“I’m not angry,” he huffs, suddenly reminding me of a giant teddy bear.
“Fine. You’re not angry.” I roll my eyes before I stand up and walk over to the bar on the other side of the room and grab an empty glass. I bring it back to pour another cup of tea in it. There’s no way he can drink out of that tiny teacup and he isn’t even going to attempt it.
I add sugar and milk to make it the way I like it and then hand him the glass. He stares at me for a moment before taking it from my hand. Our fingers graze one another for a brief moment and I can feel the rough of his hands from the manual labor he does.
“So.” I sit back down in my seat and cross my legs as I pick up my tea. “What is it that you want?”
“I don’t like people,” he says before throwing back his tea in a few gulps.
“I don’t think I can get you to like people.” I take a sip of my tea to hide my smile.
“I like you.” His eyes flick to my bare shoulder.
I notice they keep going there, but what I’m wearing isn’t exactly sexy. With the way he looks at me you’d think I was in a tiny little dress, but he’s quick to hide his desire.
“You like me? I find that hard to believe.” His eyes like me but his words say otherwise.
“If you want to have a party here, you will host and coordinate it. I would have to make an appearance and you would be my date.”
I stare at him. I don’t know how to host or coordinate anything.
“Your date?” I ask, and I don’t know why that is the first thing that pops out of my mouth because there are so many other things he’s said that are problematic.
“Yes. You would stay at my side. You could talk to people for me; that way I wouldn’t have to.”
It only takes me a half a second to think it over because I know Myra can walk me through the rest of it. All that matters is that he says yes.
“I can do that,” I agree, but I have no idea why he’s okay with all of this. He could shut it down and just say no since he isn’t getting anything out of it. He turned the money down so why is he saying yes now?
Me going as his date is not what I thought he’d go after. What if he demanded I have sex with him? The thought should send me into a rage but my body tingles with the idea of him having his way with me. In all my life, I’ve never had thoughts like that, but with him they come flooding in.
I don’t want to stay any longer and embarrass myself, so I stand.
“I’ll be in contact. The party is only…” My mind blanks as I try and think of how many days we have left. I’m terrible with the details, so this should be a total disaster.
“I’m not finished.” Timber breaks me from my concentration as he leans back in the chair.
His dark hair is a mess and his beard really needs a trim. I can’t help but wonder what he looks like under all that scruff.
“There is something else I want.” Heat floods my body once again as I wait for him to continue. My heart races and I’m not sure what I want him to say. He could probably get me to do just about anything in this moment.
My dimples might have superpowers but his green eyes are my kryptonite.
Chapter Four
TIMBER
“You’ll stay here for the duration of the planning.” I set my glass down on the side table and watch her mouth fall open.
“B-but that’s weeks away.”
“Then I should have someone sent to your home today to get your things. I’ll have Simon send a team.”
I stand up and she holds out her hands. “Wait a second, you can’t just tell me I have to stay here as part of the deal.”
“Yes, I can.” I take a step closer to her, and to her credit she doesn’t retreat. “You want something I have and there is a price to pay for it.”
“They’ve offered you any amount of money you want.”
A wicked smile tugs at the corner of my lips. “Money is the one thing I don’t need.”
“I don’t think you know what you’re asking.” She huffs as I turn around and walk out of the room. Her heeled boots follow me at a quick pace. “Mr. Grayson, Timber, please let’s work this out. There will be a lot to coordinate and I’ll need to speak to my sister.”
I stop abruptly and once again she runs into my back. I turn in time to steady her and then let out a quick breath. “You’ve either got to stay a few feet back or walk beside me,” I say sharply, even as my hands linger on her arms a bit longer than necessary.