Page 6 of Eyes Like a Hurricane

Callum and I have lived our entire lives in the small town of Topaz Falls, Montana. We only left to attend college, then we both returned. At least the new vet was from Montana, and Kalispell is close. I wonder if we ever crossed paths as teens. Probably not, as I only went into Kalispell or Whitefish occasionally to stock up with my dad. I don’t recall knowing anyone in the veterinary sciences program at college, either.Callum says something that I miss. I ask, “What did you say, man?”

He clears his throat, then nonchalantly says, “Maybe this woman will catch your eye. Now that the ranch is running smoothly and your dream is clearly a success, maybe a woman will be the next step. You are thirty in three weeks.”

I laugh but respond, “I don’t know, man.” My mind instantly brings up a picture. Visualizing a beautiful brunette with topaz eyes whose name, body, and beauty are what dreams are made of, I reply, “We will see what tomorrow brings. How does that work for you? Speaking of women, how did your date go with the girl from the coffee shop? Dana or Diana?”

Chuckling, I can picture him removing his hat and rubbing the back of his blonde hair while staring at his boots. “Close, buddy,” he mutters. “Real close, and so glad to hear you were paying attention. Her name was Daniella. Overall, it went well. We agreed on Glaciers Bar & Grill for some pool and beer. But after about an hour, we both realized we really had no chemistry. She is really nice, but we agreed we would be better friends. She is so small.”

“Wait, you went on a date with Daniella?” I ask. “I know exactly who she is. She’s been working at the coffee shop since Doc MacAllen closed up his office. I wonder if she’ll work at the new vet clinic.”

“Yeah, I hadn’t really planned on asking her out, but it just sorta happened. She reminds me of a pixie. I think I was about a foot and a half taller than her. After seeing the vet tech at Mama M’s, I’m thinking I need to introduce them. They would make a cute couple. She mentioned she did apply to work there as an office assistant.”

Shocked, I laugh, saying, “Look at you, I’m gone twenty-four hours, and you are becoming the town’s matchmaker.”

“Well, someone has to,” he grumbles. “Anyway, I should let you go. I want to run over to the barn and check on Trent, Ingrid, and Tucker. They are prepping the horses for the afternoon ride I’m leading. I have Axel working on the tractor out in Field B. I’m not sure what Noah and Carl are up to, but I know Emma is at the front desk.”

We both say goodbye, and I turn up the radio. Like an omen of what’s to come, Dustin Lynch’s song “Red Dirt, Blue Eyes” starts filtering through the radio. I turn it up a bit louder and begin humming along as the Eastern Pine trees blur past me on the open highway.

Chapter 6

Cody

Who does Aislinn think she is, walking away from me? I really thought she was joking about moving to Montana. Who in their right mind moves from a million-dollar home in beautiful Sammamish to the middle of nowhere, podunk Montana? She will go from treating pedigree dogs to pigs on a farm.

Frustrated, I sigh as I finish bandaging my left hand. I made the mistake of punching through the drywall of my entryway as I watched her Wrangler turn the corner past my gates. Now, I’ll be wasting my time finding someone to come and fix the wall.

I remove the ice pack I had on my hand and flex my fingers. My next match against James is on Tuesday, and I've been undefeated for over a year. My hand better heal before then. I don't enjoy losing at anything.

I still have no idea which city she is moving to in Montana. She only mentioned the state in general. Montana is large. How am I supposed to locate her and convince her that being by my side is the logical choice? Maybe she had expected me to propose to her, not just assume she was moving in with me?

I know she grew up in Montana, but it never occurred to me to ask where since her parents passed away a couple of years ago in a white-water rafting accident during one of their adventure tours for their business. The accident happened before we met, so I had no reason to travel back there for their funeral. In the five months we were together, she never once went back. Christmas was her last vacation to see her brother, but we didn't start dating until January, after meeting at a New Year’s party.

She frequently spoke with her friends and family. I think their names were Paisley, Leo, and Kieran. She said her brother Kieran was a year and a half older than her and one of her best friends. I must have his number in case of emergencies.

As I quickly thumb through my contact list, it becomes apparent I don’t have their contact information. I don't even have their names saved in my contact list. Maybe my assistant has their phone numbers at the office. There must be some way for me to figure out where they live.

I should contact her friends here. Who were her friends? We only hung out with my friends. She had to have had a coworker she had been friends with for the last couple of years. Maybe if I stopped by the clinic with Kodiak, the girl at the front desk would know. Aislinn went to yoga two mornings a week and did a running group. But the schedule never worked for me to join, so I never met anyone at either of those places.

I scrub my hand through my hair for the hundredth time. My hair must be sticking out like I got electrocuted. Just what I need. Wearing a hat for the rest of the day is my only option unless I want to embarrass myself further. What else could go wrong today?

It’s frustrating to watch my five-year plan go up in flames. My first step was to make partner at the firm. Early next year, Ihad planned to propose to Aislinn, and then the year after we'd get married and start having our own boys. As the oldest, my parents expect me to carry on our family name.

I spent three months before we started dating getting to know her from a distance. She was the veterinarian at the clinic I've taken Kodiak to since he was a puppy. While I was at the clinic, if she left for her break or lunch, I would decide I was hungry or thirsty and follow her to see what she was like outside the clinic.

Not only was she stunning, educated, and wealthy, but she had this way of talking to strangers that impressed them. I loved taking her to functions for work, as she made me look even more remarkable than I already am.

Kodiak trots up behind me. I know he wants to go for his morning run, and maybe I do too. A run is exactly what I need to clear my head and figure out how I will get Aislinn back.

Does she not realize who I am and how motivated I can be to get what I want? She will be Mrs. Cody O’Connell, whether she knows it right now or not.

On Monday, I will task my legal assistant with getting information on where she is living and the location of her new practice. If she doesn’t make the practical choice to return to Bellevue with me, I will have to give her some motivation.

There are always loopholes to be discovered, in even the most complex and well-thought-out plans. The opportunities here in Bellevue are too good for her to pass up, and she is right: there is no way I would follow her to a small, dusty town. Unless, of course, there was a business opportunity worth pursuing.

I tighten my running shoes, clip Kodiak’s running harness on, and set out the door for our run.

Chapter 7

Aislinn

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