CHAPTER FOUR
B ella was still reeling from last night.
I mean, what the hell was that?
Luke Cappelli was a big, stupid jerk. One tiny little scar and he’s out of there faster than the speed of light. Talk about being a shallow asshole.
A knock on the cabin door gave her fury a momentary break. Forcing herself off the couch, where she was currently eating her feelings, she took the three steps to the wooden frame and pulled the door open.
“Hey, Bella.” It was Wade. Tipping his cream cowboy hat and flashing her those famous dimples.
“Hey, Wade, what’s up?”
Please don’t have Cheeto dust on my face.
“Just checking up on you, darlin’. There’s a few more folks coming in today, so you’ll have some new neighbors. Just wondering if you wanted to join them on some of the activities they’ve got booked in?”
This was the problem with booking to stay on a ranch. Activities. There was no doubt in her mind that most people visiting the Evans ranch came for the authentic ranch life experience. They wanted trail rides, fishing, and hikes. But not her. She was there for the peace and quiet.
Sure you are. You gonna squeeze that in before or after you relive the hardest time of your life with your best friend’s brother?
Stupid brain. She was quick to shake her head in an attempt to rid herself from the troll inside it, and wiped her mouth just in case there was Cheeto dust on it. To be safe.
“I guess I’m not your typical guest, huh?”
“Not sure we’ve been up and running long enough to have a typical guest.” The hat came off as Wade pushed his fingers through dark blond hair. “I just wanna make sure you’ve got everything you need.”
God, he was a sweetheart. If only she had a thing for cowboys. Would sure be easier than lusting over an emotionally unavailable fuckboy.
“To be honest, I’m not really an activity kinda girl. I booked this place mainly ’cause it’s in the middle of nowhere and I knew it would be quiet. And I could sure use a whole lot of quiet right now. It’s been a really rough couple of months.”
Concern was now furrowing his brow. Maybe she’d said too much.
“The reason I came down here was to see someone actually,” she was quick to add. Mostly because he looked like he was about to pull out the number for the Samaritans. “Luke. Luke Cappelli. Don’t suppose you know him?”
Wade didn’t even attempt to hide his shock. “Uh, sure, I know Luke. He’s friends with my brother. They work together.”
“But I thought Matt and Jonah worked here with you?”
“They do, my older brother Zach, though, he works with Luke.”
“Oh.” What else was there to say? It was the charm of the small town, she guessed.
“Actually, Zach is up at the main house now with his fiancée, Libby. You wanna come up? Grab some lunch with us?”
Well, eating isn’t technically an activity, and she’d proved this morning that she could definitely eat.
“Sure, let me get changed and I’ll come up.”
***
L ibby was sweet. She wasn’t an activity person either, so they bonded over that straight away. Libby’s idea of a good time was a quiet night in. Bella totally got it. If she had a man who was looking at her the way Zach was looking at Libby, there’s no way in hell she’d want to leave the house either.
Zach seemed like a nice guy too. Relaxed. Friendly. Open. Not at all like Luke. Bella even had trouble imagining them as friends. They were total opposites.
Stop thinking about Luke.
Right. Easier said than done. Especially when the people she was currently breaking bread with at the Evans’ dining table were eyeing her with the same curiosity and suspicion Luke had. They were doing it a lot more subtly though. Way more politely. But it didn’t change the fact that the reason she was there was the big elephant in the room.
“Okay, I’m gonna ask,” Libby announced, leaving Wade and Zach to shake their heads in disapproval. Figures that she was the only one with balls in the room. “Other than to let Luke know about his brother passing ... what else brings you here? I mean, what are your plans now that you’ve told him?”
Bella swallowed down another sip of her diet soda before she answered, feeling rather uncomfortable under the spotlight as all eyes turned to her.
“Well, Luke’s brother, Marco ... he was my best friend. My only friend, really.” Did you really have to tell them that? Way to sound like a loser. “Anyway, so, as his best friend, it’s kind of my duty to carry out his final wishes, right? Right. So one of those wishes was that I stay on in Woodvalley for a bit after speaking with his brother. So that’s what I’m doing.” She shrugged. “I guess he wanted me to have a vacation.”
That was mostly the truth. Minus the whole promise to keep an eye on Luke and make sure he was okay before leaving. Although, the way everyone was looking at her, you’d think she was trying to convince them all that the Pope wasn’t catholic.
“A vacation?” Zach’s head tilted with the question.
“Yep.”
Libby’s mouth opened as if she was about to ask something else, but she was silenced by the sound of dirt being kicked up outside.
Everyone’s attention whipped to the window, including hers. The car wasn’t very interesting, but the man who stepped out of it managed to quicken her pulse. Luke. A pissed-off-looking Luke.
She was up and out the backdoor before she knew what she was doing. As soon as her boots hit gravel, Luke’s neck twisted her way.
He didn’t look surprised. Or any less pissed.
“Why now?” he shouted, distress marring every wrinkle on his face. “Why wait until now ?”
She hadn’t realized the others had followed her outside until she heard Wade clear his throat behind her.
“Reign it in, Luke,” Wade warned.
She turned to her host and offered him a placating smile. “It’s okay. Do you mind giving us a minute?”
Wade looked back at Luke and took a moment to consider before eventually nodding. But he didn’t look happy. Zach and Libby didn’t look any happier as they followed suit and left Bella and Luke alone.
Bella’s attention was back on the man in question as soon as the door slammed closed. Rage and despair had morphed into one.
This is why you’re here, remember? You can do this.
Trying not to spook him, she slowly edged forward. When she was confident that he wouldn’t protest, she grabbed his hand and tugged.
“Come on, I think I can help.” Leading him to her car, she opened the passenger side and gestured him in. Shockingly, he didn’t put up a fight.
Slumped into the leather seat, it was only when they were driving through the valley that he actually spoke again. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“I’m pissed.” He felt the need to clarify.
“I noticed.”
“I don’t get it. Why write me a letter with this shit instead of picking up the fucking phone? What’s the point of waiting until he’s dead to do this ... when I can’t do a goddamn thing about it?”
She understood his frustration. She really did. And while she’d not read the letter in question, she had a good idea about some of the contents. “I can’t answer that, Luke. I don’t know.” She sighed. “Maybe he thought he had time. Who knows?”
Taking a turn down an old dirt road, she waited until they were close to the treeline before parking up. On her first day in Woodvalley, she’d stumbled upon this very spot. And it was perfect for what she had in mind.
Stepping out of the car, she felt Luke’s eyes burn into her, but he didn’t say anything. So she waited. Staring back until he reluctantly rounded the vehicle. Once he was within touching distance, she took hold of his hand again, ignoring the warm tug in her belly as she did so. Pulling, or more like dragging him along, she walked them into the midst of the forest until they were surrounded by nothing but tall oaks.
“Is this where you chop me up and I end up on one of those true crime shows?” Luke cast an eye over the area before pinning her with a suspicious stare.
“Not yet. But another few days of you and your charming personality and all bets are off.” She smirked, feeling a tiny bit satisfied as his glare cracked into a wonky smile.
“You gonna tell me why you brought me here, angel?”
God. He really needed to stop calling her that.
“I brought you here so you could let it all out. Everything you’ve been holding onto. Scream. Shout. Curse the universe. Just get that shit out of your system. There’s no judgment here. It’s just me, you, and the trees.”
“Are you being serious?”
“Yep. Trust me, it’ll make you feel better.” She could tell he wasn’t convinced.
“And you do this? You come here and scream?”
“Well, not here, technically . But I have done it, if that’s what you’re asking. Not every day, I’m not a total psycho ... but I’m not ashamed to admit that I occasionally enjoy cursing the universe pretty damn loudly.”
“You’re fucking insane.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. You’re curious though, right?”
Luke was quiet for a while, his eyes no longer scanning their surroundings but firmly on her. A lesser woman might crumble under his scrutiny, but not her. She’d been steel-enforced for a long time; it would take a lot more than Luke Cappelli to break her.
“Okay, fine. You first, though. Show me how it’s done.”
“Okay.” She didn’t even hesitate to agree. He wrongly thought this would be a way to get out of doing it. “And you promise you’ll give it a go?”
“I promise.”
Turning away from him, she took a few steps forward and tipped back her head. In an instant, a resounding scream was ripping through her and bouncing off the trees.
God, that felt good.
It had been a while since she screamed into the abyss. She needed it a lot more than she realized. Especially now that she’d lost Marco. The universe had a lot to answer for. And she had yet another thing to scream about.
By the time she turned to walk back to Luke, her muscles felt looser and her mind calmer. He didn’t look any less tense though, but some fire had returned to his eyes. His crooked smile still tipped his lips.
“Your turn.”
He didn’t reply, just strode toward her. His gaze was glued to her. She only lost his stare when he passed her, taking her screaming spot. Deciding to give him some space, she stepped back a bit further.
It must have been a whole minute before he made good on his promise. Roaring into the undergrowth. But she could tell he was holding back. A short, sharp shriek wasn’t going to cut it. Not when he was carrying around a lifetime of rage.
“Again,” she yelled.
Another howl erupted. This one louder. Enough to shake the trees. He was getting closer.
“Again.”
The next one sounded like it had been torn straight from his soul. A hoarse cry, which was still ringing in her ears as he dropped to his knees, his head next to follow as he cradled it in his hands.
That’s more like it.
She went to him then, thumping onto the ground next to him and shuffling closer until she could wrap her hands around his waist. He came willingly into her hold. His head resting on her shoulder as his own arms curled around her body.
Bella had no idea how long they stayed like that. In the quiet. With only the sounds of their breaths mingling and the birds singing. But right now, she knew she needed this just as much as he did. Grief was one hell of a motherfucker.
***
T he journey back to the ranch was super quiet. Luke was clearly pissed he’d let his mask slip, even if it was only for a short while.
Bella had a feeling he wasn’t as good at hiding as he thought he was, though. She’d known him ... what, a couple of days? And already he’d shown her a lot more of himself than she suspected, he showed anyone else.
By the time Luke slammed the passenger door shut, she was thankful for the reprieve. The intensity inside her Prius was almost suffocating. She was fairly certain a minute longer in the car and she would have choked.
It was only after she’d gulped down a lung full of fresh air that she noticed the normally deserted gravel around the main house was unusually full ... of cars.
As if on cue, Wade and several people she didn’t recognize began filing out of the front door.
“Bella!” Wade waved, changing his direction and leading the group over toward Luke and her.
Putting on her happy, friendly face, she tried for a smile. Well aware she had Luke’s full attention. Even with a whole car between them, she still felt those dark eyes sink into her skin.
“Glad we caught you,” Wade started even before he’d finished closing the distance. “Bella, I’d like you to meet your new neighbors. Guys, this is Bella, another guest on the ranch.”
For some reason, her brain decided a dorky wave would be appropriate. It was too late to stop it now. She was already waving and trying her best not to grimace at the group.
“I’m Calvin.” A man who looked like he couldn’t be too much older than her broke free from the herd to shake her hand.
“Hi, Calvin, nice to meet you.” She attempted a warm smile, but her mouth wasn’t cooperating.
What’s with me today?
She didn’t even know why she was bothering to ask herself that when the answer was obvious. Luke. Luke, who was saddling up next to her.
But his presence or the scowl he was giving poor old Calvin wasn’t the strangest thing to happen, not when you compare it to what happened next. Luke’s hand shot out and curved around her waist. And pulled. Until she was tucked into his side.
“Oh, uh, is this your husband?” Calvin asked, looking a little sheepish.
The snort she emitted wasn’t the most ladylike. But who the hell cared.
“Uh, no, this is not my husband .” She took a moment to glare at Luke before turning back to Calvin. “This is Luke. A friend .”
Luke scoffed then, tightening his grip on her hip.
“Okay.” Wade clapped his hands, likely attempting to break the tension. “Well, we just wanted to say hi. And don’t forget, if you wanna join these guys on any of the excursions they’ve got booked, just give me a shout. Oh, and I expect to see you at the barbecue on Friday.” He flashed her those dimples again. Damn. She’d forgotten she’d already agreed to go to that.
“We’ll be there.” Luke nodded at Wade and then to Calvin.
Will we?
This guy was giving her whiplash with these mood swings.
As Wade directed the guests back the way they came, she attempted to turn, mostly to shoot daggers directly into Luke’s eyes, but it was harder than she thought, especially with his big hand still on her in a vice-like grip.
When she did eventually manage to twist in his hold, she was far too close to him and his dumb intoxicating peppery leather scent that she was in no way enjoying breathing in.
“ We will be there?” She wasn’t going to let the flecks of black in his eyes distract her. No, siree.
“Yup.” He was giving her nothing. No smile. No frown. No nothing. Just a blank and mildly infuriating stare.
“ Yup? ” she repeated, no longer hiding her annoyance. “I take it that means you’re not done with your questions if you’re gonna grace me with your presence again?”
“Nope.”
Well, okey dokey then.
“Right.” She nodded, mostly in frustration. “Well, as much as I’m enjoying the scintillating conversation we’ve got going on here, I need to go eat ... so I’m gonna go. I guess I’ll see you at the barbecue.”
“That’s it?”
“Uh, yeah. What were you expecting?” She threw him a puzzled look.
“I’ve got steaks back at my place.”
“Great. I’m happy for you.” She managed to cross her arms and quirk her hip. The hip he just so happened to still be holding on to.
“Angel.” He sighed, shaking his head as if she was the infuriating one. “Do you like steak?”
“Why? You gonna recommend a local butcher?”
She was able to crack that impassive expression again. It was only a lip twitch, but she’d take it.
“No, angel, I’m trying to invite you to dinner.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.” Was it just her imagination, or was his thumb stroking her waist now? “Well? What do you say?”
I’m thinking, I’m thinking. Don’t rush me.
Maybe it was the leather filling her lungs. Or the brush of his thumb on her exposed skin. Or maybe it was because he was currently looking at her like he was dying of thirst, and she was a tall drink of water. Whatever it was that made her say yes, she said it. And soon she’d have to live with the consequences.