“Where have you been?” he barks, just like Celia predicted.
“Shut up,” I bite out, taking myself by surprise. Oh wow. I must really be mad.
I take off my seatbelt then get out of the car, ready to go. He reaches for me but I bat his giant hand away as I walk past him. I give myself a mental pat on the back as I hold my chin high.
“Shut up?” he repeats from behind me.
“Yeah. Shut up. Has no one ever told you to do that before?” I shout over my shoulder. “Oh wait. You’d have to talk for someone to tell you to shut up.”
Ha! I’ve never done anything like this with someone before but I think I nailed that one. Usually I’m a sweet talker according to my sister. But if that were true I’d have nice flowers instead of the shit ones they tried to give me today.
“Can I get you anything?” Simon asks as I enter into the house. He’s smiling so big at me that I can’t help but return one even in my anger.
“I need a hot shower and food,” I admit. “Then bed.”
“You do the first, and I’ll handle the second.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, ignoring the shell-shocked Timber beside me. “And thank you for coming with me, Celia.”
“We’ll find flowers, sweet girl. Worry about it tomorrow; today is done.” I smile and nod in agreement before walking up the stairs quickly to my room.
I try and slam my door, but when I don’t hear it bang shut I look over my shoulder to see Timber caught it. He stands in my doorway, unmoving with an expression of shock and anger.
“Go away,” I tell him. I pull my wet shoes and socks off and toss them on the bathroom floor. He remains where he is, silent and unmoving. “Isn’t there a tree you need to go murder?”
Still he says nothing.
I go for my shirt next and start to pull it over my head. Now he moves into my room and closes the door behind him. I take it off and toss it with my shoes and I watch as his eyes fill with heat and his jaw tightens. I know that look because I saw it in his eyes last night. I’m not looking for a repeat because I know how that turns out.
“Shocker. You can’t speak.”
I roll my eyes as I bend over and take my jeans off next. Those are a fight to get off with how soaked they are. I start to fall over but his strong arms catch me easily. Against my better judgment I stare up into Timber’s deep green eyes. My own eyes begin to water as emotions swell in my chest.
“You should have been there today. It should have been you changing my tire, not some random man,” I shout at him. His eyes soften but he looks almost pained. “Say something!”
“You told me to shut up.”
I almost laugh at his admission, but I guess that’s better than crying. This is never going to work. He doesn't get it and he’s breaking my heart. I wanted to be here for him but I’m not sure my heart can take it. I didn’t realize how much of it he held until today when he was gone and the ache was so deep and heavy.
“Timber, I think—” His mouth crashes down onto mine before I can tell him that maybe it’s time I go.
Chapter 13
Timber
She smells like rain and flowers and I can’t get close enough to her. Seeing her body slick and chilled called me and I had to go to her. Then when she started to fall over, I had no choice but to take her in my arms.
“Timber, I can’t do this.” She pushes against my chest and the hollow of my heart aches.
“I’m so sorry, I should have been there.” I press my forehead to hers but I can still feel her tense body trying to reject me.
“It’s fine. Someone came to help us.” She looks away and I can’t take it.
“No.” I take her chin in my hand and turn her to face me. “I should have been there when you woke up this morning. I shouldn’t have gotten scared and left.”
“What were you so afraid of?” I can see the outline of hope in her eyes and watch as she cautiously stops trying to move away from me.
“I’ve never done this before, never felt this much before. I don’t know what I’m doing and I know I screwed it up but you have to stay. I could see the idea in your head even before you got out of the car. You want to get away from here, and I don’t blame you.”
“Timber, I—”
“I’ll follow you,” I say, cutting her off. “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you, but I won’t leave you again. I know this castle is in the middle of nowhere and I don’t have much to offer other than money. I’m quiet and grouchy, but there’s nothing I love more than seeing your presence fill these cold rooms.”
She softens against me as I place a kiss on her cheek.
“You’ve come in and scared the hell out of me with how much I need you. You’ve turned everything I had upside down and the thought of you being miserable here made me run away this morning. I don’t want to hold you back and I don’t deserve you. But goddamn it, I won’t let you out of my sight ever again and if that means moving to the city and following you around like a dog, then so be it.”
“I was so mad and hurt this morning when I woke up. After all the promises you made me last night you just disappeared. How do I know you won’t do it all over again?”
“Because I can’t put either of us through that again.” I get down on my knees in front of her and peel the wet denim off her feet. I toss it aside and curse myself once again for letting her out of my grasp. “I was a fool to convince myself I could let you go. But there’s some kind of magic you’ve brought to this castle and suddenly we’re all awake.” I take the small box out of my pocket and open it while I stay on my knees. “My heart beats because I’ve fallen in love. I’m alive because of you.”
She gasps as I open the box and reveal the diamond ring nestled inside.
“Holy cow,” she whispers, putting her hand over her mouth.
“I know this may seem sudden but you don’t understand what you’ve done to me. When I heard you’d left today I thought I’d lost it all and I vowed to never let that happen again. So that’s what this is, Pippa. It’s my vow, my promise to never ever leave you again and to always take care of you. To keep you, and cherish you, and love you. Forever.”
“Timber.” More tears well in her eyes as I slip the ring on her finger.
“You don’t have to answer yet, and you don’t have to say it back. I love you, so let me prove to you that I’m telling you the truth. Let me gain your trust and your love while I give you all of mine.”
Before she can answer I’m off my knees and pulling her into my arms. I might not give her a chance to answer me, but her legs wrap around my waist and her fingers dive into my hair and that’s good enough for me. When her mouth opens and her tongue searches for mine, I know I’ve got her at least interested in the idea of being mine forever.
Maybe Simon didn’t intend for me to go this overboard on doing something nice for her, but I have two speeds: fast and fucking fast. I know myself and my own mind well enough to know when I want something to go for it. I had planted my own seeds of doubt last night while holding her in my arms, but I won’t allow that to happen again. Pippa is the one for me and in the time we’ve spent together I’ve fallen in love with her. Everyone here could see it except me, and although it might have taken me a hot second to catch up, I’m here and I’m not moving.