Page 10 of Caspian (HC Heroes #14)

H arper stared into her coffee cup, the rich aroma mingling with the comforting warmth of the back room at Champion Bakery.

Loni walked in and set down a fresh plate of cinnamon rolls, while Lori placed an open box of donuts on their small breakroom table.

Sadie leaned back in her chair, watching Harper with a curious expression.

The usual chatter and clinking of dishes filled the main bakery area beyond the closed door, but Harper was grateful they’d chosen the privacy of the back room this morning.

She wasn’t in the mood to be around people—not after yesterday.

She couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss with Cas.

It had been incredible, unexpected, and the fact that she’d been the one to initiate it had left her in a whirl of emotions.

Her heart fluttered at the memory of his lips on hers, the way he’d held her so gently, but also with a certainty that had sent goosebumps down her arms. But the moment she’d pulled away, doubt had crept in.

She wasn’t sure what she was doing—what she was feeling—and it terrified her.

Loni nudged her gently with an elbow, pulling her out of her thoughts. “You’re quiet this morning, Harp. Something on your mind?”

She forced a smile and absently reached for a cinnamon roll. “Oh, just thinking.”

Lori exchanged a knowing glance with Sadie before turning her attention to Harper. “Come on, spill. We know you too well. Something’s bothering you.”

Harper bit into a delicious roll, hesitating to answer as she glanced at the three of them. They were her closest friends, the ones who’d always been there, but she wasn’t sure how to start. She sighed, taking a sip of her coffee as if hoping it might give her the words.

It didn’t.

Sadie leaned forward with a soft expression. “Is it about Cas?”

She lifted her chin, surprised at how quickly her cousin had zeroed in on the truth. “How did you—”

Sadie smirked. “It’s kind of obvious, Harper. You’ve had that dazed look all morning. So, what happened?”

Good question.

Harper set her roll down, then took a deep breath. “I kissed him,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Me. I initiated the kiss, and now I’m freaking out.”

Lori raised her eyebrows, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Wait, you kissed him? That’s wonderful!”

Loni smiled. “And here we thought he’d make the first move. Look at you, being all bold and fearless. Good for you, Harper.”

She chuckled at their reactions, but her smile quickly faded. “Yeah, but now I’m not so sure it was the right thing to do. I mean, Cas is...Cas. And a former Navy SEAL. He’s the protector type. The last thing I need is to get involved with another guy who feels like he has to save me.”

“I get it.” Sadie nodded. “After everything that happened in Michigan, it’s natural to be wary. But Cas isn’t like—”

“I know he’s not like Alex or any of the guys I’ve dated,” Harper interrupted, frustration creeping into her voice. “That’s exactly what scares me. He’s so genuine. So real. And I don’t want to mess it up by rushing into something I’m not ready for. Something I may never be ready for.”

Loni reached over, giving Harper’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay to feel scared. But you’ve also got to give yourself credit. You know what you want and what you don’t want. And if you’re feeling something for Cas, maybe it’s worth exploring even if it’s a little scary.”

Lori nodded in agreement. “And you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Take it one step at a time. Cas isn’t going anywhere. He’s solid, dependable, and honestly, he’s probably as confused as you are.”

True. The handsome guy had looked a little baffled when she’d left him standing in his driveway. Probably because she was supposed to start treating the wood they’d set aside for the master bedroom before leaving yesterday.

Instead, she’d run away.

“Did Cas kiss you back?” her cousin asked.

Memories of his amazing, soft, slow exploration of her lips sent heat through her body, especially into her face.

She cleared her suddenly dry throat. “Yeah.”

Sadie chuckled. “Then, let’s be real. If Cas wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have kissed you back enough to put that blush on your face. He’s not the type to lead someone on.”

Harper sighed, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders. They were right. Cas had been nothing but respectful and patient, even when she’d stepped into his personal space and kissed him.

She bit into her cinnamon roll again and continued to think about the kiss. Despite her own doubts, she couldn’t ignore the way her heart had leapt at the feel of his lips on hers.

“I just don’t want to get hurt again,” she said quietly. “I’m not sure I can handle it.”

The chances were slim. She sipped her coffee and fought back a sigh.

Sympathy was warm in Loni’s eyes. “We get it, Harp. But you’ve got us. You’re not alone in this. And if it turns out that a relationship isn’t what you want, that’s okay too. But don’t close yourself off just because you’re scared.”

The knot in her chest eased a little more. She was grateful for their support and their wisdom. They’d always had her back, and today was no different.

“Thanks, guys,” she said, offering them a genuine smile. “I feel a little better.”

Sadie patted her on the shoulder. “Anytime. And remember, we’re here for donuts and coffee, but we’re always here for you too.”

Harper laughed, and the sound seemed to lighten the mood. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

She finished her coffee, and after a few more minutes of lighthearted banter about bakery mishaps and Lori’s latest cooking disaster, Harper decided it was time to get going.

“Thanks for breakfast,” she told them. “And for the talk. I have to go to Cas’ to work on his feature wall, and thanks to you guys, I now feel brave enough to face him again.”

As she gave them each a quick hug, they echoed a “You’ve got this” sentiment.

“Here, take the rest of these with you,” Loni said, adding what was left of the cinnamon rolls to the box of donuts before shoving them into her hands.

She smiled. “A peace offering. Thanks.”

Feeling a renewed sense of clarity, she stepped out of the back room and made her way to the front of the store, then outside, into the warmth of the mid-morning sun.

She’d apologize for her abrupt departure yesterday and offer him some donuts. Smiling, she crossed the street to where her truck was parked. She’d already grown fond of the blue Ford. But as she reached for the door handle, she paused. An envelope was propped up on the driver’s seat.

Frowning, Harper pulled open the door and picked up the envelope, her pulse quickening.

There was no return address, no markings.

Only her name scrawled across the front in unfamiliar handwriting.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing around the street as if expecting to catch sight of whoever had left it.

But there was no one suspicious, just the usual flow of people going about their day.

She slipped a finger under the flap and opened the envelope, pulling out its contents.

Her breath caught when she saw the photograph—a sepia-toned image of a young woman who looked strikingly like her.

It took Harper a moment to realize it was her great-grandmother, Mary, at the same age Harper had been when her world had changed forever.

Underneath the photo was a small note, typed in an old-fashioned font. The message was short, but it still sent a chill down her spine:

“Stop looking into Mary’s past. Some secrets are better left buried.”

Harper stared at the note now shaking in her unsteady hands.

Her mind raced. Who would have known she was digging into her great-grandmother’s diary?

And why would they want her to stop? A sense of unease settled in her stomach, the morning’s lightness fading as the weight of the mystery pressed down on her once again.

She folded the note and carefully slipped it and the photograph back into the envelope. As much as she wanted to brush it off as some weird coincidence, Harper knew it was more than that. Someone was watching her, someone who didn’t want her uncovering whatever truth was hidden in Mary’s diary.

She glanced back at the bakery, where her friends were still inside, unaware of the twist her day had just taken.

For a brief moment, she considered returning and showing them the envelope, sharing her concerns.

But then she stopped herself. She didn’t want to drag them into this.

Not yet, anyway. Not until she had a better idea of what she was dealing with.

No way would Harper be responsible for anyone else she cared about getting hurt because of her.

Instead, she set the envelope and the box of donuts on the passenger seat and climbed into the truck, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

She wasn’t sure what her next move would be, but one thing was clear: whoever was behind the warning didn’t know Harper Quinn very well.

She wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially when it came to family.

As she started the engine and pulled away from the curb, her thoughts turned back to Cas.

She wasn’t sure where things were headed with him, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn’t facing the unknown alone.

She had her friends, she had her drive, and she had Cas—a solid, steady presence she hadn’t realized she needed until now.

And if whoever was behind that note thought a simple warning would be enough to scare her off, they were about to find out just how wrong they were.

A few minutes later, Harper pulled into Cas’s driveway, the envelope all but forgotten as nerves took over.

This was the first time seeing him after her “kiss and run” incident yesterday.

Her heart fluttered with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as she parked near his truck and got out, grabbing her peace offering box of donuts and cinnamon rolls.

Lifting her chin, she headed to the house and knocked on Cas’s door, but there was no answer. Frowning, she knocked again, then peered around the corner of the house. That’s when she spotted him in the field, riding his horse.

Breath hitched in Harper’s dry throat. The guy was captivating. She set the peace offering on the porch swing, then walked to the fence and leaned against it to watch Cas ride.

He was a sight to behold, effortlessly in sync with the powerful animal beneath him.

The horse moved with grace and strength, his muscles rippling under his sleek brown and white coat, and Cas, with his confident posture and easy control, looked every bit the part of a cowboy from a movie.

The way he guided the horse, the subtle movements of his hands and legs, showed trust and respect.

Harper couldn’t tear her eyes away, her heart racing as she watched the handsome man ride with such skill.

It was mesmerizing, the perfect rhythm between man and beast, and she felt an appreciation warming her blood that she hadn’t expected.

And it wasn’t just appreciation warming her blood.

It was need. It was longing. Heaven help her, it was desire. Something she hadn’t really felt since being with Alex.

A few heart beats later, Cas noticed her, tipping his hat at her with a grin. He shifted the horse’s direction and rode toward her, slowing to a gentle jog as he neared the fence.