“How do you think I’m going to get past those gates?” I ask.
Sure I can talk to the guy, but the bigger problem looks like getting to him. A giant stone wall protects the home and no one is getting in without being let in.
“Flash those dimples to the guard at the gate.”
“Okay.” I shrug. I’ll give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen?
Chapter 2
Timber
“Excuse me, Mr. Grayson, there’s someone at the gate.”
I sink the axe into the wood one last time before I turn to face Simon. Sweat rolls down my face and I use my forearm to wipe my brow. I feel the dirt and bits of wood abrade my skin, but I ignore it.
The sun is beating down on me and I feel the sting on my shoulders and back. It doesn’t feel like October because the slight chill in the air isn’t enough to cool me down. I probably shouldn’t have taken off my shirt, but I got so damn hot I soaked through it within seconds of working.
I admit, though, that maybe it has less to do with the temperature outside and more to do with my size. I’m not in the best of shape, but when my parents named me Timber they must have known I’d grow into it. I’m tall and solid like a sequoia with strong arms and legs. I can chop wood and haul lumber all day long, but I’ll never have a six-pack to show for it. I’m heavy when I walk and can’t run a mile, but I can bend a crowbar in half and lift a car if I need to.
“Who is it?” I grumble as I walk over to the nearby trough of water.
Leaning over the huge basin, I use both hands to splash my body and clear the dirt off of me. I scrub my beard, and I’m reminded that I need to give it a trim at some point. I’ve been working on clearing out a section of my land and I’ve been putting it off for too long.
“A young lady by the name of Pippa Michaels.”
I grunt as I splash more water on my chest. The cool air has chilled the water and it feels good. “Don’t know her.” I’ve never heard the name in my life.
Simon lets out a small chuckle like it’s a private joke. “Neither do I, but she was very persuasive, so I’ve asked her to wait in the lounge. I think you should speak to her.”
I grab my worn shirt from the side of the basin and use it to wipe my face and arms before I drag it over the hair of my chest. As I clean myself off I glance over to the windows at the back of the castle that face out to where I’m standing.
The castle has been in my family for hundreds of years, but since my parents died, I’m the last one left and the sole heir. All of my best memories were made in and around these walls even though we only visited during the holidays. I moved up here permanently after they died, and I’ve isolated myself. I don’t like going out in the world and being surrounded by people. I prefer the woods and the quiet escape that the castle brings. I’ve got plenty of staff and security that stay here full time, and even though they usually leave me alone, it’s still almost too many people here with me.
Simon was my parents’ butler and when they died, he asked if he could remain living in the castle and act as my butler. I didn’t know what to do with him at first, but then after a while I realized he did his own thing and only came to me when the staff needed something he couldn’t do for them. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if he left, so I should probably stop acting like an asshole around him.
“Send her away,” I growl. Guess today isn’t the day that’s going to change.
“I believe you might need to do that for yourself.” He steps to the side and I see in the distance a woman on the patio next to the lounge. The large doors that lead onto the patio are behind her and wide open.
“Fuck,” I mutter, shaking the dirt out of my shirt, and begin stomping towards the castle. “Guess a little privacy is just too much to ask for.”
I can almost hear Simon rolling his eyes behind me but I don’t care. Can’t he see I’m busy?
Scowling at the ground in front of me, I make my way towards the house. I’m already coming up with exactly where I’m going to tell this woman to stick it when I look up and come to an abrupt stop.
“Hi.”
Her voice is soft and it catches me off guard, and I realize I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that she walked off the patio and across the garden to meet me halfway. Her wavy blond hair cascades over to one side, exposing her bare shoulder on the other. Her thick woolen oversized sweater is swallowing her, and it makes her look so small and slight. But as my eyes move from her neck to her bust and down to her waist, I can only see thick curves hidden under there.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Her words bring my eyes to hers and it’s then I look into soft brown eyes the color of maple syrup. Without thinking I lick my lips. “I see you’re busy, but I did try calling first.”
“I don’t have a phone.”
“Really? I called and talked to someone named Simon who told me to drop by.” She looks over to my butler, who decides now is the perfect time to walk away.
“I think it’s time for tea.” He quickens his pace to move out of my reach.
“Did he?” I glare over her head to Simon’s retreating back. “I’ll have to speak to him about that.”
“I’m Pippa.” She juts her hand out and it hangs there between us as I stare at it.
I sigh, wipe my palm down my jeans and take her hand. It’s so small and soft and pale compared to mine. Her fingers are cold, and just then a cool breeze blows against my back and I realize I’m still shirtless. As if she is reading my thoughts, I watch her eyes move down my chest and to my stomach. I have the sudden urge to suck in and flex all at once, but when I see the edge of her tongue on the side of her lips, I wonder if she might just like what she sees.
I gently squeeze her hand and the pressure gets her attention. For a second I feel a smile tug at my lips and the feeling is so strange and foreign I’m shocked that it’s been so long since I’ve done it.
She tugs slightly on her hand and I let it go, although for a second I don’t want to. It’s like being in kindergarten and having a toy taken from me. A surge of anger flashes through me but I ignore it.
“Timber,” I say, and I have to clear my rough voice. “Why are you here?”
Her smile widens and I see the dimples on either side of her cheeks. My eyebrows pull together as I stare at them and I decide I don’t like dimples. They’re too goddamn sweet and innocent. I bet men fall all over themselves at the sight of them, and that thought makes me angry too. I need to go chop some more wood.
“I’ve come to see if I can rent your castle.” She shrugs that one bare shoulder and I decide I hate that too. Doesn’t she own a sweater that can cover her whole body? It’s October, for Christ’s sake. I don’t bother to look down at my own hypocritically bare chest.
“I don’t rent out my home.”
She cocks her head to the side and I wonder why she doesn’t have her hair pulled up. Seeing it down like this is obscene. Any man could reach out and run their fingers through it. I should find her some string.
“What about a trade? A favor?” she offers.