Page 2 of Desiring Destiny
“Okay to a private lesson?”
She tries and fails to suppress her smile. It makes her eyes sparkle and her freckles darken with a blush. So fuckin’ adorable.
“I… I don’t know about that. I, um… I just got here and–”
“Mr. Griffin, are weevergoing to leave the lodge?”
I look over at one of my students who has an exasperated look on his face. “Yes,” I tell him, swallowing thickly. This woman is throwing me for a loop, but this kid is right. I have a job to do right now, even if all I want is to ditch the kids and curl up by the fire with my future wife.
Slow down, I tell myself, though it’s no use. My mind is already racing with thoughts of our future.
“I’ll leave you to it,” my mystery woman says, smiling at the boy who interrupted our conversation. “Good luck out there.”
My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. I watch her leave through the back door, taking note of which cabin she drags her bags into. For safety purposes, of course. And for my own peace of mind.
“Alright,” I announce to the group as I clap my hands together. “Who’s ready for their first skiing lesson?”
Three hours later, the kids are either going down the bunny hill with their parents or recovering in the lodge. My duties for the day are done and I’m looking forward to relaxing by the fire. It’s one of my simple joys in life - sipping hot cocoa while gazing into the flames.
After rinsing off in my own cabin, I change my clothes and head toward the lodge. The sun will be setting soon, which makes it the perfect time to stretch out and watch the brilliant colors through the large window while the fire warms my bones.
As soon as I step inside the lodge, my eyes are immediately drawn to the woman curled up in my favorite chair in front of the fireplace.She’s here.I didn’t think I’d get a second chance so soon.
I decide to get us both some hot chocolate, though I hardly take my eyes off of her the entire time. I’m afraid she might disappear if I lose sight of her. I at least need to get her name today. I can work on the rest later.
She adjusts in her seat, tucking her legs beneath her and snuggling up with the hand-knit blanket draped over the back of the chair. The golden-orange glow of the flames lights up her features, and I notice for the first time how vulnerable she looks. The woman curls in on herself, wrapping her arms around her torso as if physically holding in some kind of pain.
I want to ease her burden somehow, but first, I need to get my foot out of my mouth and stop embarrassing myself in front of her.
"Hot cocoa?" I ask as I sit on the couch just to the left of her chair.
She looks up at me, so many emotions swimming in the depths of her bright blue eyes. “That sounds wonderful,” she whispers. “Thank you.”
Our fingers touch when she wraps her hand around the mug, and I try not to focus on the tingling, buzzing sensation ricocheting through my body. “We didn’t get the chance to do a proper introduction earlier. I’m Griffin.” I hold out my free hand for her to shake. She slips her tiny hand into mine and I hold it, losing track of time for a moment.
“I’m Destiny.”
Destiny.MyDestiny. “Ye,s you are.”
“What?”
“Uh, nothing,” I’m quick to say.Jesus, reel it in, buddy.“How was your first day at Frosted Mountain?” I ask, hoping to get her to open up a bit.
Destiny sighs heavily and I wonder what’s on her mind. “It’s beautiful here,” she says softly. “I’ve never traveled alone. I’ve never traveled at all, really. I wish I had done it before… Well, anyway. It’s beautiful.”
Her answer is as puzzling as she is, but at least she’s talking to me. I don’t love that she’s traveling alone for her own safety, but part of me is glad she’s not here with another man. I might have had to send him down the black diamond slope with one ski and a broken compass to make sure he couldn’t find his way back here.
“It’s my favorite place on earth,” I tell her truthfully. “Especially this time of year.”
“The lodge is absolutely gorgeous,” Destiny agrees. “And my cabin has a Christmas tree all set up as well. I wasn’t expecting that. My grandma would have loved everything about this trip.”
Her voice grows scratchy toward the end of her sentence, but she pulls it together. Without her having to say anything, I know this is the first holiday season without her grandmother. No wonder she’s feeling all kinds of mixed emotions.
I sit next to her, both of us watching the flames dance as we drink our hot chocolate. I can feel the weight of her heavy heart and want nothing more than to make it lighter and fill her life with love and laughter. It should freak me out how far gone I am for this woman, but it feels natural. Like I’ve always loved her and now she’s here to experience it first hand.
“About that skiing lesson,” she starts, surprising the hell out of me.
“Yes,” I nearly shout out of excitement. This pulls a smile from Destiny, which makes my outburst totally worth it.