Page 11 of Call It Home

But as soon as I caught sight of my house, I realized I wasn’t going to have to make that call after all.

Chapter5

Cam

As I mademy way down the long driveway that led to Mac’s home, I couldn’t help feeling a little lost. I knew the general area from having lived here so long and knew that houses were a little more remote out here, but this path seemed to stretch on forever. If I hadn’t seen the mailbox next to the drive, I would have second-guessed myself about whether I’d made the correct turn.

Tall oaks and pines flanked both sides of the dirt drive until they opened up to large fields with tall grass and a few wildflowers. A rabbit bounded across the road, nearly scaring me to death with the suddenness with which it appeared. A hawk floated on thermals until it swiftly swooped upon whatever prey it had spotted.

I knew Mac was quiet, but this appeared to be taking it to an extreme. I could never stand to be so isolated. What happened if you had an emergency?

Another minute passed before the road curved and a cabin came into sight at its apex.

It was small; it couldn’t possibly have more than one bedroom. The logs that made up the exterior were rough and uneven, not perfectly symmetrical like those that came prefabricated. If I had to guess, I estimated the cabin to be well over one hundred years old. But the wood looked to be in good shape with new chinking between the logs to give it an almost clean, new appearance.

At the front was a flagstone walkway leading to a fantastic covered porch with a handmade railing and two old washtubs now filled, to my surprise, with colorful pansies. The front porch steps were free of leaves and dirt, and I could see blue-checked gingham curtains framing a large window at the front of the cabin.

I was surprised by how much effort had gone into making it look like a home, not just a place to toss his hat.

As I climbed up to the porch, I paused to admire a pair of rocking chairs, each turned slightly toward the other as if waiting for people to sit and have a conversation. My fingertips easily traced over the smooth horizontal wood slats. With a little nudge, the chair rocked effortlessly, its motion even and soothing.

My knock on the door went unanswered. I’d already seen the company truck parked behind the house, so I figured he couldn’t have gone too far.

Always a sucker for a porch rocker or swing, I couldn’t resist trying it out. I relaxed into the embrace of the contoured back as I rocked gently. The workmanship was first-rate, and the even motion lured me into closing my eyes and reveling in the moment of the peace and quiet of the area. I would definitely need to include rockers in my Colorado design.

The sound of heavy footsteps and the crunching of leaves reached my ears. Someone was approaching from the side of the house. Seconds later, Mac appeared. He was dressed in a pair of sweatpants and, despite the chill, a sleeveless sweatshirt. Not the kind that was professionally made that way, but the kind that was ragged from the arms being cut off.

I swallowed hard, trying not to stare at how the cut of his shirt showcased some impressive biceps. The material stretched across his chest, which tapered to a trim waist, hinting at how his long hours of work paid off better than any gym.

He pulled a set of ear buds from his ears. “Most people would wait for an invitation before making themselves at home,” he stated in a dry tone.

I deliberately kept my seat. “Most people would ask before taking my truck on a joy ride to another state.”

His eyes grew more guarded, narrowing so much it was hard to see any color in them as he walked closer, still breathing heavily from his run. “Will cleared it. He said he’d tell you.”

“Hmm. He must have forgotten. Where’syourtruck?” I didn’t bother hiding my smirk.

He continued to stare at me for a few minutes, bringing his hands to his hips. “What do you want, Cameron? You want your truck back? Fine. I’ll drive it back to the office as soon as I get a shower.”

Cameron.Never Ms. Allen like the other employees used. And never Cam, like my friends.

I guess he sort of straddled a strange line, given that he worked for me but also hung out occasionally with my friends and family.

“No. It’s enough to know I was right about your truck, after all. I also wanted to know if you gave any more thought to my proposal.” I stated it casually, as if I’d come to just discuss the weather. I ran my hands down the arms of the chair as I kept a slow pace in my rocking. “These are fantastic chairs, by the way. Did you make them?”

“If we’re just going to make nice talk, maybe we could go inside. It’s getting a little cold just standing out here.” One side of his lip lifted as he crossed his arms, as if challenging me. “Unless, of course, you’d like to just get back into your car and leave.”

I gave him my sweetest smile as I stood. “And miss this opportunity to see where you hibernate with the other bears? Or do I risk being eaten?” The words weren’t even cold in the crisp air before I realized the innuendo.

He shot me an exaggerated eye roll as he walked up to the door, opening it without needing to unlock it. “Fortunately for you,” he said in a low voice over his shoulder, “you’re too tiny of a morsel to worry about.”

“Funny.”

I was used to his jokes about my height. Chase and Bristol had both inherited their height from my dad, but I’d gotten mine from my mom. I’d also been the only one to get her blonde hair, blue eyes, and my sense of fashion and design, as well. That was about the only useful thing I’d gotten from her.

“Kind of risky to leave your door unlocked, isn’t it?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Other than some deer, an occasional bear, and nosy bosses, no one ever comes here.”

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