“He is?” She glanced out the passenger window and her breath caught. CJ sauntered toward the truck, his hat nudged back and his gaze trained on her. Then he smiled, filling her with warmth and sunshine. “I’m crazy about him, Luce.”
“Looks like he’s in the same condition. He might relocate whether you agree or not.”
“Oh, he wouldn’t do that.”
“Are you sure?”
Before she could respond, CJ opened her door. “Hi, there.” He offered his hand.
“Hi, yourself.” His firm grip as he helped her down sent hot signals to her lady parts. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure. Listen, I’ll pick you up at four-thirty, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. Whenever you’re ready. Are you going to play your guitar tonight? Lucy said you usually do.”
“Would you like that?”
“I’d love it.”
“Then I will.”
“Hey, CJ,” Lucy rounded the truck. “Thanks for fetching our horses.”
“You’re welcome. I hear last night was a blowout.”
“You could say that. Did Izzy tell you she aced the apple bobbing at the shower?”
“She did.”
“I knew she would. We used to play it at Halloween parties and she’d always win.”
“I credit my good teeth.”
He laughed. “You do have very nice teeth.”
“I should. My father’s a dentist.”
He gazed at her. “Interesting. Didn’t know that.”
“There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”
“Yes, ma’am and that’ll be the fun of it. Discovering new things every day.”
Every day. But they only had two left. He couldn’t be talking about this visit, so he had to be projecting into a shared future… in Seattle.
She’d better figure out what the heck she wanted to happen before he took the decision right out of her hands.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Inviting Izzy to hang out at the bunkhouse had been a spur-of-the-moment idea, and so far, it was going well. Millie usually came over with Jake on Friday nights and found something to do while CJ helped Jake with food prep. The kitchen only accommodated two cooks.
Millie had taken a notion to pick wildflowers tonight and use Mason jars to display them on the long picnic table out by the fire pit. No sooner had she announced her intentions than Izzy volunteered to help and off they went, joking around as if they’d been friends for years.
He and Jake had made chuck wagon stew so many times they worked on autopilot. While Jake handled cubing and browning the meat, CJ sliced and diced the veggies.
Jake presided over two skillets since they were making a double batch. “Hard to believe you got that phone call from Isabel last Friday while we were doing this exact same thing.”
“No kidding.” CJ washed the veggies and pulled his favorite knife out of the wooden block on the counter.
“Haven’t had a chance to ask how last night went.”
“Damn, that’s right. I’ve talked to so many people today I forgot you weren’t one of them. That’s what you get for taking the day off to work on your cabin.”
“Need to finish the porch so Millie can hang paper lanterns on it. She’s fixated on having pretty lights on that porch.”
“It’ll look good.”
“It will, but she wants bright colors and the whole idea was making the cabin nearly invisible to the naked eye. That’ll nullify the program.”
“Do you have another fight brewing about that?”
“No, we do not. I’m giving in on the lanterns. She’s wanted some ever since Henri put them up in her yard. Millie loves embellishments. And I love Millie, so there you go.”
“You’re an inspiration to us all, bro.”
Jake chuckled. “Glad to be of service.” He tossed meat in each skillet and the cubes began to sizzle. “What came out of last night, anyway? Must be good. You’re generally cheerful, but tonight you’re optimism on steroids.”
“I told her I love her and she said she loves me back.”
“Just like that? No conditions on her part?”
“Oh, she has conditions. She started right in on her favorite theme—that loving someone means you make sure the situation is right for each of you.”
“She’s still against you relocating.”
“She was then, but I swear I’m making progress. She didn’t bring it up again. Instead we…well, you know.”
“Uh-huh. Is that particular activity dazzling enough to change her mind about Seattle?”
“I’m doing my best. The rose petals helped.”
“Yeah? Maybe I need to reconsider my stance regarding roses and petals.”
“All I can say is that last night was great. But time will tell.”
“You have precious little of it left, my friend.”
“I’m aware. But I’ve leaped the biggest hurdle. She loves me and is willing to say so. I can’t imagine living without her, now. If she gets to the point where she can’t imagine living without me, game over.”
“I hope tonight doesn’t put a hitch in your giddy-up, cowboy. Chuck wagon stew night’s all about the family ties Isabel’s opposed to cutting. Henri’s even decided to come.”
“She has? Matt said the Babes were up to all hours.”
“They were, but Henri’s taken a nap since then. I assume she wants to observe you and Isabel at close range. A lot is at stake.”
“That’s true, but all along she’s been preparing us to thrive anywhere. If I make this Seattle move work, she and Charley get most of the credit.”
“Guess so.”
“You don’t think she’ll be happy about that?”
Jake paused to glare at him. “Happy for you? Hell, yes. But happy that you’re gone? No! Nobody wants to see you leave, bro.” He cleared his throat. “Especially me.”
CJ chopped some more veggies without saying anything. Moving ten hours away would cause his brothers pain and he’d failed to acknowledge that. Instead he’d focused on his own issues.
He took a shaky breath. “I wish there was a way for me to be with Izzy without putting everyone through this. But as I see it, this is the only viable option.”
“Then you have to do it.” Jake’s voice was gruff. “We might not like the way the situation turns out, but we’re behind you a hundred and fifty percent. And we—”
The kitchen door opened. “The wildflowers on the table make the place look like a trendy restaurant.” Millie walked
