Page 28

Before I get the chance to ask him about it, our waitress appears with our drinks and takes our order. By the time she leaves again, the moment has passed.

“How was your day?” I ask before sipping on my straw.

“Good. We sat down and worked out exactly what we need for the cabins, and ordered more buildin’ materials we’ll need for the next one. And I started workin’ on the website for farm stay bookin’s.”

“Wow. And you still found time to make Mom’s day,” I reply. “I really appreciate you doin’ that. Sometimes the reality of her disease and what the future holds can get her down.”

“That’s understandable. I can’t imagine livin’ with a degenerative disease like that.

I struggled a lot with my depression when I got diagnosed and I’d been experiencin’ it for years by then.

But as soon as I decided to seek treatment and found a great therapist to see, I felt more in control of things. ”

“Yeah. She tries to put on a brave face but I know her too well not to see through it,” I explain.

“It was hard when she finally admitted that her symptoms were gettin’ worse.

Though once I moved back here, we came to an understandin’.

I wouldn’t pry, but I wouldn’t ignore things I knew I could help with. ”

“Like takin’ her to the meadow for wildflowers,” he notes.

“Yep. And today, you spendin’ time with her in her garden. That’s another one of her favorite things to do. It always puts a smile on her face.”

He reaches over for my hand and lifts it to kiss my knuckles. “It was my pleasure. She’s a good woman who’s raised a spectacular one that I happen to like a whole damn lot.” My heart swells.

“I like you too. More than a whole damn lot,” I repeat with a wry smile.

His brows arch. “Does that mean it’s a competition now? Who likes who the most?” His eyes drop down to my mouth as his voice turns husky. “Not sure you’re goin’ to win this one.”

I tilt my head and bounce my shoulder. “We might just have to see about that.”

From the look in his eyes, I can tell he’s about to give me one of his world-changing, toe-curling kisses that will leave me breathless and make me forget everything but him.

Unfortunately, that’s when the waitress chooses to deliver our meals to the table–an open hot beef sandwich with mash, green beans, and gravy for Case, and the same for me but with fried chicken.

While we eat, we talk about his trip to Anchorage and the stops he’s planning to make along the way to Kinleyville, where Eagle Mountain Ranch is situated, and Spring Haven, where Wyatt calls home.

Once we’re finished, Case excuses himself to take care of the bill. I watch him chat with Mack, making the old man laugh and look over my way. When he comes back to our table to collect me, there’s a closed white takeout container in his hand and a knowing smile on his face.

As soon as we’re back in the truck, I try to sneak a peek but he thwarts me. “Nuh uh, beautiful. That’s dessert.”

“Dessert? Did you get us some of Mack’s Strawberry, Ginger, and Honey pie?” I ask hopefully.

He starts the truck and checks the road before pulling out from the sidewalk. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Oh, I will. Will I?”

“Let me have this one, beautiful. I promise you’ll like it.” His voice is as smooth as gooey caramel and there’s no way I can deny him. Something Case knows–and will probably use to his advantage in the future–if his knowing smile and crinkled eyes are anything to go by.

He drives to the end of Restaurant Row and takes a left, heading towards my house. I make a point of checking the time on the dashboard. “Look at you, gettin’ me home before curfew. Mom will be pleased.”

A laugh escapes him. “Considerin’ she told me I didn’t have to bring you home tonight on her account, I think she’ll be surprised you’re comin’ home at all.”

My head snaps his way. “Tell me she didn’t…”

He mimics locking his mouth shut and I groan.

Five minutes later, Case pulls into my driveway and turns off the engine.

I turn in my seat, leaning my back against the door and waggling my brows. “Part of me was hopin’ you’d take me to the lookout again to fool around.”

“Don’t need to take you anywhere to do that, beautiful. Anywhere and everywhere is fine with me,” he says with a slow-growing smile. “But you’ve got an early shift tomorrow and Sutt and I are hittin’ the road at dawn, so I figured we should behave ourselves.”

“How very adult of you,” I tease.

His eyes darken and they drop to my mouth. “Doesn’t mean I’m not now rethinkin’ my decision.”

I reach out for his hand, loving the way his fingers slot perfectly in between mine.

After a spell of perfectly companionable silence, a resigned sigh escapes him. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

“You better be plannin’ a memorable kiss goodnight, curious. Enough to tide me over for the next few days you’ll be gone.”

His brow arches. “Don’t I always?”

“Hmm. Yes, you’ve got me there,” I reply, making him laugh. He gives me a quick peck on the cheek before letting me go and getting out. He quickly grabs the pie and a book from the backseat before leading me up the path to the porch.

I nod to his hand when we come to a stop on the doorstep. “Do I finally get to know what you got at the diner for us?”

“First, there’s the pie. Two pieces, enough for you and Jessica,” he says. My heart flips at his thoughtfulness as he hands over the white container.

My eyes move from the dessert to his handsome face. “Thank you. She loves Mack’s pies.”

“I know,” he says with a twinkle in his eye. “She told me.”

I groan then giggle, dropping my head onto his chest as I do it. “That woman, I swear…”

With his spare hand, he rubs my back. “If it puts a smile on her face in the mornin’, it’s worth it.”

Resting a hand over his heart, I stare up at him, my pulse matching the rhythm of his. I love you, I say in my head, the words sitting right there on the tip of my tongue.

“She’ll love it,” I reply instead.

“Happy mom, happy daughter.” He dips his head, brushing his lips over mine before shifting back. Before he can do that, I cup his jaw in both my hands and pull his mouth back to mine, drawing him in for a real goodbye kiss. It’s soft and slow, full of those three words I can’t quite say yet.

I melt against him when he groans into my mouth, his arm around my back tightening, holding me close as our connection sparks a wildfire between us.

By the time we finally tear ourselves away from each other, his heart is pounding and mine is beating so fast I’m starting to feel a little woozy.

He rests his forehead on mine as we both suck in some much-needed air. “Think that’ll keep you goin’ till I’m back?”

“Definitely,” I breathe.

He steps back and rests a hand on my hip. “I’m goin’ to miss you while I’m gone. I hope you know that, beautiful.”

I can’t help but smile. “The feelin’s mutual, believe me.” He gives me a gentle squeeze before his expression changes. Suddenly, he seems nervous and unsure. “What is it?”

He stares down at the book in his hand back up to me. “I wanted to give you this to read.”

Taking it from him, I stare at the cover, recognizing it as one of Aster Hollingsworth’s romance books. “Is this Birdie’s copy?”

He nods, worrying his lip between his teeth. What’s going on? “Our connection—us meetin’ then findin’ each other again–it’s changed my life, Isla. I want you to know that.”

“Mine too,” I say, flexing my fingers against his chest. “I can’t even imagine a day goin’ by without seein’ you or at least talkin’ to you. I don’t want to.” I also just realized I love you… so there’s that.

His lips tug up on the side and the tension in his shoulders eases. “Me too. It’s more than that to me. I truly believe that we were meant to meet again.”

I don’t try to hide my confusion at the turn in conversation. Why is he tellin’ me this? Why now? “Is that why you want me to read it?”

“Yeah. I think–I mean…” He rubs the back of his neck, a move I’ve come to discover is a tell for him when he’s nervous or unsure. “You know how Birdie believes in the mountain’s Call from Aster’s book?”

That’s the last thing I expected him to say.

“Yeah. She loves those books and she’s a hopeless romantic.

I love that about her, always have. Don’t get me wrong I believe in soulmates just as much as the next person but a mountain bringing them together as a reward?

” I shake my head. “Not sure I’ll ever believe that . ”

I don’t expect the amused grin he sends me as he slides his hand into mine again.

“Do you trust me, beautiful?” he asks. Suddenly I’m taken back to the night we met when I posed the same question over pecan pie. “ Do you trust me, curious?”

“Always have.” Always will .

He locks eyes with mine. “Think about the series of events that somehow led us back to each other. Because Isla, I know you’re it for me.

There’s no one else that’s made me feel like this.

Never has been and never will be.” I melt into a puddle of goo on the floor—in my mind, anyway.

“I’d love it if you’d humor me and read this book. It’s helped me a lot.”

“About romance? Believe me, you’re a perfect boyfriend already, curious.”

He shakes his head with a laugh. “I meant it helped me understand the Call.”

I frown. “Wait. You’ve read this book?”

“I’ve read all of them.” He grins. “They’re kind of addictive once you get started.”

I stare at him with wonder. “And I thought I already knew everythin’ about you.”

He smiles. “ Now you do.”

Seeing how open and unshuttered his gaze is, I know I can’t deny him. Not when he really seems to want this. “OK. I’ll do it. For you. Doesn’t mean I believe it’s real though.”

Case shakes his head. “That’s OK, beautiful. But don’t just read it for me, read it for you too.”

“And then what?” I ask.

He leans in close, rubbing his nose along mine before touching his lips to mine once more.

“Then we’ll see if you change your mind and believe in it as much as I do.

” He shifts back so he can look me straight in the eye.

Then he succeeds in leaving me speechless.

“Because you’re my One, beautiful. I know it.

The mountain knows it. And soon, I hope you will too. ”