Chapter Nine
CHAPTER
Nyah’s eyelids fluttered open and she saw an unfamiliar ceiling above.
Her hands went to shade her eyes, and she blinked against the sun’s gentle rays filtering through a crack in the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom and over her face.
A hangover waved hello from the corners of her dusty mind, accompanied by the thump of a headache.
And her mouth begged to be de-cottoned. Then she realised with a jolt that she was in Caleb’s bedroom.
Fighting the urge to clamber from the bed in utter shock, she instead inhaled deeply, drawing in the lingering scent of Caleb’s aftershave.
Just outside, the distinctive laughter of kookaburras echoed through the bushland, and the low bellows of cattle carried.
Despite the idyllic sounds and surroundings of this serene morning, she felt uneasy as her mind slowly started to piece together memories from the night before.
What have you gone and done, Love?
While she carefully tugged the doona beneath her chin, confusion and panic intermingled as she tried to recall what had transpired.
Vague flashes of laughter and shared glances flitted across her mind like a fractured film.
And then she remembered they’d danced—so risqué, so close, so slow.
Oh no! Had one thing led to another? Had they both let down their guard after too many glasses of wine?
She couldn’t be sure. Did she even have clothes on?
A quick peak beneath the covers confirmed she indeed did—but none of what she was wearing was hers.
Anxious thoughts clawed at her chest as she turned to her side, half expecting to find Caleb lying next to her.
But the space beside her was empty, the sheets cool and undisturbed.
Disappointment mingled with relief as she exhaled a shaky breath.
With quick movements she sat up, her long and luscious curls tumbling around her in an unkempt fashion.
Blowing wayward strands away, she darted her wide-eyed gaze around his neatly organised bedroom.
From the leather chair in one corner with a jacket slung over it, to a dressing table dotted with grooming products, everywhere was imbued with his essence.
Desperate for answers, she searched for any clues or evidence as to what had happened between them once their carefully constructed walls had come crashing down.
Her gaze fell upon her own clothes from the previous night, neatly folded on a small stool by the window.
Beside it stood her pair of bohemian-style boots.
There were no other garments strewn about, no indication of any passionate encounter or boundaries being crossed.
The lack of disarray only served to intensify her confusion and leave her mind racing with unanswered questions.
Kicking off the covers then swinging her legs out of the bed, she felt her bare feet touch the cool wooden floorboards.
While stifling a yawn she straightened, suddenly realising she was wearing one of Caleb’s T-shirts.
She pressed it to her nose, and her heart floated.
The soft cotton still faintly smelled of his cologne—a scent that now filled her with a sense of longing she couldn’t ignore.
Stop it, Nyah Love, right this second!
Up on her tiptoes, she moved through the room, scanning for any evidence of caution thrown to the wind. But there was nothing.
Not.
One.
Thing.
She needed answers, and Caleb, when she found him, would hopefully have some.
With a deep breath, she steeled herself for what might lie beyond the door, somewhat ready to face him, and preparing for the undeniable tension that would be there if they had crossed the line of friendship.
Gliding her bare feet soundlessly against the smooth, wooden floorboards, she eased out the door, down the staircase, and towards the heart of the homestead.
Her nerves thrummed like the wings of a captive bird, fluttering with anticipation and trepidation, and she had to pause a couple of times along the way to steady her trembling legs.
A shaft of soft morning light spilled through the leadlight window of the front door and into the corridor, casting an ethereal glow that guided her towards the kitchen.
The comforting aroma of coffee filled the air as she approached, the rich scent a familiar embrace that wrapped around her senses and drew her even closer.
One breath, two, and then three, and she was stepping within the room.
There she found Caleb standing at the stove with his back to her, his broad shoulders flexing beneath the fabric of his paisley-patterned shirt as he expertly flipped something in a pan.
Strands of his sandy blond hair caught glints of sunlight filtering through the bay windows, adding to the serene domesticity of the scene.
Breath held, she paused on the threshold, taking in the tranquil sight.
The symphony of sizzling food and the eighties tune playing from the radio felt oddly intimate, as if they were sharing a secret bond that was just as nourishing as the meal he was busily preparing for them.
Looking over his shoulder, Caleb greeted her with a knee-buckling smile. ‘Hey there, sleeping beauty.’ His voice was steady and warm. ‘The coffee machine is ready to go if you want some.’
‘Hey, yourself.’ Nyah took slow steps towards him, feeling her racing heartbeat begin to slow as she closed the distance between them. ‘Did we…?’ Her question hung in the air between them.
Caleb met her gaze with gentle eyes, ones that seemed to understand her every thought, and her fear of a resounding yes.
‘No, Ny,’ he half-chuckled as he reassured her.
‘Nothing happened. You were, let’s say, very drunk, as was I, so I put you to bed after you got changed into some of my clean clothes.
’ His brows shot up at her look of shock.
‘You changed privately, before you freak out.’ His grin met hers.
‘As for me, I slept on the couch, so I didn’t have to make up the spare room.
’ He grimaced. ‘Neither of us were in the right frame of mind to be trying to work out how to assign a fitted sheet to the mattress in the spare room.’
After she chortled, a sigh of relief escaped her, releasing the tension that had been coiled tightly in her stomach.
The honesty in his features, the openness in his posture, spoke volumes about the respectful man he was.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, finding comfort in their shared space and understanding.
Caleb nodded, a genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips, putting her further at ease.
‘If anything untoward ever did happen, I’ll have you know that I’d want us to be very sober.
’ He chuckled, shaking his head at her look of surprise, and lack of response.
‘Don’t worry, Love, I’m not planning on making a move. ’
She was disappointed but smiled anyway. ‘Ha, yeah,’ was all she could mumble.
Comfort quickly settled and together they moved around the kitchen, with her setting the table and making coffees, and Caleb finishing off the cooking.
Aware she was only in a T-shirt, albeit a very big one, with no boxers, she made sure not to bend or do anything that would flash her wares.
Then they sat down to eat a delicious-looking plate of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and grilled tomatoes, with a side of baked beans.
‘This looks bloody amazing, Hart. You’ve outdone yourself again, I must say.’
‘I’m a man of many talents, I tell you,’ he replied with a hearty chuckle.
The morning light filtered through the lace curtains above the sink, casting a gentle glow over the room.
They ate in companionable silence, the food too good to waste time with speech.
All the while Jet was in his element, prancing around the room with his ball tightly clenched between his teeth, while respectfully leaving the humans to their meals.
Nyah couldn’t help but smile at how his doggy exuberance tugged at her heartstrings as he tossed the ball high into the air before catching it gracefully in an AFL-style leap that belied his size.
‘Looks like someone’s putting on quite a show for you.’ Caleb’s deep voice filled the room.
‘He’s doing a great job, because I’m thoroughly entertained.’ Her gaze followed Jet as he bounded towards her, presenting his beloved toy at her feet as if it were a precious gift fit for royalty.
‘Please don’t feel like you have to touch that sphere of slobber, Ny.’
‘Don’t be silly, doggy slobber doesn’t bother me one little bit.’ She plucked the slimy ball from the floor without an ounce of ick, then carefully tossed it towards Jet’s bed.
His paws scrabbling for leverage, Jet shot towards the ball, sliding into a heap on his rug as he caught it in his mouth.
Chucking at his mate’s antics, Caleb stretched his arms above his head and turned back to her. ‘How about we go for a ride? It’s a perfect day for it.’
‘That sounds wonderful,’ she replied eagerly, feeling drawn to the idea of spending time outside amid the open skies and rolling landscapes.
‘Great, that’s the answer I wanted.’ Taking her empty plate, he popped it on top of his. ‘I’ll drive you over to your bungalow to grab a change of clothes, and then we’ll head out into the yonder, sound good?’
‘Yes, perfect, but let me help with the clearing up…’
He stopped her short with a swift shake of his head. ‘It’ll only take a sec to plonk all this into the dishwasher.’ He tipped his head towards the doorway. ‘You do whatever you need to, to hit the road, and I’ll be waiting once you’re done.’
‘You sure?’ She felt bad, leaving him to it.
‘Positive.’ He flashed her a roguish smile. ‘Now be off with you.’