Jude: Good. Wy, Case and I fixed up some fences and I helped the twins with an issue at your ranch.
I hit the video call button without thinking. Moments later, the line connects and Jude’s surprised yet far-too-handsome face fills my screen.
“Hey,” he greets me with a smirk. “I wondered if that might activate your Wilson instincts.”
“There’s an issue at the ranch?”
Jude’s eyes soften. “Nothin’ disastrous, I promise. EJ and BJ tried to take a shortcut with the waterin’ pipes and sprung a leak of epic proportions.”
“Shit. Was anythin’ damaged?”
He shrugs. “Nothin’ worth mentionin’ and it was an easy fix once I got there. Dare decided it was easier to call me over since I know what I’m doin’.”
“That definitely sounds like Dare,” I say warmly.
His lips curl up to the side. “At least now I know how to get you to call me.”
I poke my tongue out at him. “Maybe I couldn’t understand your mountain man text messages and decided it was best to call and lip read,” I tease.
He snickers. “I’d probably believe that if Iwasa fully-fledged mountain man.
“You mean you’renot?” I gasp, shaking my head. “I’m not sure you can be my fake husband anymore, Jude Cooper. I could never settle for someone who’s not ‘of the mountain’ so to speak.”
Jude’s laughter fills the room as his deep brown eyes dance with amusement. “Guess I better start gettin’ lessons then. Can’t disappoint my fake wife.”
There’s no stopping my answering smile or the warmth that settles in the middle of my chest. “I think it’s only right.”
“How are you doin’ today, anyway? Feelin’ better?”
My heart flips at his thoughtfulness. “Still the same. Maybe the last few months are finally catchin’ up to me. Otherwise, I’ve caught somethin’ from bein’ in the office.”
He cocks his head, concern written all over his face. “You’re doin’ OK though?”
My eyes focus on his hand rubbing his chest over his heart, just as mine thumps against my sternum.Weird.
Jude always checks in with me. It’s sweet and very thoughtful and totally in tune with the man he continues to show me he is since we met.
“Some days are better than others,” I reply, honestly. “Though gettin’ sent photos of hat-stealin’ donkeys sure helps.”
That brings a slow-growing, grateful smile to his face. “Glad I can help.” He jostles the phone for a second and next thing I know, he’s lying down on what looks like his bed. “Gettin’ comfortable?”
Jude shrugs. “Hopin’ this’ll turn into a longer conversation so figured I might as well lay back and not kink my neck.”This man’s honesty gets me every time.
Following his lead, I get up, turn the lights off and make my way down the hallway to my bedroom, turning my dim bedside light on before getting situated under the covers. His eyes light up. “What?”
“That’s the first glimpse you’ve given me of your house.”
“And what do you think?”
“Didn’t get to see much. It looks cozy though. An escape that’s all yours,” he replies.
“Yeah. I keep choppin’ and changin’ the vibe. But I like comin’ home, so it works for me.”
“That’s how it’s meant to be. Made to be lived in, not looked at.”
I arch a brow. “Thought you were a gardener, not an interior designer.”
“I’m a qualified landscapearchitect, I’ll have you know,” he replies. “Sometimes that involves drawin’ inspiration from the interior and the environment around us for mygardens. That means Idoneed to know a little about the inside to match the outside.”