Chapter 3
Alexandra
My body is heated as Caspian holds my gaze like nobody else is around. He’s seated so close, the heat from his body radiating toward me, it makes me want to reach out and brush the strong hand that’s resting on the table inches from mine.
Our server brings out an array of complimentary appetizers, courtesy of the owner, who turns out to be an old friend of Nash and Zane’s. As we enjoy the spread before us, Taryn Murphy laughs at something Caspian says, and a flash of anger rages through me.
Seriously? I’m mad at Taryn? She’s amazing. She’s a girl’s girl. And she’s one of my artists. I’ve worked with her for years, and never once have I been jealous of her. You just can’t be. She won’t let you. She’s like a warm hug on a crisp autumn day.
Wait. I’m… jealous? That can’t be right. I don’t even know Caspian. But I’m feeling a little territorial about the cowboy, which has to end right now. I put on a bright smile and plop a piece of the sweet chili calamari into my mouth.
The conversation is relaxed and easy. Cage wanted to thank everyone here in Indigo Hills for their efforts in putting the festival together.
Because of the group’s unique ties to the community, he expects this festival will be one of the biggest money earners this year.
It’s already received massive exposure on social media, and with Zane’s wife being a social media expert, Capri was able to help generate a lot of additional pre-concert buzz through her contacts, which our marketing team ate right up.
I’m surprised at how comfortable I am with this group. I’ve talked and Zoomed with Vanessa many times, and seeing her in person confirms how genuine she is. The way her husband watches her with such pride at her accomplishments tugs at a part of me that I keep locked up tight.
I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved. I’ve worked hard, and my efforts have helped shape today’s music, from signing artists, finding the right producers, and promoting the songs I believe in.
But it takes a strong man to love a strong woman, and my schedule makes it double hard.
It’s like the people I date have calendars that compete with mine.
We end up spending more time on video than we do in person. And that gets old.
But lately, it feels like everything on my list has been ticked. At thirty, I have a great body of work, a comfortable house, and money in the bank. But when I look at these people sitting around the table, they have what I don’t.
Each other.
And it’s like the universe is hitting me upside the head with one monumental bitch-slap to wake me up.
I need to slow down. Build real connections. I need out of Nashville.
A round of laughter pulls me back to the present.
The guys can’t help but rib each other. It’s entertaining, to say the least. There’s a slight lull in the conversation when the servers bring out the main course, but as soon as they’re gone, it starts back up.
Zane eats a fork full of vegetables then points to me.
“Don’t let him fool you, Alex. Caspian here pretends he’s a loner, but the man throws a mean karaoke night at his property. ”
“One time,” Caspian deadpans. “And there was whiskey involved.”
“And a Dolly Parton impression.”
“You swore never to speak of that. And who doesn’t love a good Dolly tune?” As Cas cuts into his steak, I watch him with interest.
Ryder’s eyes narrow at my date from across the table as he reaches for the bread basket. “Caspian, I gotta know… what kind of name is that for a cowboy?”
He leans back in the booth, tapping the table with his calloused fingers. “The kind you remember.”
“Fair enough. Beats being named after a damn river.”
Nash thumps a triple beat on the table before pointing a knuckle at his cousin. “Careful there, Heartthrob. My bride’s last name is Rivers, too. You’re one smart remark away from me telling everyone that you slept with a stuffed animal until you were twelve.”
Ryder’s wife pats his forearm in mock support. “Don’t worry, honey. Mr. Snuggles is proud you finally upgraded to me.”
“Damn straight he is.” He leans over and kisses Vanessa’s nose. “But Nash has secrets of his own. The man’s got more hair products in his bathroom than all of us combined.”
Rebecca looks around the table contemplatively. “We do set aside money in the budget every month for his beauty regimen.”
“And you love me for it.”
“Cas, you don’t mind driving Alex back to the lodge, do you? You’re staying there this week, right?”
He’s staying at the lodge? Echo Ridge has the equivalent of a small hotel on site that has maybe ten rooms and its own small staff. It makes sense, but my stomach sends a flush of butterflies all throughout my insides at this news.
Cas nods with a blank expression. “Of course. Want me to drive Cage and Taryn as well?”
I fight the urge to blurt NO, but Nash beats me to it.
“Naw. Zane’s got ’em.”
I don’t miss the slight raise of the ranch owner’s eyebrow, almost as if wondering why, but I can’t ponder that because the relief at knowing Taryn’s not joining us is washing over me.
As if she can read my mind, Taryn pulls me in for a hug and whispers, “You should go for it, hon. Cowboy Cas is fine.” Her country drawl stretches the last word into two syllables. She steps back and winks.
A girl’s girl, that one. I need to remember that I am, too, and quit being territorial over someone I barely even know.
The drive back to the ranch is a quiet, companionable silence. The lights of the town fade as the highway stretches before us, the half-moon bright.
“See that turn off?” Caspian’s deep voice breaks the silence as he points to a slight fork up ahead. “My family’s property is that way.”
“Is that where you live?”
“M-hmm. The Blue Canyon runs along the edge. The water is so clear you can see the rocky bottom. Makes for great swimming and fishing.”
“Sounds beautiful.”
He taps the steering wheel with his thumb. “Wanna go see?”
Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “I’d love to.”
I’m already in the car with the guy. What’s a little detour going to hurt?
He turns the truck around and drives several miles down the fork before pulling onto a dirt drive almost hidden by the trees. As we wind around, a large home comes into view, but we pass it and make our way toward a tiny house near a grove of trees that leads to the water’s edge.
The architecture is white modern farmhouse, the kind I stalk on social media. I love tiny homes and their organized simplicity.
As we step onto the drive, the gentle current babbling over the rocky bed, I would swear ambient noise apps recorded sleep sounds from this very spot. It’s the kind of sound that makes city noise feel like chaos.
“Want a mineral water?”
“That’d be great.”
Caspian opens the door to his home with one hand at the small of my back as he guides me inside. The place is gorgeous, its modern farmhouse interior immaculate. White walls and black accents give a crisp, clean feel to the well-designed space.
“Your home is beautiful.” I admire the open-concept floor plan, the exposed beams adding warmth to the space, before turning to face him. “You said this is family property?”
“My grandparents left it to my sister in their will. She set up a family trust for all the grandkids to own it equally.” He leans against the small kitchen island, his muscular body looking fit and perfect in his jeans and button down.
“The main house is where family members stay when coming into town.”
He opens his mouth to say something else when the door opens and a man and woman about my age walk in.
The woman has Caspian’s same sharp cheekbones and striking facial features, though her wavy hair is naturally blond.
The good looking man behind her is tall and fit with a tan that hints to being outside a lot.
“Cas! You scared us—” The woman stops mid-step in front of the man, who crashes into her back with an oomph. He wraps an arm lovingly around the woman’s waist and kisses the top of her head.
“I’m sorry, Cas. I didn’t see that you had company.” The woman’s smile is wide, her eyes sparkling as if she’s both surprised and excited to see me here.
Cas, on the other hand, is not excited to see her. He crosses his arms, brows knitted together, and sighs. “This is Alexandra Tate, the VP of Magnum Records. Alex, this is my nosy sister Ruby and the man that puts up with her for some unknown reason, Eli.”
Ruby cocks her head to the side. “I saw headlights. You’re supposed to be staying at Echo Ridge, Cas. You didn’t text me to say you were coming back.”
Caspian takes a sip from the glass bottle with humor in his expression. “You saw my truck, Ruby. You didn’t have to barge in.”
Eli spins Ruby around and guides her out the door as she says, “Something could’ve been wrong!”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Tate.” Eli closes the door as Ruby cranes her neck to see through the closing gap.
“Nice to meet you…”
The door clicks shut as she’s still speaking.
“The two of you are close, I take it?”
He nods, walking toward the window overlooking the water, moonlight shimmering on the current. “Spoken like a sister. You have a brother?”
I picture my younger brother, Jax, and smile. “He’s a pain, but I’d do anything for him.” I hold out my bottle. “To siblings.” We clink glasses.
“May we always stay one step ahead of their meddling.”