Closing the distance between us, I cradle her jaw with one hand and wait until she melts her cheek into my palm the sameway she always does. Dipping my chin, I brush my lips against hers and pour every ounce of my certainty and assurance into the kiss, loving the soft moan that escapes her as my tongue darts out to touch hers.
“I’m not sure…” she whispers honestly.
That’s when I let myself smile. “That’s OK, gorgeous. I’m sure enough for both of us.”
Chapter 16
Blair
My mind isstillreeling thirty minutes after Sutton leaves.
If it was simply a case of him thinking I was his soulmate, I would be swooning. But add in the prophesy, a matchmaking mountain spirit, and him thinking I’m hisreward? Yeah… that’s a bit harder to wrap my head around.
Isla’s book catches my eye, taunting me from the nightstand. Knowing me, even if Ihadstarted reading it, I’m not sure I would’ve made the connection between fiction and reality. It’s a romance novel, one of many the author has written. How would anyone know that the love stories she writes arereal?
I desperately need my two best friends to help me understand–or to tell me my mountain man is crazy and I should run back to Minnesota.
With that in mind, I send out a call to action.
Blair: Please tell me one or both of you are awake and can talk
Cate: What’s wrong?
Alex: I’m in bed reading. But I echo what Cate said. What’s wrong?
I press video call and moments later, Alex answers with Cate following soon after. They both take one look at me and launch in immediately.
“Life, job, or the college stalker now hot mountain man?” Alex asks.
“He was an admirer, not a stalker, A,” Cate kindly corrects her.
Alex grins. “Hey, stalkers can be hot sometimes.”
“Only in fiction,notin real life. Besides, Sutton takes her to hidden lakes and holds her hand. Sutton gives butterflies and swoony feelings, not headaches and restraining orders. They’re twoverydifferent kinds of men,” Cate explains.
I sigh. “Hello! I’m having a mini-Alaskan crisis here.”
“Yes, sorry! What’s up, buttercup?” Alex cradles a mug of what looks like a hot chocolate, as if she’s settling in for the long haul. Cate looks just as cozy but in her own bedroom–which is stillinthe same house as Alex anyway.
“Sutton just left.” I take a deep breath. “We talked and I think if I tell you what he said you’ll either get your hopes up or fly straight here and rescue me,” I rush out.
Alex’s eyes bug out. “Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Breathe, B. Alaska was supposed to be a retreat with hot plaid-clad mountain men, not whatever has causedthis.” She waves her hand in front of the camera.
Tears sting my eyes but I blink them back.Who cries after the man–who has possibly been plucked straight out of a romance book–confesses that you’re his soulmate sent to him by a mountain spirit who likes pairing his family up?
“What happened?” Cate says softly. “Maybe we can help?”That’s what I’m hoping for.
“Start at the beginning,” Alex adds.
And that’s exactly what I do. I tell them everything but despite their assurances that they could help me process Sutton’s confession tonight, they’re both stunned silent for a good few minutes once I stop talking.
Until Alex’s eyes flash “Wait… Who is it that’s getting married on Saturday?”
“The oldest brother, Will, and his fiancée, Birdie.”
“Is she the mayor’s daughter?”
“Yeah…”
