Chapter 6
Emerson
I finished my paper around midnight and proof read it quickly before getting the email ready to send it off. I had worked for hours and hadn’t even realized how quiet it was. I grabbed a cup of coffee, stuck it in the microwave, and waited. When it beeped at me, I pulled it out and headed out onto the back porch. The stars looked amazing, and I found myself wandering out into the yard with my head back just looking at them. The sheer magnitude of the little sparking lights brought a smile to my face. I stood out there and gazed at them until my coffee was gone. As I turned to make my way back to the house, a faint light in a window on Luke’s side of the house caught my attention, and I wondered if he was still awake.
I smiled thinking about the moment I opened the door earlier and found him standing there with a plate of food in his hands, and the way butterflies skidded through me when he looked at me. I couldn’t help but wonder how obvious I’d been and if he’d noticed how quickly I turned away so he couldn’t see the flush in my cheeks. I shook the thought from my head. It didn’t matter how good looking the man was; he stood for everything I was against. In both his work and his play, he was destroying the trees I was trying to save. I pushed him from my mind and headed back in the house to get some sleep.
***
I groaned when I lifted my phone to check the time. Yup, seven o’clock. I could see this sound was going to be my new alarm clock—chopping and hacking. I knew better than to look, but on my way to the bathroom I pulled back the curtain and looked anyway. I tried not to look at Luke, so I turned my attention to the now shirtless Ryan. He was cut and had a thinner, athletic build while Luke’s physique was thicker but still extremely defined. I don’t know what it was about the man, but damn Luke was pretty. It was hard to look away, so I forced myself to let go of the fabric and continue on to the bathroom. After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I made my way downstairs and made a pot of coffee. I sat on the front porch and enjoyed the crispness of the early morning air, listening as the guys continued in the backyard. After my third cup, I stood to get dressed so I could run to town for some groceries. As I was turning, I caught sight of Ryan in my peripheral vision and stopped to say hi.
“Morning.” I heard his cheery voice cut through the silence.
“Hey.” I waved and reached for the metal door handle.
“What’s up for today? You finish your report?”
“I did. I am going to send it in today. It should be about a week until I hear anything.”
“Awesome,” he smiled brightly.
“Where is the closest grocery store?” I asked him. “I stopped on my way in the other night, but I wasn’t sure if that was the closest or not.”
“Right in the center of town actually. Just around the corner from the farmers market, but it's a bit early yet for that to be open. I’ll text you the address.”
“Thank you. I love fresh vegetables,” I smiled back at Ryan.
“I am heading into town if you want me to pick some stuff up for you,” Luke said as he walked out of his door onto the porch.
“I can get it. I need to learn my way around. Thanks, though,” I said and then waved to them both and disappeared back into my house.
It seemed like he didn’t think I could do things for myself. I knew in the back of my mind that he was probably just being nice, but I didn't need anyone to take care of me. I had been taking care of myself for years.
I changed clothes and headed into town to find the store Ryan sent me the address for. While I was shopping, I got a text update that the truck with my furniture would be arriving a week later than anticipated. I frowned at my phone, not realizing that someone was standing in front of me.
“You must be Emerson,” a sweet-looking older lady said as she smiled at me.
“Yes, I am.” I smiled back.
“I’m Hildie, Ryan’s grandmother. My Ryan told us about you.” She looked over my buggy curiously.
“He did?” I questioned.
“Yes, he spoke very highly of you. He said you’re a tree person. We have that in common.”
“You love trees?” I asked.
“Yes, trees have provided for my family for years. We own the local timber company.”
“Oh, you cut down trees?” I tried to maintain a neutral expression.
“We make lumber, but don't actually cut them down. We buy them from several companies in the state.”
I felt my demeanor change, though I tried to fight it. “I work in saving trees,” I said as politely as I could, but it was obvious she noticed it bothered me.
“We try to buy from the companies that farm the trees so that our forests are preserved. And, we use every part of the tree and sell most of our scraps and leftovers to Luke so he can make furniture. Plus, the boys use the larger pieces for their silly competitions.” She smiled broadly as if that made everything okay.
I stood there looking at her, not sure what to say.
“I'll let you get back to your shopping, dear. It was nice to meet you. I just wanted to introduce myself. If you ever need anything, please let me know. Ryan can give you my phone number.”
“Thank you so much,” I said and smiled sweetly at her. I turned and started back down the aisle checking the shelves for what was on my shopping list. How did I manage to always get myself in these situations? Of course, it made sense that Ryan would have left certain parts about his life out of our conversations. He knew what I did and probably didn’t want to lose the chance I’d rent the house. Truth was, my tendency to be a little more than outspoken about my opinions was probably one of my lesser attractive qualities. Rachel had pointed it out on more than one occasion. Yet, somehow, I still managed to stick my foot in my mouth more often than not. And while I wouldn’t consider myself a hardcore tree hugger (you won’t catch me chained to a tree to save it), my passion for saving trees was a hot spot for such behavior, even though I knew most people didn’t get it. They just didn’t understand; they weren’t educated about what was happening most of the time.
Still, I wanted nothing more than to make sure Ryan knew my displeasure regarding his family’s business, but I promised myself to be polite about it.
I finished my shopping, loaded the bags into the truck, then drove back to the farmhouse. I grabbed as many bags from the truck as I could and carried them into the house. I was putting the refrigerated items away when Luke appeared at my door, bags in hand.
“I was heading out for a run and saw these in the back. Thought I would carry them in for you.” I had no idea why, but I felt myself prickle at the fact that he always appeared and always helped.
“I could have gotten them.” I looked at his hands holding the bags.
“I know,” he said with a smile and set them down on the table then turned to leave.
“Thanks.” I said as I opened the fridge to place the eggs in.
“Mrs. Rich down the road has fresh eggs for sale and they taste so much better than the ones bought at the store. I'll grab you some next time I see her.”
Gah! Really? Why was he always so helpful? “That's okay.” I placed the carton on the shelf and grabbed the jug of milk from the bag and turned again.
“And Mr. Beck has a few cows that he milks. If you happen to want some fresh milk, I can point you in that direction.”
“Are you always this helpful?” I said, not even thinking about my tone or how it came out. My hands were on my hips when I turned to him.
He raised his hands in the air and backed away. “I was just trying to be a good neighbor. Sorry if I offended you.” He turned and left, letting the screen door slam behind him. I stood and watched him as he walked the mile-long driveway. He shook his head just as he passed the trucks, and then he started running. I lost sight of him over the roll in the land.
I pulled in a deep breath and finished putting the groceries away. I wanted to apologize, but at the same time, I didn't. He always seemed to be inserting himself into my part of this little bubble we lived in like I needed all this help. I shook my head and glanced back out at the drive he jogged away on. Maybe he was genuinely considerate and thoughtful, but I doubted it. In my experience, when men were that nice to you, they wanted something, and I’d dealt with enough of that type of kindness in my life. I didn't need or want any more of it.
I grabbed my laptop and went to sit on the porch to work on proofing my grant proposal and report before sending in a final copy. It took me nearly an hour, and just as I was on the last page, Luke walked up the porch steps and stopped briefly in front of the chair next to me.
“Your mail,” he stated flatly, placing something in the rocking chair, then kept walking. I heard the slam of his screen door echo down the porch.