I can't do anything but bounce a shoulder and nod. "It just kinda came out."
"Many men have been known for losin' their minds when they meet their one. Right, Jesse?" Randy pins a knowing stare at his brother.
Kendra laughs, patting her husband's arm. "He was fine when he met me. Charmed me without even tryin'."
"Yeah, he just turned a little unpredictable when you left him with your catandyour horse," Randy replies, making us all laugh.
Kendra watches me with a curious stare. Being a seer means she communicates with the spirit living within Eagle Mountain and can help guide people who are navigating the spirit’s Call. If there’s anyone who’d know whether Deeisthe one for me, it would be her. "Is Dee my One, Kendra?"
A wry smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "I dunno, Tobes. Doyouthink she is?"
"Well she had my heart racin’, my hands sweatin’ and all of that other stuff. That’s never happened to me before when I’ve met a woman.”
“Maybe she is then," she shoots back, lips twitching.
I try to stare her out but she's not only got kids of her own, she's used to all the tricks a cowboy has in his chaps. That means a simple stare down is child's play to her. "Then again, the only other person whocouldknow–other than the two recipients of the Call–would be a Seer. Right?"
Groaning, I close my eyes and scrub my face, but that just brings Dee's mesmerizing smile to the forefront of my mind. "Can you at least tell me if shecouldbe?"
"Only you and her will know, Toby. And I mean that sincerely. It seems like you've had a somewhatvisceralreaction to meeting her. Would I have that right?"
"If by visceral you mean he had an out-of-body experience where he forgot how to speak other than offerin' a strange woman a job then started stutterin' and swallowing his tongue, then yep.That's what happened," Landry explains with a wide grin. “It was the best thing I’ve seen in years.”
Star sighs. "Be nice, Lan. I think it's cute that Tobes was all tongue-tied."
"It was kind of amusin'," Red adds. "Lucky for him–and us–I already knew we were gonna hire her. Randy had checked her out and I trust Rand as if his mind was mine. So no harm, no foul."
"The bonus bein' that Toby here might've met his One," Kendra replies.
Red's intense gaze shifts to mine. "You have to play this right, Toby. She's our employee. If sheisthe one for you, I ain't gonna stand in the way."
"None of us will," Landry adds and I give my brother a small nod. "But you might have to abandon your plan of takin' it real fast."
"Why?" I say, bunching my brows.
Landry looks to Star and then Kendra with a pleading look.
Kendra speaks up. "What I think Landry’s tryin' to say is, just becauseyouknow about the Call andyouhave a feelin' Dee could become someone special to you, doesn't meanshewill know or feel the way you feel at the same time."
“She’s right, Tobes. Look at me and Lan. I was all gung-ho about the mountainnottellin' me who to love. Imagine if I'd held a grudge and not given my future husband a chance?" She turns her goo-goo eyes at my brother.
When I watched Dee walk away, a small part of my brain enjoyed the view. I am a red-blooded man after all. With her long legs, curves, blue denim jeans, and worked-in cowboy boots, she was a sight to behold. Then there's her mousy brown hair under a well-worn and loved cowboy hat adorned with her beloved kangaroo pin.
For the first time in forever, it wasn’t just a woman’s physical appearance that caught my attention. With Dee it was her spirit too. Her confidence and the way she carried herself with a hint of mystery and a sliver of mischief. There was a sparkle in her eyes that hinted at a woman who was just like the rest of us, who liked to work hard and have fun while doing it.
There’s me spluttering and stumbling over my thick tongue and she's just grinning and dishing it back to me just like Lan and Red were doing. She turned up for a job interview and did it while ticking boxes on my ‘dream girl’ list she didn’t know existed.
While all of this was going on, the more rational side of my mind was racing and wondering how an Australian implant fromMontanaof all places could end up in Alaska, let alone working onourranch.
My whole body freezes when the reality of the situation hits me. She's going to be working for us...workingforme. Meaning I’m now one of her bosses. What if she doesn't date where she works? Or there's a power imbalance that makes her uncomfortable? Have I just shot myself in the foot and ended things before they can even begin?
I've wanted to meet my One ever since we first learned about the mountain spirit rewarding the protectors of her land. After seeing Colt, Rhett, and Landry all go through it, I wanted whatthey had more than ever, just without all the waiting around and stuffing about. When it comes to your soulmate, I figure if you know they’re meant to be yours and you’re meant to be theirs, why waste time?
Why not just dive straight in and iron out the wrinkles later?
I guess I’m about to find out what kind of woman Dee is tomorrow with our eight-hour drive back to Bull Mountain.
Surely that'll be long enough. I guess there's only one way to find out.
