"If you say so." Brandon walks over and grabs a few boxes.
"Wait, I don't need to take all this to Betty's," I protest.
"Not taking it to Betty's." Brandon gives me a look like I'm the one that has lost my mind as he continues on his task, heading out of my room with a few of the boxes.
What the hell is happening?
Maybe I am the one that has lost my mind because I stop protesting. Pierce wants to live with me. So be it. I smirk over at him, and he only winks in response, and I know I am once again in over my head.
Chapter Eighteen
PIERCE
Ihave to say, I enjoy the fuck out of surprising Tinsley. The adorable shocked expression that takes over her face does it for me, but I also enjoy all of her animated reactions. The tediousness that has been my life is gone; this tiny girl is making everything eventful.
"What are we doing here?" Tinsley asks when I pull up to the cabin that sits about three miles out of town. Brandon pulls in behind us. "Mrs. Linda sold this place to the new second-grade teacher. Shit, I still need to introduce myself to her."
"She backed out and took the place over the bakery.”
"I was going to rent that place, so I scooped it up for the time being," she mutters more to herself. "You're starting to really piss me off."
"Because I got a temporary home for my wife and me?"
"Temporary?"
"We'll need something bigger." She opens and closes her mouth. "But enlighten me on what exactly pisses you off, and maybe I could fix it."
"That you know more about what's going on than I do."
"You've only been back to town for a week. You'll catch up." I reassure her, stepping out of my SUV. Tinsley stays in thepassenger seat, arms folded and glaring at the cabin. She’s even sexier when she’s pouting.
I don’t blame her for her reluctance. I am bulldozing her, but after getting a nice peek into one of her many books—not all of them were drawings—I think bulldozing her is exactly what she needs. I also tricked her into marrying me.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Brandon asks. “She bites, you know.”
“You’re lucky you’re married,” I tell him.
“I didn’t mean that kind of bite, and you know it.” He grins. “But I’ll get to it.” Brandon starts grabbing some of the boxes, and I open the door for Tinsley.
“Can we pout and glare inside?” I poke at her.
“I don’t pout,” she huffs, unclipping her seat belt quickly and getting out.
“You do, and you should stop.”
“I can pout if I want to.”
“All it does is tempt me to suck on that bottom lip you have puffed out.” I watch her eyes soften before she quickly masks it, trying to keep her walls up. Doesn’t bother me. I enjoy a challenge, and I can tell my wife is going to be full of them.
“Well, maybe I’ll let you do that later.” She slips on by me, heading toward the cabin.
It wasn’t easy to get this place, but with Hollis’s help and money, I was able to make it happen. We need our own space. It will play a big part in her settling into the reality that she’s my wife and that’s not going to change. She can continue to lie to herself, but in the end she’ll be mine. She already is in my eyes.
Since Tinsley already had a bunch of her things in boxes, it doesn’t take long to get all of her stuff into the cabin. She left behind her furniture except for a table she’s refinished. I got the sense that her parents would have rather bought her new furniture than for her to clear out her bedroom. I very muchsee her room staying put. I had noticed that’s how her brother’s room remained, and it was my understanding he moved out years ago.
"You know, you're supposed to be on my team," Tinsley tells Brandon as they stand on the front porch. He's about to leave. The front door is open, and I can hear them clear as day.
"Tins, I am on your team. That's why I'm here."
