Page 123 of Full Mountie

“It’s not just you. But I don’t know how to make it right until he relaxes a bit.”

“We need to tell him how we feel about him.”

“He doesn’t want to hear it right now.”

I frown. I know we’re at the end of a long travel day, and now is not the time to push this, but I think Lachlan’s wrong.

I think Hugh very muchwantsto hear that we love him. I’d just bet anything he doesn’t believe that’s what we’d say.

“And…” Lachlan sighs. “I’ve decided to fly back to Vancouver to meet up with the prime minister. The team out there is stretched tight.”

I blink at the phone. This was supposed to be our time. At the cabin, but also this week as we eased back into work.

A rare chance to be together, far from the spotlight that follows the PM around.

And now that Hugh’s not interested, for whatever misguided reason, Lachlan’s checking out, too?

“Fine,” I say, because what else is there to say? And it is fine. It’s not good, acceptable, ideal or any other adjective I like, but it isfine.“I should hit the hay.”

“Beth…”

“Good night, Lachlan.” I take a deep breath. “I love you.”

He makes a happy exhaling noise, between a sigh and a laugh. “I love you, too.”

The next morning, Lachlan is waiting for me outside my apartment building, leaning back against his car. I never drive to work, because it’s a quick bus ride and I like those few minutes to read. I guess today I’m getting a drive in.

“This is a surprise,” I say, stopping in front of him. “A very nice one, though.”

He gives me a soft, lingering kiss, then hands over a cup of coffee from the shop on the corner. “I was thinking.”

“Mmm?” I take a sip before following him to his car.

He opens the passenger door for me. “About how you said ‘fine’ when I told you I was flying out to Vancouver.”

“Oh.” I stop in the space between him and the car and look up. “Well…ignore that.”

“I don’t want to ignore that. I want to understand it.” He braces his forearm on the roof of the car and frowns down at me. “You think I shouldn’t go?”

“I…” I trail off, but he’s asking. “I think we’d promised this week to each other, and just because Hugh backed out of that plan, I’m still here.”

His face falls. “Shit. No, you’re right.”

“But I get that work sometimes interferes, and you and I can hang out any time. It’s really fine.”

“I’m starting to pick up on the nuances of the word.” He grimaces. “Why didn’t you say that last night?”

“Because it had been a long day and I didn’t want to sound like a harridan.”

“You’d never.”

I shrug. “But I do understand.”

“I didn’t book a flight.”

“You should.”

“I might. But I’m talking it out with you first.” He gestures for me to get into the car, and I do.

---