Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
To my surprise, I had three new ones just in the past few minutes.
Mom
Can’t wait to see you for Anna’s birthday dinner.
Way
You didn’t hear this from me, but your sister wants tickets to see Femme Theory in Bozeman in August. It’s a band. Here’s the link for tickets.
Mom
If you happen to have any friends at SERA you’d like to invite, we have plenty of room.
I huffed out a laugh. Smooth, Mom.
After taking another bite of pasta, I sent a response to my cousin.
I forgot Anna’s birthday is tomorrow. What time is dinner?
Way
6pm. We’re having it at the ranch and everyone’s coming. Bring your new boyfriend.
I bit back a curse.
Who said I have a new boyfriend?
Way
Your mother and now half the town. Said he’s a SERA instructor. I’m picturing hiker’s ass, climber’s calves, and rope-callused hands. Tell me I’m wrong. Better yet, send proof in a pic. Or three.
Pretty sure your husband would take issue with you lusting after another man.
Way
Pretty sure my husband would ogle him with me. Besides, my husband is hotter than any man you could land. Bet.
I snickered.
Not a chance in hell.
Way
Prove it.
I cleared my plate back to the kitchen and cleaned up after myself before thanking Jasper again and making my way to Trace’s office. He wasn’t there, so I headed to his cabin.
“Just the man I wanted to see,” he said from his spot on a battered porch swing. His cabin was larger than the instructor cabins, maybe about four times the size, and it was clear he’d made it a home over the last few years.
I propped my ass against the porch railing and crossed my arms. “I want the job,” I said firmly. “Permanently.”
Trace’s eyes widened in surprise. “Well, shit. If I’d known you were interested, I would have hounded you sooner. Hell, I would have hounded you, period.” He grinned.
I took a breath and let it out. “I obviously need to know what the details are. Compensation, time off, all that. But I really like what you’re doing, and I want to be a part of it. I think I can make a difference here. I’ve admired the work you’re doing for a long time; I just never considered moving up here to be a part of it before.”
He peered at me. “Why now? What changed?”
I thought about Tommy’s dedication to his work, the difference he made in saving people’s lives. More than that, I thought about my encouraging him to follow his dreams and about how hypocritical it was when I wasn’t pursuing my own.
Was there a small part of me that hoped to see more of Tommy when he visited his family in Legacy? Maybe. But even if he never came back here, if his job kept him in California all the time, I would still want to do this work year-round.
“I love Majestic,” I said. “My friends and family are there. My career. I take pride in being the sheriff. It’s been part of my identity for a very long time. But more and more, it’s about politics and regulations, paperwork and permits. The higher up I go, the duller it gets.”
“You want excitement?”
I shrugged. “I want to be challenged. I want to innovate. Law enforcement is law enforcement. I was never in it because it spoke to me on a deeper level. You know my heart has always been in Search and Rescue. And I did as much of it as I could in Majestic in the best way I knew how. When my dad left, I vowed to stay and take care of my mom and sister.”
I ran a hand through my hair and straightened. “I’ve done my job for my family. And now, I’d like to work for this family. The SERA family.”
Trace’s face split into a wide grin. “Well, hot damn. I just landed myself my top candidate without having to lift a finger.” He stood up from the swing and stepped closer, holding out a hand to shake. “I’ll make sure and put together a compensation package that’ll work for everyone. I’d sure as hell like to have you here. When can you start?”
After talking a few more minutes, I left Trace’s cabin feeling a combination of hopeful and nervous. Hopeful about a more exciting and challenging career path but nervous about such a big change.
It hadn’t been a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was something I’d wanted forever.
Well, one of the things I’d wanted forever.
But this one was going to be a huge change, and I was going to have to break it to my friends and family back home.
I debated about calling Tommy again to tell him about my decision, but I wanted to see his face when I gave him the news. I hoped he’d be happy, hoped he’d see this was at least a small step in the direction of the two of us having a future beyond this summer, hoped he’d see that I was willing to set my fear aside and try.