6

Celine can’t believe that Callahan has seen through her alibi right away that she was just trying to avoid him. But then, she’s quite thankful that he didn’t jump to more conclusions, such as that everything was just a lie and a made-up story by her.

“It’s true that I’d help the harvest,” she said, eager to make a point.

Callahan scoffs in disbelief that she was determined to defend herself when she was already caught making alibis just to not come with him at the party.

Callahan leaned forward until their faces leveled, and Celine didn’t show any sign that she looked guilty or even shy a bit about what she had done. Instead, she looked at him with great determination too.

“A girl who was full of determination, I see.” He nodded while looking at her with full confidence.

Celine took her fruit shake again and sipped on it as her eyes remained on him, being watchful and letting him know she wouldn’t back down so easily.

But despite the coldness she was trying to strike, her chest was banging loudly again, and she was screaming inside her mind. Callahan leaned back in his seat when Celine’s mother appeared again and brought them some dessert they could munch.

Callahan stifled his smile and tried to converse with her mother who was now coaxing him to try the food she had baked earlier while waiting for them.

Even though Celine was trying to focus on the food, her eyes would find themselves glancing at Callahan who was snatching a glimpse of her too. Every time they would look at each other, Callahan would stifle his smile and act like he was too invested in listening to her mother’s rant about random things.

Don’t dwell on the way he flashes his charm so much, Celine. Remember the woman whom he’s close with at the university? He’s quite a womanizer, and he really radiates it too. He might be doing this to other girls as well. If Gaile digs deeper into him, you might find out how many women he has slept with in the past and up until now.

After eating, she changed into new clothes and received assistance from Callahan to put her belongings in her own room. Callahan signaled if he could come in, to which Celine nodded, as she didn’t mind letting him roam around the room she had never used.

Callahan put his hand in his pocket as he looked at the displayed frames that were all Celine’s solo pictures during her younger days that were taken candidly.

Callahan took the frame, which he found adorable, and wondered how on earth the kid who seemed so lively in the picture was now acting so distant and snobby like she had never had a fun childhood to be this serious.

 Though it was just her facade, people would always mistake her for someone who doesn’t feel things around her as she rarely shows too much emotion. And even Callahan thinks she is the coldest woman he has met who doesn’t get too interested in things easily.

“You look cute here,” Callahan said, showing it to Celine, who was busy opening her bag.

Celine just glanced at the photo he was talking about, smiled a little, and went back to what she was doing.

Callahan put it back and walked toward her as he sat on the side of the bed while he watched how she rummaged through her things as he rested his hands at the back.

“You’ll tour me around? Your mom has mentioned it,” he said.

“Ah, yes.”

“She also mentioned to me that you are good at horseback riding,” he pointed out.

The truth is, equestrian is one of her favorite hobbies which she enjoys doing together with her siblings.

“Yes. Because there were horses here so I got used to riding them since I was a kid,” she said.

“Yup. I saw your other pictures while you were in your full attire, and it seems like you’re skilled at equestrian.”

Celine looked at him for a while but then continued to find her charger until she found it. She charged her phone while she tried to set aside the fact that Callahan was sitting on the bed like a tease.

“I’ll show you around,” she said, coaxing him to get out of the room right away.

Callahan could sense how Celine seemed so desperate to push him out of her room that he could tell he was kind of crossing her boundary and didn’t want Callahan to cross it.

Janna let Celine tour him around when even she didn’t really know the whole place. They went to the horse’s stable first so that they could choose a horse and ride both as they toured around the land.

Celine could tell what horse would suit her the best, and she chose the one who seemed so gentle to handle that she chose the black one which was a bit larger, while Callahan chose the white one.

They both went into the horse and held its rope skillfully. Celine noticed that it wasn’t Callahan’s first time riding a horse either.

They both let it run out of the stable until they were heading to the wide land as Callahan tried to level with Celine. But then, Celine doesn’t want to see his face every second so she advances which makes Callahan chase after her.

They were like having a competition as their horses ran as fast as they could.

“What’s this? Are you trying to compete with me for a race?” Callahan asked as the smirk on his lips taunted that he could defeat her so easily.

Celine only smirked, and the horse ran so fast that it immediately left Callahan who immediately chased after her too.

The wind played on her hair as it danced untameably as she handled the horse like those days when she would always race with her siblings. She glanced at the back and saw Callahan tailing after her and seemed so eager to get to her.

Celine was so vivid in Callahan's eyes when their eyes met, the heat of the sun was kissing her skin, her hair was jumping and dancing from the movement.

She smirked tauntingly at Callahan and how he caught a glimpse of it as well until he came to his senses and saw the tree. He pulled the rope up until the horse stood and shouted while panicking as Callahan fell and groaned.

When Celine saw what happened, she immediately controlled her horse and ran back to him. She jumped out of the horse as soon as she got to him and crouched to check if he was okay.

“Why did you fall? Are you okay?” She asked worriedly while Callahan was squinting his eyes and trying to endure the pain when he fell.

“Hey! Callahan! I’ll call an ambulance if you aren’t okay.” She was about to stand up when Callahan pulled her until she crouched again.

Callahan shook his head. “I’m fine. I just hurt my hands a bit because I use them to control myself when I fall on the ground,” he said, showing his hands.

Celine saw the scratches, as well as the scrape on his knees. Celine sighed and helped him stand.

“Ride on my horse. We’ll go back so we can treat your wound before it becomes infected,” she said as she pulled him up.

Callahan slowly pulled himself up as he winced a bit when his back hurt, realizing the impact when he fell down.

Celine worriedly guided him while Callahan was glancing at her. He knew that it was that trance earlier, as he didn’t take his eyes off her. He didn’t notice what was in front of him. He fell onto the horse because he was fully distracted by her beauty.

Of course, he doesn’t want to admit that, just as he doesn’t want her to know either. He took his eyes off her and went to the horse as Celine sat in front of him.

They both realized their position. Celine acted like she was just doing him a favor and trying to help him by letting him ride on her horse so they would get back to the house. While Callahan was obviously paying attention to their position as he kept on looking at her.

“I’ll lead it. You might lose your focus again,” Celine said as she volunteered to hold the rope of the horse and make it run.

“Can I hold you?” Callahan’s voice was trailing as he tilted his head and looked at her side profile to ask for permission.

Celine realized what he was trying to ask for, as she slowly nodded and didn’t want to put too much meaning on it. Callahan gently rested his hands on the sides of her waists and cleared his throat. Celine pretended that it was nothing, but she could feel her cheek burning in heat.