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“I like you, Case. You’re a good man just as Isla told me you were. And although I sense that you have your own burdens, you comin’ along with us today and not shyin’ away from the proposition of bein’ grilled by me says a lot about your character.”

“Thank you, I think?” I reply slowly, a little unsure what to say to that.

“You’re welcome. You’ve helped lift my spirits, especially now that I’ve got a bunch of pretty blue and purple flowers to put pride of place on my mantle.”

“It’s been fun,” I say honestly. The smile that spreads across her face is genuine and warms my heart more than the hottest sun on a summer day.

“Good. Because now that we’ve had our serious talk, it’s time to have a little fun.

Because I may love my daughter more than anythin’, but that’s not to say I don’t like to keep her on her toes every once and a while.

” She winks and I can’t help but laugh as she turns around and waves Birdie and Isla over.

“Havin’ fun, Mom?” Isla asks looking down at the armful of flowers in my arms. “I see you put Case to work.”

“Sure did. Grilled him too. Asked him everythin’ from birth to now. How old are you again, Cayson?”

“Thirty-three, ma’am.” I try to keep my expression neutral but the look of horror on her daughter’s face is comical and I crack, putting my hands in the air in surrender. “Sorry, Jessica. I tried, but she looks horrified .”

“Wait,” Isla says, her brows furrowed. “She didn’t grill you?”

“Not at all,” I laugh.

She lets out a huge sigh. “Oh thank goodness.”

Birdie nudges her with her shoulder. “Told you that there was nothin’ to worry about.”

“This old lady is feelin’ a little tired now,” Jessica says. “Is it OK if we head back home?”

Isla’s eyes soften. “Of course, Mom. Then we can put these beautiful flowers in that big crystal vase of yours.”

“Thanks, sweetheart. Sorry to cut this outin' short and all. I don’t want to push myself too much.”

I hold out my arm for Jessica to take with a warm smile. “We’ve had fun, and I’ve learned a lot about–what was it…Fireweed?”

“Yes. Did you know you can eat the stalks like asparagus?”

“Really? Just wait till I tell Jude about that. He’ll probably make us all have some for dinner,” I reply. “For now though, let's get you back to the car.”

Isla looks over at me and mouths a silent ‘thank you’.

"You’re welcome,” I mouth back before I lead the way back to the roadside.

“Well, thank you for a lovely time, Case,” Jessica says as she settles into her seat.

“You’re welcome to visit anytime. Maybe you can help me decide what wildflowers might like growin’ amongst my new Spruce trees.”

Her eyes light up at that. “I’ll do some research and let you know.”

“I’d appreciate any guidance you can give me. My brother Jude is a landscape gardener, but I bet you know more about Alaskan natives than he does.”

She laughs. “Now you’re just placatin’ an old lady. But I’ll let you get away with it… this time, anyway.”

“Stop flirtin’, Mom,” Isla jokes as she hugs Birdie goodbye.

Birdie gives me a cheeky grin before bidding them both farewell. “I’ll wait for you in the truck, Case.” She’s not hiding her intentions very well–which I think is the point–but since I appreciate her giving me time with Isla before we leave, I nod and watch her go.

“Thank you for helping Mom,” Isla says. “She wasn’t wrong about me tryin’ to cheer her up. She was sittin’ by the window lookin’ out at the old flower gardens in our backyard when I woke up. She misses the things she can’t do as much anymore. Well, not without help anyway.”

“It was my pleasure. Honestly, I had a lot of fun. Even if she does have a wicked streak.”

Isla looks back over at her mom before turning back my way. “She does, but her heart is in the right place.”

“Must be where you get it from.”

Her eyes soften before she reaches for my hand and laces her fingers with mine. Calm and rightness wash over me at her touch. “It was nice seein’ you again, too.”

“Believe me, the feelin’s mutual,” I say, giving her a gentle squeeze. Just being near her again is a heady but comfortable feeling.

After a while of just standing there, she sighs, sounding as reluctant to leave as I am. “I should get Mom home.”

“Let me open your door.” I lead her to the car and help her in, closing her in and waiting while she winds down the window. “Would you like to get together sometime? Maybe we can meet for dinner or somethin’?” I ask.

“Yes, she does and yes, she will,” Jessica says, leaning over and answering for her daughter.

“Mom!” Isla replies with a startled laugh.

“What?” Jessica feigns innocence even though we all know she’s not fooling any of us.

“You’ve got a good man there askin’ you on a date.

You don’t find too many of those in Timber Falls so when you’ve got one on the line that you’re interested in just as much as he is, you don’t waste time tryin’ to be cute and demure.

You jump right in with two feet and see where the road leads, sweetheart. ”

I stand there staring wide-eyed at her while Isla does the same.

It’s not until Jessica laughs that I snap out of it. “Oh my goodness, you should see the look on your faces.” She reaches over and taps her daughter’s leg. “Just say yes, sweetheart. I know–and he knows–that you want to.”

As if in slow motion, Isla swivels her head my way, her expression part mortification and part amused. “For the record, I was goin ’ to say yes even before my Mom answered for me.”

“Knew my girl was smart,” Jessica mutters under her breath and I grin at her antics.

“I’ll message you in a few days, yeah?”

“Yeah, that’d be good,” my beautiful stranger replies warmly.

I bend down to look across the cab of the car. “Best get those flowers in some water, Jessica. After you’ve got some rest, of course.”

“Will do, Mr. Curious. See you soooon,” she says cheerfully. “And I’ll get back to you about the best varieties for the tree farm”

“I look forward to it. Thanks.”

Isla’s gaze ping pongs between the two of us, her expression reminding me of one of those clowns with wide open mouths you find at the fair.

Her lips twitch up into a smirk, drawing my eyes to her mouth. “You sure you two shouldn’t catch up for dinner?”

“I’m sure. Been waitin’ a long time to share a meal with you again.,” I say, my voice dropping low. That earns me a happy sigh from both Murray women. I lock eyes with Isla, my heart leaping in my chest at the intense pull I feel to the woman. “Drive safe, beautiful.”

Then, with one last smile and a knock of knuckles on the roof, I step back and watch them turn around before driving down the mountain. It’s only once the taillights have disappeared around the bend that I move toward Birdie and the truck.

And I do it with a smile so big I’m surprised I don’t trip over it.