Feeling a renewed sense of clarity, she stepped out of the back room and made her way to the front of the store, then outside, into the warmth of the mid-morning sun.
She’d apologize for her abrupt departure yesterday and offer him some donuts. Smiling, she crossed the street to where her truck was parked. She’d already grown fond of the blue Ford. But as she reached for the door handle, she paused. An envelope was propped up on the driver’s seat.
Frowning, Harper pulled open the door and picked up the envelope, her pulse quickening. There was no return address, no markings. Only her name scrawled across the front in unfamiliarhandwriting. She hesitated for a moment, glancing around the street as if expecting to catch sight of whoever had left it. But there was no one suspicious, just the usual flow of people going about their day.
She slipped a finger under the flap and opened the envelope, pulling out its contents. Her breath caught when she saw the photograph—a sepia-toned image of a young woman who looked strikingly like her. It took Harper a moment to realize it was her great-grandmother, Mary, at the same age Harper had been when her world had changed forever.
Underneath the photo was a small note, typed in an old-fashioned font. The message was short, but it still sent a chill down her spine:
“Stop looking into Mary’s past. Some secrets are better left buried.”
Harper stared at the note now shaking in her unsteady hands. Her mind raced. Who would have known she was digging into her great-grandmother’s diary? And why would they want her to stop? A sense of unease settled in her stomach, the morning’s lightness fading as the weight of the mystery pressed down on her once again.
She folded the note and carefully slipped it and the photograph back into the envelope. As much as she wanted to brush it off as some weird coincidence, Harper knew it was more than that. Someone was watching her, someone who didn’t want her uncovering whatever truth was hidden in Mary’s diary.
She glanced back at the bakery, where her friends were still inside, unaware of the twist her day had just taken. For a brief moment, she considered returning and showing them the envelope, sharing her concerns. But then she stopped herself. She didn’t want to drag them into this. Not yet, anyway. Not until she had a better idea of what she was dealing with.
No way would Harper be responsible for anyone else she cared about getting hurt because of her.
Instead, she set the envelope and the box of donuts on the passenger seat and climbed into the truck, gripping the steering wheel tightly. She wasn’t sure what her next move would be, but one thing was clear: whoever was behind the warning didn’t know Harper Quinn very well. She wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially when it came to family.
As she started the engine and pulled away from the curb, her thoughts turned back to Cas. She wasn’t sure where things were headed with him, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn’t facing the unknown alone. She had her friends, she had her drive, and she had Cas—a solid, steady presence she hadn’t realized she needed until now.
And if whoever was behind that note thought a simple warning would be enough to scare her off, they were about to find out just how wrong they were.
A few minutes later, Harper pulled into Cas’s driveway, the envelope all but forgotten as nerves took over. This was the first time seeing him after her “kiss and run” incident yesterday. Her heart fluttered with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as she parked near his truck and got out, grabbing her peace offering box of donuts and cinnamon rolls.
Lifting her chin, she headed to the house and knocked on Cas’s door, but there was no answer. Frowning, she knocked again, then peered around the corner of the house. That’s when she spotted him in the field, riding his horse.
Breath hitched in Harper’s dry throat. The guy was captivating. She set the peace offering on the porch swing, then walked to the fence and leaned against it to watch Cas ride.
He was a sight to behold, effortlessly in sync with the powerful animal beneath him. The horse moved with grace and strength, his muscles rippling under his sleek brown and whitecoat, and Cas, with his confident posture and easy control, looked every bit the part of a cowboy from a movie. The way he guided the horse, the subtle movements of his hands and legs, showed trust and respect. Harper couldn’t tear her eyes away, her heart racing as she watched the handsome man ride with such skill. It was mesmerizing, the perfect rhythm between man and beast, and she felt an appreciation warming her blood that she hadn’t expected.
And it wasn’t just appreciation warming her blood.
It was need. It was longing. Heaven help her, it was desire. Something she hadn’t really felt since being with Alex.
A few heart beats later, Cas noticed her, tipping his hat at her with a grin. He shifted the horse’s direction and rode toward her, slowing to a gentle jog as he neared the fence.
Chapter Seven
“It’s like déjà vu at the McCall’s corral,” the gorgeous man said, a teasing smile on his lips.
Harper laughed, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks. “Maybe a little,” she admitted, trying to keep her tone light. “You and your horse make quite the pair.”
Cas swung down from the saddle with an effortless finesse that made Harper’s pulse hiccup. “Orion’s a great horse,” he said, patting the paint’s neck. “He’s my dad’s horse, and he likes to show off a little, especially when there’s a beautiful woman as an audience.”
Smiling, she reached out to carefully stroke Orion’s nose. “Well, you both looked great out there. Sorry for interrupting your ride.”
Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “I don’t mind an interruption when it’s from you.”
His words were sweet, and she was in trouble. Time for a subject change. She turned slightly and pointed at the pink box on the porch swing. “I brought a peace offering for running off yesterday. I’m really sorry about that.”
Caspian’s expression softened. “Thanks, Harper, but you don’t owe me an apology. I get it…sometimes things get a little overwhelming. But I do appreciate the donuts. Especially if they’re from Champion Bakery.”
Harper laughed, relieved that he wasn’t upset. “Only the best for a peace offering. And there’s more than just donuts. There are cinnamon rolls, too.”
“In that case, I need to put Orion in the paddock and stow the saddle, then I’ll be back to consume my gifts.”
