“I think I saw a dolphin,” she said, her voice hushed but with an excited lilt to it. She lifted her camera, but he doubted she’d be able to get a good picture from where they were.
Caleb smiled. “You probably did. You’ll see a lot more once we get on top of the ridge.”
“Really?” She lowered her camera but still held it, poised, as if she needed to be ready for the perfect shot. Her knees bounced up and down, and her expression held anticipation.
“There’s so much to see around here, we can make this a weekly thing, if you want,” he said, hoping it sounded as casual as he meant it. “Hiking, I mean. As part of your training. There’s a trail that will take us to a hidden part of the beach where you’ll see more turtles than you’ve seen in your entire life.”
Bree looked like she couldn’t handle any more excitement. “You’d pay me to hike and see turtles?”
He laughed. “You’ll be able to tell the tourists about all of the best hikes, based on your personal experience. And you can tell them which ones are the best for kids, which ones are good for those who want a challenge, and all that. If it makes you a more valuable employee, I’ll pay you for it.”
Bree’s smile dropped for a moment, and Caleb’s heart dropped with it. The lines had blurred between when he was acting as her employer, her friend, or currently…her date.
And he’d forgotten which hat he currently wore.
“Of course, I’d take you out to see the turtles anyway,” Caleb added. “If for no other reason than that your life wouldn’t be complete without it.”
Bree’s smile returned. “That would be a shame, to leave here, my life unfulfilled.”
Caleb was able to breathe a little easier now, and his focus returned to the coastal road in front of him. “That would be a tragedy,” he agreed. It wasn’t more than another five minutes before he pulled off the road next to a brown sign indicating a trailhead. After they’d both gotten out of the car and he’d slung the backpack over his shoulders, he looked to Bree. “Ready?”
She bounced on her toes, her large camera hanging around her neck bouncing with her. She looked ready to take off at a sprint. “I looked up Starlight Ridge online, and if it’s half as beautiful as the pictures, I’m going to get some great stuff.”
Caleb laughed, finding her joy contagious, but that huge thing looked like an accident ready to happen. “There are some pretty steep parts. Are you sure you want to risk breaking your camera?”
She gave him a look that said, really? then she started up the trail.
Guess that was a yes.
Apparently everything along the trail was worthy of photographing. The clicking of Bree’s camera was their constant companion as she saw insects she’d never seen, or a particularly bizarre-looking tree. Caleb didn’t mind that her attention was more on the mountain than on him; in fact, it took quite a bit of pressure off him. And he liked seeing Bree in action. The way her brow furrowed as she tried to get just the right shot, or how she released a jubilant cry of triumph, pumping her fist in the air when she got a particularly good picture.
“This place is amazing,” she said after snagging a picture of a tree frog.
Caleb readjusted the shoulder straps on the backpack he wore and tried to picture this part of the world as she did, seeing it for the first time. It really was beautiful, but he hadn’t given it much thought in the past few years. “Do you need a water break?”
Bree seemed surprised by the question, like she’d forgotten that maybe she should be drinking water. “I guess I’d better. I’m sorry, I’ve been so caught up in everything here.” Her cheeks were tinged with pink, and he didn’t know if it was from the physical exertion or embarrassment. Either way, it only served to make Bree more attractive. “Water would be lovely, thank you.”
The hike was taking a bit longer than Caleb had anticipated, and he was glad he’d thrown in some extra snacks. “Don’t apologize for enjoying yourself,” he said, slipping the backpack off. A large, flat rock lay next to the trail, and he sat down and pulled the water bottles out. He held one out to Bree.
She sat down next to him as she took the bottle and immediately drank half the water. “Oh, that tastes good.”
He laughed and handed her a small packet of trail mix. “Everything tastes better when hiking.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Bree took a moment to study the ground around the rock before starting in on the food. When she noticed his curious gaze, she lifted one shoulder. “Force of habit. Back home, I can only hike in the winter because the rattlesnakes are out during the warm months.”
Caleb gave an involuntary shudder. He didn’t think he’d survive long in a place that had rattlesnakes, or any other venomous variety.
“How much further is it?” Bree asked before taking another drink from her water bottle. She replaced the cap and then leaned back, tilting her face toward the sun. She looked happy, and Caleb was grateful he may have had a hand in that, considering all she’d been through, with losing her job and all that.
“We’re more than halfway,” he said, surveying their surroundings. He’d hiked this trail enough times that he knew a beautiful view of the ocean lay just around the next bend. “Probably about a mile left. Your feet doing okay?” Caleb hadn’t noticed until they’d already started hiking that her sandals weren’t the best for hiking, especially longer trails.
Bree wiggled her toes, as if checking them out. “These old things? They’re fine. It would take more than a stroll through the trees to get these babies down.”
Caleb laughed. “Glad to hear it.” He stood and stretched, his back cracking as he did so. “We’ll probably be taking the last mile of the trail pretty slow anyway.”
Bree handed him the water bottle, which he stuck in the backpack. “I’m sorry for being so slow,” she said, and she replaced the cap on her camera lens. “I promise I won’t stop until we reach the ridge.”
“That would be a mistake,” Caleb said. He hadn’t wanted her to feel bad about taking her time. On the contrary, he liked that about her. Not many people were able to enjoy the journey anymore; it was always about the destination. “I only meant that you’ll want to stop more because the last bit is the most beautiful part of the hike.”
“Oh.” The pink in her cheeks darkened a hue, and she stood. “Thank you.” Bree readjusted the camera around her neck and took off the lens cap. “I guess we should see what awaits, then.”
As they walked, Caleb could tell Bree was trying to walk a little faster, despite his assurances. Her efforts were in vain, however, as she turned the bend in the trail. Bree stopped so quickly, she nearly stumbled. “I see what you mean.” She didn’t lift the camera right away, though. Instead, she walked closer to the edge of the cliff. The ocean crashed against the rocks below, and in front of them, it stretched as far as they could see.
Caleb pointed to a couple of gray dots in the distance. If he hadn’t known to look, he wouldn’t have noticed them. “See the dolphins?”
Bree squinted, then lifted the camera, trying to use it as she would binoculars. “Barely, but yes.” She snapped a couple of shots. “Let’s keep going.”
She only stopped a few more times before they reached Starlight Ridge. It was a small, rocky area that jutted out over the ocean, surrounded by green foliage. There was a small cove directly beneath them where he taught scuba diving lessons.
A railing fenced off the area where they stood, keeping anyone from getting too close to the edge, and a stone bench sat in the middle.
Caleb sat down and pulled out their remaining snacks and water, but Bree didn’t join him. She instead chose to stand at the railing, snapping pictures of the ridge from various angles.
She finally turned, but rather than lowering the camera, she snapped a final picture. Of him.
Caleb had been taking a drink from his water bottle. Not exactly the most flattering pose.
“You should warn me next time,” he said.
“Where
would the fun in that be?” she asked with a teasing smile, pulling the camera off and over her head. She placed it on the stone bench and then sat down next to it. “The best pictures are the natural ones.”
“Says the woman behind the camera. How often are you in front of it?”
Bree grabbed a packet of trail mix. “It’s not exactly the most conducive to selfies.”
“True.” He gestured to the camera. “Do you mind?”
Bree’s brows furrowed in skepticism. “What are you going to do with it?”
“I just want to take a look at it.” When her skepticism didn’t wane, he added, “I took a photography class in college, and I promise to be careful with it.”
She still seemed reluctant, but she handed it over. Caleb lifted it to his eye—it was heavier than he had expected, and he didn’t know how she had carried the camera around her neck for the past three miles.
“It changes your perspective, doesn’t it?” he asked as he panned the ridge, taking everything in through the lens. “Almost like it adds distance, or a filter or something. Makes it less personal.”
“Not always,” Bree said. “Because it limits my field of vision, it helps me focus and notice things I don’t normally take in.”
Caleb panned the camera to where Bree sat. He could see what she meant. Bree took up his entire field of vision as he watched her through the camera. She was currently staring out across the ocean, the light reflecting off her hair. He could get used to the view.
Caleb snapped a couple of pictures, and her gaze whipped toward him. “Did you just take a picture of me?”
“I couldn’t help it,” he said, lowering the camera.
Bree held out a hand. “Hand it over.”
Caleb hesitated before handing the camera over. “You won’t delete it, will you? Or at least, send me a copy first.”
“We’ll see,” she said, before flipping through the digital images. Bree paused. “No, I won’t delete it.” Her voice was soft. “I normally hate pictures of myself.”
“But not that one?”
She gave a quick shake of her head. “No. Not this one.” Bree looked up from the camera. “You have a gift for photography.”
“All I did was push the button,” he said. “Maybe I just know a good thing when I see it.”
Bree studied him for a moment. “Maybe you do.”
17
Bree’s gaze returned to the picture on her camera. The one where she was framed by the ocean and surrounding foliage, looking off into the distance. And she looked…at peace. She hadn’t known what that was like for a long time. So long that she hadn’t even realized she was experiencing it.
“Does that mean you approve?” Caleb asked.
She looked up, her gaze meeting his. “Yes,” she said, “it does.” Bree set the camera back down and leaned against the back of the bench, taking in a long breath. “Thank you. For this. For…everything.” She paused, wondering why Caleb had done it. Judging by Adeline’s reaction to the news of their date, this wasn’t a normal thing for Caleb. “Can I ask you something?”
Caleb gave her a cautious side glance. “Sure.”
How would Bree phrase this? She suddenly didn’t know if she wanted to dive into this conversation. But now that she had his attention… “Why did you hire me?”
He didn’t hesitate when he answered. “Because you’re professional, you have experience, and I trust you to run my store.”
“Adeline says you don’t trust anyone to run it. Even her.”
That hit on something sensitive, and he stood and walked over to the railing. He looked out across the water. Bree waited for him to answer, but he remained silent.
She walked over to him. “I’m not complaining. Just curious.”
Caleb ran a hand through his hair before allowing his gaze to wander in her direction. “I don’t know,” he finally said. He released a long breath. “Adeline is right. I don’t trust just anyone to run it.” He raised a shoulder. “Maybe it was desperation, because I can’t do everything myself.”
Bree laughed. “I’m officially less flattered.”
Caleb laid his hand over hers, his gaze finally meeting hers. “I didn’t mean it like that. And I can’t explain it…” His voice trailed off as he seemed to be searching for the right words. “You make me do a lot of things that I don’t normally do.”
She tilted her head to one side, curious. “Like what?”
Apparently words were no longer enough, because rather than answer, Caleb gently touched his lips to hers. He pulled back quickly, seemingly just as startled as she felt.
“Like that,” he said, his breaths now rapid. “I don’t feel like this with other women. And it’s more than just an intense attraction that pulls me to you. You’re smart, and strong, and interesting and talented. And I can see a goodness about you that is rare to find in others. I know I can trust you, without being able to place a finger on why.” He took a step back, putting more space between them. “And I don’t like feeling this out of control.”
Bree’s breath hitched. She knew exactly how he felt. She held onto the railing, gripping it with both hands, willing herself not to pull him close. She had promised herself that this summer would be about discovering her own happiness. And hers alone. “It scares me too.”
“So…you feel it?” Caleb’s voice held a hopeful lilt.
After a brief hesitation, Bree nodded. “But I worry. I just got out of a bad relationship, and I don’t want you to be my rebound.”
“Is that why you’re here? In Starlight Ridge?” he asked, moving a fraction closer.
Bree averted her gaze. “Yeah. I ended up engaged to a guy that I didn’t love. At all. Our parents are business partners, and they set us up on a date, thinking we’d hit it off. We didn’t, but he was a nice enough guy, and we kept going out. I think it was mostly because they seemed so thrilled at the idea of us being together. I thought it was what my parents wanted—that it was important to my dad’s business—and I didn’t know how to get out of it.” She laughed, but it was devoid of humor. “Until my wedding day. And if it hadn’t been for my sister, I probably would have gone through with it. I’m not as strong as you think I am.”
“Or maybe you’re even stronger.”
Her gaze snapped to him, and she found that he had moved even closer since she’d last allowed herself to look at him. “Why do you have so much faith in me?”
Caleb held her gaze. “Because I’ve watched you, ever since you came to town.” He paused. “Not in a creepy way. But more out of fascination. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
Bree still had so many questions, and Adeline’s warning that Bree needed to be careful hovered in the back of her mind. But she wanted this. So. Bad. The longing competed with her fear, and she felt like it was tearing her apart. So she shoved the fear down as far as it would go and wrapped her arms around his neck.
She’d deal with it later.
Bree sat at a small table that had been pushed against the wall of Caleb’s apartment. He’d insisted that he didn’t need help cooking, so she’d been watching him expertly moving around his kitchen for the past fifteen minutes. A half-wall separated them, but that didn’t stop a spicy aroma wafting toward her. Her stomach growled. She hadn’t realized how hungry the hike had made her until Caleb started pulling the ingredients he’d need out of the refrigerator.
“I hope you like Thai,” he called over as he pulled something off the stove. “I should have asked first.”
“Love it,” Bree said. “I’m impressed that you know how to cook Thai food. I tried once, and it was a disaster.”
Caleb glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll teach you if you want.”
“I’d love that.”
He looked at her expectantly, then nodded toward the kitchen. “Well, come on, then.”
Bree hastily moved to her feet. “Oh, you meant now.”
He shot a grin her way. “How often do you expect me to cook Thai for you
?”
“Preferably every day,” she said, joining him in the kitchen. Bree scanned the array of ingredients spread out over the counter. “I’m sorry, but what is this?” She grabbed a bottle and held it up, the label facing Caleb. “Are you trying to put one over on me?” She couldn’t believe he’d try throwing fish sauce into the dish, considering he’d seen the unpleasant results when she’d last eaten seafood.
Caleb didn’t look like he felt the tiniest bit of shame, instead laughing. “It just adds some salty flavor. You won’t even taste the fish. I don’t like seafood either, remember?”
True.
“Then why not just add salt?”
He paused, considering the question. “I have no idea. That’s just how it is. And every Thai dish you’ve ever had has had some type of fish or oyster sauce in it. Guaranteed.”
Bree still wasn’t convinced.
Caleb must have seen it, because he looked her in the eyes and asked, “Do you trust me?”
The look in his eyes was enough to make her melt into a big gooey puddle. “Fine,” she said, giving him an exasperated sigh. “Put in the fish sauce. But if I don’t like it—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, laughing.
Caleb didn’t have much left to do on the pad Thai, but he was able to show her a trick or two when cooking the pork.
Except, as soon as she took over at the stove, oil popped out of the pan and burned her wrist. She immediately dropped the tongs she held, and they fell into the pan. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at this.”
Caleb quickly grabbed them before they became too hot to touch and washed them off in the sink. “It just takes practice. I could have you over more often. If you want.”
Bree liked the sound of that. “Who taught you how to cook?”
Caleb had been drying off the tongs with a dish rag but paused at the question. “My mom taught me the basics. I continued my own education after that.”
“Does she live here in Starlight Ridge?”
“No. She left about fifteen years ago.” He didn’t expound and finished drying the tongs.
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