No, he’d meant what he’d said when he’d told her he wanted a partner, a woman who would see him as an equal and be proud to be seen with him. Until that happened, they could never have anything.
He didn’t want to leave, but for his own sanity, he had to.
He quickly made a phone call to Dylan at the hospital in Bozeman. Then he packed a duffel bag. He needed to leave before Rachel decided to check in on him as part of her concierge services. Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to just turn her back on him, but no way did he want her pity. He could take care of himself.
Twenty minutes later, he was stretched out on the back seat of Cole’s SUV. Thankfully, the other man didn’t ask any questions, and kept the conversation carefully neutral. They made a couple of stops, at Frank’s supermarket and the liquor store, before they arrived at their destination. Jamie eased himself out of the truck, and swung his duffel bag over his shoulder, while Cole hefted the groceries and beer.
“Dylan said the key would be under the mat,” Cole said, juggling the case of beer as he bent down and retrieved the key. “Laurel—she’s the neighbor who’s been feeding Boomer—said to call her if you have any questions about anything.”
Jamie waited as Cole unlocked the door and stepped inside. He set the bags onto an island, and Jamie dropped his duffel bag inside the door. An enormous, gray and black cat with long hair and a bushy tail, wandered lazily into the kitchen and sat down by the island, where he blinked at the two men.
“You must be Boomer,” Jamie said, and leaned down to scratch the cat behind the ears. “Looks like we’re going to be housemates.”
This was the first time he’d seen Dylan’s house. Straightening, he moved over to the sliding doors on the far side of the kitchen. The log home had been built on the side of a mountain, and from the wide deck he could see Flathead Lake below, and the distant Mission Mountains.
“What a sweet view,” he admired. He could even see part of downtown Glacier Creek, including the spire of the church, and the dock that extended out over the water.
“Want a beer?” Cole asked, and without waiting for a response, cracked two bottles and joined Jamie on the deck. “I helped Dylan build this house.”
“Is this one of your house plans?” Jamie asked in surprise.
Cole grinned. “Yep. Dylan wanted something small to start, but the floor plan allows for expansion, should he ever decide to settle down and have a family.”
Jamie laughed. “Somehow, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Dylan likes his bachelor lifestyle.”
“That’s only because he hasn’t met the right woman.”
Jamie took a long swallow of beer and angled his head to look at the other man. “Yeah, it’s pretty powerful stuff, when it does happen.”
“Damn right.”
“So when’s the wedding?”
“A couple of months,” Cole said. “Joy wanted to wait for the foliage to turn. We’re getting married out by the lake, at the Snapdragon Inn. I’ll make sure you get an invite.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Jamie said, and he meant it. Too many years had passed since he’d reconnected with his friends in Glacier Creek. It would be good to see everyone.
They sat in companionable silence, enjoying the cold beers and the majestic views, until Cole finally stood up.
“Well, I should probably get going.”
Setting his beer aside, Jamie stood up and shook Cole’s hand. “Thanks, man,” he said. “I really appreciate the help.”
“Anytime.” Cole rubbed a hand over the back of his head and squinted at Jamie. “You can tell me to butt out, but does your moving out here have anything to do with Rachel McCafferty?”
Jamie gave a snort. “How’d you guess?”
“Your hangdog attitude was my first clue,” Cole joked. “But seriously, I didn’t realize you two were together when I saw you in Bozeman. I mean, I know you were together, but I thought it was only to visit Dylan. But Joy said the two of you are an item. Is she right?”
Jamie blew out a hard breath. “We were, yeah. Was it that obvious?”
Cole laughed. “Not to me, but I can be pretty obtuse. But Joy said she could tell just from the way Rachel looked at you.”
“And how’s that?”
“Joy said she had the look of a woman in love.”
Jamie sharpened his gaze on Cole. “She said that?”
“Yup.”
“Well, I wish that was true, but she’s having second thoughts.” He sighed deeply. “Maybe I’m the fool for thinking I could actually make her love me. Maybe I’m chasing a fantasy—something that never existed except in my own imagination.”