Chapter 10 #2
She nodded, intellectually understanding his need for comprehensive information while emotionally hating the necessity that made such questions relevant.
"Those three are the only people who have physically visited me here," she continued.
"Everyone else in my life exists through phone calls, emails, and video conferences.
When face-to-face meetings are necessary or when I need to attend industry events, I travel to New York for publishing business or to Los Angeles for screenplay work. "
The deepening shadows of evening had given way to a star-scattered sky visible through her kitchen windows.
The peaceful domesticity of the moment, with the lingering warmth of a shared meal, the comfortable conversation, and the sense of not being alone in her sanctuary for the first time in months, made her reluctant to end the evening.
"Would you like to sit outside for a few minutes?" she suggested. "I could make hot chocolate. I have a recipe that practically guarantees peaceful dreams."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them as his intense gaze held hers.
She could see him weighing something in his mind, perhaps professional considerations battling against what might have been personal inclination.
She suddenly had a feeling he rarely did anything for himself, and thought he would decline out of habit.
Finally, his expression softened almost imperceptibly, and he nodded slowly. "Can't think of anything I'd rather do."
By the time she stepped onto the back deck carrying two oversized mugs of steaming hot chocolate, Casper had already coaxed a small fire to life in the stone firepit.
The flames danced against the darkness, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across his face as he adjusted a piece of kindling with practiced efficiency.
"Perfect timing," she said, settling into one of the Adirondack chairs positioned to take advantage of both the fire's warmth and the expansive view of the star-filled Nebraska sky.
He accepted his mug with a nod of thanks, cradling it between his large hands as he sank into the chair beside her.
The hot chocolate was rich and decadent, made with real cream and a touch of vanilla and cinnamon that she'd discovered made all the difference in creating something that tasted like comfort itself.
He took a sip, then groaned. “Damn, that hits the spot.”
As she sipped, her lips curved. “I should warn you… I added a touch of whipped cream vodka.”
His deep chuckle wrapped around her as warm as the mug in her hand.
They spoke little, content to savor their drinks and absorb the profound silence that only rural darkness could offer.
No city lights competed with the brilliant display overhead, no traffic sounds interrupted the gentle whisper of wind through the prairie grass.
Occasionally, the distant call of a night bird or the rustle of some small creature in the nearby trees punctuated the stillness, but these natural sounds only emphasized the deep peace that surrounded them.
Casper seemed to appreciate the quiet as much as she did, his posture gradually relaxing as the evening progressed.
She continually stole glances at his profile, noting how the firelight softened the harsh planes of his face, making him seem more approachable and less like the intimidating warrior who'd appeared on her doorstep that morning.
The realization struck her as slightly surreal.
She felt genuinely comfortable with this man she'd known for less than twelve hours.
Someone so stalwart and self-contained, someone whose very presence in her home was a reminder of the strange and potentially threatening occurrences that had disrupted her carefully ordered life.
There should have been awkwardness, wariness, the natural discomfort that came from sharing space with a virtual stranger.
Instead, sitting beside Casper in the firelight with the vast Nebraska sky stretched above them, she felt safer and more at ease than she had in weeks.
“I’d like to ask why you moved out here, Willow?”
His words broke the comfortable silence.
She knew he’d researched her before coming, but she’d never given any interviews about her decision.
And the reason was only known to a few. She thought about lying.
Throwing her arms outward and declaring, “Who wouldn’t want to move here?
” but that would only be a small part of the decision.
And there was no reason to lie to him. It didn’t matter if his opinion of her changed because after a week, she would never see him again.
She took another sip, then said, “I needed to get away from LA. I needed to get away from the constant paparazzi looking for the photo opportunity to get a snapshot of someone… well, me, at my worst. I hated feeling that I needed to constantly be on guard. I…” She cleared her throat and took another sip.
“I had battled an eating disorder years ago, but found that even though I had won, as I got older, some of the same inner whisperings continued to plague me.” Shrugging, she sighed.
“I don’t need to live there. I don’t need that kind of scrutiny.
I can write anywhere and decided that I had lived in LA and in New York.
So… why not try the middle of the country? ”
He was quiet, and she could hear her heart pounding at the silence. Just when she thought he wasn’t going to respond to her rambling explanation, he surprised her.
“Took a lot of guts.”
She had to choke back a snort at his abridged comment. Concise, yet true.
“Thank you for your honesty,” he added.
The moment could have felt awkward, but once again, with this stranger, she felt rewarded. “No problem. It was all the truth… just not something I tend to talk about.”
By now their mugs were finally empty, and the fire had burned down to glowing embers. Gathering their things, they headed back inside. The warmth of the house enveloped them, a sharp contrast to the crisp night air that had left their cheeks flushed and their breath visible in small puffs.
Casper immediately began his evening security routine, moving through the house with methodical precision, checking window locks and ensuring every possible entry point was properly secured. She watched him work, impressed by his thoroughness and attention to detail.
"Everything looks good," he reported when he'd completed his circuit. "Once we get your new system installed, you'll have comprehensive coverage."
She led him down the hallway, stopping at the guest room door, across from her bedroom. She'd prepared it as soon as she realized she would have someone staying with her, adding fresh linens and ensuring he had everything he might need.
"There are clean towels in the bathroom," she said, opening the linen closet to show him where everything was stored.
"And please don't feel like you have to tiptoe around the house or avoid the common areas.
This is your space too while you're here.
" She paused at the doorway, suddenly feeling oddly uncertain despite the fact that he was clearly capable of taking care of himself.
"If you get hungry during the night or early in the morning, anything in the kitchen is fair game.
I'm usually up early, but don't let that stop you from making coffee or grabbing breakfast whenever you want it. "
"I appreciate that," he said, his voice carrying genuine warmth. "Thank you for making me feel welcome here."
"Thank you for being here," she replied softly. "I didn't realize how much easier I’d breathe not being alone."
They said their good nights, and she retreated to her own room, going through the familiar ritual of preparing for bed while her mind continued to process the day's unexpected developments.
She'd awakened that morning feeling isolated and increasingly paranoid about the strange incidents plaguing her peaceful existence.
Now, as she settled between her sheets with the knowledge that Casper slept just across the hallway, she felt a sense of security she hadn't experienced in weeks.
But it wasn't just the professional protection he provided that had her feeling unsettled in an entirely different way.
Lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling in the dark, she replayed moments from their day together, remembering the way his voice had gentled when he'd reassured her about taking screenshots of his credentials, the transformation of his face when he'd laughed during dinner, and the solid strength of his back when she'd held on to him during their ATV ride.
She wondered if she'd completely lost her mind to be so infatuated with a man she'd just met, a man who was here strictly in a professional capacity, a man whose life was probably as far removed from her quiet Nebraska existence as it was possible to get.
But as she drifted toward sleep, she couldn't deny the truth that had been growing all evening.
For the first time in years, she was genuinely attracted to someone. He was not the idealized fantasy of a romance-novel hero, but a real man with calloused hands and careful eyes and a way of making her feel both protected and seen.
The realization should have worried her more than it did.