Chapter 27
27
C apri stood on her porch, phone in hand, her thumb trembling as it hovered over the “send” button. The text she’d typed was simple. Would you want to go for a ride? I was thinking Charlie Grace’s ranch tomorrow. Yet, the invitation it carried felt monumental. Her heart raced, a tangle of nerves and excitement twisting inside her. After everything with Jake, every step forward felt precarious. One wrong move, and she feared things might spiral out of control, moving too fast for her to handle.
She stared at the message, reading and rereading it. Was it too casual? Did it sound like she didn’t care enough? Or maybe it sounded like she cared too much? She shook her head, chastising herself for overthinking. Reva’s voice echoed in her mind, reminding her to be okay with not having it all figured out.
With a deep breath, Capri hit send and immediately regretted it. Her pulse quickened as she waited for his response, a cocktail of anticipation and fear bubbling beneath the surface.
Her phone buzzed, making her jump.
Sounds perfect. What time?
His quick reply both thrilled and unnerved her. She hadn’t expected him to be so eager, but that was Jake—unwavering, patient, and seemingly unfazed by her hesitations. Capri set the time and put her phone down, exhaling the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She had taken the first step. It wasn’t a leap, but it was something.
The next day, Capri arrived at Charlie Grace’s guest ranch earlier than planned. She told herself it was to help saddle the horses, but deep down, she knew it was because of her nerves.
She stepped from her truck and looked around at the wide-open space filled with treetops colliding with blue sky. The fresh air felt so expansive, or so full of possibilities—making her feel both alive and utterly exposed.
Charlie Grace appeared at the barn door and waved. “Hey! I didn’t expect you until later.”
“Sorry,” Capri said, a little breathless as she approached. “I got ready quicker than I thought. Guess I just couldn’t sit still, so here I am.” She gave a small, nervous laugh, hoping it didn’t sound as shaky as she felt.
Charlie Grace gave her a knowing smile, but to her credit, she didn’t ask questions. “The horses are ready,” she said, leading her to two sturdy geldings. “You picked a beautiful day for a ride. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Are you sure this is no trouble?” Capri asked.
“Not an issue in the slightest. We have no guest excursions planned for today, so take your time.” Her friend winked, struggling to conceal her delight at the prospect of Capri and Jake being together.
Ignoring Charlie Grace’s enthusiasm, Capri stroked the horse’s neck, her fingers tracing the familiar lines of muscle and hair, using the routine as a way to calm her thoughts. When she heard Jake’s truck pull up, her heart did a little flip, and she took another steadying breath. She could do this.
Jake strolled toward her, looking like he’d just stepped out of an ad for rugged outdoor gear—boots dusted with dirt, worn jeans that fit just right, and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms. His hair was windswept, his face kissed by the sun. The sight of him made her pulse quicken, and Capri cursed herself for how easily he affected her.
“Hey,” Jake greeted her, that familiar smile softening his sharp features. He reached for her hand, just briefly, but it was enough to make her skin tingle. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Yeah, sure,” Capri replied, keeping her tone casual, though inside she was anything but. “I figured a ride would be more fun than...you know, working on the house.”
He chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he glanced at the horses. “Can’t argue with that.”
She didn’t add that she’d considered asking him to dinner at her favorite restaurant in Jackson—the White Buffalo Club. A second dinner date, especially in such a romantic setting, felt too intimate, too formal.
They mounted their horses in comfortable silence, and soon they were on the trail, the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves the only sound at first. The trail wove through the open meadow and into the wooded hills, where the scent of pine and sagebrush filled the air. Capri felt a little calmer now, her body falling into the familiar rhythm of riding. But every now and then, she’d catch Jake’s gaze flicking toward her, and her stomach would do a somersault.
As they rode, conversation came easily.
Capri toyed with the reins, glancing at Jake. “So, what’s your guilty pleasure? How do you like to fill your free time?” she asked with a smile, hoping to keep the conversation light.
Jake chuckled softly, rubbing his chin as he thought. “Okay, don’t judge me, but I’ve got a serious thing for reality cooking shows.”
Capri raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Seriously? Like the competitive ones?”
“Yep,” he grinned. “There’s something about the intensity, the chaos in the kitchen, and how they whip up something amazing from nothing. Plus, I can’t cook to save my life, so I guess I live vicariously.”
Capri laughed, the sound easy. “You? That’s not true. The brisket you prepared was delicious.”
“I’m not a real cook,” Jake admitted. “I can grill a decent steak or fix a recipe or two my mom shared with me, but anything more complicated than that, and it’s a disaster.”
“Well, good thing you’re handy with construction and renovations,” Capri teased, feeling her tension ease even further.
Jake shot her a playful look. “What about you? What’s something no one would guess about you?”
Capri paused, thinking for a moment. “Well, in addition to my Gilmore Girls addiction, I have a ridiculous obsession with old murder mysteries—Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, that sort of thing. I can spend hours curled up with one of those books or binging the old TV adaptations.”
“Didn’t peg you for the mystery type,” Jake said, surprised. “Do you solve the cases before they reveal the culprit?”
“Sometimes,” she replied, grinning. “But half the fun is trying to piece it all together. I especially adore a couple of new mystery authors I’ve stumbled upon—Jana DeLeon and Tonya Kappes.”
As they continued down the trail, the conversation meandered into unexpected territory—favorite childhood memories, secret ambitions, and the quirks that made them who they were. Capri found herself laughing more than she had in a while, and with each passing moment, she realized how easy it felt to be with Jake, even if the undercurrent of fear still lingered. But for now, she pushed apprehension aside, allowing herself to enjoy the ride and the company.
Their legs brushed occasionally as the trail narrowed, and every time, a jolt of awareness shot through Capri. Once, as Jake reached to adjust his saddlebag, his hand grazed hers, and the simple touch sent a thrill up her spine. Each brush of skin, each subtle connection, felt charged, and it was becoming harder to ignore the pull between them.
After a while, they reached a quiet clearing. The vista stretched out before them; a valley spread wide beneath the towering peaks. Capri dismounted first, her legs stiff but her heart beating with anticipation. Jake followed suit, walking over to where she stood by a large rock. He stood close and when she turned to look at him, her breath caught at the way his eyes lingered on her face.
“This is beautiful,” he said, but his gaze never left hers.
“It is,” she agreed, though she wasn’t sure if he was talking about the view anymore.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, and Capri could feel her heart now racing—the magnetic pull drawing her closer to him, inch by inch. Before she could stop herself, she reached up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, and in that moment, Jake stepped forward. His hand gently cupped her face, his thumb grazing her cheek.
“Capri...” he murmured, his voice low and full of something that sent a shiver through her.
And then, he kissed her.
The world seemed to still in that moment, the wind holding its breath, the trees standing silent witness. His lips were soft but sure, and the kiss was slow, tender, like he was savoring every second. Capri’s breath caught as she leaned into him, her hand instinctively finding its way to his chest. The heat of him, the solidness of him, was both overwhelming and comforting all at once. A rush of warmth flooded her chest, spreading through her, making her forget, for a moment, all the reasons she had to be afraid.
But as much as she wanted to stay in that moment, the familiar panic began to creep in. The kiss deepened, and with it came the realization of just how fast this was all happening. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not for this.
Capri pulled away, breathless and shaken, her heart hammering in her chest. “Jake, I...” Her voice faltered as the words tangled in her throat.
Jake stepped back immediately, his hand falling away, though his eyes stayed locked on hers. He looked concerned but not surprised, as if he knew this might happen. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “We don’t have to rush anything.”
Her chest ached with the weight of her own fear. She wanted this—wanted him—but the fear of what it all meant, of what it could lead to, was suffocating. She could do casual relationships that were meant to lead nowhere—but this?
“I just...” She shook her head, frustrated at her inability to explain the turmoil inside.
Jake’s expression remained calm, and his eyes held hers with quiet understanding. He didn’t push, didn’t question her hesitation, just let the moment settle between them. After a beat, he spoke, his voice soft and steady.
“Capri,” he began, his tone gentle but firm, “I get that you’re scared. Life throws a lot at us, and sometimes it feels like we have to handle it all on our own. But no one’s meant to go through this stuff alone. When hard times hit, that’s when we need each other the most.”
He took her shoulders and turned her toward the clearing. “See those sunflowers?”
She nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
“Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. In other words, they chase the light.” He squeezed her hand. “You might already know this, but there is another fact you probably do not know.”
Jake bent and plucked a bloom from its tall stem. “Have you ever wondered what happens on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds? You’d think the sunflower withers or turns its head towards the ground. You’d be wrong.”
He tucked the bloom into her hand. “Instead, they turn towards each other to share their energy. Nature’s perfection is amazing. And, it has so much to teach us…don’t you think?”
He paused, searching her face as if trying to reach the part of her that was still walled off. “I’m not saying everything gets fixed just by being with someone. Yet, when you’ve got a special person by your side, it makes the weight of things a little lighter. We’re all a little scared, Capri. But we don’t have to be scared alone.”
He took a step closer, his hand brushing hers lightly, offering connection without pressure. “I’m not asking for anything you’re not ready for. But don’t shut me out because you’re afraid of what could go wrong. Let me in—just a little. You might find things aren’t as heavy when you’re not carrying them all by yourself.”
Capri stared at the sunflower in her hand, blinking back tears.
Jake’s words lingered, gentle and grounded, weaving through her doubts. She had spent so long convincing herself she was better off alone, that the weight of her life was hers to bear. But here he was, offering something she hadn’t realized she needed—someone to stand beside her, to share the load.
Her father, her stepdad…even her mother had left her. But she didn’t have to be alone. She could let Jake in and let things take its course. Yes, she could get hurt again, but the risk might be worth it.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his, the warmth in his eyes undoing her last bit of resistance. Taking a breath, Capri stepped forward, closing the small space between them. She reached for his hand, her fingers lacing through his with calm certainty. “Let’s see where this goes,” she said softly, feeling her heart pound steady as if she were finally stepping into something she didn’t need to control.
And as Jake’s mouth slid onto hers, for the first time in a long while, she felt like she might be ready to stop running.
When he finally pulled back, Capri lifted her head, her fingers still entwined with his, feeling like that sunflower—turning slowly toward the sun, finding the courage to reach for the light despite the shadows behind her.