Page 2 of Caspian (HC Heroes #14)
The same offer had been extended to Dale, but the sheriff had also suggested his brother apply to become a deputy. Dale was a strait-laced, by-the-books kind of guy who never broke rules, whereas Cas never hesitated to bend them if it got the job done faster.
Number two on his list of things to work on.
“And I believe you remember my brother, Cas,” his brother said, regaining Cas’ attention.
Harper’s gaze met his, and her smile never wavered, but he could feel her tension rising. It radiated off her in waves, each one getting stronger than the last.
She did not like being the center of attention.
“Yes,” she replied. “I was just welcoming him home.”
He smiled. “Ditto. Now, what do you say you open the back of the van. You know we’re not going to let you unload it yourself, right?”
“Of course, we aren’t,” Sadie said, returning her arm to her cousin’s shoulder as they all walked with Harper to the back of the van.
When she unlocked the door, it took all Cas had in him to stay back and allow her to lift it. He noted the others fighting the same inner battle, but they all, no doubt, instinctively knew not to step into her space.
Once she turned back around, Cas nodded to the contents practically spilling out. “Looks like you brought a whole workshop with you.”
“That’s because I did.” She smiled, then turned back to frown at her stuff. “I got rid of most of my things and brought just the essentials, but it still looks like a lot.”
Cas noticed the slight hesitation in Harper’s smile again.
He exchanged a quick glance with the guys before he stepped forward then halted when she spun around with apprehension widening her eyes.
His chest tightened, and he slowly lifted his hands, palms facing forward.
“It’s okay. And we’ve got this. You just tell us where you want everything, and we’ll take care of the heavy lifting. ”
Harper blew out a breath and gave a small nod. “Thanks, Cas. But it looks like you guys are having a party. I don’t want to take you away from it. If I’d known, I would’ve delayed my arrival. I feel bad.”
“No need,” he reassured. “The party will still be going on when we’re done.”
Sadie snorted and waved a hand. “Let them use those muscles.”
“Yeah,” Lori agreed. “We don’t want them to lose them.”
Loni nodded. “Plus, we’d much rather watch the guys use them.”
Her lips twitched, and he was happy to see amusement light her eyes. “Well, far be it for me to deny any of you of that.”
Sadie grinned and pulled her in for a quick hug. “That’s the spirit. How was the drive down?” she asked, cleverly moving her cousin out of the way.
Harper sighed. “Long. Boring. I’m glad it’s over. I’m glad for the help, too. It’s been a while since I had any. I’m used to doing things on my own.”
Cas picked up on her subdued tone and stepped closer. “That’ll change here. Let’s get your van unloaded.”
Sadie released Harper to set a hand on her shoulder.
“And once that’s done, you won’t need to come back down if you prefer not to.
You can concentrate on getting settled in,” she said, her voice full of warmth.
“The girls and I would be happy to lend you a hand with that task, if you want. If not, that’s okay too. We’re just glad you’re here.”
“Yes,” Lori and Loni echoed one another, warm smiles on their faces. “We baked you up something special,” Loni informed. “It’s inside, on your counter.”
A smile tugged at Harper’s lips. “Now that’s an incentive.”
“Agreed.” Sadie grinned. “Let’s get you set up so you can finally relax.”
Harper’s smile was still there, faint but genuine. “Ah, more incentive. That sounds good. Thanks, everyone.”
“No problem. We’ll get you set up in no time,” Cas said, removing a crate filled with tools from the back of the van. “So, Sadie mentioned you run a woodworking shop?”
“Yeah,” Harper replied, grabbing a black plastic drill case in each hand, and Cas had to work really hard not to imagine the woman using the tools, because that was hot as hell, and there was no room for thoughts like that right now.
“It’s my therapy,” she said, which immediately cooled his damn libido as they followed the guys already heading for the open garage, with their arms full of power tools.
“This place will be perfect for setting up a workshop.”
He nodded, setting the crate down on an empty shelf. “I think this will work out well for you.”
Cas noticed the way she held herself as if she were bracing for something.
He couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness even though he barely knew her.
As they continued to unload her tools in the garage, he kept stealing glances at her, remembering the carefree girl she used to be and wondering what had happened to dim that light.
He exchanged a look with his brother. They both remembered the girl Harper used to be, but it was clear she was different now. Whatever had happened to her had left its mark. There was a distance in her eyes and that bothered the hell out of him.
“You sure packed light, Harper,” RJ muttered, hoisting a heavy box labeled “Books.” “This thing weighs more than Cooper’s sense of self-importance.”
The guys laughed as they started grabbing boxes for the apartment.
“At least I’ve got something worth the weight,” Cooper shot back with a grin. “You’re just bitter because I outlifted you at HQ yesterday.”
Cas chuckled, grabbing a box of kitchenware. “Don’t worry, Coop. Maybe Harper packed a book in there on how to take a joke.”
Dale carried two dresser drawers and laughed as he passed by. “If she did, you should probably read it first, Cas.”
“Yeah, Cas,” Sadie chimed in, holding a lamp that had seen better days. “You could use a little help in the humor department.”
Gabe and Mac chuckled as they headed for the apartment stairs ahead of him.
RJ, never one to miss out on a chance for a jab, glanced at Dean, who had just put down a large box in the apartment living room. “Speaking of help, Dean, you think you could actually carry something for once?”
Dean shrugged. “Think you might need to get your eyes checked, RJ. But if you need muscle, I’ll let Gabe handle that.”
Cas smirked. The sheriff’s arms and chest were definitely jacked.
Loni and Lori, each carrying a dresser drawer into the apartment, were bantering as well. “You know, Harper,” Loni said with a smirk, “we could always just move you into the bakery. You’d be closer to the cinnamon rolls.”
Lori grinned. “And we wouldn’t have to haul all this furniture upstairs.”
Harper’s lips curved into a grin that actually lit her eyes as she followed with a drawer. “As tempting as that sounds, I think I’ll pass. But I’ll definitely take you up on those cinnamon rolls.”
Cas shook his head and smirked again. “Wow. With this crew, we might actually get you moved in before sunset. So, guys, try not to break anything.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” someone stated.
Probably RJ.
Ten minutes later, after the last box was unloaded, they all took a moment to catch their breath. Harper offered a quiet “thank you” as she looked around the now cluttered apartment, clearly overwhelmed by the task ahead of her.
“No problem.” Dale smiled. “If you need anything else, just holler. We’re just next door.”
Harper nodded but her eyes flicked to Cas, and for a moment, he thought he saw something in them—something like gratitude mixed with uncertainty. He gave her a small, reassuring smile, trying to put her at ease.
“I appreciate the help,” she said softly. “This…it’s been a long time coming.”
Cas wanted to ask her what she meant, to find out what had happened to the bright, carefree girl he remembered, but he held back.
It wasn’t his place to push. The last thing she needed was someone prying into her past. Whatever it was, it was clear she was still dealing with it, and he didn’t want to make things harder for her.
As the other guys started heading back outside, Cas lingered for a moment. “You sure you’re all set here?” he asked, his voice low.
Harper looked up at him, and for the first time that evening, he saw a flicker of the girl she used to be. The one who wasn’t afraid to let her guard down. “Yeah,” she said, her smile more genuine this time. “Unless you have a magic wand.”
A grin tugged at his lips as he pretended to pat himself down. “No. Sorry. I’m fresh out.”
“You don’t need one. You’ve got us,” Sadie said from the kitchen, where she and the twins were already unpacking boxes.
“True.” She smiled at the women then turned to face him. “Looks like I’m good.”
He nodded. “If you need anything, you know where to find us.”
“Thanks, Cas,” she replied, her voice a little stronger now.
As he turned to leave, he fought back an unwanted urge to help. Harper was clearly dealing with something heavy and didn’t want help. Especially from someone like him—cynical, battle-worn, and carrying his own share of demons.
With a nod, he left and made his way down to Sadie’s backyard where Dale was waiting for him, a knowing look in his eyes.
“She’s been through a lot.”
“I agree,” Cas replied.
“Thought you might stay up there,” his brother stated.
He raised a brow. “Me? Why would I do that?”
“To help her.”
He shook his head. “Sadie and the twins can handle things.”
“Not what I meant.”
His brow shot up again. “Seriously? Hell no. She doesn’t need someone like me hovering around.”
Dale chuckled, slapping him on the back. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got a knack for being there when people need you, even if you don’t realize it.”
Cas shrugged, his eyes flicking back toward the garage apartment. “Yeah, well…I’ll just keep my distance. She’s got enough on her plate.”