Catching Caroline (Silver Falls Book 1)

by Megan Nugen Isbell

  “You’re trembling,” he said softly, a look of concern coming over his face. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” I whispered, reaching up and brushing my fingertips over his cheek.

  “And you’re sure about this?”

  “Yes,” I answered, meeting his eyes. “I want this, Adam.”

  We didn’t say anything for a moment as we looked at each other, but then he came closer, his lips overtaking mine as I felt him ease inside me. I heard myself gasp softly and he didn’t stop until he’d taken me places I’d never even known existed and was filled with happiness I’d never known could be possible. I felt tears in my eyes as he made love to me and I wished it never had to end.

  It did have to end though and after I called out his name, he called mine and then collapsed on my chest, panting heavily as he pulsed inside me.

  “Caroline,” he breathed roughly into my ear.

  “Adam,” I whispered back as I ran my fingertips over his slick skin and then it was quiet as we tried to calm ourselves. We lay silently for a few minutes, him still resting inside me as he nuzzled into my neck. It was the most incredible moment of my life and I was disappointed when he finally rolled off of me, breaking the connection between us.

  He laid on his back, staring up at the ceiling, his breathing still labored, but much calmer than before. He turned his head and looked at me with a satisfied smile.

  “That was even better than I imagined,” he said, reaching for me until my head was resting on his chest and he played with my hair. “Are you okay?” he asked a few moments later and I propped myself up, running my fingers through his hair.

  “Yes. So much more than okay,” I answered, leaning forward and kissing him.

  “I didn’t plan for this to happen tonight, but holy crap, I’m glad it did,” he said and I started laughing. “You’re a vixen, Caroline Hale.” He was smiling a smile I’d never quite seen on him before. One of complete contentment and I still found it hard to believe I was the reason for that contentment.

  “Me too,” I whispered, my throat catching and I felt the tears threatening again. I knew Adam saw too because he reached out, cupping my cheek with his palm and gently stroked my jawline with his thumb.

  “You look as if you’re about to cry, Caroline. What’s the matter?” he asked softly and I shook my head.

  “I don’t know,” I answered quietly, looking away until he forced my gaze back to his. “That was…that was…amazing, Adam. I guess…I guess I’m afraid it’s all going to come to an end.”

  He sat up quickly, kissing me deeply and then looking into my eyes.

  “Don’t do this, Caroline. Don’t ruin this moment. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

  His eyes bored into mine fiercely and I knew he meant what he said. He reached for the blanket that usually rested on the foot of the bed. It was now on the floor after our exertions, but once he had it, he pulled me to him, draping the blanket over us and holding me tightly.

  “Can we just have this moment? Right now, just you and me?” he asked quietly, kissing the top of my head and I snuggled in closer to him, amazed at how comfortable I was with him and how right this felt.

  “I want this moment,” I whispered.

  “Then just live it,” he replied and we were quiet for a few minutes.

  “Stay with me tonight, Adam,” I finally said, breaking the stillness that had settled over the room. “Hold me till morning.”

  He kissed the top of my head again and pulled me closer.

  “Like I told you, I’m not going anywhere.”

  His words washed over me and I closed my eyes, so at peace in his arms. The man I’d known my whole life felt like a piece of myself that I’d been missing. I hadn’t even realized I didn’t have it until it’d been filled by him. I couldn’t stand the thought of this changing between us, because in his arms, I’d never felt more perfect.

  Twenty-One

  The sunlight streaming through the windows woke me up the next morning. I looked over at the alarm clock. It was nearly seven. We should’ve been up for an hour tending to the cows. Sawyer would be having a fit if he knew the morning chores had been neglected, but then I laughed to myself knowing the cows would be the least of his concerns when he realized what it was that had kept us from our duties.

  I sat up, looking down at Adam. He was still asleep, looking more gorgeous than anyone should in the morning. His hair was a disheveled mess and there was a light shadow on his face. I reached over, stroking his cheek lightly and his eyes fluttered open. It took him a moment to focus, but when he did, a smile stretched on his face.

  “Good morning,” he said. His voice was scratchy and he cleared his throat.

  “Hey,” I said, smiling down at him. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Like a rock. You?” he asked.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever slept so good,” I said and then he kissed me gently.

  “Maybe we should make a habit of this,” he said with a raised eyebrow and I laughed quietly.

  “Don’t tempt me with things that can’t happen.”

  “It can,” he began and then paused. “Under the right circumstances.”

  “Under what circumstances? Sawyer comes home today.”

  “Like next Friday when I have to go to Boston for my appointment,” he said, taking my hand and smiling. “Come with me.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked, not expecting the invitation.

  “Yes, Caroline. Come with me to Boston. I can show you my place and take you out. Maybe we can catch a game and I can show you around Fenway.”

  “I don’t know,” I said softly, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I have to work and help out around here.”

  “It’s two days and then we’ll be back here. C’mon,” he said, kissing the back of my hand. “At least tell me you’ll think about it.”

  I could see the hope on his face and I nodded.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” I told him.

  “That’s all I can ask for,” he said and then he kissed me again. “Now,” he said with a grin on his face, “I’m going to make you breakfast.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Adam,” I said, reaching over and resting my hand on his cheek.

  “I want to.” He took my hand from his face and kissed the back of it.

  “We should get outside though. I’m sure the cows are already screaming at us,” I said and he laughed, pulling the blanket off and standing up. He didn’t seem the least bit fazed that we’d never put our clothes back on last night and I had a hard time not staring at him as he walked around the bed to find his shorts. He slid them on along with his shirt and shoes.

  “The cows can wait. It’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.” He smiled again and then leaned down, kissing me on the forehead, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

  “Okay,” I finally agreed and then he was gone.

  I watched as he walked away, my mind drifting back to what we’d shared the night before and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my face.

  I forced myself to get up and put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I threw my hair up into a ponytail and brushed my teeth before heading downstairs. I could hear him in the kitchen and I could smell eggs frying. I stopped in the doorway to see him standing by the stove looking entirely too hot for someone cooking breakfast. He must’ve heard me because he cocked his head to the side, grinning at me.

  “Scrambled okay?” he asked and I nodded.

  “Perfect,” I said, walking over to the table and sitting down while he finished up.

  “You still prefer grape jelly?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I told him and I heard him laugh quietly.

  “I remember one time when you screamed at Sawyer for eating all of your grape jelly and only leaving you with the homemade raspberry stuff your aunt made.”

  “You remember that?” I asked, blushing at the actions of my former self.

  “I remember a lot of things about you,
Caroline,” he said, turning and winking at me, causing my cheeks to redden even more.

  Adam spread the jelly on our toast and then brought a plate over for each of us, taking a seat across from me.

  “Thank you for breakfast,” I said, raising my eyes to meet his.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied and then we ate quietly for a few moments until he spoke again, causing me to look up from my eggs to see him looking at me. “Caroline,” he began, his voice taking a more serious tone than before as he reached across the table and took my hand. “I…I want you to know that…that as much as I love what happened last night…I want you to know that’s not what it’s all about to me. I wasn’t planning on this already and I just want to make sure you know that for me, it’s simply about being with you…spending time with you. I hope…I hope you didn’t feel like you had to do that…that I expected it from you because I would’ve waited as long as you needed.”

  His fingertips were gently stroking the top of my hand and I couldn’t take my eyes from his, from the way he was looking at me with such concern.

  “You don’t need to try and protect me, Adam,” I said. “I made my choice and I wanted to. I have no regrets.” I paused a moment, wondering if maybe the reason he’d brought it up was because he had regrets. “Do you?”

  “Only one,” he said softly and I felt my heart begin to beat nervously.

  “What do you regret?” I asked, the apprehension heavy in my voice that melted the moment I heard his words.

  “That it took us so long to find each other.”

  He squeezed my hand and then kissed the back of it. My heart had never been so full. There wasn’t a question anymore. I knew without a doubt that I had fallen in love with Adam DeLain.

  Twenty-Two

  “I have to say I’m relieved. I really didn’t think the two of you could pull it off.”

  We were standing in the barn the next morning and Sawyer was looking around the place, obviously surprised to see it still standing. He hadn’t gotten home till late the night before. I wasn’t sure exactly when because Adam and I had parted ways around seven. We weren’t sure when to expect Sawyer home and so we had dinner and then said goodnight, as hard as it’d been after how we’d spent the previous night.

  “You seriously must think we’re idiots, Sawyer,” Adam said, crossing his arms defensively as he looked at my brother. “It’s milking some damn cows for God’s sakes.”

  “No offense intended, Adam,” he said and then Sawyer looked at me. “And thank you for helping out this weekend. I know it wasn’t easy being trapped here all weekend.” I felt a smile trying to form on my face at his words. Little did my brother know, I’d quite enjoyed being trapped at the farm all weekend. I fought the smile though and nodded before my eyes drifted to Adam’s briefly. We looked at each other knowingly, but then we both turned our attention back to Sawyer. “Thank you. Both of you,” my brother said.

  “You’re welcome. Now, I’ve gotta get going. Gram’s expecting me for the breakfast shift. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Sure thing,” Sawyer said and then turned around and started busying himself with the morning chores. I looked at Adam and then he discreetly took my hand for a moment, holding it tightly as our eyes met. I wanted him to kiss me. He wanted it too, but Sawyer was only a few feet away. I squeezed his hand and our eyes locked for a few more seconds before I let go and walked out of the barn. I could hear Adam talking to Sawyer as if nothing had changed over the weekend. Things had changed though, I just didn’t know how I was going to tell him.

  ~~~

  “You’ve been in La La Land all day. You’ve hardly said two words to me and you’ve been walking around with a stupid grin on your face. What the hell is wrong with you?” Erica said as we walked out of the restaurant. We’d done the breakfast and lunch shift together and now that it was three o’clock, we were heading home.

  “Nothing is wrong with me. I’m just thinking,” I told her as we approached our cars.

  “About what?” she demanded as I reached into my purse for my keys.

  “Why do you think you always have to know my business?”

  “Because that’s what I do. You know that, so stop stalling and tell me what’s up.” She reached over and grabbed my keys. “I’m not giving these back until you fill me in.”

  I sighed, brushing some hair off my forehead and then leaned against my car.

  “I just had a good weekend is all.”

  A wry smile curled up on her face and she leaned back on her car that was parked next to mine.

  “Why was it so good?”

  “Well,” I began as I thought about how much I was actually going to tell my loud-mouthed cousin. “Sawyer went down to the coast with Lindsey so Adam and I were in charge of the farm for the last few days.”

  “Just the two of you? No chaperones?”

  “No chaperones,” I said and I felt the grin on my face as an image of Adam naked on top of me appeared in my head.

  “You’re blushing, Caroline,” Erica said, leaning forward and pinching one of my cheeks.

  “I am not,” I said, swatting her hand away.

  “So, what happened?”

  “He took me out on a real date to dinner in Burlington and then he showed me this amazing spot on top of the mountain and we talked for a long time before heading back to the farm and then we…” I didn’t get a chance to finish my sentence before she interrupted.

  “Did the nasty!”

  I felt my face burning now and my mouth hung open.

  “Erica! Shut up!” I exclaimed quietly, shushing her.

  “C’mon. Don’t deny it! I knew that’s what it was all day long. Someone only looks like that after an amazing orgasm or should I say multiple amazing orgasms. I was just waiting for you to tell me.”

  “But I didn’t tell you. You concluded while I was trying to fill you in on my weekend with Adam before you interrupted.”

  “I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait though. You were beating around the bush,” she said and then winced. “Oooh, bad pun. I mean, you were pussyfooting around the subject. Oh wait,” she said, grinning to herself. “That pun was even worse or maybe it was better. Anyway…you know what I mean. You weren’t going to say it outright, so I did.”

  “I haven’t admitted to anything,” I scoffed.

  “You don’t have to. I know you fucked Adam.”

  “Seriously, Erica. Do you have to be so crass?”

  “I’m not being crass. I’m being factual.”

  “No, you’re not. What Adam and I did was not fucking. Fucking is when there’s no emotional attachment. It’s purely carnal. That was not what we did,” I said defensively. I wasn’t going to have her cheapen what we’d done. “He cares about me and I care about him. I…I think I may even be in love with him,” I added softly and Erica just stood there, staring at me, her mouth open.

  “What did you say?” she finally asked.

  “I think I’m in love with him,” I repeated quietly and then she started laughing. “Why are you laughing, Erica?”

  “Because, Caroline. You can’t be in love with him. You’re in love with the idea of being in love with him.”

  “No, I’m not. I know what I feel. I don’t quite understand it, but I know.”

  She reached out, resting her hand on my arm and looking at me with a pout.

  “You can’t do this to yourself, Caroline,” she said softly.

  “Do what to myself?”

  “Let yourself believe this is anything more than it actually is.”

  “And what do you think it is?” I asked, crossing my arms defensively.

  “It’s a fling. You’re a distraction to him…with everything that’s going on with him right now. You’re comfortable and you take his mind off things.”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t know him. You don’t know how he is or what he’s said to me.”

  “I’m not saying he doesn’t mean what he’s sayin
g…” she said and then paused for a second before continuing. “Right now. When he leaves though…”

  “You think he’ll change his mind,” I said crossly.

  “I wish I didn’t, but…but I do.”

  “You don’t think I haven’t thought about that? That he and I haven’t talked about it?”

  “I’m not saying that and I don’t think he wants to hurt you, but…do you really think you can live in his world?”

  “You don’t know anything, Erica. I don’t understand you. Weren’t you the one who told me not to worry about the future and just focus on enjoying what’s happening now? Why are you changing your tune now?”

  “Because I didn’t think you’d fall this hard this fast. I wanted you to enjoy this thing with Adam, but here you are throwing around the L word and I think you’re just fooling yourself,” she said and then her voice softened. “Don’t do this to yourself, honey. When he gets back to Boston he can have whatever he wants…whoever he wants…you’ve seen the women he’s been with and you’re…”

  “I get it, Erica,” I interrupted. “I’m not them. I’m just Caroline from Silver Falls. Yeah, I know. Thanks for making me feel like a piece of shit.”

  “Don’t get like this, Caroline. I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “The only one hurting me right now is you, Erica. You certainly know how to make a girl feel good about herself. I know in your eyes and in the eyes of the rest of the world, I’m not good enough for Adam DeLain, but he’s never made me feel that way. Only you have,” I said, tears brimming my eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Caroline. I’m just concerned about you and maybe I could’ve been more delicate with what I said, but I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “You know, Erica,” I said, glaring over to my cousin and grabbing my keys back from her, “I love you, but you can be a real bitch sometimes.”