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“I’m ready.”

Ty tapped on the camera one more time to start the recording.

When I got the nod from him, I said, “Welcome to the Timing is Everything podcast. I’m your host, Alana Wolf, and today we’ll be talking about the top five things you need to pack and takewith you on a deserted island. Yes, you’re getting five things instead of three. Why? Because this is my podcast, and I make the rules.”

My eyes darted away from the camera and up toward Ty. He was chuckling, but I could see the look of pride on his face. It felt good to know he thought I did well, and it warmed me to my core that he was here, encouraging me to do this. “Keep going,” he whispered.

I focused my attention on the camera again and continued. “So, the first item on our list is probably pretty obvious. We’ll be packing a knife, because it’s going to help us in multiple situations. Are we needing to clean the fish we’ve caught? Do we need to cut things when we’re building shelter? A knife is essential, and it’s the first thing I’m packing.”

I went on to talk about the next three items on my list—non-perishable food, water, a magnifying glass.

“And the final thing I’d take with me is a guy. A strong, handsome man with a kind heart and protective instincts. Someone who thinks about others before himself and will do anything to find ways to keep me entertained, even when I might feel like my life is falling apart.”

I paused for a moment, needing to see if Ty understood it was him that I’d described. Judging by the way his features had softened, I knew I’d succeeded.

“That’s all for this week. But be sure to tune in to the Timing is Everything podcast next week, when I’ll be talking about who the one person is I’d like to have a dinner date with and why I chose him.”

When I finished, I focused on Ty again. He was staring at me with a look of disbelief, like he couldn’t imagine how it was possible I’d ever want to go on a romantic date with him. After the way he’d treated me from the start, I wasn’t quite sure why he’d ever find that surprising.

“What do you think?” I asked.

His eyes roamed over my face, and for several long moments, he didn’t say anything. Maybe I’d taken this flirting too far.

Finally, after what felt like hours of waiting, he answered, “I think I’m looking forward to next week’s episode and hearing who the lucky guy is.”

Lucky.

He thought he was the lucky one.

“I guess we’ll have to see.”

“You did amazing, Alana. All joking aside, I think you’re a natural at this. Most people would have needed several takes to get it. I mean, you stumbled a bit in the beginning, but once you got yourself going, you were on a roll. I don’t think I can express enough just how impressed I am by you.”

“Really?”

Ty nodded. “You were born to do this.”

My heart leaped. “That was really sweet of you to say.”

“I wasn’t trying to be sweet, though. I’m being honest. I realize it might be scary to leave your job, but it would be a shame if you didn’t take all your talent and use it to your fullest potential. I still can’t get over what you just did.”

“If you don’t stop saying all these nice things about me, you’re going to inflate my ego,” I warned him.

He shook his head. “I don’t care. You deserve to hear how good you are. I couldn’t have done that as well as you did after fifty tries, and I know, because I did the work.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, no. What does that mean?” Ty remained quiet, moving to the camera and taking it off the tripod.

“It’s silly.”

I didn’t care that he assumed it was silly. I desperately wanted to know this piece of information about him. “Ty?” I called.

He lifted his gaze to mine. “Yeah?”

“Please, tell me.” My voice was soft, sweet. I was seconds away from begging.

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