“I’m not sure, but I think you’re on a do-not-talk-to list or something.” Wilder smirks. “So everyone will probably ignore you if you try to help.”
“No one is listening to it.” I roll my eyes.
I get it, though, because Walker is so damn charming. No wonder he’s so good at his job.
“I actually think we’re all good, but why—”
“Nat!” Jen pushes Wilder out of the way and gives me a giant hug.
“I told you I’m fine.” I hug her back, needing my best friend right now more than I realized.
“You sure you’re okay?” she whispers into my ear, and when I don’t respond, she searches my face. “I’m stealing my best friend for a second.”
When she starts to pull me away, Walker’s hand reaches out lightning fast and snags me by the wrist. Now they each have one of my arms, with me stuck in the middle.
“Are you trying to steal my girl?”
“You’ve had her for days,” Jen hisses as her grip tightens.
“I was an only child. I don’t share well.” Walker tugs right back, not willing to back down.
The two of them pulling on my arms is so symbolic of how I actually feel. I’m being ripped in half.
“Stop!” I shout as I yank my hands from both of their holds. Jen releases my hand, but Walker doesn’t, and his eyes narrow on me in challenge.
“You think I don’t sense you’re trying to get away from me, princess? You can have your fit, but I’m not letting you go.” I gape at him. He did not just say I was having a fit. “I know you better than you think.” He taps me on the tip of my nose with one finger, and I realize that I’m going to murder him.
“Then why are you trying to break my heart!” I shout. “Or is it that you know it will and you just don’t care!” I stomp my foot. Okay, maybe I am having a fit, but it’s called for.
“And you’re done.”
“I’m not—” My words are cut off when he suddenly tosses me over his shoulder. “What are you doing!” I wiggle around, and then I feel him smack my ass. “Why are you all just standing there!” I shout to my brother. I’m not really sure where he is because my hair is in my face as I’m draped over Walker’s shoulder.
“Because I know what’s good for you,” I hear my brother say as Walker carries me away.
A door slams, and a second later the sound of a lock clicking into place is ominous. My back lands on a very familiar bed that still smells of the two of us. Walker comes down on top of me, pinning me to it, and his tone is filled with so much warning.
“Princess.” My bottom lip starts to tremble as I fight not to cry. “Shit, did I hurt you?” Again, he moves me around like I’m a freaking doll. I’m in his lap in a flash as he sits on the side of the bed. “You’ve got to talk to me, princess. You’re killing me here. I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me,” he demands.
“I heard you on the phone.”
His eyes widen for a second. “And?”
“And…” I sputter back at him.
“Yeah, you think I’m not going to be moving here? You’re here. I’m here. Period. We can keep your place, or if you want or build something bigger on your land, we can. I know you want to stay there. Don’t you?”
“Live on my land?” I repeat.
“Where else would we live? You love this place. You’ve been selling me on it since I got here. Hell. I think I love it already too.” He gives me a coy smile. “Not as much as I love you, but I don’t think I’ll ever love anything that much.”
I stare at him, trying to process his words. “You love me?” That much I get right off the bat. The rest is still settling in.
“I’ve been trying to fuck my kid into you, and I’m moving my whole life here. Hell, yes, I love you. You’re my princess.” He strokes my cheek.
“But on the phone I thought you said…” I trail off, my mind looping right back to the I love you. I must have misheard.
“I don’t know what you heard, but I was talking to my assistant who is wrapping everything up for me in the city so that I don’t have to go back and do it myself. I’m not leaving anytime soon unless it’s for our honeymoon.”
I burst into tears. This time they are actually happy ones, but I manage to speak through them when horror takes over Walker’s handsome face.
“I thought you were selling the mountain or something since you own all of me now.” That’s the truth. As much as I love this town, I think in the end I’d leave if it meant being with Walker. I’d hate it, but I’d hate not having him more. I might try and fight it at first, but in the end, I know I’ll need him more than anything else.