Chapter 26
Blair
Now that my future is clear and I know I’m staying in Timber Falls, I send Uncle George a message to check if he’s still awake.
A few minutes later, my phone rings.
“Hey, Blair Bear. Everythin’ OK?” he asks, sounding half asleep.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. You didn’t have to call me now.”
He clicks his tongue. “You messaged me late at night askin’ if I’m awake. If I see a message like that–especially from you–I’m callin’. Now, I ask again. Is everythin’ OK?”
“Yeah. We’re just on our way back home from Spring Haven. I wanted you to be the second person to know–well, third if you count Wy–that I’ve decided what I’m doing when my contract at the hospital ends.”
“This’ll be the only time I’m happy to not be the first” He chuckles. “I’m guessin’ this is good news. Especially since you called Timber Falls your home…”
I look across the truck, admiring Sutton’s profile as he drives with one arm on the wheel. Why does he look so hot just doing nothing? What is this magic voodoo?
“Depends on whether you’re going to tell me why you never told me that you and Tabitha are together?”
George hums in my ear. “I didn’t want anythin’ to sway your decision to accept my offer–and now–to accept Tabby’s one too. I knew you needed a change of scenery, and I was due long service leave. None of that was a lie.” I melt on the spot at hearing my uncle call my boss Tabby.
“But you going to Florida wasn’t just because you were missing warmer temperatures, was it?” I shoot back.
“Not exactly,” he says, sounding a bit sheepish. “All’s well that ends well though. Surprise! I’m retirin’.”
“I’m happy for you. I hope you know that,” I say.
“Does that mean you are takin’ the job? You’re stayin’ in Timber Falls?”
I grin. “Yes, I’m staying. I want to be wherever Sutton is. Tabitha’s job offer is just the icing on the cake. I haven’t told her that yet though, so now it’s your turn to keep a secret, at least until tomorrow when I meet with her.”
“Don’t you worry about that, Blair bear. Your secret’s safe with me,” he replies. “I’m so damn proud of you. I hope you know that.”
“I know. You’ve never shied away from tellin’ me that.”
“Because you’ve never once failed to impress me.
Tabby’s offer has nothin’ to do with me and everythin’ to do with you, your work ethic, and your ideas,” he continues.
“My only hope is that you don’t see this move as you sacrificin’ anythin’.
Sometimes life can lead you to crossroads that you need to work your way through in order to get to the life you truly want.
This job, the Coopers–Sutton–all of it, I think you’re finally where you belong. ”
I reach over and lace fingers with my One. “I think you’re right,” I reply as Sutton glances over at me and shoots me a sexy smile that I feel from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
“I'd been worried about you for a while now.”
That’s news to me. “You were?”
“Of course. I know what it’s like to pour everythin’ into your career. To make it your life rather than riskin’ puttin' yourself out there. You were headin’ on a one-way street to burnout without knowin’ it. You were livin’ to work, not workin’ to live.” He’s not wrong.
“Then you called and offered me a way to take a break and reevaluate things,” I say.
“You bet I did, and I’d do it all over again. You’re the only person I would ever trust to take my place. You’re the best damn doctor and human bein’ I know, Blair.”
“Stop! You’re going to make me cry,” I say, my voice a little shaky.
He laughs. “Wouldn’t be the first time, probably won’t be the last. You cried when your first potato plant didn’t produce, remember that? You were diggin’ so deep we were worried you weren’t goin’ to stop.”
“I was five!”
“You’re still just as stubborn and as determined now. Anyway, stop gettin’ me off track. I’m tryin’ to tell you that I was worried, but I’m not now. I haven’t had a lick of concern since you’ve been up at Cooper Ranch. That says it all, don’t you think?”
Something occurs to me. “Did you know I was meant to be Sutton’s?”
“Nope,” he says emphatically. “I knew you’d fit in with the Coopers and that whatever you needed, they’d be able to give it to you. I’m not at all disappointed that you hooked yourself a good man like Sutton, though. He’s one of the few in town I’d say are worthy of you,” he states.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“What are you thankin’ me for, Blair bear? The way I see it, we’ve both got what we’ve always wanted.”
“He’s the best thing I never saw coming,” I tell him honestly, not missing the hitch in Sutton’s breath at my words.
When Uncle George speaks again, his voice is thick.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. At the end of your days, I don’t want you lookin’ back and thinkin’ about what you missed out on.
You need to be able to cherish the mark you left on this world as well as the life you’ve created for yourself along the way.
” He falls quiet, as if he’s letting his words sink in.
“I’m pushin’ sixty and all I’ve got to show for it are grey hair, wrinkles, and a medical degree.
I couldn’t live with myself if I stood back and let you become like me. ”
“You’ve got Tabitha now,” I say.
“Yeah, and that’s what has made my time in Timber Falls worth it. Having this break has proven that life is too damn short not to take chances,” he says. “Trust me when I tell you that this will be the best chance you ever take.”
“On love?”
“Oh yeah. The way I see it, the mountain spirit there has given you the opportunity to have your two biggest loves at the same time. You get to help people and share a life with a good man who will give you the world if you let him…”
A wry smile curves my lips. “I’m starting to think the mountain spirit might’ve had a little help…”
The answering chuckle in my ear tells me everything I need to know. “Even the mountain needs help with her projects every now and then. I was just playin’ my part.”
“Thank you, Uncle George.”
“Anythin’ for you, Blair bear.”
A few days later, having met with Tabitha and ironed out all of the details, I find myself in the cabin with some free time before Sutton arrives for dinner.
Knowing there are two very important people that still need a well overdue life update from me, I set myself up on the couch with my tablet and video call my best friends.
They answer moments later, and I’m surprised to find them both sitting in my old living room surrounded by packing boxes.
“Hi,” Alex says. “Long time no see.”
“We were texting just yesterday,” I reply.
She rolls her eyes. “I said see, which is a lot different from messaging. Bein’ in love looks good on you, by the way.”
My cheeks heat but I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face. They’re not wrong, I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve felt happier.
“There it is!” Cate says, grinning back at me. “I love this for you.”
“I do too,” I admit. Then I remember the boxes. “Can I ask why my apartment looks like I’m moving out?”
Alex stares at me like I’ve grown two heads. “Because you are…”
“That’s why I was calling, but how did you know?”
Now it’s Cate’s turn to shoot me a pointed look. “You forget we know you, B. Once you set your mind to something, there’s no stopping you.”
“It’s just this time, your heart has made the decision for you,” Alex adds.
Tears spring to my eyes. “So you started packing for me?”
Cate laughs. “Well duh. What are best friends for?”
“I love you guys. You know that, right?”
“ABCs for life,” they say in unison.
“Though you do have a new job now,” Alex says, her eyes full of mischief.
“Wait? You know that too?”
They look at each other and I have to bite back a laugh at their dumbfounded expressions. “You have a new job?”
“Yeah. Tabitha’s resigning and I’m taking over as head of the hospital. What are you guy’s talking about?”
“Not that,” Cate says. “That’s awesome, B. Congratulations.”
I grin. “Thanks.”
“The job I was talking about was inviting lots of single sexy mountain men to your wedding so that we can live out our own romance trope,” Alex explains.
I don’t even argue about them already planning my future wedding. “And what trope is that?”
“Destination wedding hook-up of course. Aster hasn’t written one of those, maybe we can give her some inspiration.” Alex waggles her brows making Cate and I laugh.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I reply.
Cate leans forward in her chair. “Wait… doesn’t that mean you are getting married?”
“I can’t think of anything I want more,” I say honestly. “There’s plenty of time for that though. I’ve got a new job to settle into and we’ve just had a double wedding on the ranch. I think we all need a break before the next one.”
Alex sighs dramatically. “Guess your two best friends in the whole entire world will just have to wait for their own happy ever after.”
“How about you just live vicariously through me until you each meet your soulmates. I know they’re out there for you. If anyone deserves love and happiness, it’s you two.”
“See, who’d have thought after all these years that you’d turn into the sappy romantic one out of all of us,” Cate says. “Maybe you should’ve listened to us and started reading Aster’s books a long time ago.”
I laugh. “Probably.” I stare at the packing boxes again. “You know I can pay someone to do that, right?”
Alex arches a brow. “You really want a total stranger going through your things? It’s the bestie code. You delete internet history and hide all the se–”
“Anyway…” My blush is back as hot as ever. Though they do have a point…
And of course, that’s when the cabin door opens, the love of my life walking in with a curious look on his face. I fan myself, earning a laugh from my best friends.
Sutton leans down and brushes his lips against my temple before sitting beside me. “Hi,” he says to my still grinning friends. “What have you two done to make her go beet red?”
“Oh nothing,” Cate says in a singsong voice, totally giving herself away.
“You’ll find out when Blair’s stuff arrives,” Alex replies gleefully. “Just make sure she shows you all of the boxes.”
“Alex…” I growl half-heartedly, feeling Sutton’s inquiring gaze on my face.
When I turn to look at him, he’s smirking at me. His eyes aren’t curious anymore though, they’re burning hot. “I look forward to it,” he murmurs to me, his voice turning rough.
“Wow,” Alex says, breaking the moment. “Now that is hot. Don’t let us keep you.”
Cate giggles. “Yeah. We’ve got packing to get back to. We’ll email you when everything’s ready so that you can contact the realtor and put it up for sale.”
“You’re sellin’ your apartment?” Sutton asks.
I shrug, realizing that I hadn’t really thought about it until now. “It makes sense. I’m going to be living here anyway. We can put the money towards building a home of our own on the ranch eventually.”
He cocks his head, his features as soft as I’ve ever seen them. Butterflies scatter in my belly.
As much as I love talking to my two best friends, there’s something else I think I’d much rather be doing right now, especially with Sutton looking at me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Funny. I feel the exact same way about him.
“Talk soon,” I say, not looking toward the camera.
Alex and Cate laugh, bidding us farewell and telling us to ‘have fun’ before ending the call.
“You want that?” he asks before cradling my face in his hands. “To build a home for us?”
“I want everything with you, Sutton Cooper. Don’t you know that already?”
He growls deep in his chest before jumping to his feet. I’m about to ask what’s wrong but the words get stuck on my tongue because in the next breath, he hauls me up, throwing me over his shoulder before stalking to the bedroom.
And after that, there’s not a hell of a lot of talking to be done.
Then again, there didn’t need to be.