Page 12 of Worth the Trouble

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.

CHAPTER SIX

That was unexpected.

Jason was still walking, so that was good. Cece’s confession hadn’t knocked him to his backside.

And yet he couldn’t stop his thoughts from running away from him.

Cece was related to the man who wanted to change their small town.