Soaring with Fallon (Big Sky 4)

“Not your fault.” I tip my head, watching her. I hate the strain I see on her face. She may not let many people get close to her, but I can see it hurts her when the ones she lets in disappoint her. “What can I do?”

She stands and walks to me. I push my chair away from the table, giving her space, and she sits on my lap, laying her head on my shoulder.

“I could just use a hug.”

“Always happy to oblige.” I tighten my arms around her, holding her close. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you.”

Her phone dings in her pocket, and she pulls it out. She laughs when she reads the message.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Lacey,” she says, shaking her head and chuckling. “She’s wishing me a happy birthday.”

“A day late.”

She sets the phone on the table and wraps her arms around my neck again. “I guess the message is an improvement, even if she got the wrong day. She’s trying.”

“That’s all you asked.”

“Exactly.” She sighs and kisses my cheek. “You always know how to make me feel better. Thank you for that.”

“My pleasure, baby.”

Chapter Sixteen

~Fallon~

“Hello?”

I clamp my phone between my ear and shoulder as I shove my things into my tote bag, ready to go meet Noah for lunch.

“Hey, Fallon, this is Rick Sheels.”

“Hi, Rick, how’s it going?” I prop my hand on my hip and stare at myself in the mirror, wondering why my landlord is calling. “I’m pretty sure I paid the rent this month.”

“Oh, yeah, we’re fine there,” he says. He must be in his car because I can hear background noise. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up that I’m selling the building that houses the studio.”

I frown. “The whole building? Even the ski shop below me?”

“That’s right,” he says. “I wanted to let you know in case it sells quickly, so you have a chance to find a different space if you want.”

I sit on the floor, an idea forming in my head. “Rick, have you put the building on the market?”

“No, not yet.”

“Would you mind giving me the first shot at buying it?” I swallow hard, butterflies setting up residence in my belly. “I don’t know if I can get approved for the mortgage, but I’d like to try.”

“Sure, Fallon. That would be great. Go ahead and think it over, talk to your mortgage broker, and let me know. I’ll send you the appraisal so you can get things in motion. Good luck.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep you posted.”

I hang up and tug on my lower lip, thinking it all over. I want this, more than I even realized. Glancing around the studio, so many ideas come to mind.

New mirrors, pillows, and mats. Cubbies for boots and shoes, a coat area. An infused water station.

There’s so much I could do with the place if it was mine. So many upgrades that I’d love to see.

I check the time and realize I’m going to be late for my lunch date with Noah, so I grab my things, lock the door behind me, and hurry across the street to Little Deli. Noah’s already sitting at the counter, talking to Mrs. Blakely, the longtime owner of the shop.

“There she is,” Mrs. Blakely says with a kind smile. “Would you like your usual, dear?”

“Yes, please.” I quickly kiss Noah, then climb onto my stool, letting my tote bag fall to the floor. “Noah, I need help.”

“What’s going on?”

I love the way he immediately snaps to attention, ready to slay any dragons in my way.

This time, though, I’m the dragon.

“I need a recommendation for a mortgage broker.”

He frowns. “We talked about this two weeks ago when Claire was here. You’re not going anywhere.”

“Not to move,” I say with a laugh. “Rick’s selling the studio building, and I want to buy it.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Do you?”

“More than anything. There’s so much I can do in there. I’ve been thinking about expanding my business for a while, but I didn’t know how. This would open up so many doors for me.”

“Would you let the ski shop stay?” he asks before taking a bite of his pickle. Mrs. Blakely sets my vegetarian wrap in front of me with a wink.

“Thank you.” I turn to Noah. “I don’t know, I haven’t thought that far ahead. I probably would for now. My first priority is to update the studio itself. I have a ton of ideas for it.”

“What’s your end goal?” he asks, surprising me. “How big do you want to take this?”

“Honestly? I’d like to host retreats here. Incorporate good, healthy foods, yoga, meditation, and gratitude journaling. But I know that doesn’t have much to do with the studio building and is something for later.”

“We could add a few cabins to the property,” he says, really digging in and thinking it over. It’s like he’s getting swept away with me, daydreaming. And I absolutely love it.