Two of his friends from Aspen had opened an Asian-fusion restaurant right off the highway in the main stretch of town. From what he’d heard, it was a popular place and they were doing well. The drive would take them over an hour each way, but they weren’t on any kind of schedule.
Even after he’d asked her about Sun Valley, Bree didn’t ask where he was taking her. Maybe it didn’t matter to her. It didn’t to him. He still had to pinch himself, every now and then, just to be sure he wasn’t dreaming. He was just happy to be with her—that was the simple truth of it.
Her phone pinged and she jumped. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen.
“I’m not used to having a signal.” She seemed distracted by it, but whatever it was brought the sweetest smile to her face.
“Can I see?” Jace smiled over at her.
“Of course,” her smile had gone dreamy as she held the phone up for him to see. The photo on the screen was of their nephew, Cochran. Big green eyes smiled back at him, the same way Bree had.
“He looks like you,” she said.
“That’s what my dad says. Although I’ll remind you, as I reminded him, Tuck and I are twins. So in fact, I think Cochran looks like his daddy.”
“No, I disagree. He looks more like you than Tucker.”
It felt as though someone was squeezing his heart—the ache, reminding him again that he’d never met his nephew.
“He’s amazing, Jace,” she said, still staring at the photo on the screen. “He’s happy, funny, sweet, and cuddly. Gosh, I didn’t realize how much I miss him.” Tears filled her eyes, but her smile remained.
“I want to meet him.”
“Make it happen.”
“It isn’t all within my power, Bree.”
“Of course it is. You’ll figure it out, Jace. I know you will. In fact, I’m counting on it.”
“You’re counting on it?”
“You told me, once, we’d always be in one another’s lives because of this baby. Every minute I’ve been with him, since the day he was born, I’ve imagined what it would be like to have you there with us.”
Jace didn’t know what to say. The vise grip on his heart tightened, if that was possible.
“I talk to him about you all the time. He knows about his Uncle Jace. And someday soon, when he starts to talk in a language we can understand, I know he’ll ask about you.”
She did it again. Tightened that grip. He couldn’t take much more.
“Do you, really?” It was as though he was afraid to say it out loud, so he whispered the question.
“Yes, Jace. I really do. I talk to him about you all the time.”
He brushed the tear that leaked out of his eye away with the back of his hand. She was right. Cochran was worth it. He had to figure out how to get through to his brother, no matter what it took. He couldn’t stand the gulf that separated them any longer.
His friends’ restaurant was everything he’d heard and more. They were both there, and even though it was busy, they found time to sit and talk with Jace and Bree. It was after eleven when he finally noticed the time. The drive would put them back at the ranch close to one in the morning.
When his friends invited Jace and Bree to stay with them, he wasn’t sure how Bree would react. They had definitely made the assumption that he and Bree were a couple.
He thought about excusing himself to see if she would follow, so they could discuss it privately, when he heard her accept their invitation. She put her hand over his and said, “We’d love to. Thank you for inviting us.”
“You’re sure?” he asked her.
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s too lat
e for us to drive back tonight.”
The four of them stayed up, talking about the fun they’d had growing up in a place like Aspen. Bree loved hearing about Jace and Tucker’s antics as boys.