Page 91 of Cole

"Can’t wait either." Cole's voice was rough with feeling. "And tomorrow, when you step off that plane, I'm not letting go of you for at least twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four hours, huh?”

His grin returned. "Get some sleep, sweetheart. You've got a long travel day tomorrow."

After they said good night, Janice lay in bed thinking of tomorrow. She was choosing uncertainty. Choosing to build something new in Montana with a man she'd known for only three months but who felt more right than anyone she'd ever been with.

Tomorrow, she'd step onto a plane and fly toward a new life. Toward Montana and mountains and a man who'd risked everything to save her. Toward possibility and hope and the chance to build something real with someone who saw her for exactly who she was.

Janice smiled in the darkness, thinking of red foxes and wilderness and the freedom that came from choosing your own path. She was ready.

39

Two Months Later

Cole stood at the grill on his back deck, flipping burgers while keeping one eye on Janice inside the house. She was laughing at something Vivian had said, her head thrown back, completely at ease, surrounded by the people who'd become his family.

It had been two months since she'd moved to Montana. Two months of watching her settle into this life, into this place, into them. And every day, he fell a little more in love with her.

"Stop staring at your girlfriend like a lovesick puppy," Frazier said, appearing beside him with a beer. "It's embarrassing for the rest of us single guys."

"Jealousy doesn't look good on you," Cole shot back, but he was grinning.

"Not jealous. Just pointing out that you've got it bad." Frazier grabbed a burger off the grill. "Though I'll admit, she's pretty great. Smart, brave, doesn't take your crap. You lucked out." He winked before heading inside.

Cole couldn't argue with that assessment. He had lucked out, in ways he was still trying to wrap his head around.

Inside, the house was full of noise and laughter. Logan and Vivian's son, almost eighteen months old, was toddling around, laughing at Evie’s antics as Lenore and Sisco supervised. Noel sat with her hand on her growing belly, Landon hovering nearby with that protective expression he'd worn since they'd announced the pregnancy. Mia and Devlin were deep in conversation with Janice and Vivian about something that had them all animated.

Tyler and Justice had claimed the couch, Justice's head on Tyler's shoulder in that comfortable way couples had when they'd been together long enough to stop worrying about public displays of affection. Todd and Sadie were arguing good-naturedly about something related to a recent mission. Bert sat close to Mary, his hand linked with hers. They were watching the organized chaos with fond amusement. Casper and Willow stood near the fireplace, Casper's hand resting on the small of Willow's back.

And now the single guys, Timothy, Dalton, Cory, and Frazier, were clustered near the kitchen, probably giving each other grief about something.

This was his life now. This team, this family, this home he'd built in Montana. And now, Janice was a part of it too.

"Burgers are ready," Cole called out, carrying the platter inside.

Everyone converged on the food with the enthusiasm of people who spent their days doing physically demanding work. Cole made sure Janice had what she needed before filling his own plate and settling beside her in the living room, where everyone sat wherever they could find a seat… sofa, chairs, or the floor.

"So, Janice," Vivian said once everyone was eating, "how's the new job going? Mia said you're loving it."

Janice's face lit up in that way it always did when she talked about her work. "It's amazing. Three days a week at the clinic on the Blackfoot reservation, two days at the practice in town. I get to work with everything from cats and dogs to the occasional wildlife rescue."

"She brought home an injured fox last week," Cole added. "Treated it in our spare room, then released it back on the reservation once it healed."

“I love that you were able to find just the kind of job you wanted when you came here,” Lenore said.

Mia leaned forward, her expression warm. "I'm just glad I could help connect you with Dr. Whitehorse at the reservation clinic. When you mentioned wanting to work with underserved communities, I knew he'd be perfect. He's been looking for someone with your wildlife expertise for years."

"You changed my life with that introduction," Janice said seriously. "The work there is exactly what I needed. Challenging, meaningful, making a real difference for people and animals who don't always have access to quality veterinary care."

"And the town practice keeps you connected to the community here," Mary added. "Best of both worlds."

The conversation flowed easily, moving from Janice's work to upcoming LSIMT missions to Timothy's recent helicopter certification to speculation about whether Noel was having a boy or a girl. Logan and Vivian’s little boy was falling asleep, and Janice immediately offered to hold him.

Cole watched her cradle the little boy, swaying gently as she spoke to Vivian. Something in his chest tightened at the sight. He wasn't ready to think about kids yet. They were still figuring out how to live together, but seeing Janice with the toddler made it impossible not to imagine a future where that could be their reality.

"You've got that look again," Timothy said quietly from his other side.