Catching Caroline (Silver Falls Book 1)

by Megan Nugen Isbell

  “I hope pepperoni’s okay,” he said as he dished up a slice and handed it to me.

  “It’s great. Thanks,” I said, taking a bite as he got his own slice.

  I reached over and turned on the TV and changed it to the New England Sports Network. It was the bottom of the second inning of the Red Sox and Rays game and the Rays already had a 2-0 lead.

  “Looks like the Sox could use you tonight,” I said with a quiet laugh.

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “Has anything changed with your arm?” I asked.

  “Not really. I’ve got a checkup soon. I should learn more then,” he said, keeping his eyes on the game.

  “In Boston?”

  “Yes. I guess I’ll find out how the arm’s healing and what the next steps are,” he said and I nodded.

  It grew quiet then and I leaned back against the couch. I tucked my legs into a knot and then Adam relaxed too, resting his back against the cushions as we ate our pizza. He watched the game so intently and I wondered what he was thinking. If he missed being there? If he didn’t miss being there? I didn’t know because he didn’t talk about it. He’d opened up a little, but since he’d been back, baseball didn’t seem to be his priority. I didn’t ask him anymore about it though and after I could tell we were both done, I picked up our plates and took them to the kitchen. I started rinsing them off in the sink when Adam walked in, pizza box in hand.

  “There’s some left over. Can I grab a container to put it in?” he asked.

  “Sure. They’re up there,” I said, gesturing to the cabinet to the right of me. He nodded and a second later, he was next to me, so close we were almost touching. I told myself to stay focused on the plate I was washing and not him as I pushed the suds around with a sponge. It was hard though. It was always hard with Adam. He was impossible not to focus on. I was grateful when he got the Tupperware and went to the other side of the counter. He loaded it up and then put it inside the fridge before breaking down the box and putting it in the recycle bin.

  “Mind if I wash my hands real fast?”

  He was beside me again, to the left of me this time. He leaned over, moving the faucet toward him and then reached across me for a squirt of soap. He smelled good and the muscles in his arms looked strong. I started thinking of those muscles and what they would feel like around me. I couldn’t help myself, not with him this close. I felt the heat in my cheeks then when an image of us tangled up together, him doing all sorts of wonderful things to my body, before his voice interrupted my fantasy.

  “Thanks,” he said, pushing the faucet back towards me and then grabbed a paper towel. I couldn’t get the image from a moment ago out of my mind. I shouldn’t be thinking of Adam like this, but I was and I felt a burning between my legs that made the fantasy feel too real. I closed my eyes, taking in a long, quiet breath, praying he wouldn’t see me.

  I finished the dish and then put it in the drain pan before drying my hands and turning to see Adam still standing there, his body pressed against the counter, his arms folded in that confident way about him as our eyes met. I didn’t understand why my heart was beating the way it was, but I had no control over it. I knew it was the daydream. The one where Adam was making love to me that was causing this. We hadn’t even kissed and all I could think about was having him walk over to me, ripping off my clothes and taking me right there on the counter.

  “You okay?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me. I felt myself bite my lip. I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded. “You sure? You look a little flushed.” He was concerned about me. I could tell by the way his brow creased. If only he knew what had me flushed.

  “I’m fine,” I finally said, but when I heard my voice it was soft and breathless, which caused him to look at me again with curiosity. He couldn’t stay here any longer. He had to go. He had to get out of this house before I said or did something I would regret. There was no middle ground with Adam. I couldn’t ignore my feelings for him. I’d tried, but I couldn’t and having him standing just feet away from me, was making it impossible. “I…I uh…I’m just tired from work. I should probably go to bed.”

  I could see the surprise on his face when I looked at the clock on the microwave and saw it was only seven-thirty.

  “Sure,” he said, pushing himself off the counter. “I’m beat too.”

  I nodded and followed him to the front door.

  “Thanks for the pizza,” I said, standing in the doorway when he was on the porch.

  “No problem,” he said and then walked to the first step. He stopped and turned to me. “Good night, Caroline.”

  “Night,” I said, giving him a quick wave and closing the door.

  My heart was racing now and I peeked out of the curtains to see his silhouette walking down the stairs. I closed my eyes, taking another calming breath like I had in the kitchen, and then walked upstairs to the bathroom. I was tired, just as I’d told him. Probably not tired enough to sleep, but I decided to brush my teeth and go to bed and read. At least that way, if he looked over to the house, he wouldn’t see the living room lights on and think I had just been trying to get rid of him when I told him I was going to bed.

  I brushed my teeth and ran a comb through my hair that was nearly dry now from my shower earlier. After going back downstairs to shut off the lights and lock the doors, I went to my room, grabbed my Kindle and started reading. It took a few minutes, but I was able to focus on the story and not on Adam.

  I’d only read a chapter when the sound of the doorbell echoing in the hallway interrupted the peace I’d finally found in my book. I knew it had to be Adam. Erica wouldn’t pop over since she was working at the restaurant tonight and Sawyer would’ve just walked in. I didn’t want to see Adam, not when it’d taken me so long to get myself together after he left. He must’ve forgotten something, so at least it would be a quick visit.

  I pulled the covers off and went back downstairs, opening the door to find him standing there. The rain had picked up. His hat was wet and there were raindrops on his gray t-shirt as well. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and our eyes met under the brim of his hat.

  “Adam,” I said. “What’re you doing back? Did you forget something?” I asked, waiting to see a smile, which didn’t come.

  “No. I didn’t forget anything.”

  He took his hat off, exposing his dark tousled hair. He flicked the water off it and then rolled it, sticking it in his back pocket as he lowered his eyes to the ground for a second before finally looking back up at me.

  “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here, Caroline.”

  “What’re you talking about?” I asked softly, stepping back and motioning him inside.

  “I shouldn’t be here,” he continued, looking away again and I didn’t know what to make of him. I’d never seen him like this and he took a few steps away from me, pacing for a few seconds, but then he stopped and looked right at me. “When I pulled up tonight and saw you were home, I told myself not to knock on your door. I told myself to just go straight to the stable house. I told myself not to talk to you. I told myself to stay away from you. I’ve been telling myself to stay away from you, but hell,” he sighed, running his hand through his hair again, “you’re making it damn near impossible.” I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say, but my heart was starting a deep heavy beating in my chest that was only getting stronger as each word left his mouth. “I don’t know when you stopped being Sawyer’s little sister, but you’re all I think about anymore, Caroline. You’re driving me out of my damn mind.”

  Before I even had a chance to register what he’d said, he had closed the space he’d created between us. He was so close to me now and my heart was pounding in my chest. I hadn’t found my voice though and so I just stood there, looking up into the face that had somehow transformed from the boy I’d known nearly my whole life into the man before me, almost too perfect to even look at. I felt his fingertips on my cheek, brushing lightly over my skin as his eyes moved
slowly over my face and his lips drew closer to mine.

  “You’re so beautiful, Caroline,” he whispered as his fingers continued to trace my skin. His eyes moved slowly over my face as if he were seeing me for the first time. I could feel my breathing becoming shallower as my heart continued to thunder in my chest. He was so close to me. So close his chest was pressed against mine. So close I could almost taste him. Somehow he got closer though and his eyes finally settled on mine.

  “I thought you said I was off limits,” I finally whispered and he took in a breath, closing his eyes for a second before opening them again. There was a fierceness there I’d never seen before.

  “Fuck limits,” he finally said, his voice low and powerful and then he pushed his lips to mine. I was lost the moment they connected. His lips were so soft and warm as he moved gently over my mouth. I was aching for more. I could feel him in every bit of my body and I pushed harder against him. He responded by wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me even closer as his tongue tickled my lips, begging to be let him in. I didn’t hesitate and a second later I felt his tongue tangling with mine. He tasted so good and my eagerness took over then as I pushed even deeper into his mouth. I didn’t think about anything other than him and this moment. I’d wanted to know what it would be like to kiss Adam, but I wasn’t prepared for this. I wasn’t prepared for the way he consumed my whole body or the way I needed more from him.

  I was against the wall then, his fingers crawling over my body as his lips left my mouth and found their way to my neck. His hands were under my shirt then and I gasped when I felt them on the sensitive skin of my stomach. He needed me as much as I needed him. I could tell by the assault on my neck and the hard bulge I felt through his jeans. I wanted to touch him there. I wanted him to touch me where I was burning. I wanted my fantasy to become reality.

  “Adam,” I moaned as his damp shirt pressed though my thin tank top. His lips moved up my neck then until his cheek was against mine, his heavy breathing loud in my ear. I felt like crying when he moved his lips off of my skin and stood with his body pressed against mine. His hand curled around the back of my neck and he laced his fingers deeply into my hair, pulling me even closer and then we stood motionless. Both of us were panting as we tried to collect ourselves.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he tried to catch his breath. “I…I shouldn’t have done that.”

  I placed my hands gently on his chest and eased him off of me so he was looking in my eyes. I rested my hand on his cheek and I smiled at him.

  “Yes, you should’ve,” I said softly and he closed his eyes for a second before opening them again.

  “I tried, Caroline. Believe me, I tried to stay away from you, but I can’t. I can’t anymore.”

  There was desperation in his eyes and I had never seen a more beautiful man than the one who had just taken my breath away.

  “Then don’t. Don’t stay away.”

  My breath was still unsteady as I watched his mouth curl up into a smile. He pulled me into his arms, wrapping them around me and I almost got lost in his tall frame. I felt safe there and he held me for a few quiet moments. I could feel his heart beating and I wondered if he felt mine too.

  I couldn’t understand what was happening. We’d been telling ourselves anything between us would be wrong, but in his arms, I’d never felt anything so right.

  “Caroline,” he said a few moments later when he pulled back, holding me at arm’s length. “Are you sure about this?” I nodded, smiling up at him as he pulled me close again, kissing me on the forehead for a few long seconds and then I started to laugh quietly.

  “Sawyer’s gonna kill us,” I said. I was being playful, but part of me actually believed it. I didn’t want to see my brother’s reaction when he learned about Adam and me.

  “Then I can die a happy man,” Adam said, looking at me once more with a lopsided grin still on his face as he looked into my eyes.

  “What is this, Adam? You and me?” I asked quietly.

  “I don’t know, Caroline, but I want to find out.”

  “Me too,” I whispered.

  He leaned in, brushing his lips over mine in a way so different than only a few minutes before. It was a sweet, delicate kiss. The kind I imagined us sharing that day at Silver Falls, the day I thought he’d rejected me. It wasn’t full of the passion of our first kiss, but it was perfect in its own right. With just a simple kiss, I could feel this thing between us was already so much deeper than I thought. When he pulled away and looked in my eyes, I knew he’d felt it too.

  “You’re tired,” he said, smiling sweetly at me as he pushed some hair behind my ears. “I should let you get back to sleep.”

  “I’m not tired,” I said softly. “I lied to you.”

  “Lying to me already? Maybe I should rethink this,” he said, raising a playful eyebrow and I laughed quietly.

  “I just said I was tired because I couldn’t have you around…not when I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

  The confident smile I was growing to love appeared again on his face. He enjoyed this and I enjoyed finally being able to tell him.

  “So, you want me to stay then?” he asked and I nodded, moving closer to him, stretching up on my toes so I could gently brush my lips over his, letting them linger there for a few moments as I let the feeling spill through my body.

  “Stay,” I whispered to him while our lips still touched.

  I could feel him smiling and then I pulled away enough so I could see his face. He reached over, taking my hand with his and lacing our fingers together.

  “You know, Caroline,” he said, a playful smirk curling up on his mouth, “I’ve been told I’m quite a catch. You’re a lucky girl.” I started laughing and swatted him on the arm, but then the smirk went away and he was looking at me with those fierce eyes again. “You know I don’t mean that,” he said, running his hand over my hair, “because I’m the lucky one.”

  I didn’t have the chance to counter his statement because his lips were on mine, kissing me until my knees were weak again.

  ~~~

  It had to have been after midnight when Adam finally left for the stable house. I hadn’t wanted him to leave. It’d been nice falling asleep next to him on the couch. After I’d asked him to stay, we’d watched a movie, sitting close to each other. I’d tried not to, but I could feel myself starting to nod off and the next thing I was aware of was Adam shaking me gently.

  “Caroline.” His voice was soft and it took me a moment to realize it was him, but when I did, I felt the smile form on my face. “I should probably get back to the stable house…before Sawyer comes home.”

  I sat up, rubbing my eyes for a second.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You should’ve woken me up,” I said, trying to stifle a yawn.

  “You were tired and I wanted you to rest.” He reached up, smiling at me as he brushed some hair off my forehead. “Plus, you probably don’t realize how cute you are when you sleep.” I felt the heat on my cheeks and before I could say anything else, he leaned in, brushing his lips lightly over mine, causing my heart to pound instantly.

  “Are you always this sweet?” I asked softly when he’d pulled away.

  “I’m just getting started. You haven’t seen anything yet,” he answered and I found myself reaching up and resting my palm against the rough stubble on his cheeks, smiling up at him. He smiled back and then stood up, holding out his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me up before walking to the front door. “Are you okay, Caroline? With all of this? With what happened tonight?” I could hear the concern in his voice and I could see it on his face too as he took my hand.

  “Yeah,” I answered softly, stretching up and pressing my lips gently to his, allowing them to linger for a few moments until I forced myself to pull away, the beating of my heart pounding throughout my body. “I’m perfect.” I met his eyes and I could tell he felt the same way. It may have only been a few hours, but this thing bet
ween us felt real and I wanted to know what it was. I knew he did too.

  “I’ll see you in the morning then,” he said gently, his fingertips tracing down my cheek softly.

  “First thing,” I answered. He leaned down, kissing me on the cheek and then he pulled away. Our hands didn’t let go immediately though, only when he opened the front door and stepped outside, forcing the separation.

  “Good night, Caroline,” he said softly through the screen door.

  I lifted my hand in a gentle wave and smiled tenderly at him, never taking my eyes off of him until he disappeared into the darkness.

  Fifteen

  When I woke up the next morning, it took me a few seconds to remember how everything had changed. Part of me felt like it was a dream, but then the memories came flooding back and all I could think about was the way he’d kissed me and the words he’d said to me. It wasn’t a dream and Adam DeLain was a very real man.

  I peeked outside my window. I could see activity in the barn. I knew Adam and my brother were working inside. I felt a nervous pit in my stomach as I thought about seeing Adam again. I wondered if anything would change now that it was a new day.

  I looked at the clock. It was almost eight. I knew Sawyer would greet me with a wise crack, but I was prepared for that. He’d been doing it my whole life so I was ready. I couldn’t help much anyway this morning. I had to be to the restaurant by ten.

  I took a quick shower and then changed into a pair of jeans and a red v-neck. I dried my hair and left it down and after putting on my make-up, I made my way outside.

  I couldn’t deny the nerves I felt as I approached the barn. I’d made this walk a million times, but never had it felt like this.

  I walked inside slowly. It was quiet except for the music flowing through the barn and I looked around for any sign of my brother or Adam. Finally, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and spotted Adam over by one of the troughs. Taking a deep breath, I started walking slowly, just watching him as he worked. He didn’t know I was here and that only made him look even better. He had on his loose, ripped jeans and a black t-shirt. He’d forgone the ballcap today and I instantly noticed his smooth face. Last night, it’d been rough, but now it looked smooth and I found myself wondering what it would feel like to kiss him like this. Last night, his stubble had been rough against my skin and I was okay with that. It made me feel him even more as his mouth had pushed against mine, a reminder of his strength and presence. I was eager to see how kissing a beardless Adam would feel.