Page 122 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

“Yeah.” It was true, but it didn’t feel like much consolation. His gaze drifted toward the mountains, and another thought struck him. “Terrain’s pretty dry and scrubby here.”

Cash was quiet for a moment. “Let’s talk about that when you get back, huh?”

“Yeah.”

They could talk, and maybe he could bring the teams out here in the winter and get some more time with Bea that way. But the leaden feeling in his stomach confirmed what he already knew but didn’t want to face—he wanted more than just visits with her.

“Anyway, it’s late there, I’ll let you go. See you when I get back.”

“Yeah. Go make the most of the time you’ve got left. Like I said, I’m guessing you’ll need to be at the airport around noon tomorrow, but Bear’ll shoot you the details after he files the flight plan.”

After the call ended, Blane pushed to his feet. For a moment, he considered not telling Bea until tonight. They could enjoy the day that way, stay inside the bubble for a little while longer. But no. He headed downstairs. He didn’t want to face it, and she probably wouldn’t either, but it wasn’t his decision to make alone. He wasn’t one to hide from the truth, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to start hiding it from Bea.

She was still at the kitchen table when he came in, but she was finished with her call. Her coffee sat untouched in front of her, and she was staring down at her phone with an expression that told him Rosalind hadn’t made the morning any easier. She looked up when he came in and something in his face must have given him away, because her expression changed immediately.

“What is it?”

He pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. “Cash called.”

She went still.

He reached for her hand. “I have to leave tomorrow.”

For a second she didn’t say anything. Her fingers tightened around his, and he watched her swallow before she managed a nod.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“What time?”

“Probably need to be at the airport around noon.”

She looked down at their joined hands. “All right.”

He hated how small the words sounded. “Bea.”

“I know.” She looked back up at him, and there was already that determined brightness in her eyes that he knew meant she was trying not to let the sadness take over. “We knew it was coming.”

“Doesn’t make it suck any less.”

A shaky little laugh escaped her. “No. It really doesn’t.”

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “We’ve got today.”

“Yes.” She took a breath and straightened a little. “We do.”

He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “You still need to sort out a car.”

“I know.”

“You want to do that today?”

She looked toward the window. “I don’t know.”

“We don’t have to.”

“No, I think…” She let out a breath. “I think perhaps we should. If I leave it until after you’ve gone, I’ll…” She gripped his hand tightly. “Let’s go and at least look for one.”