Page 138 of Snow

“Well, I was thinking how next weekend would be the perfect time to move.”

Snow went still, staring into her eyes. “Nova. Does this mean?”

She smiled. “Yeah. A wise man once told me that people should follow their heart, and my heart is telling me to be with you. You’ve been my rock and cheerleader for the last month. And now that I’ve accomplished a dream of mine, I’m ready to take another step.”

“You don’t want to continue kickboxing?”

“Not competitively. I’ve decided getting punched in the face for fun is a hobby I can finally retire from.” She smiled. “But that doesn’t mean I’m giving it up completely. Actually, I may have done something.”

Snow’s eyes narrowed. He was already learning that particular tone usually meant Nova had made a decision and was only now getting around to telling him about it. “What did you do?”

“I put an offer on a building.”

He blinked. “You what?”

“It’s a gym in Virginia Beach. The owner is looking to sell, and Clover told me about it. His name is Murph—”

“Murph?” Snow cut in. “Big guy? Bald head? Beard that looks like it could hide a small family?”

Nova laughed. “That’s him.”

“I know Murph. He was a Teams guy years ago.” Snow shook his head, clearly surprised. “I heard he was looking to get out of Virginia Beach. Something about moving to Montana and becoming a mountain man.”

“Well, apparently your mountain man accepted my offer this morning.”

Snow stared at her. “Wait. Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Her smile grew. “I want to turn it into a kickboxing and self-defense gym. Classes, private training, maybe some programs specifically for women and teenagers. I’ve already got about a hundred ideas bouncing around in my head.”

For a moment, Snow just looked at her, letting everything she’d said sink in. The more he thought about it, the more he realized this wasn’t simply Nova moving to Virginia Beach to be closer to him. She was building something here for herself too, chasing a new dream that seemed to fit the woman she really was instead of the life everyone back in Salt Lake City had tried to choose for her. And damn if that didn’t make him even happier. She wasn’t giving up one life for him. She was choosing a new one for herself, and somehow, he was lucky enough that she wanted him to be part of it.

Snow’s mouth slowly curved into a grin. “So let me get this straight. You’re moving to Virginia Beach, you’re opening a gym, and I get to see your beautiful face every day in person instead of having to stare at you through my phone every night?”

Nova slipped her arms around his neck. “Looks that way.”

“Jesus.” He pulled her closer. “I need to buy Murph a really expensive bottle of whiskey.”

“He hasn’t handed over the keys yet.”

“Then I’ll wait until closing. I’m not stupid enough to jinx this.”

She laughed. “Good call.”

Snow’s expression softened as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”

“Yeah?”

“Hell yeah.” He kissed her forehead. “And for the record, I volunteer to help teach self-defense.”

Nova raised an eyebrow. “Do I get to use you for demonstrations?”

His smile disappeared. “That depends.”

“On?”

“Whether you’re planning to demonstrate that move you used to knock out Martina.”

Nova grinned. “I hadn’t been.”