Page 32

CASE

As soon as we arrived back in Timber Falls this morning, I began to feel normal again. That was after days of body pain, headaches, night sweats, and heart palpitations that would’ve had me worried if Sutton hadn’t reminded me about the Call reminding you when you’re away from your One.

Before ending our call last night, Isla and I arranged that she’d come up to the ranch and we’d all go to the Lair for a family dinner. Just knowing I’d be seeing her had me rushing to unload the furniture and building supplies we’d brought back from our trip.

Wyatt has told us he’s happy to stay in the ranch house with all of us.

Because of that, we’ll be able to open up the doors to guests sooner rather than later.

A ‘soft launch’ as Will puts it. That will show us what we’re doing right and what we need to work on.

But first, we want another cabin finished as a backup option.

Standing back, I take in the finished–and furnished–cabin, which looks more like a home away from home compared to the derelict shack it resembled when we first arrived.

“Maybe we’ve got a future career in interior design,” I quip, waggling my brows.

“Or we should just stick to what we know and leave all of this stuff,” Will says, waving his arm over the room, “to the experts.”

“I guess the good thing now is that we know what to do and how to do it,” Wyatt adds. “No more missteps, miscuts, or Case’s caulkin’ disasters.

I spear him with a glare. “Hey! That was one time.”

Jude snickers. “Yeah. But it was funny as hell. You were covered from head to toe. You looked like a kindergartner playin’ with clay for the first time.”

“Like you haven’t had any mishaps. The far cabinet is a quarter inch off square,” I shoot back, challenging him to argue.

Jude holds his hands up. “I’m a gardener, not a carpenter. I did the best I could.”

“We all did,” Sutton says, looking around at all of us. “And we did a damn fine job considerin’ Will’s the only one who has done this before. How ‘bout we pat ourselves on the back and celebrate?”

I clap my twin on the shoulder. “ That is the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

“You just want to see Isla.”

“No point denyin’ it. I’ve missed her somethin’ fierce. I just need to lay eyes on her. Then I know everythin’ will be OK,” I reply honestly.

Will nods and we all make our way out of the cabin toward the ranch house. “Birdie says Iz read the book. That’s a good start, right?”

“Yeah. She told me last night she’d been readin’. I don’t know any more than that. She said we’d talk tonight.” Jude and Wyatt groan. “What?” I ask.

“Isn’t ‘we need to talk’ the death knell when it comes to relationships?”

I shake my head. “Nah. It’s called communication, children. That’s what adults do.”

Jude sighs and Wyatt smirks. “Well now, maybe that’s why we’re both single,” he says to my youngest brother. “We don’t talk to women.”

“I haven’t even thought about datin’ since we moved here,” Jude says, opening the back door to the house before we all file into the mudroom to clean up. “I figure my turn will come around eventually. If it goes in birth order, I’ve still got time. Sutt’s up next, anyway.”

“You sure about that?” Wyatt replies. “We couldn’t pick the order of the Call when it happened at Bull. Landry heard it before Toby and Colt heard it before everyone.”

“There goes that plan, eh Jude,” I tease, nudging him with my shoulder.

He perks up, appearing newly energized. “I better get prepared then.” He rubs his hands together.

“Maybe I’ll meet my One at the Lair tonight.

I’m first in the shower.” Then he’s gone in the blink of an eye, Wyatt and Sutton following after him, leaving me and Will standing at the double-wide sink, washing our hands.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’ve got anythin’ to worry about. Birdie had dinner with Iz and Jessica the other night. She didn’t seem worried, so you shouldn’t either. These things have a way of sortin’ themselves out. And if it’s meant to be–”

I groan. “Please don’t say anythin’ poetic about fate and the mountain never gettin’ it wrong. I know that.”

“OK. Does that mean you’re not worried about whatever Iz wants to talk about tonight?”

“Nope,” I say, feeling a lot more confident than when I was on the road. There’s something about being back in town and closer to Isla that has me trusting my gut instinct.

Isla Murray is my One, the love of my life.

All those months ago I promised myself that I wasn’t going to let a woman like her slip through my fingers again.

I was lucky enough to get another chance with my beautiful stranger, and whether she believes in the Call or not, as long as she believes in us–in me –then that’s all that matters.

I trusted the mountain and I’m going to repay her generosity by trusting in Isla too.

Checking my watch, I realize she’s due to arrive soon.

“Damn you’ve got it bad, brother,” Will says. “I’m happy for you.”

“I’m happy for me too.”

“Still think movin’ here was for the best?” he asks curiously.

“I had a bit of time to ponder that while we were in Anchorage. Mom even asked me the same thing. I’ll tell you the same thing I told her,” I reply. “I think that Gramps knew somethin’ we didn’t. It’s like he somehow knew we were all drownin’ and needed a change–or a push to change, anyway.”

“You’re right. I just wish we’d have gotten a chance to thank him. This place is not the same without him but at the same time–”

“We’re makin’ it our own, Will, and doin’ it to keep his memory alive. Apart from the satellite dish, I think he’d be proud of what we’ve done so far…”

“Yeah. I think you’re right.”

I scoff and shoot him a knowing look. “Of course, I am. When am I not?”

Everyone claims the shower before I can. That means I’m still not ready by the time Isla arrives.

“It’s OK, we’ll just catch up with everyone,” she says, nonchalantly. So much so, I’m a little suspicious and the tiny bit of worry I still have about her ‘we need to talk’ comment earlier starts prickling my skin.

“Sounds like a plan,” Birdie says, grinning at Will. “We’ll drive down and you can meet us there later. I bet you two want to ‘catch up’ anyway.” She stares at Isla and I swear they share a look like the ones Sutton and I do when we’re having a silent conversation. Weird .

Not long after, everyone says goodbye, leaving just the two of us in the empty house. You bet my mind is full of all the things that could happen now that we’re finally alone.

Isla’s eyes twinkle as she looks me over, my thoughts mirrored in her expression. “Weren’t you goin’ to have a shower, curious?”

“Yeah. I was,” I say, moving toward her and not stopping until my arms are wrapped around her back and her body is flush with mine. I slide my hand up to cradle the back of her head. “Hey.”

Her hooded eyes drop to my mouth. “Hi.”

“Long time no see.”

Her lips curve up into a soft all-knowing smile. “We talked every day, curious.”

“Not the same as seein’ you,” I say, roaming a hand up and down her back. “Or touchin’ you. I’ve realized that just bein’ near you makes me feel…”

“Calm?”

“At peace.” I smile against her lips as I steal a gentle kiss. “I better get cleaned up or else we’ll never leave.”

“OK,” she drags out, I catch something in her eyes but don’t press her on it. Knowing her as well as I do, I’m not worried. Not now that I've seen her. Whatever she wants to tell me, she’ll do it when she’s ready. “I’ll wait here for you.”

“Sounds good, beautiful.” I kiss her once more before reluctantly letting her go and making my way to the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, I quickly get dressed and walk into the living room. I find Isla in the kitchen pulling something out of the oven, the smell of lasagna filling the air.

I take in the room and see she’s been busy.

The lights are dipped low and there are LED candles spread all along the window frames.

The dining table has two settings that weren’t there before, along with a bottle of red wine and two glasses.

The low hum of soul music playing in the background is setting the scene for a romantic night in, not a night out at the Lair.

“Hi,” she says, looking up at me with a wry smile. She carries the steaming hot serving dish to the table before taking off her oven mitts and turning to face me. “So, I may have done a thing…”

My lips twitch. “A thing? That thing looks and smells amazin’.” I cock my head, taking her in. “I take it we’re not leavin’ anytime soon?”

“I just–I figured we haven’t seen each other in four days, and I wanted us to have a night together,” she rushes out. “The others helped me, and they’ve promised they’ll stay out until last call. That means–”

“We’ve got the house to ourselves.”

If I had any doubts about Isla being my One, they’d be gone now. This whole scene proves that I haven’t read it all wrong–read her wrong–even if we do need to talk about the whole mountain’s Call thing again.

Closing the distance between us, I reach out for her hand and press a soft kiss over her knuckles. “I’ll have to thank them later.”

I catch a twinkle in her eyes. “Just them?”

“Oh no, beautiful. If I have my way, I’ll be thankin’ you for the rest of my life.” I figure, go big or go home. I have no secrets now; I don’t need any.

“We should eat before it gets cold,” she whispers, her eyes locked on mine.

After pushing her chair in once she sits down, I take the seat opposite and pour us a glass of wine each while she dishes out the pasta.

We both take a sip of our wine, the rich flavor washing over my tongue as our eyes lock over the table. The warmth in her eyes sends a shiver down my spine and the same feeling of rightness I always feel when I’m around her settles deep in my chest.