Page 17 of Call It Love (Sterling Mill #5)

Anna

I’d found a steady rhythm to my days now: tidying up the main house, prepping meals mid-morning, then listening for the crew to filter in—boots heavy on the floorboards, voices loud with jokes, and the flirty but harmless banter with me that made me laugh, and sometimes blush.

They were hard-working and loyal, which was more than I could say for most of the self-serving types I’d left behind in Nashville.

I loved that even in modern times, Chase continued the tradition of feeding them.

Not having grown up with any traditions, I loved the connection to the past.

Being here felt…right. Like I’d come home as Mallory had suggested. I was feeling more confident in my skin, less guarded about what I said. Silver Creek Farm had become a refuge. A bubble. And for now, I would enjoy it.

After cleaning up from lunch, I decided a walk was in order. The sun was warm, and the blue sky was cloudless. I craved a little quiet after the hubbub of the meal. I savored these moments, the space to think and let my mind wander. To remember what I enjoyed, not just what I was expected to do.

I called for Jack and headed across the wide yard toward the woods to a path.

I knew it well, but until today, I’d avoided it because of all the memories I’d have to travel.

Chase and I used to take long walks on it when we were teenagers.

He’d talk about his plans to study horticulture in college, eager to bring back new ideas to share with Uncle James.

I used to dream about finding a place in that future, fitting into a world so different from the one in which I was raised.

It felt like both a hundred years ago and just yesterday. But today, something felt different. Like I was ready to tackle the memories. I wasn’t sure what I was searching for—closure? To examine my choices that led me to here? It didn’t matter. I needed to put them to rest.

The path started off a little overgrown, but when I reached a fork, one direction seemed a little more used, so I followed it. Jack bounded ahead of me, pausing often to sniff at a tree or bush. It was fun to see him enjoying himself, no longer constrained by leash laws and sidewalks.

Suddenly, Jack came to an abrupt stop. His body went rigid, and his hackles raised as he focused on something I couldn’t see. My pulse kicked into overdrive. I scanned the trees, heart pounding as I realized I hadn’t brought anything I could use as protection.

“Jack?” I said quietly.

He didn’t move. A low growl emanated from his throat.

I glanced around and spotted a fallen branch thick enough it could act as a club. I grabbed it and tightened my fingers around the bark.

Seconds later, the pounding of footsteps ahead of me reached my ears, fast and heavy. I barely had time to react before a giant man rounded the bend at a jog. He skidded to an abrupt halt, nearly tripping over his feet as he saw Jack, who was all teeth and growls, blocking his path.

“Whoa, boy.” He ripped his earbuds out of his ears and held his hands up. “Where’d you come from?”

I stared at the shirtless man, his muscles glistening from the sheen of his sweat. No question, this was someone who could break me with little effort. But given that it appeared we were as much a surprise to him as he was to us, I slowly lowered the branch.

“Who are you?” I asked, still wary.

He didn’t take his eyes off Jack. “Name’s Trey. Think you can call your dog off?”

“Jack, sit. Stay.”

Jack obeyed, still planted protectively between me and the stranger. But it was enough that the man took his eyes off him.

“What are you doing here?” I questioned.

“I live here,” he said simply.

“No, I don’t think you do. You’re on Silver Creek property.”

His expression didn’t really change, just narrowed his eyes at me slightly. “My cabin’s at the bend of the creek. I have access to this path, and Chase doesn’t mind me using it.”

I gaped at him. “But that’s like eight miles away.”

He glanced at a watch on his wrist and tapped a few buttons. “Yeah. Guess it is.”

“And you’re planning to run back ? Like a fifteen-mile run? Are you training for a marathon or something?”

He shrugged. “Or something.”

“Not a man of many words, are you?”

That finally earned me a small grin. “Nope.”

“Well, I’m sorry to have interrupted your run. Jack, heel.”

Jack did as he was commanded, but he kept his eyes on Trey.

“Good dog you got there,” Trey said, nodding with quiet approval.

“He’s the best.” I didn’t know what else to say. “Well, sorry we interrupted your run. I was just out for a walk to clear my head.”

“Walking’s good for that.” He looked around the woods. “But you should be careful out here. Bears are on the prowl for food.”

“I can handle myself.” Although the branch in my hand didn’t exactly scream “prepared.”

He glanced at it with a wry smile. “I can see that.” He pulled a dry white T-shirt from the waistband of his shorts and pulled it over his head. “I’ll walk you back if you like. Gotta see Chase about something anyway.”

He didn’t wait for a response, just started walking in the direction I’d come from.

“Coming, Anna?” he called over his shoulder.

I froze, then spun on my feet and hurried after him. “Wait! How’d you know my name?”

He smirked as he looked back at me. “You’re quite the conversation at Ruth’s,” he answered, referring to the diner on Main Street.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, I was. It was the place for gossip, and in a town this size, word spread fast. Any number of people could have shared that I was looking for a job.

Dozens of others were bound to repeat anything they heard—and what they didn’t know for sure, they’d make up.

Not to mention Trinity and her big mouth, and who knows who saw Chase and me on the sidewalk near The Dogtrot ?

“Good lord,” I muttered.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think you’re actually here to take over the town as mayor or to build a gambling casino.” He was clearly amused. “Or to kidnap Mayor Sterling.”

I gasped. “Is that what they’re saying?”

“They were the more colorful theories. But most people don’t believe any of it. Most just think you’re here to get back into Chase’s bed.”

“Oh, my God. That’s probably worse .”

He shrugged and kept walking with long strides. I raced to catch up with him. “It’s not true.”

He glanced over at me, but I didn’t see any judgment in his eyes. “Not my business. Give it time. Something else will come up, and they’ll move on. Trust me.”

“Not sure that’s true in my case. They hate me.”

“Hate you? Or something that you did? There’s a difference.”

I turned his words over in my head. I’d never separated the two before. If the second was true, then maybe I could earn back their trust.

“I have a feeling you’re pretty smart,” I offered after a moment.

Trey shrugged. “Or maybe this town taught me there’s a difference.”

“Sounds like a story there.”

He didn’t answer, confirming in my mind that there must be. But I sensed I’d have to earn the right to hear it. Or I could put my ear to the rumor mill, but I was walking proof that I would get a half version of the truth, if that.

Ahead, Jack barked and took off through the trees.

As Trey and I stepped into the open yard, I saw Chase standing with his arms crossed as he waited for us to reach him.

Jack bounded straight toward him with his tail wagging.

Chase scratched Jack’s head, but his eyes never strayed from bouncing between Trey and me.

If I wasn’t mistaken, he looked like he was trying to hide a frown.

Was there something I should be warned about Trey?

He was quiet, but he seemed harmless enough.

Just a man who might have been trying to run from his own demons.

“Trey, didn’t expect to see you. How’s it going?”

“Fine. Wanted to talk to you about the plans for the new building you want.”

Chase frowned. “So you ran here? Wouldn’t a phone be less trouble?”

Trey actually grinned. “Wasn’t planning to bring it up now, but I ran into your woman out in the woods. She didn’t have bear spray. Heard they’ve been pushed farther into this neck of the woods since they have that construction going on up the mountain.”

I glared at him. “And where’s your bear spray? Or were you planning to just wrestle it if you saw one?”

With a small grin, he pulled a can out from a holster around his waist that I hadn’t noticed before.

Chase’s eyes shot to me. “What were you thinking? You know these woods. You know not to go out unprepared.”

I bristled. “I had some things on my mind. I hadn’t gone that far. Besides, I had Jack.”

“That’s just stupid.”

My mouth dropped. “Stupid?”

“Aw, shit,” Trey muttered under his breath. “Now, who’s stupid?”

“You know, I’ve had plenty of people offer their opinions of me lately. But yours just might be the worst.” I motioned for Jack to follow me. He did, but not before he looked longingly at Chase and wagged his tail as if begging him to tag along .

I glared at my supposedly loyal companion as I stomped off. “He said I was stupid,” I grumbled to Jack once we were in the kitchen.

He cocked his head as if to say, and weren’t you?

“And they say dogs are an excellent judge of people. You’re supposed to take my side.”

Minutes later, the kitchen door swung open with a bang, and Chase stormed over to where I was sitting.

“What did you mean, people offered their opinions of you?” he asked, his voice tight.

“It’s nothing.”

“Don’t do that, Anna. Tell me the truth.”

“You mean like you did when you called me stupid?”

He flinched, but didn’t back down. “Don’t turn this back on me. You were raised here. You know about the dangers of going into the woods out here without being prepared. You think I’m going to stand by and ignore that?”

“Why not?” I shot back. “I’m not yours to worry about.”

He glared at me, breathing hard. “That’s not true.”

“So you’d lecture any of your employees this way?”

“I wouldn’t need to,” he roared. “They know better.”

Jack rose beside me with a soft, uncertain whine. I laid a hand on his head, grounding myself.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Is this really about me taking a walk without bear spray? Or is this your way of finally getting mad at me for leaving you years ago?”

That stopped him cold. His shoulders lifted and fell with each breath. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. He closed his eyes and pinched the top of his nose.

Finally, he looked at me. “You’re right. I am mad at you,” he said in a low voice. “But not because you left. I’m mad because you think I stopped caring. ”

My throat tightened. The air around us felt electric. It would only take one spark, and then…

He closed the gap between us in one swift step and cupped my face in his hands. He gave me a mere second to pull away. But I didn’t.

His mouth found mine—urgent and rough. Everything I remembered and everything I’d forgotten. My hands fisted his shirt, pulling him closer to feel the heat of his skin.

When he finally broke the kiss, his forehead pressed against mine, both of us breathless.

“That’s the truth,” he whispered. “That I still care. No matter how hard I’ve tried not to, I do.”