“I’ll let you go, but Red, if you remember anythin’ I’ve said, let it be this. Trust your gut. You know she’s your One, but she mightnot know what the signssheis feelin’ are all about. So let it happen naturally,” he replies as Mags comes to a stop in front of me. “It also might help your journey if you get her an Aster book to read.”
“She’s read them,” I say, looking right into her eyes, earning an intrigued brow.
“Leave it to me. I know Aster has just sent Cora the latest book to read and I’m sure she can get Mags a copy. Bye, Red. Have fun,” he says.
“Wait. Don’t—” He doesn’t hear me though because he’s already ended the call.
Mags tilts her head curiously. “What’s that about?”
“I was just talkin’ to Rhett. Um, catchin’ up on ranch business.”
“And what have I apparently read?”
"Huh?" I mumble, feeling that strange pull between us again, the same one that drove me to give Mags my hat last night at the bar knowing fair well what it would mean.Mine. mine. mine.
She nods to the phone in my hand. “You said to Rhett that I’d read them. What have I read?”
“Aster’s books. He was sayin’ that Aster sent Cora her latest story.”
Her eyes light up. "Really? I'll have to check my e-book reader. I might have it too. I've been lookin' forward to it."
My eyes jump wide. “You have?”
"Yep. It's a second chance at love, best friends-to-lovers romance. I've been hankerin' for it," she replies excitedly, making me smile.
“Well, then. How ‘bout I drive, and you can start readin’?”
A gleaming grin appears on her face. “Deal!” She nods, and we move toward the passenger door. I open it and help her up, getting distracted by the sunlight dancing in her hair and how the soft light makes her skin look as soft as butter. My fingers itch to reach out and feel it for myself.
She shoots me a puzzled look. “We just goin’ to stay here all day or are we hittin’ the road? I’ve got a new book to read after all.”
I chuckle, shaking my head at her.You’re adorable, I want to say. I don’t though.Not yet… I’ll just think it. Probably a lot.
“We better get goin’ then. Somethin’ I’ve learned from the men at the ranch is to never get between a woman and her readin’.”
She winks. “Good advice.”
As we say goodbye to the cabin and Ninilchik, I can't help but smile. I may be nervous about what the rest of our road trip may hold, but that doesn't mean I’m not buzzing with the anticipation of what’s to come.
Because for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m on a journey of discovery—not just of the man I am now, but also of the life being offered to me if I’m brave enough to reach out and grab it.
And you better believe it, that’s exactly what I plan to do.
17
MAGS
While Red drives, I check my emails, grinning when I see one from Aster.
The women at the ranch, myself, and the Sunday School Sallys have all formed a book club and one of the authors we read every new book by is Aster Hollingsworth. Not only are her books amazing, but she has also become a close friend to all of us.
She got her biggest break writing small-town romance with big, gruff, and tough Alaskan men who protect the land and get rewarded for doing so by a matchmaking mountain spirit.
Romance readers around the world fell in love with her stories with book retreats, signing tours, and many more stories written about these men and their Ones being called to them. What a lot of peopledon’tknow is that they're all based on true mountain lore stemming from the Cooper family at Moose Mountain, one of those men being Aster's now-husband.
Right now, she’s almost finished writing a series about ranchers. Those books just happen to be based on how Colt, Rhett, Landry,Toby, and Austin all met and fell in love with their soulmates—Lee, Cora, Starchild, Dee, and Charlie.
We’re all curious about this latest book of hers though because none of us know who the couple is going to be. All of the ladies have been placing bets and their money is on Red or Wyatt.
