He stared at the screen for a long time while the message remained unread. She must be working with the animals or meeting with a potential family.
An hour later, when he was choosing which photos he’d recommend for the calendar, his phone dinged on the table beside him. Out in the field, his phone was rarely by his side. It would often be tucked into his bag in whatever living quarters he’d manage to secure for his visit. A connection back to the world he was choosing to leave behind at the time.
But when he was in the U.S., it didn’t take much for him to fall back into the routines, to be a slave to the technology.
He spied a text from Serena. I’d love to go with you, but I’ll already be there. Taking some of the dogs for a visit. Meet you there?
Absolutely.
He slid his phone back onto the counter, but he couldn’t help the excitement that built within him about spending the day with Serena at Oktoberfest.
Bright and early on Saturday morning, he packed his camera bag and left Cedar Hill, driving toward the farm that was hosting the event. His father wouldn’t have been caught dead stepping foot on a farm, much less an event like the one Chase anticipated. There should be plenty of opportunities for him to capture some great photos today. To show that life wasn’t always the negative and heartbreaking images he was capturing on his overseas travel.
Nothing could have prepared him for the sea of orange and yellow that confronted him as soon as he turned into the grassy field that served as a parking lot. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t acre after acre of decorations and activities. And the people. Adults and children, singles and family, as far as he could see.
“Nice day for a picnic, isn’t it?” A man with a child on his shoulders and a pregnant woman beside him stepped up to the entrance table beside Chase.
Was the man talking to him? He looked behind him and then back at the man. Had he met this man before and not remembered? No, it seemed he was just being friendly. Chase should have expected nothing less. The residents of Cedar Hill had welcomed him since the day he drove into town, waving hello and sharing a few words in passing. “It certainly is. This setup is amazing.”
“The Coxes. They do it every year and it seems to get bigger each time.”
“Where do you recommend I start?” After finding Serena, of course.
The woman joined the conversation, her hand resting easily on her baby bump. “I love the corn maze and the hayride.”
“And make sure you try the Apple Cider donuts. They’re fantastic. I always take a dozen home at the end of the day for the family,” the man added.
“If you don’t eat them first.” The woman nudged her husband with her shoulder and they both laughed.
Chase smiled at the easy exchange between husband and wife, how comfortable they were with each other. Certainly not the type of marriage his parents had. Even when his mother was alive, Father was cold and unfeeling. That had only become worse after she died. Chase shook his head. No reason to let those negative thoughts invade today.
He thanked the couple and then went in search of Serena.
To his left, there were apples floating in barrels of water and lines of kids waiting to dunk their head beneath the water, hoping to come up with a sweet treat. He snapped a few photos, catching the perfect moment an eight or nine year old girl pulled her head out of the barrel, flinging her wet hair back off her face, red fruit clasped between her teeth.
Pumpkins were everywhere, from a pumpkin pie eating contest scheduled after lunch to pumpkin spice cider and pumpkin carving stations set up around the outside of the picnic tables. Halloween wasn’t that far away, he supposed.
He hadn’t expected to be around Cedar Hill by then. But then again, he hadn’t imagined he’d find the woman he was quickly becoming addicted to.
Off in the distance, he spied a hayride, kids and adults climbing onto truck beds full of hay hitched to green tractors for the trip around the farm. He was impressed with the ingenuity of the farmer, including the community in celebration at the end of his growing season. And likely making a little money on top of it.
After a few more minutes enjoying the scenery and the crisp, fall air, he found Serena. A huge pen had been erected near the barn. There were no fewer than eight dogs running and jumping in the open space and a half dozen children tumbling around with the pooches. In the middle of the pen, with one puppy under her arm and her hand on the head of another, stood Serena, talking with a woman who cradled another puppy in her arms.
Serena had a huge smile on her face as she scratched the head of the dog on the ground and then patted its behind, sending it off to play, all the while carrying on an easy conversation with the woman. Serena was in her element here, among the animals that she loved… and talking to families who would eventually make a home for them. The work was heartbreaking, and Chase had comforted her earlier this week when a cat she had been nursing back to health succumbed to her injuries. But after she mourned the loss, she wiped away her tears and turned her attention back to the animals she could save.
Everything about her life was so… normal. Not at all what his life was like. He didn’t go to festivals and build relationships and have friends. It was tough enough to experience the suffering of the people he met on his travels. Many of the places he visited were the same, a village dying from starvation and sickness, mothers who mourned the death of one child while caring for the ones they had left.
With the camera around his neck, he tried to remain detached from the plight he was documenting but he couldn’t help but get involved with the subjects he was photographing. He had been able to stuff those feelings down and do his job. Until recently.
Maybe he and Serena weren’t so different after all.
His phone dinged in his pocket. He pulled it out and the number for his publisher flashed across the screen. Chase almost slipped the device back into his pocket. It was not unusual for him to be out of range of service for hours or days at a time. But he had ignored Mitchell for too long already, so he swiped across the screen to take the call.
“Chase, how have you been?” Mitchell’s upbeat voice helped Chase shake off the negative memories that had crept in while he was standing there watching Serena.
“I’ve been good. Doing a little work for a veteran’s charity down here.”
“That’s great. I know you like to give back to the communities you visit. When will I see the first set of photos?”
Chase had been putting off the final editing and selection of photos for Serena’s calendar because finishing meant he no longer had an excuse to stay. But who’s to say he needed an excuse to spend time in Cedar Hill? Because he hadn’t had a place to call home in so long, he often traveled around the surrounding countryside when he finished a shoot, waiting for his next assignment. He could do the same now.
And none of that meant he couldn’t decide that this was where he belonged after all.
The idea shocked him. He’d never wanted to stay anywhere for too long. It wasn’t the place, but Serena, that had him considering making long-term plans for Cedar Hill.
“Chase?”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I can probably bring the final batch of shots up to you this week. I think you’ll be pleased.”
“I’m sure I will. You’ve never disappointed me.”
Mitchell paused, and Chase wondered if there was a but coming.
“When you come in, I’d like to discuss the photos from the Bronx that you submitted. I don’t know how shots of Fashion Week turned into a homeless piece, but they resonated with Culture Magazine. They are considering running a series about homelessness and the working poor in America. I’m thinking about scheduling you to go to L.A. to document the tent cities that have popped up on the outskirts of the city.”
Homelessness in America. That was exactly up Chase’s alley. Documenting that the majority of the citizens of his own country didn’t live the lavish lifestyle that people see in magazines and on the
news. That living hand-to-mouth… or worse… was a fact of life for so many Americans.
He cast another glance at Serena. She had opened up about her trust issues with men. They were deeply rooted and well-earned. He had reassured her that she could trust him. That he wasn’t like the other men in her life. If only he didn’t have to leave so soon, before he’d had enough time with Serena to prove to her that he was the man she needed.
Then again, he didn’t live here. Even as he considered that Cedar Hill was somewhere that he could see himself settling down, he wasn’t sure if he was the type to put down roots.
Maybe there was a way he could have both. Serena, and the kind of travel that fed his need to serve.
“If you don’t want the assignment, I can pass it to Martin. I figured since you went out on your own and took those photos, you’d want the series.”
“How about we talk about it when I bring the photos up for the calendar?”
“Sounds like a plan… and Chase?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s all right if you’ve decided you’ve had enough. Not many can maintain the schedule you have, with the types of photos you’ve been shooting. There’s no shame in wanting something different for yourself.”
Mitchell clicked off before Chase could respond. Not that he could say anything with his tongue stuck in his mouth. Mitchell had summed up in a few sentences what it had taken Chase months to understand about himself but he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. Wasn’t ready to decide what he wanted to do when he grew up, as Father always said.
Chase shoved his phone in his pocket and raised his head as Serena turned around and spotted him. Her smile grew bigger, if that was even possible, and he couldn’t help but smile back. He didn’t want to leave Serena to go to New York, but he figured, the sooner he left, the sooner he could be back.
* * *
Serena felt her smile slip as she studied Chase. She’d caught sight of him a few minutes ago, his phone to his ear. But that wasn’t what concerned her. It was his furrowed brows and the frown on his face. Had something happened with his father again? With Chase, it was hard to know. He had seen so much in his life, had experienced the highs and lows of life that many had only read about. And he bottled up so much of what he was feeling. She’d gotten him to open up to her, but she sensed there was a lot more to know about Chase Foster.
She could spend her entire life getting to know everything that made him tick.
She yelled across the yard to where her sister was crouched down with a red-haired little girl, demonstrating how to pet a rambunctious puppy. “Hey, Alexis. Can you keep an eye on things for a minute?”
Alexis rose to her feet. “Sure. Is everything…” Her gaze landed on Chase striding across the field toward her. “Oh, yeah. I get it. Take your time.”
Serena hurried across the pen and scooted out of the makeshift door as Chase increased his pace. He wore his typical T-shirt stretched over his chest with a plaid flannel shirt hanging open on top, his well-worn jeans and sturdy boots he’d worn the day of her shoot. This man was meant to be outside, enjoying what nature had to offer. He was not one to be trussed in a coat and tie, stuck behind a desk in a non-descript office, which worried her. How long would he last in Cedar Hill until his feet itched to find another adventure?
Chase’s arms came around her, pulling her against his body, as he lowered his head and kissed her. Right in front of Alexis and everyone else lingering around her dog pen.
She shouldn’t be surprised. He greeted her the same way every time he saw her. Not that they spent all that much time apart. He’d been helping with the shelter for a few hours each day, only going back to his rented apartment to work on the photos. They’d shared dinner together while talking about some of the fascinating places that he visited before tumbling into bed each night and making love before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
This was what a relationship was supposed to be like. Not sneaking around and lies and deceit. Chase had been up front with her from the beginning that the world was his home and he didn’t stay in one place for long.
Was it bad that she wanted to be the one to convince him to stay? With her.
Chase broke the kiss and ran his lips down her neck before pressing them to her lips one more time. “Wow, that was some greeting.”
“I missed you last night.” He’d insisted that he return to his apartment so she could get some sleep before her event today. Even after she’d argued that she was fine. After a few nights together, her bed felt empty without Chase in it and she’d hurried through her tasks this morning knowing that she’d see him once she arrived at the event.
Chase’s eyes smoldered with desire. “What time are you done here?”
“I have volunteers lined up for every hour. And Alexis is here to help supervise.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Really? I thought you hadn’t heard from her.”
“She finally texted last night and said she was a go.” Serena gestured to where her sister was laughing with a couple watching their son tumble with one of the puppies that had been brought into the shelter earlier this week. “And she looks good. Maybe she’s finally coming out of the funk that she’s been in. I worry about her.”
“I know you do. Stay as long as you need.”
“No, really. I have everything lined up so I can spend some time with you.” Time that hopefully ended up naked in her bed. “I typically work every event by myself, so I don’t feel bad tapping into some of the volunteers. Alexis and Sylvia even agreed to pack up the animals at three and take them back to the shelter.”
“You’re lucky you have so many people to support you.”
She scanned the pen and smiled at the scene. When she first opened the shelter, she didn’t have a clue what she was doing. It still felt like that some days, but mostly, she felt a great sense of accomplishment that she was doing her small part to help so many animals. “I agree. I couldn’t do this without my family and the volunteers. That’s why the calendar is so important. Those funds will go a long way toward finding every dog a home. Even if some of them are with my siblings.”
He chuckled. “So, you’re free for the rest of the day?” A hopeful glint sparkled in his eyes. Maybe he had the same idea and they could beat a path back to her place as soon as she said goodbye to Alexis.
“I am. What did you have in mind?”
He leaned in close, his hot breath hovering over her ear. “I saw a cornhole tournament over on the far side of the farm.”
She laughed. “Really? All right. If that’s what you want to do, then cornhole it is. But I have to warn you, I suck at cornhole.”
“That’s what you said about pool, and we both know you were, shall I say, stretching the truth. A lot.”
Could she help that she and Justin had spent many hours playing pool together as a way to avoid interacting with their father? “No, really. I’ve tried. I’m not good.”
He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “If we get eliminated early then I guess we’ll have to find something else to do with ourselves.”
The huskiness of his voice and the suggestion of the two of them together sent shivers down her spine. The ache between her thighs had become perpetual since she’d met Chase.
“Serena?”
Heat flooded her cheeks. Damn that fair skin. She could never hide anything from anyone. Her parents had always known when she was fibbing because her face would turn bright red and her voice would crack. “Let me tell Alexis I’m leaving.”
He squeezed Serena’s waist before releasing her. She hurried around the pen. “Alexis, are you sure you’re okay managing things for the rest of the day?”
“I told you I was, Serena. Now stop mothering me and go have fun with that sexy man of yours.”
She felt her cheeks pinken again.
“Damn, that good, huh? I need to find me my own sexy specimen of a man like you have. Have fun, sis.”
Seren
a waved and scooted away before Alexis embarrassed her even more. She slipped her arm around Chase and together they went off to play cornhole.
She hadn’t lied to Chase about her ability with a beanbag. He carried their team of two through the first round, but by the second, and a lot of laughs later, they had been eliminated.
“I told you I wasn’t very good,” she said as she sipped cider and bit into a delicious donut while sitting at one of the picnic tables positioned in the center of the entire event.
“And you were right.” Chase nudged her with his shoulder and his thigh pressed against her. It wasn’t like there wasn’t room for him to sit across the table, but he’d snuggled up close to her the moment they sat down. “I’m glad I came out today. This has been fun.”
A shadow fell over his face.
“Is everything okay?” She was always afraid to ask this question, waiting for the day he announced he was leaving.
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” He turned his head from right to left and took in their surroundings. “I’ve never been to an event like this before.”
“They didn’t have fall festivals in California growing up?”
“They don’t have fall in California.” Chase laughed and then his features darkened. “Besides, Father would have never been caught dead at an event like this.”
She sometimes forgot that not everyone grew up in a small town like she did, where neighbors waved when you passed them on the street, people helped each other in need, and events like the Spring Festival and Oktoberfest were yet another excuse for people to spend time together. Just wait until Christmas. Cedar Hill went all out. But would Chase still be here then?
Izzy approached their table, Tanner’s arm around her waist, his hand resting on her belly. “Hey, Serena.”
She hopped up. It wasn’t like Izzy hadn’t met Chase at the photo shoot, but Serena hadn’t had a chance to fill her other sister in on everything that had happened since then. “Hey, Izzy. How’s the little Mama doing?”
Chasing Trust: A Small Town Steamy Romance (Harper Family series Book 3) Page 15