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There was only one bedroom on the lower level, and seeing as Emily had made her way upstairs, he would prefer to keep his distance. He moved into the bedroom and was more than relieved to discover it appeared to belong to Mateo. If it didn’t, it belonged to one of his brothers, based on the more masculine décor.
A fur rug adorned the hardwood floor. If the muted colors and lack of throw pillows weren’t enough to convince Caleb, the muddy boots by the door solidified it. Caleb tossed his duffle to the side, then froze when he heard the faint sound of music playing through the house.
He backed out of the room and strained to hear the music. It sounded like a guitar, but that wouldn’t make sense. Why would a tourist bring a guitar on a vacation—especially one who packed so light? He moved through the house closer to the stairs and waited. Sure enough, the music continued. It was a melody he hadn’t heard before, but that wasn’t unusual. He didn’t listen to music frequently enough to know what was currently trending.
The tune was pleasant, and he could imagine it being the melody of a love ballad—something his younger sister usually listened to. The music stopped suddenly, followed by footsteps.
Caleb darted away from the stairs, having nowhere else to go but toward the kitchen if he didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping. He barely made it to the refrigerator before he heard her enter.
“Oh,” she murmured. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were in here.”
He glanced over his shoulder toward her, his heart pounding for reasons beyond his ability to understand. Caleb swung his focus to the appliance. “I was just getting something to drink.Mateo said whatever they have stocked is fair game. You thirsty?”
“Some water would be nice.”
Caleb remained stiff, his eyes searching the shelf that had a variety of beverage options. “I don’t think they have bottled water. You’re going to have to get some from the tap.”
“That’s fine.”
She moved across the room toward the kitchen cabinets to the right of the sink.
“They’re on the other side,” he said.
Emily shot him an appreciative look. “Thanks.”
The awkward silence continued to spread between them like an oil spill. Caleb grabbed a Coke, though he wasn’t thirsty at all. He held it up in a cheers motion, then headed for the door, but her voice stopped him.
“It’s weird, isn’t it?”
Caleb froze, his back to her. “What?”
“That they’re letting us stay here. It’s weird.”
“Not really. Happens a lot around here. Ranchers can’t afford to leave their homes unattended for long. They need someone to keep up on everything. Otherwise, animals or crops suffer.”
“I guess.” The sound of the faucet running broke up her words. “Back in LA, we wouldn’t dream of letting anyone in our homes. Not even friends we trust.”
He snorted.
She continued, “Yeah, I suppose that makes sense to you. Butthisplace?—it’s like a whole other world. I can’t explain it…” There was a sort of awe in her voice—something he hadn’t expected to come from someone who resided in a city like LA.
Caleb turned and faced her. She stared off into space, the glass in her hands close to her lips. Then those green eyes captured his, and she smiled. Caleb’s chest tightened further. He knew that feeling—the one reflected in her gaze. She liked ithere, and it wasn’t just the novelty of being in Copper Creek for a week. Her gaze said so much more. She could see herself here.
He shook off the emotions that came with the admiration he held for someone who could appreciate what their small town had to offer. He didn’t know this woman. Besides the fact that she was concerned about people recognizing her and that she could play the guitar, she was nothing more than a stranger—and as such, he shouldn’t allow his heart to yell louder than his head. He knew better.
Emily tilted her head, her smile widening. “I have to say, I’m glad that if I had to share this place with someone, it turned out to be you.”
His walls came down and all he could do was give her a sharp nod. Turning, he intended on hiding away for the rest of the evening, but she stopped him once more.
“Caleb?”
Stiffly, he turned to face her.
“Would you… Do you think you could…” Her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. I was just wondering if you could do me a favor.”
He grunted.
“I don’t have a car. I’ve been staying in town where everything is within walking distance. Out here, I have to call a taxi or a shuttle service. I noticed you have a truck.”
