Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cassidy
I t’s a typical Monday at work. Nothing is exciting or different, yet I feel different. I’m distracted and impatient about something I can’t pinpoint. I got the two mid-level accounts that I had asked for, no questions asked. My department head had nothing positive or negative to say about it. Usually, this wouldn’t even bear any weight on my mind, but it does at the moment.
I quickly get to work. I don’t stop until a quarter after eleven and realize a cup of coffee would be nice. Grabbing my travel mug and a coffee pod from my bag, I exit my office. For a moment I consider closing and locking my door, but the break room isn’t far, and I’ll only be away for a few minutes. I’ve never had to lock the door before, but my brain seems to be wired differently this morning.
It’s not to say that I’m seriously distracted, but my mind is wandering easily. The thoughts that cross my mind aren’t anything I was even mulling over the previous evening; they are more along the lines of, what are my favorite foods, if I had to pick five to live off of for the rest of my life, what would they be? If I could only listen to one album ever again, what would it be?
I am still productive, and my work is moving along just fine, but in between a productive moment is a random thought. It’s unusual for me.
Slipping into the break-room, I see a few co-workers already gathering their lunches and heading out a bit early. I’m not quite ready to eat, so a cup will do for now. I nod and smile as I pass by others before making my way to the Keurig and putting in my pod. Setting my travel mug under the spout, I lead against the counter while it brews.
A warm rich aroma fills the small space next to me, and it already gives me a little extra pep. Pulling out my phone I realize that I haven’t texted Hunter back.
Country Charm: Looks like Jake was a no-show. Something’s not right.
Country Charm: I called him and his mom, both didn’t answer. Should I drive over there during lunch, is that overkill?
Country Charm: How’s work?
Country Charm: Cass?
Shit.
Me: Sorry. I was in a work zone. Maybe go after the workday if you still don’t hear from him. They could be busy with their own thing. Work is work, nothing exciting. I got the accounts I asked for and I’m breezing through everything. How’s your morning been?
Turning toward the coffee maker, I grab my cup and start making my way back to my office. The smell sends a quick zip through me, giving me a much-needed second wind. As I come down the hall, I gauge the idea of taking a quick sip but think better of it because it’s still piping hot. Coming into my office I see the back of a man sitting in the chair across from my desk. Seeing the tousled brunet hair, I already have a feeling about who my guest may be.
The sounds of my footsteps alert him to my presence, and he turns. Bingo. Dominic.
“Hey. Did you already eat lunch?” He quickly raises a brow and tilts his head.
“No, just got a pick-me-up.” I raise the mug and make my way over to my own chair. “Can I help you with something?” Sitting down I quickly scan my desk and see that everything is how I left it.
“Not particularly. I was going to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat, but it looks like you’re about to get back to it.” He watches me sit down and leans forward onto his knees. Dominic is a rather thin man; maybe a few weeks ago I would have thought he was the “toned” type, but now, after Hunter, my idea of toned has changed. The fleeting thought of Hunter pulls me away in an instant.
I think of his tanned, hard body and his corded muscles flexing while we’re tangled in bed together. I cross my legs and let my mind continue to wander. The roughness of his stubbled jaw grazing across my neck as he holds me close.
I loved the way our bodies sounded together. Not only our voices but the sounds of our charging hearts and heavy breaths. In a few weeks, my brain seems to be rewired a little. Part of me isn’t sure if I want to get things back in order, or if I am a fan of the way they are now.
“I am catching another wind, I’m not too hungry yet.” Taking my first sip, I can feel those words come true. I am going to use that second wind and get some more work done. Hopefully, it will be more focused.
“Well, do you want me to grab something for you while I’m out, or do you have something in the break-room?” Dom stands and slides his hands in his front pockets. The movement draws my eyes in that direction, and I make another comparison to Hunter. Dom continues to fall short, not that he is in the same league to begin with.
“I’m alright, thank you for offer?—”
“Delivery for Ms. Walker.” A voice cuts through the room, and a young woman holding a brown bag in her arms appears in the doorway. Standing, I walk over to her, confusion clouding my mind.
“That’s me… what do I owe you?” Taking the food and setting it down on my desk, I pull open the drawer that holds my bag and wallet.
“It’s taken care of.” She beams and turns on her heel to leave.
“Looks like you’ve got it all covered. Well, I better get something myself.” Dominic’s voice has a slight edge to it. It seems like he can recognize he’s not getting anywhere, and I imagine that frustrates him. He seems the type that likes to get his way. It’s funny, we’re similar in that sense.
“Yeah…” As I’m going to send him on his way my phone rings in my pocket. Smiling at Dom, I pull it out. “I better get this, have a nice lunch.” Polite is the only way I can describe my tone. It’s not friendly, or rude, more considerate than anything else. Without even looking, I hit the green icon on my phone.
“Hello?” I say, giving a small dismissive look to Dom. He gives me a short wave and leaves quickly.
“Hey Beautiful, the deli said your food was delivered. Did it get there? I don’t know what to make of all these damn apps.” Hunter’s frustration makes me giggle. The man knows enough about technology to get him by, but he’s by no means savvy. He uses outdated Microsoft software for all his farm work and bookkeeping and still has a Hotmail account.
“Yes, it’s here, but I haven’t peeked at what it is.” Hunter said Deli, but the bag feels warm.
“Just a sandwich. I thought about getting you a soup, but a sandwich sounded better.”
“I appreciate the lunch, any lunch. I wasn’t hungry until I smelled this.” It’s true, I was more focused on getting that cup of coffee than anything to eat. Now that I smell whatever is in this brown bag, I’m suddenly hungry. “Are you on lunch?”
“I stepped inside the house to grab a quick bite. You seemed busy, so I figured some real food would be better than a vending machine Pop-tart or bag of chips.”
“I did that like twice…”
“Last week,” he chuckles, and it makes me smile. I wrap my free arm around my waist and sink into my chair. I like the way Hunter makes me feel. I should listen to the girls, and just see this through. What does that mean for everything else in my life?
“Anything from Jake?” I ask him.
“No, and I called half a dozen times. I figure when he sees it, he’ll know to get back to me. Right?” Hunter is truly concerned. The way he has taken this kid under his wing melts me. The natural parental intuition and genuine want to care and be there for him. It’s not something a lot of people do, especially in my city.
I could not show up to work and my boss would call once and then just plan on reaming me out the next day I showed up. My coworkers would show little interest until some kind of rumor started to mill around, but that’s not the way Hunter or his little town run things.
“Yeah, he’ll know. Are you going to wait until tomorrow before driving over?”
“Probably not, if he doesn’t get to me before dinner, I’ll make a stop over there.”
“Okay, let me know either way.” I sigh and start to open up my lunch.
“Work’s weighin’ on you heavy today, I can hear it.” Shit . I don’t want Hunter to have to worry about me, on top of Jake.
“Yeah, maybe a little but I need to pep up for Mary’s bachelorette party this weekend. The next two weeks are going to be busy.”
“Do you guys have a lot planned between now and then?” Hunter asks that question and actually cares about what I’m going to say next. He’s not just asking to make conversation. He cares about how my next two weeks look. He cares if I have a lot on my plate.
“Yes and no; this week I have some errands to run to make sure everything is all set for this weekend, but Georgie split some of those with me. Next week is busier, but Trent hired an amazing wedding planner. So honestly, there’s not a bunch for us to do. We are making the thank you trinkets together over wine next week after the bachelorette party, that’s our only official plan.”
“I can only imagine how crazy wedding planning is,” Hunter chuckles.
It doesn’t rub me the right way. How would Hunter’s wedding look? I can’t imagine him getting married in a church wearing a suit and tie. I can’t imagine him in a grand reception hall making a big toast.
What is worse than what I can’t imagine, is what I can imagine. I can imagine him at the top of the hill of a green pasture with wildflowers, wearing dress slacks and a dress shirt, with that stupid hat on his head. I can imagine an outdoor reception with string lights and live music. I can imagine him making a toast and his whole town hootin’ and hollerin’. I can imagine me laughing at his stupid words. I’ve known this man for less than a month, this can’t be healthy.
“Yeah, I can’t. Definitely not my cup of tea.” My words just make him laugh a little more.
“I know, Cass. You don’t have to tell me.”
We chat for a few more moments lightly when I hear a man yell for him.
“Shit Babe, I gotta run. Maybe someone heard somethin’ on Jake.” Babe? Fuck, is it weird that I like that?
“Alright, let me know if you hear anything.”
“I will. Talk to you later.” And with his click, I look over to my bag of food. Appetite once again suppressed. Why are things with this guy so different? Am I older? Did thirty really change me that much? I can only think of one reason.
Stupid ass, my Country Charm.