Crew was at a job site near Teton Village the day Harley was scheduled to fly to Cambridge. He’d felt such despair and depression over the past three weeks he was almost numb when this day finally came.

As his workers were coming back from lunch, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket a couple of times with text messages, but he was trying to explain to the framers how to make a difficult part of the main level work. It was brilliant on the plans and would be amazing if it worked, but they were not happy with all the angles right now, nor with the lack of support for the open second story loft.

Almost two hours later he walked to his truck and pulled his phone out. There were two texts. One from Ryker. One from Harley. Ryker’s said, Where are you? She’s looking for you. Harley’s had been sent almost two hours ago and simply had her flight number, the departure time, and one word that chilled his blood: Flight 1417. 2:48 p.m. Fate?

Crew looked at the time and cursed. 2:14. The airport was on the north end of Jackson Hole, only about ten minutes from his location, but would he get there in time? They loaded planes early and shut the doors, but Jackson Hole Airport was a little more laid-back. Did this mean Harley wanted him? If he got there, would that mean fate was on their side? With how her mind worked and all her Jane Austen fantasies, she might believe if he got there they were meant to be. He already believed that, but sadly she didn’t.

He jumped in the truck, started it, and floored the gas, praying with everything in him that her flight had been delayed.

* * *

Harley gave Ryker and her mom each a hug, barely holding back the tears and trying not to look around the sparsely populated airport for Crew. Did he get her text? He’d never responded. She had no clue why she’d sent the text and semi-regretted it the second she’d typed the quick message.

She and Crew had hardly talked the past three weeks. She was bound and determined to go and give England and Englishmen a chance, so why was she so hung up on Crew and why was she letting fate decide?

She held in a longing sigh. She loved him. That’s why she’d sent the text. If he made it, then she’d know it was fate or her father’s support from heaven and they were truly supposed to be together. She’d go get her master’s, and then they’d work things out. Maybe he could come to England, or maybe she’d come here. They could make a long-distance relationship work too.

If he didn’t come … She didn’t want to think about it, but maybe that was fate too, or maybe he’d given up on her after the last time he told her he loved her and she rejected him. Oh, that had hurt.

“You have all your snacks and money for food?” her mom asked.

Harley lifted up her carry-on bag. “Right here, Mama. Don’t worry, they actually feed you on international flights.”

“Mama’s snacks will taste better,” Ryker said, winking.

“For sure.” She was going to miss her mom’s cooking, but she’d miss Ryker and her mom more.

A voice spoke over the intercom: “Now boarding all seats to flight 1417 to Salt Lake City, Utah.” Harley would change planes in Salt Lake then again in New York, where she’d finally be on to London; then she’d take the train the seventy miles to Cambridge. She could hardly wait to just drink in the English countryside, but she didn’t want to leave without seeing Crew first.

She glanced at her phone. Twenty minutes until departure—she had to go now to get through security and to her gate. Hefting her carry-on, she searched every part of the airport. No Crew. Her throat felt dry and achy, like she needed a good cry. If Crew didn’t come, crying might be her companion the first leg of her flight.

* * *

Crew didn’t know if his tires touched the road as he flew toward the airport. He had to get to that airport, and even though he hadn’t seen the text until almost too late, he could believe he was going to make it on time.

The best part was, Harley wanted him there. His heart was pumping fast and he couldn’t stop grinning. Harley wanted him there and he finally realized what he needed to tell her. He loved her and he’d move to England if that’s what it took to prove it. They could have a long-distance relationship. They could live in England or Wyoming; it didn’t matter, as long as he could be with her. He could sell his company here. It might take years to build up a construction and design business in a foreign country with no contacts, but he was young and ambitious. He’d make it work. He’d do anything for Harley.

He could see the airport half a mile ahead, small planes up to jets lined up, and his future was inside waiting to board a plane.

He could just imagine pulling her close, kissing her, telling her he’d be here waiting as long as she needed, or that he’d move to England if that’s what she wanted. He kept the gas pedal pinned to the floor, anticipation pulsing through his veins.

* * *

Harley turned toward security, but her mom stopped her. “One more hug,” she begged.

Ryker chuckled and Harley let out a shaky laugh. Enfolded in her mom’s arms, she wondered how she was going to stay away from these people that she loved so much. Ryker’s broad arms came around both of them. Tears sprang to her eyes and dripped out. This was hard. She thought of her daddy’s final words: Keep them happy. How was this keeping them happy? Was she the most selfish creature on the planet to leave her family like this?

“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” she forced out.

Her mom leaned back and Ryker shifted so his arm was around Mom. “You listen to me, sweetheart,” her mom said. “You’ve worked too hard and dreamt too long. Go have your adventure. We’ll be able to visit and talk all the time.” She kissed her tenderly on the cheek. “Love you, baby girl.”

“Love you.”

Ryker leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Love you, sis.”

“Love you, big bro. I’ll see you at Christmas.” Harley broke from their embraces and ran for the security line.

An older lady in line watched her with a sympathetic gaze. “Hard to leave?”

“The hardest.”

The lady nodded with understanding.

Harley searched the airport one more time before she handed over her I.D. and boarding pass, then walked through security. No Crew. She met her mom’s and Ryker’s gazes and lifted a hand in farewell. Apparently fate didn’t want her and Crew together.

She walked to the security inspection, lifting her carry-on into a bin, tears pricking her eyes. Everything she loved was behind her. She sniffed and pressed a hand to her nose, straightening her shoulders. Her future was in front of her. A future that wasn’t going to include Crew.

* * *

Crew kept checking the clock on his dashboard. She might be through security already, but he was going to park illegally, pay for a plane ticket to anywhere, and get to Harley before she boarded that plane.

He didn’t notice the flashing lights in his rearview until he heard a siren. He quickly pulled over, cursing when Highway Patrol pulled over behind him. The airport was right there. He could jump out of his truck and sprint to Harley, if he didn’t get arrested first.

He banged his head back against the headrest and pulled out his license, registration, and insurance. He’d thought fate was on his side, but fleeing from the law probably wasn’t his best option. If he decided to move to England, he needed a clean record.

The policeman greeted him coolly. “Do you know why I pulled you over, son?”

“Speeding,” he muttered.

“What’s the rush?”

Crew pointed at the airport. “The love of my life is flying to England in …” He looked at the dash. “Fifteen minutes, and if I don’t get there, she’ll believe it’s fate and never come back to me or give me a chance to be with her.”

The policeman arched an eyebrow and then laughed. “Wish I could say I’d contributed to true love today, but you were going seventy-five in a thirty-five. That’s reckless driving, son. I could arrest you if I wanted.”

Crew blew out a breath and nodded. The speed limit must’ve dropped as he approached the airport. He’d thought he was only going twenty over. What could he do? Pull away and hope he could get to Harley before he was in handcuffs?

The man took his paperwork and sauntered back to his sport utility. Crew watched the minutes tick by. His stomach churned. Sitting here was killing him quickly.

A jet plane lifted over his head and banked to the south. Harley’s plane. He could feel it. She was gone. Desolation settled in his gut. She was gone. He banged his head against the headrest again. Fate hated him.