Page 8 of The Calling of Caellaias
As I woke on my fourth day in the new home, the stiffness in my muscles screamed at me to take it easy. After my bedroom, the only project left was the greenhouse, and it could wait for the time being.
The monotonous unpacking process had me feeling stir-crazy, which I thoroughly despised. When I was finished with my bedroom, I contemplated exploring my property because it would be helpful to know the land before I started my first experiments outside. But I wasn’t worried about starting experiments for several more days and wanted to relax if possible.
As an introvert, being in contact with my family was usually enough to keep my social needs met—it was even draining at times. But the urge to socialize was nagging at me. My mind kept wandering to the neighbor in the small cabin nearby. If anyone were living there, they would have better knowledge of the area and wildlife, so it made sense for me to wander over for a visit.
Afterbreakfast, I jumped in the shower. Then, I wrapped a fluffy towel around me in search of some clothes. I needed something that looked presentable but was easy to move around in, so I pulled a pair of jeans and a T-shirt out of the closet. When I was done, I put a little makeup on before heading downstairs to grab my keys and head toward the neighbor’s house.
The other cabin was only about two miles away, but I didn’t know anything about the woods yet, so I drove the short distance. Nervousness coiled inside of me during my drive; I was always anxious about meeting new people. Was this someone who didn’t want any visitors? Would they send me away rather than invite me in? Or would they be friendly and welcoming?
Pulling into the neighbor’s driveway, I joined a black, dirt-covered SUV at the back of the cabin. It looked as if it hadn’t been used for a while. Doubt consumed me. Was I wrong about the light being on the other night? Did this neighbor have multiple cars and just not use this one often?
Stop being so anxious and just go knock on the door,I scolded myself. There was no point in speculating. After a few deep breaths, I proceeded to the front door. Knocking loudly, I took a step back and waited for a response. With no answer after a couple of minutes, I knocked again. When there was no answer on the second attempt either, I turned to leave.
I was a few steps away when the door swung open behind me. Spinning on the spot, I found a tall, beautiful woman standing in the doorway. While I stood at five foot five, the woman before me had to be at least four inches taller, with smooth, olive-toned skin. Her pear-shaped body showed off her luscious curves and long legs. She had long, curly, jet-black hair with orange streaks throughout and doe-eyes the color of a bright orange sunrise. Her adorable snub nose was positioned perfectly above her pink, bow-shaped lips. Those heavenly lips instantly beckoned for me to kiss them.
Thankfully, I had some semblance of self-control as I gazed back into her mesmerizing eyes and stuttered, “H-hi there.”
One of her thick, black brows raised in confusion. “Hello? Can I help you?” she asked as she peered around me.
I quickly cleared my throat before saying, “My name is Anevae. I just moved into the cabin up the way and wanted to stop by to introduce myself.”
She chuckled and offered her slim, dainty hand. “My name is Maeyve. It’s nice to meet you, Anevae. Such a beautiful name.”
Hearing her honeyed voice say my name sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to get lost in the sound.
Grasping her hand, I felt a tingling sensation travel up my arm. Shocked by the sensation, I tried not to let it show as I shook her hand. “It’s very nice to make your acquaintance, Maeyve. And thank you.”
Scrunching her nose, she giggled. “You aren’t from around here, are you?”
Shaking my head, I stammered, “Well, no, I’m not. I’m actually from the East Coast, but that doesn’t explain my formality. I blame that on my mom. She’s spoken formally all my life, and it’s rubbed off a little.”
She smiled brightly as I spoke, flashing her pearly white teeth. “That’s sweet. What brings you to the area?”
Clasping my hands together, I fiddled with my thumbs, willing myself to refocus on the conversation. “I moved out here for my work. It’s a beautiful place, and I’m excited to explore it. If I may ask, how long have you lived here?”
Maeyve’s smile waned as she bit the inside of her cheek. “Well, um, I’ve been here for quite some time. I’m not really sure exactly how long anymore. The years have blurred together.”
“Oh.” My brow furrowed. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-nine. Unless she inherited this home from a parent, I couldn’t imagine she’d lived in the cabin long enough to have forgotten when she moved in. “If it’s not too much of a bother, I would love to hear more about the area from someone with firsthand experience. I did some research before moving out here; however, that has only goneso far. Anything you can tell me about what I might run into in these woods would be helpful.”
Maeyve’s smile returned. “If that’s the case, we could be here for a while. There’s a lot to tell. Would you like to come inside?”
It took me a moment to answer as I didn’t know the woman, but I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward her. A feeling in my gut told me that she’d never hurt me. “That would be great, actually,” I responded with a smile.
Maeyve took a step back to open the door wider. Hesitantly, I took a step inside. As I crossed the threshold, warmth engulfed me. The intense aroma of vanilla and berries closely followed. After the initial shock, I moved aside so Maeyve could close the door, kicking my shoes off by the door. She led me down a short hallway that opened up into a large room with a high ceiling. I came to an abrupt stop. From the outside, you would never expect a room this size. The decorations Maeyve chose accentuated the dark ebony wood of the walls perfectly.
Returning my gaze to Maeyve, the light caught one of the orange streaks in her hair. The color matched her strange but mesmerizing eyes. Surely, it was dyed, but it was beautiful either way.
“Please have a seat,” she said, motioning toward the large sectional in the middle of the room. “Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Coffee?”
I nodded and quietly responded, “I’d love some water, please. I appreciate you inviting me inside.”
Maeyve smiled widely again. “Of course! I love having visitors. Unfortunately, I don’t get many out here.” Then, she turned toward the kitchen.
I stood there, admiring the space, until I heard Maeyve return. Turning my attention back to her, she handed me the water I requested. I sat cross-legged at one end of the couch, and she did the same at the other end, putting some space between us. I chuckled at the similarities in our posture.
“Your cabin is breathtaking,” I said as I looked around again. Holding her gaze set loose a million butterflies in my belly. She wasgorgeous, and I never wanted to look away from her enticing doe-eyes, but I also didn’t want to make a fool of myself.
Maeyve chuckled and sat back. “Thank you. It’s been a work in progress for a long time.”
