I loosen my hold on the wheel and my hands still ache from the tire iron. I didn't know changing a tire would be so hard, but those stupid bolts were stuck. The man changed the tire in only a few minutes but not until I’d spent an hour trying in the pouring rain.
The gate to the castle opens before we even get to it. I pull up the long gravel driveway just glad to be back home. Okay. Not home, but where I’m living for now. I see Timber pacing back and forth until he spots my car. Then he’s stalking out into the driveway and blocking the path for me to pull around to the side. Fine. I’ll park right out front I guess.
“Just remember he’s all bark,” Celia says out the side of her mouth, but I’m not sure if she believes her own words judging by the look on her face.
Timber looks more than pissed, he looks livid. “I’m not scared of him.” I throw my car into park and he’s at my door pulling it open.
“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 Thirteen
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.