“Cubby, hi.” His voice is deep and melodious, instantly recognizable. “It’s Chase.”
“Oh, Chase. So good to hear from you.” I give Meg a panicked, silent scream.
There’s a second with no response. “Yeah,” he says. “I was just thinking. I’m going to make a fire over here tomorrow night, burn some of the wood I chopped up today.” I hear him swallow. “Stop by, if you want.”
I bounce up on my toes, peering across the lake. “Tomorrow night? Yeah, I think I’m free.”
“Cool. Well, uh, see you then. Around dusk, I guess.”
I don’t want to hang up. After losing my mind thinking about him this afternoon, now I’ve got him on the phone, and even just hearing his voice satisfies some of this yearning.
But he’s invited me over. To his place. At night.
So instead of pushing my luck, I manage to say goodbye like a normal person.
“Well?” Meg asks.
“It’s my mountain man. He needs me. Tomorrow night.”
“I’m sure that’s exactly what he said.”
“Basically.” I pull off my sweaty shirt and head back into the house. “Back to wardrobe. I only have twenty-four hours to put a date outfit together.”
