Page 44 of Call It Love

Definitely later. I was such a coward.

Chase placed a gentle but lingering kiss on my lips. I watched as his truck disappeared down the long drive.

The past few days had been surprisingly smooth. Chase and I spent much of our free time together, settling into a rhythm that didn’t feel rushed, but one that could last. True to his word, we were figuring things out together.

The bunkhouse was quiet as I approached. One upside to a farm with little livestock was that the crew didn’t work weekends unless there was a rush order. The screen door creaked when I pushed it open, sending a swirl of dust to dance in the sunbeams that filtered through the windows.

This place hadn’t seen a thorough cleaning in a while, probably not since Marta had been here. The air held a lingering scent of stale coffee and onions, an odd and unpleasant combination. Grease clung to the cabinets, and the windowsills were a mess of cobwebs and dirt.

I popped in my earbuds, tied my hair back, and went to work. Scrubbing, mopping, and wiping down every surface from the floors to the windows—the methodical, physical labor was just what I needed to sort my thoughts over everything that had happened the past month.

And there was a lot to sort through.

Not just the mess I’d left behind—though that still echoed in the quieter moments—but the shifts happening inside me now. I felt stronger. Whole. And a new feeling that had been so long since I’d had it, I almost didn’t recognize it.

Hope

Small and tentative, but alive and growing.

Chase had made that possible.

With his quiet, steady patience, and with every smile that made me feel like I mattered. Every time he lingered in the kitchen or brought Jack another toy without comment, something warm unfurled in my chest.

Silver Creek had become more than just a place to land. It felt like the beginning of something. Or more like the continuation of a story we were meant to finish.

The mop slid over the wood floor with satisfying resistance, and I let my thoughts drift to him—his easy laugh, the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, and that kiss. God, that kiss. It carried such promise for the future.

I didn’t have all the answers. But this time, I wasn’t afraid of the questions.

I surveyed my work. It was still a little worn, but it was cleaner and brighter. I grinned goofily to myself as I thought it felt like the perfect analogy to me.

Mason would have been appalled if he knew I was doing such menial tasks. Well, actually, he wouldn’t have cared what I did as long as no one found out about it. Appearances were everything; what happened behind closed doors was just collateral.

Doing this work was satisfying. It felt good. Honest. Growing up as I had, I’d never sat around idle. After my marriage, I filled my days working on charitable events Mason approved of—high-profile fundraisers and community galas that made his name stand out in the society columns. But I also snuck in a few that were less known and needed the help. The arrangement satisfied both of us: it added to his polished image of being philanthropic, and I got to spend time away from the house—and him.

It always surprised people when I pitched in on all the groundwork. They’d wrongly assumed I’d just come withmy checkbook and pose for photos. For once, I didn’t mind using my married name to call on people to make donations or buy tickets. I enjoyed being part of a team, helping plan, organize, and set up events, even when no one expected me to.Especiallybecause no one expected me to.

I glanced at my watch. Chase and I had begun sharing our evening meals together, and tonight, I’d promised to make him a chicken potpie. I still had plenty of time, enough that I could do a little weeding in the garden, then pick some of the fresh vegetables to use for the meal.

I turned to put away the cleaning supplies when something shifted in the light behind me. I spun around quickly, my heart pounding.

Marcus stood there.

“Oh! Hi. You startled me,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I didn’t think anyone was working today.”

“I had a couple of things I wanted to finish up from yesterday,” he replied, stepping further into the room. “I saw the door open and decided I better check it out.”

Marcus had been nothing but polite since I arrived. He was courteous and friendly and always thanked me for the meal I’d prepared. But there was something about him that put me on edge. He always hovered just a little too close, his compliments a little too personal about my appearance, just like his eyes that lingered on my ass or boobs more than my face. I always did my best to make sure I was never alone with him, which wasn’t hard since Chase tended to be the first to arrive and the last to leave.

But Chase wasn’t here today. No one was. And I’d left Jack at the cabin, so he didn’t undo my work.

The room suddenly felt too small with Marcus’s large frame filling the only exit.

I forced a smile and took a casual stepback, wiping my hands on my shorts. “Well, as you can see, nothing is wrong here. I just wanted to give this place a good scrubbing.”

His smile was slow. “Looks good in here. But then, everything you do looks good.” His eyes focused on the neckline of my shirt before lifting to look at me.

I gave a half laugh. “Guess it’s time to head back to the house. Chase will be expecting me soon.”

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