“I thought you didn’t read romance,” she says.
“Not really. My best friends do though.”
She pauses for a moment, as if contemplating something. “Wouldyou read a book if I gave it to you?”
I shrug. “Sure. It’s not like I’ve got a super heavy patient-load right now. Compared to the job I left behind, working here almost feels like a holiday.”
“A bit different?” she says with a smirk.
“That’san understatement.”
We fall quiet and just for a moment I feel like I’ve somehow escaped her third degree about Sutton.
“Don’t think I’m lettin’ you off the hook, Blair. You’re tryin’ to distract me from askin’ about my brother-in-law.”
“You mean Jude?” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “Woman, tell me about you and Sutton. Are you feelin’ the vibe? What do you think of him? Are there tingles?”Tingles? How would she know about that?
“Sutton is…” There are many words to describe him. Far too many to say now, “a genuinely nice guy. Before moving here, I wasn’t sure there were even men like him out there. Not for me, anyway.”
Isla’s eyes flash. “OK, first. Nice? Just whateveryguy wants to hear,” she muses. “You can do better than that. I know we’ve just met, but I promise you, my intentions are good. I’m a little protective over everyone at Cooper Ranch but that also includes you. And with all of the testosterone up on the mountain, us girls have to stick together.”
A giggle escapes me at the same time my heart swells. “I didn’t think…” I shake my head. “It’s not that, OK. I promise. It’s just–” My voice softens. “He makes me feel seen–like he reallyseesme–not what I bring to the table or what I can do for him. Justme. And it doesn’t feel intense or off putting, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.”
“Girl! She says, clapping her hands excitedly. “Isn’t that the best feeling?” She waves her gorgeous engagement ring in theair between us. “I’mmarryin’a man who makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful, special, and mostimportantwoman in the world.”
“I love that for you,” I reply.
Isla leans in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “You could have that too, you know. OK, what else?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, scrunching my nose up.
“Come on, Blair. Don’t leave me hangin’. Did sparks fly? Was there a kiss at the end? Is there goin’ to be a second date.”
“No kiss. Yes to a second date. And as for sparks?”
“Yes…” She’s leaning in so close now that I can feel her body heat.
“I don’t know if it's the altitude or something, but there’s always this strange energy between us whenever we touch. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. But it’s not bad.” I actually don’t know how to explain it. All I know is that every single time his skin has touched mine, it’s like I’m being brought to life.
“What does it feel like?”
“Like a low-frequency buzzing most of the time. But warm. And then other times, it’s like a jolt that goes straight through me like a lightning bolt.” Isla's eyes flash. “Whenever we touch, it’s the most natural thing in the world… like we’ve been doin’ it for years.”
Her eyes crinkle into a whole-face smile. “I knew it!” she says with a fist pump. “I knew you came here for a reason. Just wait until I tell Birdie.”
“Tell Birdiewhat? I thought Jude told everyone about the hike?”
That’s when she freezes and stares at me with the guiltiest look on her face. “Remember when I asked if you’d read one of those mountain man books?”
I eye her warily. “Yeah…”
“I think you need to come to my locker after your shift. I’ve got just the one for you to read first. It might help… explain things.”
“Explain what? What am I missing?” I ask
“Read the book first then you, me, and Birdie can have a date of our own. Then we can fill in the blanks for you,” she replies quizzically.
