Page 16 of Caspian


Font Size:

She smiled. “Yeah. It was stuck behind a drawer in her desk that I just started to refurbish.”

“Sounds pretty special,” his father remarked.

She nodded. “It is. Something happened on April 12, 1937. Whatever she went through had to be pretty intense.”

“What do you think it could be?” his dad asked.

Harper shrugged, a small frown creasing her brow. “I don’t know yet, but I want to find out. I feel like maybe if I can understand her story, I might understand my own a little better too.”

He could tell by his father’s fleeting frown that he was confused and curious too. They exchanged a look, and he could also tell they were both in thenot the right time to dig furthermindset.

Still, her determination sent a pang of admiration trickling through him. Even though the mystery could be triggering for her, she still wanted to know what had happened to her great-grandmother.

“That’s brave of you,” he said quietly.

Again, he wanted to say more but didn’t because of all the people within earshot.

A trace of vulnerability flashed through her eyes. “I guess I just don’t want to keep feeling like I’m stuck in the past, you know? I want to move forward. I need to.”

Yeah, they were definitely going to come back around to this conversation in private.

Cas inhaled as a deep respect for her honesty swelled his chest. “I get that,” he said. “And for what it’s worth, I think you’re already doing a great job of it.”

She looked at him, a little surprised, and then she smiled—a genuine, open smile. “Thanks, Cas. That means a lot.”

They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment. He wanted to help her, to be there for her in whatever way she needed. And maybe, just maybe, he hoped that one day she might let him in a little more.

A few minutes later, they were called back to get started on the title transfer. As they sat in front of a desk, Harper kept sneaking glances at Cas, her expression contemplative. He noticed but he didn’t say anything. He could tell she was thinking about something, however, he wasn’t going to push her to talk if she wasn’t ready.

Once the paperwork was signed and the transfer was complete, they stepped back outside into the bright midday sun.

Harper turned to him with a grin. “So, what’s next?”

Cas chuckled. “Well, now that you’ve got a truck, how about we head back to the ranch and start sorting through that barn wood? We can load up the pieces you want to keep, too. You said you had a few ideas for it, right?”

Her beautiful face lit up and stole his breath. “Absolutely. Let’s do it.”

They climbed back into their respective vehicles, and after he took his father home, they drove back to the ranch. Cas enjoyed the sight of Harper following him in her new truck. She handled it like a natural, and more than a smile was stirring.

Actually, it was hot as hell.

He immediately gave his libido orders to cool it, and for the next hour or so, they sorted the barn wood. Harper was enthusiastic, her energy contagious as she chose pieces, envisioning how she’d use them.

“I think this one would be perfect for the feature wall,” she said, holding up a particularly charred piece with a rich, dark grain.

Cas nodded, impressed. “I think you’re right. It’ll look great in the master bedroom.”

He could already tell the feature was going to be warm and inviting, and he knew exactly who he wanted to invite to his room.

Harper glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “And for the table, I was thinking of using a mix of lighter and darker pieces, maybe with a live edge. Something rustic but with a modern twist.”

Ignoring his unwanted arousal, Cas grinned. “You’ve got an eye for this stuff, Harper. I trust your instincts.”

“Thanks.” She beamed at him. “I’m really excited to get started.”

They continued working side by side, chatting and laughing as they loaded her wood into the truck. It was strange. Cas felt more at ease than he had in a long time, enjoying the simple pleasure of good company and productive work. No adrenaline pumping, rushing in to save hostages, or even hot, wild, pulse-pounding sex.

This was different. This was more. There was something about Harper that made him feel hopeful. Like things might be okay after all. Like living on this ranch was where he was meant to end up.