Wild Man Creek (Virgin River #14)(48)

“I don’t know. Do I have to be? I’ve never experienced anything like this before. We’re so right together it’s almost scary.”

“But it’s all over in September?” Kelly asked.

“We came into this knowing our lives were going in opposite directions, that this was a holding pattern. I’ve never felt better about things. Isn’t it funny that in every relationship I’ve ever been in, all my worry was focused on the future, on where it would go. This time I’m focused on where it is. And it’s all good.”

“But Jillian, will you change your plans? Ask him to change his? Will you tell him you love him?”

She just laughed. “All I plan right now is that I wake up each morning knowing that for the whole day I have the most wonderful man in my life and a whole bunch of seedlings who seem to be responding to my happiness. I might be crazy or just hopeful, but I swear his paintings, which were awesome to begin with, are getting even better. They’re growing, too. Seriously.”

“My God, I think you’ve been hypnotized. You aren’t growing anything you can smoke, are you?”

“No, but I got a lot of my advice on local crops from a pot grower. He’s the one who tipped me on how to find the right seeds, how to irrigate and power the greenhouses. He’s a very smart man.”

“He’s the one you’re sleeping with?” Kelly gasped.

“No,” she laughed. “I mean yes, Colin is very smart, but this was a man I met in the bar, not the same one I’m sleeping with.”

“Jesus and Mary—do I have to kidnap you and get you deprogrammed?” Kelly asked sharply. “I feel like I don’t even know you!”

“Isn’t it wonderful? I loved my job at BSS, but until I got up here and stuck my fingers in the ground, I didn’t know life could be so satisfying. I haven’t thought about that rat race for weeks.”

“But Colin’s leaving you!”

Jillian became serious. “Listen, Kell—I suffered for weeks over a scoundrel, a conniving jerk who cost me so much, who trapped me and tricked me and took from me what was mine, what I’d built! I’ll take a few months with this good, solid, awesome man to six years with a loser like Kurt. Colin’s plans for Africa were made before he even met me, and my plans for the garden were already coming into focus. This is the arrangement, Kelly, this is how it will be—it was the first thing we knew about each other and is completely nonnegotiable. I’m not going to spoil something as perfect as this by trying to change him to suit me. I’m not that crazy.”

“That’s big talk, for now,” Kelly said.

“But I am big,” Jill said confidently. “I had no idea how big till I came up here and tested myself. I’m up to this—this is better than anything I’ve experienced and I’m not going to put barriers in the way. I’m going to live it and love every second of it. And right now there’s no mistaking he’s just as content as I am. And you know what else? I think it really does make your complexion better!”

Colin drove by Luke’s cabins around noon, just to check in on the family. He’d made it a point to stop by from time to time because he had declined every invitation for dinner for about three weeks. He and Jillian had other things to do every night. He found Luke, Shelby and Luke’s helper, Art, in the kitchen, having some lunch. “Sometimes I love my timing,” he said, grinning.

Shelby smiled and said, “Sit down and let me make you a sandwich. I love your timing, too.”

“What have you been doing with yourself?” Luke asked. “You’ve been pretty scarce.”

“Not much,” he said with a shrug. “Painting. Hunting things to paint—hunting with the camera.”

Just as Shelby put a sandwich in front of Colin, there was a little fussing from the upstairs bedroom and she went to look after Brett. Art finished his sandwich and headed out the door for a little fishing. That’s when Luke asked Colin if he could babysit for a few hours on Saturday night.

“Sure,” Colin said. “What do you need?”

“It’s what Shelby needs—she’s on spring break, but goes back to school Monday. She needs a date night. Pretty soon she’s going to hunker down to study for her finals and, if I know my wife, she won’t come up for air until after the tests. Before all that kicks in, I need to take her away from the river. Give her a break from the baby. Think you can handle that?”

“We have an understanding, me and Brett,” Colin said. “I can handle it. There’s not going to be a problem.”

“We’ve never left you alone with the baby,” Luke said. “Do you know what to do?”

Colin shrugged. “Write it down for me. We’ll be fine.”

“Want to come back for dinner tonight?” Luke asked.

“Thanks, but I’ll just settle for lunch today. I’m busy.”

“You’re not kidding. We’ve barely seen you for weeks!”

Colin just smiled. “That’s a good thing. It means I’m busy. Being productive.”

“Don’t forget we’ve got Aiden’s wedding in Chico next month. Want to ride down with us?”

“Thanks for the reminder,” Colin said. “I might drive myself and take the opportunity to look around some, maybe spend a couple of days in the Bay Area. But really, it’s nice of you to offer.”