“I know it’s fast,” he says, his Scottish accent thickening with emotion. “And I know you’ve got a life back there. But these past few weeks with you here…” His voice catches, and he reaches for my hand, his calloused fingers wrapping around mine. “I don’t want to go back to a life without you in it.”
I search his face for any hint of doubt, any shadow of uncertainty, but all I see is hope.
The practical part of my brain immediately starts listing all the reasons this is crazy. My job. My condo. My family. My entire life is in the States. I’d be leaving everything familiar behind, trading it for rain-soaked hills and a future that’s completely unwritten.
And yet, there’s the other voice, the one that’s been growing louder since I first arrived. The one that whispers how the air tastes different here. How the colors seem brighter, how time moves in a way that actually makes sense. How I’ve never felt more like myself than when I’m with him.
“My job…” I start, but even as I say it, I know it’s just a placeholder for my fear.
Callan’s thumb traces circles on my palm. “There are jobs here.”
“There’s tons of paperwork. I’ll still need to go back and forth a few times?—”
“Hey,” he cuts me off. “I’m sure Juliette can help you with all of that since she just did it. And what about helping Rose out for a bit? While youfigure out your next steps?”
I glance over at him, eyebrows shooting up. “What are you thinking?”
He shrugs, all casual, but there’s a glint of something thoughtful in his eyes. “We’ve been talking about expanding the distillery’s marketing, especially in the States. Rose is juggling too much on her own, and you know the market there better than anyone. It wouldn’t have to be forever.”
I blink, caught completely off guard by the suggestion. “Are you serious? I mean…wouldn’t that be a bit, I don’t know, nepotistic?”
Callan chuckles, the sound low and easy as he shakes his head. “Lass, it’s a family business. Everything we do is a wee bit nepotistic.”
I bite my lip, turning the idea over in my mind. “I don’t know, Callan. What if it doesn’t work out? Also…I hate whisky.”
That earns a laugh, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that makes it impossible not to smile back. “Aye, but that’s not a problem, Sunshine. You don’t need to like whisky to market it. In fact,” he says, leaning forward, “it might even be an advantage. You can approach it from an outsider’s perspective. See what’ll convince all the other whisky-haters to give it a try.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but I can’t help the small laugh that escapes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet you’re still listening.”
I’ve spent so long defining myself by nursing, by the years of training, the grueling shifts, the controlled chaos of hospital life. It’s who I am. The idea of stepping outside of that makes me nervous, but at the same time, I’ve been wondering if it’s time to try something new.
The words slip out before I can stop them. “But what if I’m not good at it?”
He just watches me. “Then you learn. Same way you learned to be a nurse. Same way I learned to run a distillery.”
“What if it causes problems between us? Mixing business and pleasure and all that?”
He shakes his head, his expression serious now. “We’re stronger than that, lass. And it’s not like you’d be working under me.”
“You really think I could do it?”
“I know you could,” he says without hesitation, his hand finding mine and giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re brilliant.”
The idea of switching careers entirely is overwhelming, but the trust in his eyes makes me feel like maybe I can.
“I’ll think about it. But I want you to think on it, too. Talk to Knox and Rose. See what they say, okay?”
Callan dips his chin in a small nod, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I can do that.”
“You’re really sure? About all of this?”
He edges closer, his hand coming up to cradle my cheek. “Bree,” he says, voice rich and rough in that signature rasp, “I’ve never been more sure of anything. Not in my whole damn life.”
His eyes search mine with unmistakable clarity. “I love you. Not just while you’re here patching me up. Not just because you make the house feel like home. I love you, and I want more.”
My breath hitches, but he keeps going.
