Page 25

ISLA

After dinner, Case and I join the others in the living room to watch a TV game show.

That’s when I witnessed the true Cooper brother dynamic live in action. When I say they’re competitive with a capital C, I’m not joking.

I thought Case and Sutton would team up against Will and Jude, but it ended up being Case and Wyatt versus Sutton and Will, with Jude and Birdie pairing up to take on all of them. I was supposed to be judging, but I was too busy laughing to concentrate on who was winning or losing.

It doesn’t help that I’m distracted by what Sutton was saying earlier about the science of lust. Because I’ve been feeling all of the effects ever since the first time Case and I kissed at the drive-up movie.

It started with me thinking about him all the time–more than before, anyway.

Then I couldn’t stop touching him whenever we were together.

After that kiss on Restaurant Row, I knew I was a goner.

The moment his lips touched mine for that second, longer, hotter, toe-curling kiss, I was ready to melt into him until we became one.

I’ve never felt like this before. Not about anyone.

I want to be with him all the time, even when I know we can’t see each other—I do need to work, after all.

When I’m not with him, I think about seeing him.

Or just talking to him. Despite everything else I have to worry about, Case Cooper is all I can think about.

The problem is, I’m wondering if this is because it’s all new and exciting. Is this the honeymoon phase? Or is it just because he’s Case and it’s been him ever since that night we met, and this is truly a sliding doors moment where we simply met before our time.

I can’t talk to Birdie about it because she already thinks I’m living a fated mates plot straight out of one of her romance novels.

She’s my best friend and I support her in everything—crazy beliefs and all.

Besides, look where her belief in soulmates being called to the mountain got her.

She’s now living on the ranch with the love of her life and future husband.

But tellin’ her I’m mildly obsessed with Case will only give more credence to her ‘Call’ theory.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Case asks as he drives down the mountain to take me home.

Just as he says that, I see the turn toward the lookout on the outskirts of town. Since it’s Monday night, it’ll be quiet, and I’m not quite ready for my time with Case tonight to end.

“Do you want to see somethin?” I ask. “There’s a lookout down that road on the left. It’s a sight to behold at night when the sky is clear.”

A wry grin curves his lips. “You want to go to the town’s make-out spot with me? I have to tell you, beautiful, I’m not that kind of boy,” he teases.

I snort and shake my head. “That kiss you gave me earlier says differently, curious.”

His chest puffs up at that as he slows down and takes the turn, bringing the truck to a stop at the far end of the lookout a few moments later.

We sit there in comfortable silence, both staring out at the sparkling lights of the town in the distance. The shadow of the mountain range looks foreboding and comforting all at the same time.

Case runs his thumb over the back of my knuckles. “You’ve been quiet since we left the ranch, beautiful. Everythin’ OK?” he asks. “You worried about your Mom bein’ home alone?”

Turning to rest my cheek against the headrest, I take in his handsome profile. “She’s OK. I messaged her when we left City Hall, and then again once we’d finished dinner. She reheated a freezer meal I’d made a while ago and told me she was goin’ to watch a movie and have an early night.”

“That’s good,” he replies quietly.

“Yeah. She has good days and bad ones, and we learned early on that plannin’ ahead was better than tryin’ to play catch up. Because of that, we’ve got a bunch of meals in the freezer for times when I’m workin’ or won’t be home for dinner.”

“That makes sense. It’s always better to prepare for what’s comin’ than be left chasin’ your tail when it all goes to hell.” His eyes roam my face. “What’s got you so lost in thought then?”

“Lots of things,” I say vaguely, then think better of it. “It’s nothin’... everythin’... you know, just life. ”

Mainly me thinking about how some things happen for a reason. People come, people go. Oh, and wondering why my hormones have been going crazy ever since I saw you again , I do not say.

“If you ever want to share nothin’ and everythin’... anythin ’, I hope you know I’m here. Been told I can be a good listener when needed.”

I give his fingers a reassuring squeeze. The heat of his skin against mine is comforting and distracting. Teasing, too. “Now that I know already. Our talks are my favorite time of each day.”

The slow-growing, hot-as-Hades smile he sends my way has me not wanting to think. Or maybe he’s just scrambling my brain. “Mine too. It’s always just so easy to talk to you. Since that first night. Before that, Sutton was the only one I could tell anythin’ to.”

“That makes sense. You two have been together your whole lives.”

“Except when we were livin’ on opposite sides of the country,” he replies. “Although even then, we were always in contact. He was the one who realized it was more than just havin' low days. So five years ago, he made me fly to Boston and that’s when I got the help I needed.”

“Your diagnosis?” Case has been very honest about his Seasonal Affective Disorder, even on that first night we met.

He nods. “I thought it was a weakness at first. But with Sutt’s help–and my therapist I still see online now–I’ve realized that it’s just a part of who I am.

I’ve accepted it and through readin’ and experience, I recognize when a low is comin’ now.

Although they’ve gotten better since movin’ to the mountain. ”

“Really? I wonder why?”

He smiles. “You’d think movin’ to a town with limited daylight for months of the year and bein’ close to the Arctic Circle would make me spiral.

But there’s just somethin’ about bein’ at the ranch, bein’ on the mountain, that has changed things.

Now that I’ve cut all ties with my old life and resigned from my job too, I feel lighter. Freer. More…”

“Exactly where you’re meant to be?” I say, having wondered the same thing about myself lately. “Maybe it’s that mountain spirit Birdie talks about.”

Case’s eyes flash with something unreadable before it’s gone, replaced with a soft gaze. “She definitely has somethin’ to do with it.”

For a moment I swear I’ve misheard him. Was he talkin’ about Birdie, or the mountain spirit? He said ‘she’, right? Before I can ask about it, he continues.

“But seriously, I think it’s about bein’ here in Timber Falls and the mountain.

It’s where Gramps called home and where he wanted us to stay and reacquaint ourselves with our family roots,” he explains before a wry smile appears.

“There’s also this beautiful stranger who has me thinkin’ about the future and what I want in my life. ”

Now that gets my attention. “Oh yeah? She must be pretty amazin'.”

He squeezes my hand again as he stares deep into my eyes. “She is.”

Suddenly the distance between us is like a chasm, one that’s too big. Undoing my seatbelt, I slide across the seat toward him, our hands still linked.

Case must feel the change in the air because he pulls me closer as if needing to touch me too, wanting me as close as I want to be with him.

Letting my hand go, he slides his onto my thigh, slowly riding it along my leg to my hip, his gaze tracking the move every step of the way.

My whole body vibrates, all of my lust and need for him bubbling to the surface as I trail my hand up his side to caress his shoulder, coming to a stop when the tips of my fingers graze teasingly over the bare skin of his neck.

Slowly lifting my gaze to his, my pulse spikes and my blood heats, my tongue darting out to wet my lips as Case’s eyes drop to my mouth.

“I remember you promisin’ a goodbye. Remember that, curious?” I rasp, my voice a rough whisper that gives me away.

His breath is warm on my skin as he leans in, pressing his lips ever so gently against mine, a tentative touch at belies the raging swirl of desperate need filling me.

I whimper when he pulls back, his dark hooded eyes blazing as they meet mine. We stay there frozen in time before somethin’ snaps, an inferno ignites, and we crash together in a passionate kiss.

The world around us fades away. All that exists–all that matters–is the two of us and this unbreakable connection we’ve had since we met. If this was my last day, last minute, last act on earth, I’d go a happy woman. And all we’ve done is kiss. Imagine if we–

That thought stutters as Case smooths his hand from my hip, up my body until his palm cradles my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek as he deepens our kiss, groaning into my mouth as I melt against him and just feel .

When the need for oxygen finally tears us apart, I press my forehead to his as we both try to catch our breath. Eyes still locked together, I can see all of the unspoken emotions swirling in Case’s eyes. Ones that mirror my own.

I want more, though. I need it more than my next breath.

"I..." I say, my voice barely above a whisper as I search for the right words to even come close to conveying my feelings.

Before I can form a coherent sentence, Case scans my face before crashing his lips to mine in another searing, breathtaking kiss that ramps my need higher and leaves me wanting more than this. More than anything.

A groan against my mouth later, then he’s moving, reaching down before shifting his seat back, giving us more room. Then he pulls me into his lap, one hand staying on my jaw while he wraps an arm around my back, holding me close, not letting me go.

As if on instinct my hips roll against his, dragging a low barely heard growl out of his throat that sets my body on fire. “Please,” I beg against his lips. “Case, I–”

“I got you, beautiful. You’re safe with me,” he murmurs, his hand sliding down to rest on the small of my back.

He slides it lower again, pressing in, rocking our hips together, his hard length trapped between us putting the perfect amount of pressure between my legs.

And all the while, we never stop kissing, tasting, breathing each other in like we’re the only air we need to survive.

Resting my palm over his chest, I marvel at the heavy pounding of his heart against my skin as it beats in sync with mine.

The intensity of the moment and the raw desire between us is palpable. The sounds of our labored breathing, moans and whimpers, groans and growls fill the air. It’s primal, heated, and like it’s no longer in our control.

Case lifts his head, watching me before his eyes drop down to where our hips move together. The fire in his eyes has me biting my lip, my breath catching as the tell-tale ache deep inside of me urges me closer and closer to climax.

Case doesn’t miss it, his gaze turning from hot and heated to blazing, filled with a hunger that rivals my own. Then there’s no holding back as we touch, grind, kiss, and taste. Both chasing that ultimate high.

My body tenses, the coil inside me winding tighter and tighter until I cry his name out into his mouth, my release hitting me like a freight train.

His own high closely follows mine. His body shudders as he buries his face in my neck and peppers my skin with barely-there kisses that slowly bring me back down to earth right along with him.

We stay like that for a long time, our breaths ragged but slowly calming, our hearts pounding in sync.

I feel his pulse against my lips as I rest my head on his shoulder and press them to his throat.

Not wanting to move, I cling to him, smiling at his knowing chuckle while a wave of contentment washes over me.

Brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face, he locks his eyes with mine and kisses me again. This time it’s soft and slow. Lazy. Soothing.

"Wow," he whispers, a small smile playing on his lips. “Definitely amazin’.” He peppers my jaw with kisses. “Beautiful.” Kiss. “Sexy.” Kiss. “The best thing to ever happen to me.”

I pull back and arch a brow. “Me or what just happened,” I ask with a small smirk.

“Both.”

Then it hits me. This is it. That moment a girl always dreams of, when she realizes everything she has ever wanted is right there in front of her.

Case. This. Us. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of. A kind, honest, caring man who makes me swoon with a single smile and melt at first touch. Who kisses me like he wants to do it for the rest of his life. What I realize then is that Case isn't the only one who wants that. I do too.