Page 3 of Caspian (HC Heroes #14)

H arper sat at the small kitchen table in Sadie’s house, cradling a steaming mug of coffee between her hands.

The house used to belong to their great-grandmother before being passed down through generations.

She’d always felt at home here and was relieved to find that feeling hadn’t changed over the years.

She glanced around the cozy kitchen, a warm and inviting space filled with the kind of charm that felt like a hug.

The morning sunlight streamed through the gingham curtains, casting soft patterns across the old oak table where they sat.

The walls were painted a cheerful shade of buttercream yellow, adorned with vintage signs and framed family photos that told a story of love and laughter.

A stack of cookbooks leaned precariously on a nearby counter, their pages dog-eared and stained with memories of countless meals shared.

The smell of freshly baked muffins wafted in the air, mixing with the rich aroma of coffee, and it helped ease some of the tension in her shoulders.

She still felt the echoes of yesterday’s exhaustion, but it was worth it.

Her apartment was almost free of boxes, and she had her friends and their men—and Caspian—to thank for it.

Cas.

Just thinking about the hot guy sent a fluttering through her chest that she didn’t entirely like.

Dark hair, warm brown eyes, and a body honed by years of active duty, he’d grown even more handsome since the last time she’d seen him in their teens.

And those muscles—she couldn’t help but notice how they flexed when he’d effortlessly lifted boxes that had her struggling.

It was maddening, really, the way her heart had quickened every time he came near.

She took a slow sip of coffee and worked to steady herself.

Cas was potent, that was for sure. There was something about him—confidence, experience, the kind of man who’d been through some things and came out the other side stronger.

She’d told herself she didn’t want to get caught up in a strong attraction again, not after everything that had happened in Michigan.

And yet, there was something about Cas that made her feel unexpectedly safe.

Tesla, Sadie’s fluffy gray and white cat, walked out of the kitchen toward the living room. A few seconds later, the word “ Breakfast ” sounded in her cousin’s voice.

Harper laughed. “You just had breakfast, Tesla.”

“Exactly.” Sadie shook her head. “Don’t listen to him. He’s always angling for seconds. Or treats.”

“ Hungry,” Tesla’s button declared next, and Sadie rolled her eyes.

“He’s got a one-track mind,” her cousin said, reaching for a muffin from a plate in the middle of the table. “But he’s not the only one. You’ve been staring into that coffee cup like it holds the secrets of the universe. What’s on your mind, Harper?”

She hesitated, trying to play it cool. “Just thinking about yesterday and how much help everyone was.”

“Mm-hmm,” Sadie said, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “You mean Cas?”

Heat funneled into her face, and she almost choked on her coffee. “What? No! I mean, yes, he was there, but I’m talking about everyone. You, Loni, Lori, even RJ with his endless jokes. It was a team effort.”

“Right, a team effort,” her cousin teased, sitting across from her. “But you were a little more grateful to one team member in particular, weren’t you?”

Harper laughed, trying to brush it off, but she could feel her face getting warmer. “Okay, fine. Maybe I appreciated Cas’s help a little more than most. He was…he was nice.”

Her cousin grinned. “Nice? Cas?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, nice. And comforting, which surprised me, honestly. I guess I always saw him as this larger-than-life guy, you know? Like, too much of everything. But yesterday, he was different. Calmer. More I don’t know…grounded.”

“Interesting.” Sadie leaned back in her chair, a sly smile spreading across her face. “Sounds like someone’s got a little crush.”

Harper snorted. “I do not have a crush. He’s just nice to look at, okay? And he’s helpful. But don’t go getting any ideas. The guy is a little too experienced for my taste.”

“Experienced?” Her cousin raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you mean in that rugged, worldly way that makes you wonder what’s going on behind those brown eyes?”

She groaned, but she couldn’t help laughing. “Stop. I’m just saying, he’s…a lot. Too much for me, probably. And I’m not looking for anything like that.”

Sadie nodded, her expression softening. “I get it, Harp. After everything you’ve been through, it’s natural to want to keep your distance.

But maybe, just maybe, you don’t have to decide anything right now.

Just see how things go. No harm in letting yourself feel something, even if it’s just a little flutter. ”

How had her cousin known about the flutter?

Because you blushed, idiot , her mind supplied.

She hadn’t fluttered or blushed since high school.

Not since her boyfriend, Alex, had died taking a bullet for her when one of their classmates had walked into Geometry and started shooting.

It had taken a lot of years and counseling for her to sleep through the night, and several more to go out on a date.

In the past four years, she’d dated four guys, and even had sex with the last one. But it had been a mistake. The only thing she’d felt was a boatload of guilt.

Of course, it was probably because she always chose a guy who didn’t affect her pulse. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—go down that road again. Didn’t want to feel that deeply again.

Not since Alex.

Tesla chose that moment to tap another button. “ Love ,” it chirped.

Both women burst out laughing.

“See, even Tesla’s on my side,” Sadie joked. “The universe is telling you something, Harper.”

Yeah, well, she wasn’t listening.

“Or he just stepped on it by accident,” Harper said, but knew she had to give her cousin an adequate response to get her to end the subject. “But okay, okay, I hear you. Maybe I’ll keep an open mind.”

Not really.

Sadie smiled, passing her a muffin. “That’s all I’m saying. Let life surprise you a little. And in the meantime, enjoy the muffins.”

She took a bite, savoring the sweet blueberry flavor. “These are amazing. Did you make them?”

“Loni did. She’s got the magic touch, as always.”

Harper smiled. She couldn’t deny that it felt good to be here, surrounded by Sadie and friends who felt like family, and maybe—just maybe—being around Cas wasn’t so bad either.

She’d keep her guard up, but perhaps she could allow herself to enjoy his company, too.

If their paths crossed again. As far as she knew, he was living at the ranch he was in the process of purchasing from his father.

Tesla tapped another button, “ Happy ,” and Harper couldn’t help but agree. At least for this morning, she felt pretty close to it.

For the next five minutes, they finished their coffee and muffins in a companionable silence that she appreciated more than expected.

It really did feel amazing to be here. She was tons more relaxed than she’d been in years.

Sadie sighed and set her cup down on the table. “So, I’ve got a little surprise for you,” she announced, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

“A surprise?” Harper raised an eyebrow, intrigued and nervous as hell. Please don’t let it be some kind of party she needed to go to . “What kind of surprise?”

Grinning, her cousin rose to her feet and motioned for Harper to follow. “Come with me. It’s up in the attic.”

Thank God.

She sent up a silent “Thank you” and trailed behind Sadie through the hallway, up to the second floor, then up another staircase into the attic.

They used to love to play up here as kids.

It was filled with the familiar smell of cedar, dust, and old memories.

The space was cluttered with boxes, old furniture, and bits of nostalgia tucked into every corner.

Sadie pushed aside a stack of boxes and gestured toward an old, ornate wooden desk tucked against the far wall.

“There’s your surprise,” her cousin announced, a big smile on her face. “It’s our great-grandmother’s antique desk. I found it this month when I was working on my craft room and moved some things up here from the spare bedroom. I thought it might be perfect for you.”

Harper’s breath caught in her throat. The desk was beautiful, even under a thick layer of dust. Made from rich mahogany, it had elegant carvings along the sides and a roll- top that seemed to hide countless secrets.

Her fingers itched to touch it, to feel the craftsmanship, and to bring it back to life.

“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed, stepping closer. “I can’t believe it’s been sitting up here all this time, and we never noticed it here when we were young.”

Sadie nodded. “I know. Crazy, right? It does need a little repair—the legs are wobbly, and some of the drawers stick—but I thought maybe you’d like to fix it up and keep it. That’s right in your wheelhouse.”

Excitement and gratitude swirled through her chest. “I’d love to. It’s perfect. What a great first piece for me to work on here in Harland County.”

Her cousin smiled. “I’m glad you like it. And I can text Dale to see if he and Cas can come over to help move it to the garage later. I think it’s a little too heavy for us to handle on our own.”

At the mention of Cas, Harper felt a familiar flicker in her chest. “Sure, that’d be great,” she replied, hoping she sounded casual.

She watched Sadie pull out her phone and type a message to her boyfriend, Dale. Her cousin had crushed on the guy since they were teens. She was so happy to see them finally become a couple.

A few moments later, Sadie’s phone dinged with a reply. She grinned at Harper. “Sweet! They can come now. They’ll be here in fifteen to twenty minutes.”

Harper nodded, trying to ignore the sudden quickening of her pulse. “Okay, sounds good.”