Cozy (Cozy 1)

There’s a knock at the door and I tell whoever it is to come in. I’m surprised when I see Timber standing there in the open doorway with his knuckles still resting on the solid wood. He fills up all the remaining space in the room with his presence alone.

“You don’t invite people into your room without knowing who it is first.”

God, why is he always so grumpy? My eyes roam over him, and he might be a grouchy butt, but damn he’s handsome. He cleaned up from his day out chopping logs and even though he’s still in jeans and a shirt, he looks like he belongs here. My eyes flick to the fireplace that’s going and I wonder if he used the wood to light it himself.

“I knew it was you.” I smirk. “No one is allowed upstairs in the castle but you and Simon,” I remind him.

I remember him saying it and I knew he wasn’t joking because I watched as the two of them lugged all my boxes up to my new room and neither of them let me help. I was told to have a look around, which I did, and it worked out because my sister wants as many pictures as possible. She wants to see the first floor so she can start preparations for the party.

I’m lucky she’s out of town at the moment because she’s not going to be down with me staying with Timber. Her boss took her on an unexpected business trip and I’m hoping that when she gets back she’s okay because she sees I’m alive and kicking. At that point, she can see that Timber hasn’t kidnapped or harmed me and she’ll be okay with me staying until the party. We don’t have much of a choice if she wants this to happen.

“It could’ve been Simon.” He stands a little taller as he steps inside the room.

“So? What does that matter? The door is open and it’s not like I’m running around naked.” I left the door open because this place is so big it’s kind of scary, and more so with the storm.

I watch as his eyes narrow on me and he clenches his jaw. “No one is allowed in your room.”

“Simon helped with the boxes,” I point out.

“He brought them to the door.” His tone is flat.

“And you brought them inside?” I laugh, not really understanding.

“Yes.”

“Just like no one is allowed in the upper part of the estate but here I am.” I motion around the beautiful room. It’s not going to be a hardship staying here. It feels like a fancy hotel.

His only response is a grunt and we stare at one another.

“You’re always smiling.”

“What’s wrong with smiling?” It’s actually hard not to smile when he’s being so grumpy. It’s kind of adorable but I’m not telling him that. “I’m sorry that bothers you. Is there something you need?”

“Why haven’t you unpacked?” He looks to my boxes. “What’s in all these?” He walks over to one and rips it open easily.

“Hey!” I march over to the box as he opens the lid and luckily it’s filled with yarn. He reaches in, picking some of it up and inspecting it like he’s never seen anything like it before.

“What is this?”

“Yarn.” This time I make my tone as flat as his.

“I meant what’s it for.” He looks from the yarn filling his hands to me.

“I knit.”

“You knit?” he repeats, his eyebrows furrowing together as he looks confused.

“You’re lucky that box wasn’t full of my panties.” He drops the yarn and steps away from the box. I have to fight a laugh at the look on his face. “Yes, I have panties in here,” I tease.

“Someone packed your panties?” His face changes and I swear his eyes darken.

“Let’s hope so. I can’t wear the ones I’ve got on now the whole time.” I try to tease him again, but the man is really on edge.

“I told them not to touch them.” His voice is low as he starts ripping open each box. “I’ll have them fired.”

I watch him with shock as he goes through all of them. He told the movers to not touch my underwear? I hadn’t given it much thought but I guess it’s a little weird for someone to pack those private things. I should stop him from ripping open each box but it really does save me from having to do it later.

“I don’t see any.” He’s breathing heavy like he just ran a few miles. Chopping wood didn’t wind him, but somehow this has.

“I’m glad you solved that riddle. Now you don’t have to fire anyone,” I say happily, not wanting anyone to lose their job over my underwear. “I guess I’ll go without or maybe I can knit some.” I laugh. “Is that a thing? Knitted undies? I’ve never tried that before.” I laugh harder at the thought, but when I look at Timber he isn’t finding this so funny.