Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Her father came back from the town meeting looking like he’d just sucked on a sour lemon. He didn’t say how it went. He didn’t have to. He paced the length of the room twice, told her nobody there had recognized him.
“I’m in no mood to walk away from this parcel of land.” He stood at the window looking out at the mountains in the distance.
“You know what? I think some of those brownies from that bakery in town might be in order. I’ll be back shortly.” She walked out before he had a chance to say more about his disappointment in how this deal was going.
Cecelia headed straight for the bakery first, thrilled that the lights were on and people were inside. The second it came into view, Jason filled her mind. This was where they’d first met and she’d been hit with the hard reality that she no longer wanted her life to revolve around work.
One person.
One smile.
One sweet, quiet man who could flip the world as she knew it on its side.
Boy, she wished she’d asked for his number. Or better yet, that she’d given hers to him.
With a shake of her head, she reminded herself that technically she was the villain in the story. She was the outsider who was intent on changing the lives of so many in this beautiful place.
Heaving a sigh, she strode toward the entrance. She’d get some more of those delicious truffles she’d gotten before and maybe two brownies instead of one. Her father had really liked the brownie and she’d only gotten a nibble of it.
The store was quiet. There was only one other customer and one of the gals behind the counter was checking him out. “Have a wonderful evening!” she said before handing the bag of treats across the counter. Then she turned and smiled at Cecelia. “What can I get for you?”
Cecelia offered a smile to the retreating customer then moved closer to the display.
None of the brownies or the truffles she’d gotten before were in the case.
Frowning, she looked up at the chalkboard menu behind the counter.
“I was hoping to get some Black Forest brownies and some cookie dough truffles.”
The woman frowned apologetically. “I’m sorry, hon. We’re all out for the day.”
“You’re out of both?”
She nodded. “But I can make some suggestions if you’d like.”
Brows furrowing, Cecelia glanced at the offerings. There was a lot to choose from. It was as overwhelming as before. She deliberated as she inched along the display with her hands clasped tightly behind her back.
The bell above the door chimed but she paid it no mind as she continued glancing over the treats under the glass. Then she bumped into a hard body.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, her eyes flicking toward the person she’d collided with.
But then her focus snagged on a pair of familiar warm, brown eyes.
Her insides flipped around like a poor fish out of water.
It was too warm. There wasn’t enough oxygen, especially when he was smiling at her like that. “Jason,” she whispered.
His eyes crinkled at the corners, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. “Cece.” He sounded like warm honey. Smooth and sweet, and so tempting. Her eyes immediately dipped to his mouth, consumed by how it formed a sly grin like he knew a secret she didn’t.
Heat swept over her and her insides did another pitiful flip. “What are you doing here?”
Jason’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Here? As in the bakery? Or with you?”
Her face flushed hotter. He was flirting.
Right? Or maybe he was teasing her because she was the outsider, and he was the guy who lived here.
The better question would be why she was here.
Her laugh sounded almost manic as she looked away and reminded herself she was a strong, confident woman.
Just because his presence did things to her no other man seemed capable of doing didn’t mean she couldn’t continue to emulate the strength her father had endowed her with.
Ignoring his comment, she nodded toward the display.
“I was hoping for some more of those delicious brownies and a few truffles. But it appears they’re out. ”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him nod. He scratched his cheek with a finger then shuffled his feet. “Unfortunately, the brownies are the town favorite. They sell out pretty fast. As for the truffles, that’s a hit or miss.”
She glanced over at him in time to catch him offering the woman behind the counter a smile and a nod like they were having some kind of quiet conversation.
Her good mood evaporated. Cecelia didn’t think Jason was involved with anyone.
But what did she know? They hadn’t exactly spent a lot of time together. He could have a girlfriend.
And why did that disappoint her so much?
She needed to get a grip. Cecelia wasn’t going to be staying in this town indefinitely. She certainly shouldn’t be catching feelings for a cowboy.
Even if he was utterly delicious to look at.
The cowboy in question caught her eye and she flinched.
She’d been caught staring. The heat that singed her cheeks was likely clear as day.
Well, that was just great. She coughed out an embarrassed laugh.
“Anyway, I’m trying to decide what I should try next.
” Or if she should scoot out of there so she didn’t have to embarrass herself further.
Jason took a step closer to the counter and spoke to the woman directly. “Candace, could you get us some of those amazing salted caramel truffles? I think Cece, here, would like them about as much as the ones I recommended the other day.”
“Sure thing, Jase.” Candace went about gathering a box and placing some truffles inside. When she glanced up at them, a question in her eyes, Jason answered it.
“I think half a dozen should suffice.” He shot Cecelia a questioning look, and she nodded.
“Yeah, that would be great,” she murmured, still reeling from the fact that her literal dream guy was standing beside her helping her choose chocolates. Again.
Candace handed the box across the counter but before Cecelia could pay, Jason offered his card. Cecelia didn’t even have a chance to ask him why he wasn’t getting anything for himself when he turned to her and asked, “Would you like to take a walk with me?”
She blinked a few times, stunned. Then she managed to nod once before he motioned with his arm for her to take the lead.
Once outside, she fell into step beside him. Her head was full. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted to get his number. More than that, she wanted to spend more time in his company. The desire was unexpected and made little sense. She was here on a job for heaven’s sake.
And yet there it was.
Cecelia glanced at Jason out of the corner of her eye. “Have you spent your whole life in Rocky Ridge?”
The corner of his mouth twitched and he gave a curt nod. So that was how it was going to be. How hard would it be to get him to say more than a few words at a time? Then again, she rarely struggled for conversation when in the company of people she liked. And she definitely liked Jason.
Linking her fingers in front of her, she considered her question carefully. She hadn’t had to do so in such a long time. No yes or no questions. “What do you like about living here?”
His steps slowed, forcing her to do the same in order to stay by his side. “The quiet. It’s peaceful.” Jason glanced at the sky contemplatively. “Sometimes when it gets too loud, I can’t hear myself think.”
“Yeah, I get that,” she mused. “It is really quiet out here. When I go for runs in the mornings, I can hear every branch that snaps beneath my feet. I can hear the rustling of animals in the brush. There are birds that still sing even when I dart past them. It’s gorgeous.
” Her eyes slid to meet his and found him staring at her.
She smiled, then he did the same. “Back in the city, not a second passes without the sound of a car engine. Or an ambulance driving by. Even in the middle of the night, the city is awake.”
Jason nodded solemnly. “Exactly.”
“I take it you’ve never been interested in leaving this place? To move on to bigger and better things?”
“Why would I?” This time his answer came quickly and without restraint. “I have everything I could ever want. There is no need for more.”
Cecelia looked at him then. She burned with more questions. What about a family? Was there anyone special in his life at the moment? Or was his answer strictly about his future career and place to settle down?
Not only was her mind whirring with questions for him, but she was also drowning in a new thought. To settle down in a place like this would be a dream. If or when she decided to start a family, she could see herself in a place just like this one.
Without meaning to, she blurted, “My father is Reginald Williams.”
When Jason’s face stayed blank, she offered more.
“I work for him. He’s the one interested in the property up on the hill that could be developed.
” As much as Cecelia wanted to berate herself for telling Jason who she was, she couldn’t bring herself to do so.
She needed Jason to know so he wouldn’t think she was keeping secrets from him.
She’d never been a fan of hiding who she was from people who mattered.
For some strange reason, Jason mattered.
More than she dared to admit.
There was one huge problem now.
The second she’d explained who her father was, Jason went silent.
Eerily so.
This was more than the usual, cute quiet that wrapped around them when they were in each other’s company. That was comfortable and it made her want to lean in closer as if doing so would interest him in telling her a secret.
But the quiet that draped around them now was chilling.
Her bones even went cold.
Did she regret telling him? Even though they barely knew each other?
No. Because the truth was always better than lies.