here.

  “Thanks to the fucking blizzard, it took me three days to get here, and I have some things to say.” He clears his throat and looks down at the floor, and I’ve never been so happy to see someone in my life.

  He came back!

  “Well, you might as well take off your coat and get comfortable.” I walk away, waiting while he does just that and then comes into the living room.

  “Who are the flowers from?” he asks.

  I tilt my head to the side. “I helped Hannah pick out flowers and cake for the wedding today, and the florist gave them to me.”

  He nods and lets out a long, slow breath.

  “I saw the photo of you with him,” he begins, and I frown, watching him start to pace the living room.

  “With who?”

  “I have no idea who he is,” Christian replies with a shrug. “It was posted on one of the gossip sites.”

  “That’s one I haven’t seen.”

  He pulls out his phone, taps it, and then holds it out for me to see.

  “Noah,” I say softly and hand his phone back. “That’s Noah King. He’s a good friend of mine. I saw him at Drips & Sips about a week ago.”

  “I didn’t like it. They made it look like you’re dating him.”

  “Yeah? Well, you were splashed all over Entertainment Tonight with Serena, and trust me when I say, they didn’t make it look like you dislike her. They spin lies, Christian. You know that better than anyone.”

  “I still didn’t like it,” he says with a sigh. “And I do know how much they love drama. It didn’t change the fact that I saw it and wanted to kill him with my bare hands.”

  “Christian—”

  “And I don’t know what Nina said to you that day,” he continues, on a roll now. “But you need to listen to me, not her. She doesn’t speak for me, Jenna.”

  “She didn’t lie to me.” I stand now, also pacing the room, watching him. We’re like two caged animals circling each other. “She didn’t say anything that isn’t true, Christian. Her delivery might have been a bit harsh, but she’s right. We live two very different lives. I just don’t see how we can make it work. You’re movie premieres and fancy houses and cars, and I’m a small-town girl who’s happy to take care of vacation rentals and spend my summers on the lake.”

  I shrug, holding my hands out at my sides. “And, besides, I don’t particularly like the press, Christian. I know they’re a part of what you do, and it’s not your fault, but I hate it.
I think it’s disrespectful and just plain hurtful the way they target you. They’ll always try to pair you with some starlet, to make it look like you’re a couple. And even if I know the truth, it doesn’t make it easier to live with. I don’t know that I can live that life.”

  “I know.” He pushes his hand through his hair and swears under his breath as he walks to the fireplace and shoves his hands into his pockets, watching the flames. “I know what they do, and asking you to take that on isn’t fair.”

  He turns to me now, and his face is full of so much pain, so much anguish, I want to run to him and hold him close, to assure him that everything will be okay.

  “They will always do that, Jenna. I can’t stop it. Unless…”

  His eyes narrow, and he begins walking toward me. “Unless?”

  “They won’t stop until I put a ring on someone’s finger, Jenna. Until I’m finally settled and happy.”

  He drops to one knee before me, and I feel my eyes widen in shock.

  “I’m not saying this for them. I want to make that perfectly clear, right here and now. I’ve never asked anyone this question before. But, Jenna, I can’t do this life without you. I don’t think I started to breathe until the moment I first touched you.”

  He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, and then reaches into his pocket, pulling out a tiny, red box. He flips the lid, and twinkling at me, is the most amazing ring I’ve ever seen.

  But I can’t take my eyes off Christian’s face.

  “You are the best part of my life, and I will shout that I love you so much that I ache with it from the rooftops without hesitation. I need you by my side for the rest of my life. Let’s end this media circus here and now, Jenna. Be mine. Marry me.”

  I fall to my knees before him and cup his face. I can feel tears flowing down my cheeks, and he brushes them away with his fingers.

  “Please,” he whispers.

  “I love you, too.” My voice is soft, and my chest is full of so much joy and hope. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that I pushed you away without trying to talk about all of the conflicting thoughts running through my head. And I’m sorry that I let your sister’s words feed my insecurities. You didn’t deserve that, and neither did I.

  “I fucked up, Christian, and I’m completely honored that you came for me. I would have called you today if you hadn’t been here because I’ve missed you so much.”

  He smiles and cups my face in his warm hand. “I don’t think that this ring is going to stop the media’s craziness.”

  He frowns and opens his mouth to disagree, but I press my fingers to his lips and keep talking. “I think they’ll always try to start shit. Your happiness won’t be what they want at all, so they’ll always find something to stir the pot. But what we need to do is promise to be a team, to just worry about us and agree that whatever rumors they start aren’t real.”

  “You’re killing me here, Jenna.”

  “I would be honored to be your wife.”

  He yanks me into his arms, crushing me in a tight hug, and the next thing I know, his lips are on mine, and we fall to the floor.

  He pulls back long enough to get the ring on my finger, and then we’re pulling at each other’s clothes, anxious to get at each other.

  “You’ll never regret it,” he promises me, kissing his way down my neck to my collarbone. My clothes quickly disappear from my body, and he covers me, pins my hands to the floor, and kisses me until I see stars.

  “Mine,” he whispers. “You’re mine, fancy face.”

  “Hell, yes, I am.” I hitch my leg up over his hip, opening myself to him, and he slides home, making us both gasp in pleasure and relief. “I missed you.”

  “Oh, baby, I missed you, too.”

  * * *

  “We still have a lot to talk about,” I say an hour later when we’re back in our clothes and curled up on the couch. “I don’t want to move to L.A.”

  “I know.” He kisses my head and rubs his fingertips up and down my arm. “I’ll keep the house there because we’ll need to be there sometimes. I do have a job there.”

  “I realize that, and I’m not asking you to give any of that up. It’s going to be a balancing act.”

  “It’s going to take compromise,” he replies. “For both of us.”

  “I can hire a management company to take care of things when we’re gone,” I say, my wheels already spinning. “But I’ll need to be on hand while the park property is being built. I won’t leave that to anyone else.”

  “I understand.” He pauses. “I have to be in Vancouver at the end of February to film Luke’s movie. I’m scheduled to be there for five weeks.”

  “Well, I can come visit. That’s not a busy time for me anyway.”

  “Good. See? We’re figuring it out already.”

  I smile up at him and feel my heart race again at the sight of him. He’s heart-stoppingly handsome.

  And he’s mine.

  Chapter Twenty

  Christian

  She said yes.

  It’s the morning after, and I think I’m still in a bit of shock, in the best possible way. Jenna is going to be my wife.

  Who knew that would happen when I first came to Montana?

  I finish doctoring her coffee, then take both of our mugs to the bedroom where she’s sitting up in bed and looking at her phone. The sheets are pulled around her, covering her breasts, but her shoulders are bare. Her blond hair is a bit messy and loose around her clean face.

  She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

  “I have coffee,” I say.

  “Awesome, thank you.” She doesn’t look up, just holds out her hand, but I don’t pass it to her right away. She glances up, blinking, and then her eyes focus on the mug and a slow smile spreads over her sexy lips.

  “Does this ring make me look engaged?” she reads aloud and then skootches up on her knees, letting the linens fall away from her body as she kisses me soundly. “That’s my new favorite mug.”

  “My hands are full, and I can’t touch you.”

  She smiles against my lips. “I love you.” She takes her coffee, rereads the mug, and then takes a sip and settles back into her spot on the bed.

  “I kind of love that you’re a slow riser.” I settle in next to her, sip my own coffee, then open my iPad to read the paper. “Lazy mornings are nice.”

  “So nice,” she agrees, taking another sip of her coffee. She’s holding it with her left hand and smiles coyly, showing me the message and the ring I chose just for her. “What do you think?”

  “I think you’re adorable.”

  The doorbell rings, making us both frown.

  “Are you expecting someone?” I ask.

  “Nope.” She shrugs. “Do you mind answering it? I’m kind of naked here.”

  “No one gets to see you naked but me.” I wink and climb from the bed, throwing on my jeans and a T-shirt, then hurry to the door.

  “Is Jenna home?” a young woman asks.

  “She is, but she’s indisposed at the moment. Can I help you?”

  “I’m Brooke. I own Brooke’s Blooms, and I have a delivery for her.” She holds up a basket and smiles widely. “Would you please pass it on?”

  “Happy to. Thanks, Brooke.”

  She nods and waves as she leaves, and I carry the heavy basket back to the bedroom.

  “Whoa. Who sent you that?”

  “It’s not mine.” I set it on the bed in front of her. “Brooke brought it for you.”

  “Oh, how nice.” She opens the card first, and her eyes fly to mine. “This is a hand-written card from your sister.”

  I cock a brow in surprise. “What does it say?”

  Jenna,

  I’m so sorry for the way I acted when I was in Montana. I can see now how much you and Christian love each other, and I’m simply thrilled that he proposed. I look forward to getting to know you better, and I hope you can accept my apology.

  Congratulations,


  Nina

  “Well, she still has a ways to go to redeem herself, but this is a start,” I say as Jenna starts to rip into the cellophane-wrapped basket. She pulls out girlie things like notebooks and pens, candy in plastic boxes, and a little, potted plant.

  “This was very nice of her,” Jenna says and sets it all on the floor next to her. She retrieves her coffee and takes a sip. “I have to say, Nina was cruel that day.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not something you need to apologize for, Christian. Nina’s an adult. But I guess she’s not a total bitch.”

  “Oh, she can be,” I reply with a laugh. “But she loves me, and I think she was trying to protect me. Against what, I’m not sure.”

  “I’m a sister.” She shrugs. “But I don’t think I would have done what she did.”

  “I know you both have a long way to go before you’re friends, but I hope that happens eventually. Nina is important to me, and I love her.”

  She smiles, in that sweet way she does. “We’ll work it out.”

  “You’re a good person, Jenna.” I settle back into the bed next to her.

  “Oh, guess what happened while you were gone?” Jenna asks as she takes another sip of her coffee.

  “What’s that?”

  She sticks out her lower lip in a pout. “Someone bought the property in front of mine on the mountain. I’m afraid I’m about to lose my view.”

  I clear my throat. “So, I have a confession to make.”

  She narrows her eyes. “No way.”

  “I bought it,” I confirm. “Part of the charm of your property is the view. You can’t lose that.”

  “You didn’t have to buy the property for me.”

  “Yes.” I lean over and kiss her lips softly. “I did.”

  “You’re awfully good to me, Mr. Wolfe.”

  “It’s just because I love you, soon-to-be Mrs. Wolfe.”

  Her cheeks flush as she snorts and sets her mug aside, then reaches for her phone again, typing furiously.

  “Who are you chatting with?” I ask.

  “It’s a group text with Willa, Grace, and Hannah. I had to tell them, Christian. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t keep it a secret.”