Page 108 of Major Love

Because itisthe right thing to do, so even if Casey doesn’t love the idea at first, he’s been one of my closest friends since back in high school and I know he’ll come around to it eventually.

He knows Sunday, he knows how I feel about her, and as my fellow brother-in-arms, I know that he’ll respect me for putting myself on the line like this.

I finish up the message and then run my eyes over it a single time, jumping straight in with no pre-amble because, as soon ashe sees who’s contacting him, he’s going to know exactly what I want to say, anyway.

Might as well be honest about it.

Hey Case,

Hope you’re good.

Just gonna cut to the chase.

Your sister’s in Phoenix Falls, and she said some shit went down back in Nashville. We’ve been hanging out as friends, but you know how I feel about her. Was thinking of straight-up asking her out, and hope that you’re cool with that – don’t know if she’s got a man back in Tennessee, so for all I know we’ll keep it a friendship thing.

Honestly, as long as she’s happy, I’m happy.

Hope I’ve got your blessing, Case.

See you soon brother,

Jason

My quad bounces as I read it over and then I thinkfuck itand hit send. Then I’m tossing my cell in the back because like hell am I checking that thing while I’m cruising down these death-roads, and I rake my free hand through my hair as I make my way toward the mountains.

I don’t know if Case is even on base right now but, given the amount of time I spent overseas, I can make a good guess that it’s nightfall wherever he is. Which means that, if he is on base, he might have a computer handy.

By the time that I’m back at my place and I’ve packed all of my work gear in the garage for the day, I finally spare a glance toward my cell, my brow rising in surprise when I see one unopened message.

I shrug out of my jacket and make my way up the stairs, about to take a shower before I finish up the weeks’ paperwork.

And I pause on the top step when I read what he’s written back to me, my shoulders swelling with satisfaction as relief courses through my chest.

As long as she’s happy, I’m happy, too, brother.

See you sooner than you think.

Case

I rip off my shirt and make my way toward the bathroom.

Looks like I just got Casey Wells’ blessing.

Chapter 26

Sunday

I squeal with giddy fear as I shoot a quick glance back at Jason over my shoulder, my laughter echoing through the snow-covered evergreens as I race higher up the elevated ridge.

This morning Jason went to church in town, before meeting up with his crew to go over a little paperwork in the diner.

And as soon as they’d wrapped up their meeting, he’d headed straight to Casey’s cabin, a handsome smile tugging at his mouth as he waited for me by the front door.

He’d taken one look at the cowgirl boots that I was slipping on and, chuckling quietly, he simply said, “No.”

Which is how my cowgirl boots and my carry-on ended up in the backseat of his truck, and why I’m now racing through the sparkling pines behind his house in my padded snow-boots.

We spent over an hour on his back porch going over various hand-to-hand techniques, his enormous body being surprisingly gentle with me as he positioned us into each move.

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