Chapter 11
11
Emma
E mma leaned back in the tall grass and closed her eyes. The guitar sat on her lap as she turned her face to the sun. If she had to return to LA today after spending the last couple of days here in Copper Creek, she would be fine with it.
Granted, she wasn’t anywhere near ready to leave. There was still something anchoring her to this town, and she wanted to know what it was.
She hummed the musical notes she’d been working on, keeping her eyes closed as she continued to mull over the words that Caleb had given her. Those words resonated with her in a way that her own lyricist hadn’t managed to do in a long time.
Perhaps she felt drawn to staying because of him—because of Caleb.
His face floated in her thoughts. His smile, his kind yet guarded eyes, and his strong arms.
Her eyes flew open, and she heaved a sigh. She shouldn’t be thinking like that. Caleb hadn’t hidden the disdain he held for her. If there was one thing that she wasn’t going to do, it was get attached to a cowboy who didn’t like her very much.
And yet.
She turned her head just enough over her shoulder to take a look at the corral where Caleb was putting the horse through its exercises. From here she couldn’t see his eyes. They were shaded too much by his hat.
But she could imagine the brooding look he sported—the same one he’d worn when they first met.
Emma smiled and turned her attention back to the fields in front of her. Why couldn’t she fantasize about being with a guy like Caleb? There were celebrities who moved out to the middle of nowhere and simply made it work.
She flushed at the thought. It was ridiculous to think that way, and she knew it. Rachel would string her up by her toes if she even thought about moving away from the city. That’s where everything was. LA was home.
Emma sighed, a deep and anguish-filled breath. In a perfect world, maybe. But not in the one where she currently lived. For now, she would simply have to appreciate what she had going for her. Eventually, Rachel would find her, or she’d be recognized, and she’d have to leave the peaceful place she’d come to love.
There was something about being surrounded by the vast waves of wheat and barley—or whatever it was that grew around her. Being here put a lot in perspective. What she wouldn’t give to be swallowed by the quiet every once in a while.
Unfortunately, the chaos back home waited for her, and she needed to remind herself that this was all very temporary.
Emma glanced once more at Caleb as he continued to work with the horse. She got to her feet and picked up the guitar, then slowly made her way over to the corral.
His strong, low voice had a different sort of calming effect. It was like the frequency of his tone canceled out the anxious ones in her head. He didn’t notice her right away, which offered her the opportunity to really watch him.
Caleb was muscular, but not in the same way as the guys she’d seen in the gym. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was exactly that was different. Maybe it was seeing him move in the ways he needed in order to do his job. It got her wondering what else he did at his family’s ranch. The longer she watched, the more it felt like he was moving in slow motion.
He must have felt her watching him because he grew still and slowly turned his eyes on her. Their gazes locked for what felt like an eternity. So much could be said with a look like that one. In the moments before she tore her eyes from him, he’d managed to break down every single wall she’d constructed.
Caleb’s brows pulled together—it was slight and almost imperceptible—but she’d noticed. Emma had no idea what it could possibly mean. Was he upset that she’d intruded on his work? Or could it be possible that he’d been thinking along the same lines that she’d been today?
Emma shifted her focus to the horse, recognizing it right away as the horse that had given her the ride of her life. She smirked before bringing her gaze back to Caleb. “So, she recovered from her snake scare, huh?”
He stiffened. Apparently that joke was in bad form. Thankfully he didn’t point it out.
She swallowed hard, embarrassed. “Anyway… Sophia and her family… they’re supposed to come back in two more days, right?”
Caleb nodded, no longer looking at her. “I haven’t heard from them today, but that was the plan in the beginning.”
Emma couldn’t decide if she was disappointed that their little arrangement was coming to an end so soon, or if she was relieved. The tensions had remained high since the day they’d met—but since the day he’d helped her with those lyrics, everything seemed to be changing. It was slow but noticeable, and she found herself wanting to get to know this quiet man a little better.
There was only one problem with that desire. It wasn’t just the mere getting to know him that was the problem. It was the underlying reasons. Emma could already feel the attraction bubbling beneath the surface. It would be too easy to grow attached to this handsome, albeit moody, cowboy.
She picked at a splinter in the wooden fence that separated them. Emma couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so awkward. Being famous had its drawbacks, but it also had its perks. Those who knew her fell over themselves to be in her company. While it was refreshing to spend time with someone who had no clue who she was, it was also utterly terrifying.
She felt drawn to him in more ways than one. It was strange wanting to be in his presence even if they weren’t going to be speaking.
He cleared his throat, and she glanced up at him, finding him watching her intently. “Did you need something?”
Emma flushed and shook her head. “No.” She lifted the guitar in her hand. “I’m just going to put this inside and go for a walk.”
“Do you… want me to go with you?” His offer was sweet, and she found herself wanting to accept it. But she knew better. This wasn’t some romantic comedy. He had work to do, and she needed to clear her head.
Shaking her head, she forced a small smile. “I’ll be back in time to fix some dinner if you’d like. But I’m going to head out on my own.”
He took a step toward her, hesitation or something else hovering just beneath the surface of those dark eyes. But then he seemed to change his mind and gave her a short nod. “Take your phone.”
Emma stiffened. “My phone?” Had he noticed the influx of calls she’d been getting from her sister lately? She could feel the warmth spreading in her face again, but this time she couldn’t look away.
“If you get lost or hurt—call me, and I’ll come help.”
She bit back a smile. “How would you know where I am?”
His gaze darkened. “Don’t do anything stupid. Stay on the trails and I’ll manage.” His gruff voice wasn’t nearly as hard as those eyes. She was caught off guard by the way they seemed to penetrate right to her core.
“Yeah, okay. Fine,” she mumbled. “I’ll stay on the trails.”
It was later than she’d anticipated when she climbed the stairs to the house. Dinner wouldn’t be ready until it was dark at this rate. She’d gotten so lost in her thoughts while on her walk that she had completely lost track of time.
Thankfully, Caleb hadn’t called her to lecture her on the length of her walk. She half-expected him to come in search of her when the amount of time she’d been gone had hit two hours. It made her think that his concern for her was all in her head. He wasn’t interested in her safety any more than he would have been interested in the safety of a barn cat.
The doorknob was cool to the touch. Lights were on in the house, but she couldn’t see or hear any signs that Caleb was inside. He could be out working on something for all she knew. Maybe he got so tired of waiting for her to get back and fix supper that he went home to eat. That made the most sense.
She glanced over her shoulder toward the vehicles. His truck was here, though, so she could rule that out. Emma turned the knob and entered the house, only to be inundated with the smell of steak and seasoned vegetables. It almost smelled like he’d been cooking on a barbecue grill, but that wasn’t possible inside.
Emma moved toward the kitchen slowly, quietly. She didn’t know if Caleb was cooking for himself or the both of them, and she would rather not let him see the surprise or disappointment that would inevitably be plastered to her face.
In the doorway of the kitchen, she found him standing at a skillet on the stove. His back was to her, but there were already two steaks plated on the counter behind him. Steam rose from the plates, drawing her eye. They looked as good as if they’d been cooked in a restaurant.
“Oh, you’re back.”
She jumped, finding him staring at her. “Yeah…” she mumbled. “I’m back.”
He turned fully with the pan of sizzling vegetables.
“What would you have done if I wasn’t?” she asked as she stepped into the kitchen fully.
Caleb’s eyes darted toward her briefly before he served up the vegetables. “I suppose I would have come looking for you.”
Goosebumps erupted on her arms as she moved toward the table. “I’m surprised you didn’t call.”
“I didn’t think I needed to. You said you were going to be here by dinner. I figured you’d stick to your word.”
There was something about the way he said it that caught her attention. Her eyes cut to his, but he wasn’t looking at her. She didn’t know what it was about his tone or his statement, but she got the feeling it was hard for him to say.
He placed her food in front of her and muttered, “Enjoy.”
Emma stared at the food, her mouth watering. She didn’t know whether to apologize for being too late to cook for him or thrilled that he’d gone to the trouble of preparing their supper. “Thank you,” she whispered, picking up her knife and fork. “This looks delicious.” All she had to do was take one bite before she completely lost herself. She moaned at the way it melted in her mouth. Tender and full of flavor, Emma could safely say that she’d never tasted anything like it. “Way to bury the lead,” she said, causing him to look at her with confusion. “This is amazing. I think you’re the one who missed his calling.”
It was small, but she saw it. Caleb bit back a smile that clearly showed just how pleased he was with her compliment. It was these small moments that stirred the yearning within her—the yearning to have someone strong and caring like Caleb. He might be rough around the edges, but he was real . What more could she want in a companion?
Caleb glanced at her and then waved his fork at her plate. “It doesn’t taste half as good reheated. Go on. Eat up.”
She chuckled under her breath. “Yes, sir .”