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.
The images that flash in my mind at her giving me a favor should be illegal. I have to blink a few times and tighten my lips before I blurt out something I’ll regret.
“Such as?” I meant to say no, but the goddamn word didn’t come out. I clench my fists at my side as I move closer to her.
“My sister’s company wants to rent your castle for a party, and I know she’s offered you any amount of money you want.”
I recall a very tenacious woman coming by repeatedly to ask the very same thing and I’m wondering if this is the sister.
“But I can see that money might not be what you’re after.” Her eyes quickly glance down my body and back up in a flash as her cheeks heat. “So name what you want, whatever it is, and I’ll make sure you have it.”
My treacherous feet move closer to her and I curse under my breath as a mixture of heat and anger swirls inside me. They’re fighting to see which one takes control and even I don’t know which one will win.
“Whatever I want?” I confirm, and I think about how long it’s been since I’ve had a woman.
Her tongue darts out on her bottom lip and the sight of her wet mouth makes a groan form low in my stomach.
“Tea?” Simon asks from directly beside me and the moment is shattered.
I take a breath and then a step back to see him holding out a clean shirt for me. I yank it from his outstretched hands and tug it on, then turn and stomp towards the house. When I don’t hear her footsteps behind me, I call over my shoulder.
“Are you coming or not?”
Chapter 3
Pippa
I stand there for a moment watching Timber stomp away from me. He’s asking if I’m coming with him but he doesn’t actually seem like he wants me to follow him.
“Go,” Simon whispers to me, and I jump, realizing I was staring at Timber’s backside and thighs. Normally I’d think someone behaving that way would be rude, but his grumpy attitude is kinda cute.
I speed walk to catch up with the man; he moves pretty quick for a giant. “Timber!” I shout his name so that I can catch up to him. This house is so massive I could easily get lost, and just as my thoughts begin to wander he turns around and I run right into him.
My small body bounces off his and I squeeze my eyes tight and brace to hit the floor. But to my shock, strong arms wrap around me to keep me from going over. My face presses against his solid chest and I kind of wish he hadn’t put his shirt on. Embarrassment at my dirty fantasies heats my cheeks and I tuck my chin so he can’t see. His chest is so broad and thick he won’t be able to tell. He really does live up to his name.
“You should watch where you’re going,” he tells me, but he doesn’t release me from his hold.
When I finally summon the courage to look up at him, I have to crane my neck all the way back. He’s got the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen and they’re framed with dark long lashes I would pay good money for.