Chapter 2
Two
Rebekah
It’s like stepping back in time. I’m mesmerized by this man. He was almost a man last time I saw him, but he’s broader, bigger, older. So attractive.
I had a crush on him when I was a kid, but it was childish. I wonder if he remembers. I used to sneak off and spend hours at the Gallant homestead because the boys were funny and kind. His parents fed me. That was huge. Sometimes, my only meal of the day came from their house.
My heart is racing as he looks at me. His brows are raised high as he jiggles the two bags of bread. I don’t want him to know how hungry I am, but he’s not dumb. I’m so skinny, it’s got to be obvious.
“White, please,” I whisper.
“Good girl.” He smiles with his perfect, white teeth. His beard is full and thick. I want to run my fingers through it. It was so soft against my neck when he hugged me.
I hated it when he let me go. It’s been so long since anyone touched me like that. The only person who ever really loved me was my mother. I miss her hugs.
I guess my sister loved me, too, in her own way, but she left me, and I’m still not fully over it.
“I’m not a girl,” I say under my breath. It irks me that he thinks of me as a child.
He lifts his gaze and sets the bread down. “Rebekah, I can see that. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t mean to imply you’re not a woman. It’s just a term of endearment.”
“Okay.” A chill runs down my spine at his intensity. He’s still staring at me. I don’t think he looked at me like that when I was a child.
“Good. Now, tell me what meats and cheeses you want, sweetheart.”
I look at the spread in front of me. My mouth is watering. My stomach grumbles. “Uh, turkey, ham, cheddar, and swiss?” Those are the first things I see. Do they even go together?
He chuckles. “Are you asking me? It’s your sandwich. You can have whatever you want on it. If you can’t get your mouth around it, I guess, you’ll have to smash it down.”
He’s funny. Was he always this funny? Yes. Memories bombard me. Adam was my favorite of all the boys. Maybe because he was the youngest and hadn’t moved away yet. He and his twin, of course. But Adam spent more time with me than Aaric.
I often showed up around midmorning and would find him in the barn.
He liked to pretend he hadn’t seen me yet.
He would talk about me as if I weren’t there.
Silly things like, “Has anyone seen that little firecracker lately?” “Do you suppose she moved away?” “What was that firecracker’s name again?
I forgot.” “I think I saw a flash of red over by the chickens. Is one of them injured?”
He used to grab my wrists and swing me through the air in circles until I got dizzy. When he set me back on my feet, I fell over. I never understood why it didn’t make him off-balance.
He finishes making my sandwich, puts it on a plate with cut-up apples and a pile of chips, and slides it across the island toward me.
I fight to hold back my tears. His mom and dad used to do the same thing for me.
I cried for months after they died. I felt like I’d lost my own parents.
I missed them terribly. Their loss was huge because it took Adam away from me.
I may have mourned the loss of the Gallants more than I did my own mother’s death.
I missed Adam so much. His kindness. His silly antics. The way he smiled at me.
It’s hard to believe he’s standing right in front of me. He finishes making his own sandwich and comes to sit next to me. “Eat, sweetheart.”
I have to force myself to pick up the sandwich slowly and take a normal-sized bite. I’m so hungry I want to scarf it all down. It would probably make me sick.
“So, it’s just you and your dad living on your homestead?”
I nod as I swallow, grateful my mouth is full.
“What does your dad do? Does he work in town?”
I take another bite and shake my head. I’m too embarrassed to tell him that, as far as I can tell, all my dad does is drink and yell at me.
“What about you? Do you work somewhere?”
I shake my head again. There’s no way my dad would let me work anywhere. He thinks a woman’s place is in the home. I’m lucky I have shoes, and only because my sister left a pair and I kept some of Mama’s. At the thought, I tuck my feet under me farther.
Adam has expensive clothes. I’m sure he bought them at a store in a big city.
I’ve never had my own clothes. As far as I know, I’ve never worn anything new in my life.
All my things were hand-me-downs, which my mother got at a resale shop for Hannah.
I’ve never even had my own pair of shoes.
I’m not sure what size I wear, but both my sister and my mom were about a half size smaller than I am.
So all my shoes hurt a bit, and the sneakers are stretched out and have holes in the toes.
Suddenly, I wish I were wearing something pretty.
As if I own something like that. There are a few dresses in the back of my mom’s closet from her younger days, but I wouldn’t dare touch them.
If I came out wearing one, my father would probably backhand me.
He doesn’t notice things like underwear or sneakers.
Adam doesn’t say anything else while we eat, probably because I have only responded with nods and shakes of my head. I’m so stuffed by the time I finish, but I don’t leave a crumb. I wouldn’t dare waste food, plus I don’t know when I might get another meal.
“How long have you been sneaking around, watching us rebuild, firecracker?” he asks, winking at me.
My face heats.
He stands and stacks our plates. “Hey, I’m just teasing you, sweetheart. You’re welcome here anytime you want. You don’t have to hide from us. Like you said, you’re not a kid anymore. Walk up to the front door and come in.”
“Asher might mind,” I point out.
He chuckles. “Asher is a curmudgeon. Don’t worry about him.”
“He did throw me over his shoulder, carry me in here, and tie me to a chair.”
Adam winces. “I’ll talk to him about that. He’s a worrier and very protective of all of us. You’re better off walking straight into the house, sweetheart.”
Adam lifts my hands.
I’m confused for a moment as his giant warm hands engulf mine. He flips my palms up and down, stroking my wrists with his thumbs. “Did the ropes hurt you, Rebekah?”
Oh, that. “No. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. He should apologize.”
“I was sneaking around. Can’t say that I blame him.” My face heats further.
“Why didn’t you just show yourself, sweetheart?”
I shrug. I wasn’t sure I would be welcome here, but I was curious. When I first noticed someone on the property six months ago, I snuck up to see who it might be. For a few months, I only ever saw workers. Then one day, I spotted a few of the older brothers.
My heart was so happy that day. I prayed they were back. My life is pitiful and boring, so any distraction is entertaining.
“Rebekah?” He releases my hands and lifts my chin.
I swallow. “I wasn’t sure you would want to see me,” I whisper.
“Why wouldn’t we want to see you?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug again. I keep doing that. “It’s been so long.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here, and I hope you come often. Your smile lights up a room.” He grins.
I don’t know when I last smiled, but I do so now, feeling warm and fuzzy from his compliment.
“How about if I give you a tour of the property, show you what we’ve done so far.” He grabs my waist and lifts me off the stool to set me on my feet. His hands are so large that they almost span my entire torso.
I already know every inch of the construction.
I’m aware that the brothers have built six cabins on the land.
I even know who owns each one. I’m not sure what the main house is for, but now that I’m inside, I realize this giant room provides them with a place to eat and hang out.
The other half is still under construction.
Adam quickly puts all the food away before nodding toward the back door.
I follow, trying to act like the adult I am. It’s hard to feel grown up next to him, partly because he’s so large. Plus, he’s eight years older than me. He probably still thinks of me as a child.
But then I recall the intensity in his gaze when he said he was most definitely aware I’m an adult.
It’s been years since I’ve thought about what I’m wearing.
I get up every morning and put something on.
That’s it. Why would I be concerned about how I look?
No one except my dad sees me, and I don’t think he pays enough attention to notice.
Honestly, I’d rather he didn’t notice me at all.
The best days are the ones when he never acknowledges me.
Adam walks us out to the middle of the clearing in front of the main house and gestures in a circle, pointing out where everyone’s cabin is located. There are a dozen men working on several structures.
My breath hitches when Adam takes my hand in his. “Come.” His steps are so big and his legs so long that it’s hard to keep up with him. I have to skip to avoid my arm getting pulled because I don’t want him to release my hand. It feels so good in his.
I shouldn’t let such thoughts enter my mind. Daydreaming about Adam will get me nowhere. I used to think of him from time to time, but not in the way I’ve been letting him consume my thoughts lately.
I first spotted him on the property a few months ago.
He was my favorite brother ten years ago, and now he’s my favorite man.
I like to watch him work outside. Most days, he spends at least part of the time either overseeing construction, chopping wood, or helping tend the massive newly planted garden.
For months, I’ve been sneaking over here at least three times a week. I’m well aware of who each brother is. Even though I couldn’t tell them apart at the beginning, over time, hearing them call out to each other helped me memorize them.
Adam, I always knew. My crush on him is silly and irresponsible. If I don’t shake it off, and he finds out, he’s going to laugh at me. There’s no way he’ll ever look at me like I want him to. It will never happen. He’s just being kind to the silly kid who used to annoy him a decade ago.
When I realize where we’re headed, my heart rate picks up. Soon, we’re at his cabin, and he opens the door and guides me inside.
I haven’t been close enough to see the interiors of these cabins. I’m shocked that I’ve gotten away with snooping around for as long as I have, especially now that I know how diligent Asher is about patrolling the property.
Adam shuts the door. “It’s not much yet. I’ve been busy supervising the other building work, so I haven’t had a chance to turn this cabin into a home, but I have the basics.” He points around. “Couch, television, kitchen table, and chairs.”
He still has a firm grip on my hand and leads me toward the hallway. He pushes each door open. I’m surprised to see there are four bedrooms. Three of them are empty. The only one with furniture is the master. It’s filled with a giant bed, dresser, armoire, and nightstands.
Everything matches, and it takes my breath away. It’s so clean and tidy. The wood is dark and rugged. The bedding is a deep navy that’s almost black. There’s a matching navy rug on the hardwood floor.
He points across the room. “Bathroom, closet. The usual.” I also noticed a bathroom in the hallway. Two bathrooms in one cabin. Luxurious.
Adam leads me back into the open living space and over to the fridge. Without letting go of my hand, he opens it and grabs a small bottle of apple juice. Finally, he releases me to twist off the cap before handing it to me. “Drink, sweetheart.”
I accept it. I never said I was thirsty. This is the third drink I’ve had since he untied me in the kitchen about an hour ago. Does he think I’m parched?
I take a sip. It’s been years since I had apple juice. It’s so delicious. Sweet and tart. Divine.
I down about half of it, trying not to seem desperate.
Adam takes it from me, sets it on the counter, and then lifts me by the hips again to set my bottom on the counter next to the juice. He frames me with his hands on my biceps.
His gaze is penetrating and intense, making me breathe heavily. “You’re welcome here anytime, Rebekah. You don’t have to ask first. Come, stay as long as you’d like.”
“Okay,” I whisper. I have to lower my gaze so I don’t swoon. Is that a real thing? Swooning? If Adam had any idea what sorts of things I was thinking, he would take back his offer.
His lips are so full. I wonder what it would feel like to kiss them.
What would his beard feel like against my neck?
I want him to hold my hips like he did earlier.
I like how his hands span my torso. They make me feel safe.
Calmer than I should. I feel oddly cherished, even though I’m making that up in my head.
Needing to break the silence, I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Why do you have so many bedrooms?”
“For my kids. If that’s not enough, I can always add more.”
I gasp and tip my head back. “You have kids?”
He grins. “Not yet.”
“Are you married?”
“No, sweetheart. I’m not married.”
I blow out a breath. Neither of those possibilities had occurred to me. I’m irrationally relieved. As if I have any claim on him.
I have one more important question. I shouldn’t ask it because I’m just torturing myself, but I have to know. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He steps closer. “Depends.”
I frown. What kind of answer is that?
He lowers his head to one side of me and whispers in my ear, “I’m hoping you’ll agree to fill that role.”