Chapter 51
Caleb
Iopened the truckdoor for Rae and helped her out before I grabbed the groceries from the back of the truck. I hadn’t been lying when I told her that I loved getting to show her off to anyone who had been around. Seeing her interact with people, now that she felt comfortable again, did something to me in a way I didn’t expect. We walked to the house, and she gave me a silly look before shooing me away from the door when I attempted to open it with an armful of groceries.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile before we walked to the kitchen to start putting away the groceries. She stopped to greet Duke whose tail hit her leg as he excitedly spun in circles while she was petting him.
“Do you want to watch a movie tonight? We can have popcorn.” I lifted the box and showed it to her.
She smiled and took the box, setting it on the counter. “Sure! That sounds...” Her whole body went rigid.
“Rae, what's wrong?”
“I—I'm not sure. I had this weird feeling in the grocery store, and even earlier today at Jenny’s—pin-pricks on the back of my neck. I kind of felt like I was being watched or something? I'm not sure. Then the feeling went away and I felt fine again, like right now. It’s weird.” Her face twisted, like she was thinking about what could be causing this feeling. She looked around where she stood, and then at the windows and front door. “I'm obviously safe and there’s still enough light we can see outside. There's no one on the porch.”
“Maybe a fever? Come here, let me check.” I pressed my lips to her forehead. “You feel fine.”
Rae shrugged and resumed putting groceries away. “I'm not sure. Just a weird feeling. I'm fine!”
I opened my mouth to say something flirty but my phone rang. She froze again, and I wished for the day she didn’t feel that way when the phone rang.
“It's Luke,” I told her, hoping to settle her nerves. Luke sounded stressed as he told me that all the horses in my barn got out somehow. I pinched the bridge of my nose, thinking about our time in the barn earlier. Jenny had locked up everything before she left for work, but even if she hadn’t, we would have seen it when we went in. “Oh gosh. Okay, I’ll be right there as long as Rae's good.” Something about this didn’t sit right with me, but I would have to figure out what happened later. I needed to help Luke as long as Rae was comfortable with me going to the barn.
As soon as I hung up, I explained, “Luke saw the horses were out as he was leaving Jenny’s place, at the back of my property. He was calling to ask for help bringing them all back to the barn. He said a couple of them seem a bit spooked. I’ll only go if you feel okay with that.”
“Yeah, go! I have the cameras at the front of the house, and I'll make sure the door is locked as soon as you leave. Duke’s here with me. Plus, you'll have your phone on you...and you'll be right out there at the barn.”
I hesitated but agreed. I walked to our room to grab a blanket, and when I came back, I passed it to Rae with a flirty smile. I watched her reaction as I put on my boots and went to the door. I could see her cheeks turning pink at my subtle suggestion, and she returned the flirty smile I had given.
I turned to Duke who was sitting at our feet. “Duke, you keep an eye on her. Make sure she is safe.” Duke huffed as if he understood his assignment. I scratched behind his ear and praised him for being a good boy.
Turning back to Rae, I reached out and tilted her chin up slightly before whispering, “Pour us some wine and pick a movie out for us.” I then pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “...but not one we will need to re-watch please.” I winked at her and gave a sly grin. “I love you.” When I pulled back, she looked like she was a million miles away, like she was drunk on that kiss.
Rae leaned into me. “Deal. Love you.” I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her beforereluctantly pulling back and opening the front door. I stepped onto the porch. “You make it hard to leave, even if it is for just a little bit.” She laughed and then gave me a flirty wave as she shut and locked the door behind me.
