Forever Love on Fireweed Island (Island County Book 4) (27 page)

“You should go into the clinic,” the medic advised Jake, but he shook his head. “I wasn’t under for very long. I was just pushed really far out in the current and had to swim back. That’s why I’m winded.”

I glanced at Chance, who rolled his eyes and shrugged. He was used to it, and so was his mother.

“Let’s get back home. Chance will fly you out tonight and take the ferry back. You might not listen to me often, but I’m putting my foot down this time. You cheated death once today, and I think that’s plenty.”

I took a step back and nodded. “You need to listen to your mom.”

He narrowed his eyes on me, and a touch of a smile dotted his lips.

“I knew I liked her,” Hildie said as we began to make our way through the crowd that had gathered and continued to congratulate Jake.

By the time we’d gotten back to the farm, Jake could barely keep his eyes open, which was no surprise, considering everything he’d managed to accomplish while still staying alive.

I climbed into the back of the chopper and put on my headset as Jake and Chance climbed into the cockpit. It was hard to believe so much had changed from the moment we touched down on this island.

Hildie stood by the herb garden and waved as Chance lifted us into the air. The purple fields were as beautiful as when we’d first arrived, but now it felt as if the lavender stocks were ushering us home to Fireweed.

I craned my neck and looked below as Hildie became nothing more than a speck, and it suddenly made me and everything feel very small in the scheme of life. I came to Hound Island afraid to even get in a helicopter without a blindfold, but I was leaving ready to tackle the world.

I sank into the seat and watched the rugged island terrain trade out for the beautiful sparkling water. Being here with Jake and Chance made me more overwhelmed with gratefulness. Life was so fragile.

“So I heard there’s some online guy who’s been trying to get your attention,” Chance’s voice came over in the headset, and I chuckled.

“Word travels fast.”

“Are you really going to meet him?” Chance asked. I heard Jake’s laugh come over the headset, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I feel that with your brother, I need to keep him on his toes for as long as possible.”

“So that’s a yes, you’re going to meet this guy.”

“With Jake in tow,” I added.

“To be a bumblebee on that lavender.”

Jake laughed and shook his head. “Aren’t you lucky you got the brother with the good sense of humor?”

“Better sense of humor,” I corrected. “Only better.”

“Mom was right. She’s definitely a keeper.” Chance’s words were the most lyrically balanced words I’d ever heard. Okay, maybe not, but they were certainly beautiful to me.

I saw Jake’s estate come into view, and a little bit of anxiety pressed its way into my veins. It was still hard to believe that all Jake Harlen did was choose a couple of stocks right and shear a couple of alpacas to get here.

I let out a sigh and braced myself for a landing that was completely flawless. The moment we touched down, Chance began flipping switches and Jake took off his headset and climbed out of the front. He opened my door and unharnessed me.

“Don’t forget to bend over,” he said, guiding me away from the helicopter.

“Well, that was an experience-and-a-half,” I sighed, nearly crawling to safety again.

The entire reason a person was supposed to bend over was enough reason for me to slither through the surroundings like a cobra. I liked my head, and I especially liked it attached to my body.

Chance brought our bags over and smiled.

“I’ve got to go cancel that impromptu get together,” I informed Jake.

“Oh . . . no, you don’t. What do you think kept me paddling to safety? I’ve got to see this guy.” Jake squeezed my shoulder, and my cheeks turned bright red. Now that this encounter was so close, I literally wanted to go bunk with Dotty and Todd. There was no reason to meet BlznBookie. None. I had my hero, and he was only inches from me.

“Are you really going to make me go through with this?” I groaned.

“Absolutely.”

I grumbled a few obscenities and picked up my bag. “Then since we’re already running late, can I get ready for my date at your house?”

Chance chuckled, and I rolled my eyes, realizing this was purely for their entertainment.

“I’d like to meet this guy too,” Chance said.

“Of course you would.”

I followed Jake inside and down the hall to the left. He pushed open a door to a beautiful guestroom with sheer curtains framing oversized windows, and a sleigh bed and matching dresser with a light pine finish warmed up the room.

“Beautiful,” I said.

“I thought you might like it.” He grinned and shut the door, leaving me to prepare for a meeting I’d never be ready for. But at this point, I wanted Jake to realize it meant nothing to me beyond the superficial.

He was the one I wanted, and I apparently needed to let Nick, Natty, and everyone else within a fifteen-mile radius know, or I’d be getting set up for life with random acquaintances.

I tugged my shirt off and slipped a dress over my shoulders and kicked off my shorts.

But the problem was that it never felt like a random acquaintance with Blzn. There was a real connection. I searched through my bag for a hairbrush and pulled it through my hair.

I really didn’t want Jake to think I was primping for this complete stranger. It already felt weird enough to be meeting him. Nick was going to be in so much trouble.

Jake tapped on the door, and I quickly opened it. He’d changed too, his denim-clad legs looking fabulous. It was hard not to want to be tangled up in them.

“Wow. You’re stunning,” Jake whispered, locking his eyes on mine.

“Thank you.”

“Should we get going?” he asked.

I drew in a deep breath.

“I guess so.”

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll be surrounded by friends.”

I nodded. “Well, they were my friends.” I laughed.

I followed Jake out to the garage, and sure enough, Chance was already sitting in the backseat, ready to go to our next adventure. I climbed into the front.

Nick texted that he, Natty, and Cole were already at Norma’s, and he thought Blzn might have just parked.

My hands shook with nerves. This was a really bad idea. My phone buzzed a few times and I glanced down again.

So I wasn’t completely honest. I didn’t trust this guy, so I pretended I was you. I asked questions, flirted a little . . . But it was the only way I could fully infiltrate.

It was definitely Nick’s turn to be pushed into the Sound.

“You’ve certainly gotten quiet,” Jake said.

“Turns out that Nick took his spy responsibilities a little too seriously.”

“How so?”

“He’s been messaging this guy, feeling him out to make sure he’s legit.”

Jake’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“Are you sure?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

Jake traded glances with Chance in the rearview mirror, and my pulse spiked.

“What aren’t you saying?”

“I’m just glad this is a group thing.”

“Me too,” Chance seconded. “This makes me happy about living on Hound.”

We pulled into the parking lot, and Jake found a spot to park. My heart was beating so quickly, I could barely hear my own thoughts. Only minutes awaited until full disaster would strike.

“You ready?” Jake asked, and a glint of amusement streaked through his gaze.

“Would it matter if I said no?”

“Probably not,” Chance said, patting my seat. “Now let’s get our popcorn and enjoy the show.”

“So you’re the evil brother?” I asked, climbing out of the car.

“No. I’m just puzzled by the whole thing.”

Jake didn’t take my hand or slide his arm around my waist. He was giving me complete space to do whatever it was he thought I needed to do.

Chance opened the door, and I immediately spotted Nick, Natty, and Cole. Natty looked nervous but waved us over.

“Where is this the mystery man?” Jake whispered.

We walked up to the table, and Chance looked around. “Where’s he at?”

“In the bathroom,” Natty said, eyeing Jake and then me.

“Is everything okay, or should we turn around like we never arrived?” I asked, only half-joking.

“No, I think you should meet him.” Natty nodded.

“Definitely deserves to be met.”

Nick stayed silent, which had me extremely vexed. Nick never missed an opportunity to talk.

“Here he comes,” Natty whispered as Chance took a seat, followed by his brother. I was left standing and slowly turned around to see Blzn coming my way.

He was about my height, with a slight build and potbelly. My mind was literally blown. His brown eyes were extremely kind, and his smile genuinely indicated he was excited to be here, but something wasn’t computing. The man had a red fanny pack securely fastened to his waist. There wasn’t a way in the world he could haul himself up the maple tree I scaled, let alone some of the cliffs my Blzn had faced. I glanced at his hands, and they didn’t match the ones in the photos. There was nothing rugged about them. They were too . . .

Something.

Polished?

“So nice to meet you,” I said, shaking Blzn’s hand.

“Pleasure is mine.” His voice was somewhat high-pitched and nasally—another quality that was perfectly acceptable to have, but not what I pictured for my adventurer. “It’s always nice to meet a fan. Although, I’ll admit I don’t have many.”

He motioned for me to take a seat, which I did—avoiding everyone’s gaze at the table—as he slid another chair to the end of the table. I could feel Jake’s gaze boring into me, but I refused to even give a look in his direction. I was never going to live this down. The man in front of me was absolutely nothing resembling anything I’d conjured in my mind. There wasn’t a sliver that was similar. The man I’d pictured behind every rock climb and paragliding experience looked like . . .

Well, he looked exactly like Jake Harlen or his brother. But that wasn’t Blzn’s fault. That was purely mine. I shouldn’t have placed my book expectations toward a real-life person.

“So, how long have you been following my blog?” he asked, folding his hands.

I took in a deep breath. It was now or never.

“I’m actually Island Girl. My friends just didn’t want to tell you.”

The expression didn’t change on Blzn’s face in the slightest. “Should that tell me something?” He folded his delicate hands, and I swore I could tell Jake was dying inside from laughter, but from the corner of my eyes, I saw nothing but a serious expression lining his face.

“Umm. Well, I’ve been talking to you through messaging for the last year or more. You follow my blog?” I prompted, realizing that I might indeed have been catfished.

Blzn looked concerned, his eyes darting to each one of us. “I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s possible. I’d remember.”

I looked over at Nick, who gave me a confident nod that he had wrangled in the right man.

“You are BlznBookie, correct?”

“I am.” He nodded.

“And you’re the author, photographer, and adventurer, Walter King?”

The man’s lips puckered into a grimace as he shook his head.

“I am an author, but I go by Wally King. I do find myself in many adventures, but they’re mostly related to entomology. My focus is Solenopsis invicta, commonly known as the fire ant, and the subject of my work expands to ethology and the broader relation to Myrmecology.”

I picked my jaw off the table as Jake cleared his throat.

“You study fire ants,” Nick said. “That’s pretty cool.”

Wally smiled and nodded. “I specialize in non-human behavior of the single order.”

“Ethology,” I repeated.

“Exactly. That’s why I’m in Washington. I’ll be giving a lecture at Washington State University.”

“Ain’t that somethin’,” Jake said.

I turned to look at Jake and saw the sincerest smile, and my heart nearly melted into a puddle. Here were two very different men, and Jake somehow knew how to make Wally feel at ease.

“Jake’s got a thing for seagulls,” I informed Wally.

“They’re fascinating birds. Did you know seagulls can actually drink sea water?” Wally offered.

“Indeed. I just learned that not too long ago.” I laughed.

“Well, I’m sorry I’m not the person you’re looking for.”

“This is just as wonderful,” I assured him. “Out of curiosity, how do you spell your tag name?”

“BlznBooky. How else would you spell it?”

“Yeah? How else?” Nick asked.

“With an i-e.” I chuckled. “It’s always in the details.”

My brow arched as Nick’s grin widened.

“Well, how about that beer now?” Nick asked. “There’s a pub down the street.”

“Sounds good to me,” Wally answered.

“I don’t know how long you’re in town for, but our library is having a natural history exhibit you might be interested in. In fact, the library is still open, if you want to catch it.”

“I’d like that.”

“Do you, by any chance, have a card?” I asked. “I’d love to expand our entomology section. In fact, we’ve got a few lovers of ladybugs right now. They’re devouring everything they can get their hands on.”

I glanced at Jake and noticed him just watching me as I spoke with Wally—like he was trying to piece something together. I stood up, and so did Wally. Everyone else followed, including Jake, who was again by my side.

We all left Nick to pay for the few beverages that had been ordered and wandered toward the library. It was a beautiful night, full of unexpected developments, and I couldn’t think of a better way to end the evening. Our group crossed the street, and I noticed Jake hang back with his brother. I waved at him, and he smiled as I led Wally inside to our small entomology section.

Natty and Cole wandered along with me as I pointed Wally to only half a shelf.

“We’ve definitely got to get you more selection,” Wally said, shaking his head.

“It’s always nice to have an expert to lead us in the right direction.”

Wally was bending over and reading the spines as Jake slowly made his way over with Chance. He stood next to me and began asking questions of Wally as my phone buzzed. It sounded like a message alert, so I glanced around the group and trundled off to see a message from Blzn with an i-e.