Chapter 13
OLIVIA
As I changed into shorts and an oversized T-shirt to swim in, it briefly occurred to me that I shouldn’t have taken Charlie’s bait. I hadn’t even brought a swimsuit with me to the ranch, for heaven’s sake, and I definitely didn’t want to swim in a dark and murky creek.
But I was going to go and swim in a dark and murky creek because I didn’t want him thinking I was some uptight city girl with a stick up my ass and absolutely no idea how to enjoy life.
I was also still trying to convince him that I wasn’t the enemy, and our most recent disagreement about the cow pic certainly hadn’t helped my cause.
It was such a cute picture though, and I knew it captured the essence of the way this family was with their animals and even their land. It was exactly what Mr. Anderson had in mind when he’d come up with his idea of what to showcase for the next quarter, even if Charlie didn’t want it to be.
Instinctively, I’d known to click into my camera when he had walked over to that cow.
Concern had furrowed his brow and quiet worry reflected in his eyes.
In that moment, I’d known he genuinely cared about that animal and I’d wanted to document it.
Then she’d suddenly turned and licked him, and it’d become pretty clear to me that she cared about him too.
What could possibly be a more perfect way to introduce the Andersons and their way of living to the world?
I sure hadn’t been able to think of anything, but Charlie had been vehemently opposed. It was like I saw the guards slam into place behind his eyes as soon he spotted my phone, and he hadn’t been willing to back down or give even just an inch.
Which brought me to the thoughts that had been keeping me busy from that moment until Wyatt had shown up—the stark differences between this man and the previous one I’d felt something for.
Although I couldn’t say I’d ever felt such an intense connection to Todd, I couldn’t deny that I’d had real feelings for him once upon a time. But he couldn’t be more different to Charlie if I’d tried to find his polar opposite.
Todd had been a pushover pretty boy who had cared more about the brand of clothing he wore on a date than who was sitting at the table with him. Uptight and incapable of doing anything adventurous, let alone something spontaneous and carefree, I knew he would never swim in a creek.
That was the other reason why I’d agreed.
It hadn’t only been about Charlie. In fact, my decision to say yes had mostly been about myself. In the time I’d spent with Todd, I knew I had adopted some of his less-than-daring ways, and I was doing my best to find certain parts of myself again.
Charlie and I saw things so differently, but I was starting to see why Abi, Lacey, and London didn’t think that was such a bad thing.
It was a warm, muggy night and we’d been trudging along from barn to barn. Why not go jump in some cool water and take a swim before we turn in?
I pulled my hair up into a high, messy bun on top of my head, jammed my feet back into my boots, and grabbed a towel from the bathroom. Well, I think I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.
I strode out of my room with my head held high, but some doubts still swirled around in my mind about whether I really wanted to get into a dark creek when I didn’t have any idea what would be lurking underneath the surface.
As I drew nearer the trees beyond which I’d seen the creek this afternoon, I heard shouts of laughter in the air and some of the worry eased from my mind.
These men had grown up here. This creek had obviously always acted as their swimming hole. If there was anything in the water to be afraid of, they’d know about it.
The moon hung brightly in the sky, lighting my way until I got to the trees. At some point, someone had strung twinkle lights around a few of the branches. It wasn’t enough to make it look like a fairy garden, but the soft orange glow they provided was more than enough not to trip over a tree root.
I smiled and broke past the tree line, suddenly feeling the eyes on me. All the boys were already in the water. The twinkle lights illuminated glistening, broad shoulders and the way Charlie’s jaw tightened when he saw me.
Perhaps a little disappointed that I’d actually shown up, he made his way to the edge of the water. I tried to navigate my way to the creek. Soft earth and large tree roots covered the ground beneath my feet. Flat, smooth rocks were just up ahead.
Charlie lifted himself out of the water and my gaze shot to him.
My mouth suddenly started to water at the sight him, shirtless and dripping, standing there watching me.
Little rivulets streamed down the defined contours of his torso, highlighted by the soft twinkle lights that also made him look like he was appearing to me in a dream.
I swallowed hard and jerked my gaze back to his, but I was too late. The beginnings of a smirk on his lips told me that he’d seen me ogling him, but he had the good sense not to call me out on it in front of his brothers.
“Can I help you in?” he asked when I’d almost reached him, his hand stretching out in my direction.
As tempting as it was to take him up on the offer just so I could touch him, I shook my head. “I can get into the water by myself, thank you very much. I’m independent that way.”
“And I’m a gentleman,” he replied without missing a beat.
“Yeah right, bro,” someone, Cody probably, called out from the far side of the water.
“Oh, lord. Here we go again.” Wyatt laughed. “Give it a rest, Charlie.”
Gosh, I love these boys. I giggled, truly adoring the dynamic between them and how much fun they managed to make just about everything.
Charlie rolled his eyes at them but chuckled as he shrugged at me and climbed back into the water. “Fine. I won’t help you, but you roll an ankle on a slippery rock, don’t expect me to carry you home.”
I stopped moving immediately, drawing in a deep breath. I put my arms out to my sides and tried my best to keep my balance that way. It was slow going, but in the end, I reached the cold water without falling on my ass. I squealed softly as I lowered myself into it.
This early in the spring, the weather hadn’t had a chance to warm up yet and it was so brisk that it stole the breath right out of my lungs.
I gasped for air and sputtered, and the guys laughed—all except for Charlie who lingered nearby and seemed to be waiting to see if I would transform into a damsel in distress who needed his help.
Mercifully, I recovered rather quickly. My body either adapted to the temperature or possibly went numb—I couldn’t quite tell which one—and I let out a happy sigh as I flopped onto my back. “Wow, this is incredible. Look at the stars.”
The night sky was more brilliant than I’d ever seen it. I felt so alive all of a sudden, submerged in borderline icy water with a view of what felt like the entire galaxy of stars. Suddenly, I think I understand why they love this life so much.
“It’s amazing how much better they look without the light pollution from the city, right?” Charlie asked quietly from beside me. The movement of the water told me he’d moved closer while I’d been admiring the view above.
I lifted my head and smiled at him, maneuvering into a sitting position. “I always thought people were exaggerating when they talked about seeing the stars from the countryside. I guess they were right, though.”
“This is your first time?” he asked, but curiously, not unkindly or judgmentally. “How is that possible?”
I shrugged. “I don’t really know. Obviously, I’ve been out of New York City before, but maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention. Or maybe I just didn’t appreciate it enough at the time.”
“Alright, you two. We’re headed home,” Colt called as all the other Anderson brothers swam to the rocks. “We’ve cooled down enough.”
“I just got here,” I protested jokingly. “You can’t leave already.”
“Don’t worry,” Charlie said softly enough that I knew it was only meant for me. “I’ll stay with you.”
Colt chuckled after getting out of the water. “Sorry, Liv. Maybe that’ll teach you not to take so darn long to change next time.”
“A bikini would’ve been much faster.” Wyatt pumped his eyebrows at me and I laughed as they waved good night, disappearing into the trees just a moment later.
I glanced at Charlie, surprised by how much younger and more carefree he looked out here than he did out on the ranch, half of his face obscured by that hat and a scowl on his features when he was looking at me.
He even smiled, his expression open and far less hostile than it had been since he’d found out who I was. His dark hair was slicked back and looked completely black in this light, which also made his blue eyes look almost translucent.
“Sorry about them,” he said, though he didn’t sound very sorry at all. “They’re not used to having beautiful women as part of our family.”
My heart fluttered. “Beautiful, huh?”
“Objectively.” He cleared his throat and angled himself to face me as we floated together in the calm water. “Who are you, Olivia Walker? You said I don’t know you like I think I do, and I’m curious to know if you’re right. So now that it’s just you and I, let’s talk. Tell me about you.”
“I’m surprised you’re open to finding out just how wrong you are.
” I looked at him across the few feet of water between us.
He hovered with his lower lip just above the surface.
Was it odd that the question had made me want to kiss the living daylights out of him?
“It’s not often men volunteer to have their illusions shattered. ”
It surprised me even more when he laughed. “I’m actually hoping that’s what is going to happen, so shatter my illusions, Liv. I’m comfortable enough in my masculinity that you don’t have to worry about what being proven wrong might do to my ego.”
My eyebrows rose as I chuckled. “Well, well, well. Maybe you aren’t who I thought you were either. Alright, Charlie Anderson. What do you want to know?”
“Did you like living in New York?”
“What kind of question is that?” I laughed. “It was all I’d ever known until I moved here, so of course, I liked it.”
“Do you like it better here?”
“Oh, right. I think I suddenly understand where you’re coming from.
” Glancing up at the sky, I contemplated my answer.
“I’m not sure yet if I like it better, but I am loving it so far.
It’s very different to what I’m used to, and I miss Abigail, my sister who stayed behind in New York, but I’m finding myself appreciating the differences more and more. ”
“A New Yorker admitting theirs might not be the best city on earth? Are you even sure you’re really from there?”
I laughed. “Born and bred, but I’ve always known I wanted to experience living someplace else as well. I love the fresh air here and the space here. I love how friendly people are and how much more of a work/life balance there is. Things are just slower here. More relaxed. I like that.”
“What about your life back there? Do you miss anything other than your sister?”
I shook my head. “Not really. Not yet. Honestly, I’ve spent my whole life building my father’s empire with him and loving every minute of it.
I’m very driven, and hardworking, and I want to be successful, but I don’t want that to be the only thing I ever do.
I also want to live my life, do things outside of just what’s expected of me, and make my own mark with more than just my career. ”
He looked deep into my eyes. “So you didn’t volunteer to come here just because you were running from something or bored?”
“Nope. Well, I did have my heart broken a few months ago, so I wasn’t opposed to getting out of the city when Dad mentioned he wanted to retire, but it wasn’t just that.
I’d been craving a change for a long time.
Houston felt like the right fit for me. For starters, it meant having the opportunity to learn how to take over the biggest branch of a company I love and helped build, but it also just felt like my quality of life would be better here. ”
“You know, I’m starting to think you were right. I didn’t know you like I thought I did. There certainly seems to be more to you than meets the eye.”
Something stirred deep in my chest and I smiled. My gaze locked on his shimmering, translucent blues. “What about you? Rumor has it you’re a billionaire, but I’d never have known by the way you act. Even the way you live.”
“We like our life simple,” he said as if it was no big deal. “We work hard and we don’t think of ourselves as billionaires. Who does that? Who even cares what’s going on in your bank account as long as you’ve got enough for what you need?”
Really starting to admire him for how down to earth he was, I paddled to the side of the creek and pulled myself onto a rock. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I watched him treading water and staring at me.
“Alright,” I said. “Your turn. Tell me about you, Charlie Anderson. Your family’s legacy. The ranches. I want to know about all of it.”