Jamie
T he day after a big rescue is always a little strange. I've been told it has something to do with adrenaline. Too much of it, followed by none at all.
Whatever it is, I always feel a little off the day after a rescue. Even when it has a positive outcome the way the hiker situation did.
I know Briggs handles it by spending time with Mia and the babies. He says that his family calms his mind.
It's not something I can relate to. Especially since my little sister usually has the opposite effect on me.
I spend most of the day taking care of things I've let slide around my cabin for the last few days. I'm new to the concept of downtime. Up until recently, I was working full-time at the mill and volunteering in all my spare hours with the Rock Creek Search and Rescue.
The little town of Rock Creek has experienced a boom in population and tourism in the last few months, and for better or worse, there's now a need for full-time staff with search and rescue. It's my life calling, and if I could, I'd work twenty-four-seven. Especially since I'm just not good at time off.
Maybe that would be different if I had someone special in my life.
I have to admit, the thought has been popping into my head more and more frequently these days. And it's not just Briggs and Jaxon; it feels like all my buddies are starting to get paired up.
When I moved to Rock Creek, I more or less resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't likely to meet anyone special. At the time, it was a trade-off I was willing to make as long as I could provide for my little sister and help her through medical school.
Things have changed now.
With Mia married to Briggs, she was no longer my responsibility, and the shift has me thinking about what it might be like to have a partner of my own.
Briggs and Jaxon's sneaky as fuck move last night pissed me off because they had no right to go behind my back.
And a mail-order bride website? What the actual?—
Sure. It worked out for Jaxon. But what were the odds that it would work twice? Especially in the same middle-of-nowhere mountain town?
Still...
The thought was still picking at my brain hours later when I'd finished splitting and stacking a truckload of fresh firewood and finally called it a day.
My cell phone was sitting where I'd left it that morning, on the rough wood kitchen table. It called to me like a beacon.
With a growl, I snatched it up and found the email from Jaxon in my inbox with the login information to Mountain Mates.
You matched.
She's perfect.
I doubt it very much. Just because Jaxon and Briggs thought a woman was perfect for me, it did not mean anything. Especially since they'd probably think any woman who would consider living on the mountain perfect.
My finger hovers over the delete button. It's probably easier to forget they ever signed me up in the first place.
But...
"Fuck it."
Before I can talk myself out of it, I click the email that contains the login instructions and password for the site. At the very least, I'll go in and delete my profile so the guys can't cause any more damage.
It takes me a few minutes to get everything typed in and change the password on the site to keep Jaxon and Briggs out for good. Once I do, the first thing I see is a flashing envelope icon in the top corner that indicates I have a message.
At least that's what I assume it means.
What the hell?
I click on it.
Hi, . I'm Ella. It's really nice to 'meet' you. I don't really know what I'm doing. But I guess, now we should try to get to know each other a little better. How was your day? Anything interesting?
"Ella," I say her name aloud, enjoying the sound of it on my tongue. Her message is sweet, and a little uncertain. Endearing.
I can't help but wonder if she looks as sweet as she sounds.
I know I'm going to regret it, but I click over to her profile.
And my breath catches in my throat.
Fuck. Me.