Page 19 of Call It Love (Sterling Mill #5)

Anna

“Don’t work too hard,” Chase said, lingering outside of his truck.

“I won’t. Have fun.” I replied with a small smile.

He hesitated, frowning slightly. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

Chase was headed to his sister Bristol’s house for a Sunday brunch. He’d wanted me to come with him, to “face the beast” as he jokingly put it. But everything between us still felt too new, too tenuous. The last thing we needed was the added pressure of his sister’s disapproval.

“I’m sure. Let’s give them more time to get used to the idea that I’m here.”

“Cam won’t be there,” he offered, as if that might change my mind.

But part of re-finding my feet was standing firm on them. “This is Bristol’s gathering,” I reminded him. “It’s not fair to her to push myself where I’m not invited, especially into her home.”

“Okay.” He exhaled, but the tension in his shoulders remained. “You’re probably right. But sooner or later, they’re going to have to deal with it.”

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 with my 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.

Especially because 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 step back, 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.”

He ignored my comment. Instead, he moved closer to lean against the table, too close for my comfort.

“I was actually thinking that we could go grab a drink at Ferg’s.”

I hesitated, surprised by his invitation. “That’s kind of you, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

He smiled as if he hadn’t heard me. “Just a beer. You’ve earned it with all of the work you do around here. It would be good for you to unwind.”

He stretched out a hand toward my face. I instinctively pulled back, and the smile vanished from his lips. Before I could say or do anything else, the screen door squeaked open.

“Anna?” Jordan’s voice called out.

A tide of relief swept over me.

“Right here,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady and light.

Marcus straightened and stepped back slightly, allowing Jordan to come into view. Jordan gave me a quick once-over, his expression uncertain.

I didn’t know what was up with people showing up on days they weren’t supposed to, but at least this time, it was someone I was glad to see.

Marcus moved to the door with heavy steps. “Another time maybe,” he muttered, then pushed past the teen and left .

I hurried over to give Jordan a quick squeeze around his shoulders, which were still too thin, but at least he didn’t appear as gaunt as when I first met him. “Everything all right?”

He gave me a quizzical look. “Kinda feels like I should ask you that. That guy’s creepy. I don’t like working with him.”

That stopped me. I’d assumed I was just hypersensitive. But if Jordan was also picking up on something, then… “What do you mean?”

Jordan shrugged. “I don’t know exactly. He’s just quiet.

He barely explains anything about what I’m supposed to do.

And not in the shy, keep-to-himself kind of way, the way you sometimes are.

” His words made me smile as he looked in the direction Marcus had gone.

“But like he’s hatching up some kind of plan. ”

I tried to assure him, even though it was the same way Marcus made me feel. “He probably just doesn’t have a lot to say,” I suggested.

But in the meantime, I’d let Chase know Jordan preferred working with him or Bodie.

“So, what are you doing here on your day off?” I asked, shifting the subject. “I figured you’d be out having fun. Doing something with friends.”

I knew little about Jordan’s personal life, but I didn’t know many kids who’d choose to spend their free time working unless there was a reason.

Jordan shrugged again in that familiar way of his. “Nah. Nothing else to do. Didn’t realize there’d be nothing to do here, either.”

“Oh, I didn’t say that,” I joked.

Something told me Jordan didn’t like being home. The question was, why? And if he saw Silver Creek Farm as a refuge, then I was going to make sure he felt welcome.

“The guys aren’t here today, but if you wouldn’t mind hanging out with me, I was about to head out to the garden,” I offered. “After that, I’m making dinner. You can join Chase and me if you want.”

His eyes lit up for just a second before he tried to play it cool. “Yeah. I guess that would be okay.”

“Should I call someone to let them know where you are?”

He shook his head. “No one will care,” he said simply.

I didn’t let it show, but my heart broke at hearing his words.

Something wasn’t right in his situation. It was more than just a disgruntled teen. Maybe Reid could follow up. Make sure Jordan was being well cared for.

But for now, I gave him a smile and nodded toward the door.