Chapter 13

Alana’s POV. "What do you plan on making?" I inquired, my eyes following him as he headed towards the mini kitchen. Seeing him cook shirtless had been one thing, but now I was about to witness him cook in a dress shirt. It had the potential to heat this room in more ways than one. "Well, with the ingredients we have here, I can make a Philly cheesesteak," Alec suggested, grabbing a drink from the fridge, which happened to be my favorite soda. He offered me one too. "That sounds perfect," I decided, my craving for a Philly cheesesteak growing stronger. I'd never admit it out loud, but in the weeks leading up to my wedding, I'd been cutting back on certain foods to look my best. "Can I help with something?" "Just sit there and look pretty," he replied, lifting me and placing me on the counter. "Well, that's not too hard." I smirked and sipped my soda. "So, do you ever cook?" Alec asked as he moved around in the kitchen. "Not really. I prefer baking, and most of the time, I make stuff that involves throwing things together rather than actual cooking." I swung my legs as I sat on the counter in my dress, still all dolled up, creating almost the perfect shot. I poured the soda into wine glasses, took a photo of my view, and posted it. Then, I checked the comments under the first photo from hours ago and noticed how many people were loving it, with some even commenting and asking for Alec's social media. "Understandable." Alec shrugged and later asked, "You picked Montana?" "My mom was in charge of the honeymoon. I was too busy with the wedding and everything, so she offered to plan it for me. She knows I love cold places." "Have you been here often?" "Nope, but it was on my list. The last time I was here, I was around 10 years old or something. I loved the sledding. There's a park we drove past, actually," I said. "I think I know which one you're talking about." "We used to build snowmen and create forts just to have snowball fights. There was always warm food and delicious hot chocolate, and at the end of the night, you'd retire under a soft, cozy blanket in a cocoon of warmth. What's not to like about a winter paradise?" I smiled as I reminisced, and Alec paid close attention to every word. Once the sandwiches were ready, we settled down on the couch and turned on the TV, landing on a crime show that, without needing to ask, Alec had chosen from my list of shows I'd been wanting to watch for months. "Are you okay with watching this?" he inquired, leaning back into the couch. "I've been wanting to watch it for months." I grinned. "Great, then we'll watch it together," he smiled and pressed play. "Oh god, Alec, this is so delicious," I moaned appreciatively as I took a bite of the mouthwatering cheesesteak. "Thank you." "You're welcome, sweetheart," he chuckled. "I want a meal from you at least three times a week," I jokingly teased. "Consider it done," Alec replied, but I wasn't entirely sure if he was joking or not. I couldn't press the matter further, as the show was getting going. After our satisfying dinner, we decided to go for a stroll. Alec held my jacket for me as I slid into it, and then he helped me put on my gloves before leading the way outside, his arm linked through mine. A frosty breath escaped his lips, visible in the crisp night air. The sky overhead was a deep blue adorned with twinkling silver stars, and the crescent moon hung elegantly in the night sky. We walked along the paved path carefully, admiring the beauty of the natural surroundings and the charming houses that lined our route. We discussed the new show we had just started watching, already two episodes deep. As we began our return journey, we passed by a small cabin nestled among many trees on the property. The cabin exuded warmth and coziness, and its backyard offered a picturesque view that I was eager to explore– but didn’t want to trespass. "I'd love to be in that cabin right now," I confessed as we walked past it. "It's so pretty and inviting," I hummed. "It is. This truly is your kind of scenery, huh?" Alec asked, his hand gently caressing mine, which rested on his arm. "Not for everyday life, but whenever a vacation is due? I absolutely love these places," I admitted. It struck me that, somehow, talking to Alec felt remarkably natural. I only just now realized that during my three years with Daniel, I hadn't often felt like myself. Daniel rarely gave me the chance to even talk about myself, whereas Alec showed genuine interest in every little detail, right down to my favorite flowers. We made our way back to the suite, and I observed Alec preparing for bedtime. I excused myself to the bathroom, my boots still by the door, and the chill in the air from our walk was now making me regret not changing out of my dress. Even the oversized jacket Alec had offered hadn't been enough to keep me warm. I quickly changed into some long pajama pants and a cozy, long-sleeved shirt. When I reentered the room, I found Alec had already created a barrier on the bed and brought the blanket from the couch to make it more comfortable. "Ready for bed, my wife?" Alec asked with a soft smile as he turned on the TV, queuing up the third episode of our show. "Ready... husband," I purred playfully and slipped under the covers. "Goodnight," he whispered, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on my forehead. He then settled back down, focusing on the screen in front of us. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the TV, and the quiet hum of the show provided a comforting backdrop as we settled in for the night.