My eyes all but bug out of my head. He did not just say that. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, there is no way I’m staying with you.”
“You’re telling me you’d rather stay here than stay with me?” Now he just looks plain insulted.
“Yeah, I’m already settled in. The cold showers really help wake me up in the mornings.” And not to mention, this cabin puts a healthy amount of space between us. I’m newly single. The ring may be on, but the engagement is off. Being under the same roof takes away my safety net of space. Space I need to be able to function, because when he’s around, I spend more time at war with myself than I do on my work.
“Well, it may be good enough for you,” he slaps his chest, “but it’s definitely not good enough for me and what I expect for you to have. You’re not staying here; it’s not up for discussion. Your fiancé will just have to get over us being roommates.” Authority rushes out of him, and damn it, my stupid body loves it.
The good news is my brain is a hell of a lot smarter and quicker than the gooey thing inside my chest, “And who the hell do you think you are making that decision for me?”
“Someone who still gives a shit about you. You may think I don’t, but you have no idea. Seriously, get your bag together.” He points to the suitcase I have stashed in the corner. “I’m gonna go run my horse back and come back in my truck. If you think I won’t throw your ass over my shoulder and carry you out of here, you’re wrong.” He turns on his heels.
The screen door on the cabin slams shut behind him, and I take a good three minutes to pick my jaw off the floor.
It’s embarrassing how hot that just was. It reminds me of the man I thought I knew, the man I loved. Sometimes I wonder if that shouldeven be in the past tense, because being here is confusing everything I thought I knew.
But over my dead body am I about to let that man tell me what to do. So, I walk across my super roomy, wonderful place and plop down on my bed. If I’ve survived here this long, I can finish off the summer. Even if I spend the afternoons sweating and the nights shivering.
My mind wanders, and I lose track of time before I know what I hear: truck tires on the gravel road and a door slam. I don’t bother opening my eyes for my little daydream, I’m half going on.
“Why aren’t you packed?” I don’t even have to open my eyes to know that he’s annoyed; his tone says it all.
Finally opening my eyes, I shoot him a glare. “Because I’m not leaving. I’m not just moving in with you because you say so. I can live here. I’m not above living in a little bit of inconvenience.”
Weston stalks over to the bed, complete determination in his eyes. I sit up and cross my arms over my chest. I feel like a child throwing a temper tantrum, but I don’t care. Apparently, neither does he, because a few seconds later, I am thrown over his shoulders and his hand is on my rear end.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I try to push off him, but his grasp is firm and secure.
“It appears you didn’t take me seriously, but when I said I was gonna throw your ass over my shoulder, I meant it. You’re not living here, at least not while I’m six feet above.”
“So you’re just gonna kidnap me and force me to live in your house?” The world sways upside down as we walk across the cabin.
“Yep.” His hand wraps around the back of my thigh and squeezes. Good Lord, does my whole body set a flame. A pulsing begins in my core, and I hate myself for it.
We walk out to his truck, and he effortlessly opens the door with one hand, turns me upright, and pulls me into the seat. He goes as far as to pull the seatbelt and buckle it for me. Clearly, there is no reasoning with him.
This man is going to make me live with him.
If I thought working with my ex-boyfriend would be tough, I cannot imagine living with him. I need to keep my distance and protect myself, so he can’t know I’m no longer off the market. It’s better for this project, and better for my heart.
Chapter 15
Weston
After a good two hours of arguing, Willow finally gave up and conceded to my offer. Or rather, just accepted the fact that I would continue to get her until she decided she was better off at my place. She’s in the spare bedroom. I tried to put her in the one closest to me, but she argued and chose the smaller room, the farthest away from me, something that was definitely not a coincidence.
Curious about where the heck her little fiancé went? The cabin showed no sign of him. He was only here for three days and is already gone. Part of me, actually, all of me, hopes I got through to her. That man isn’t right for her, and even if I end up not being the “it” guy, there are better people out there.
Now that Willow’s settled, I have a bone to pick with two boys I consider my brothers. I had asked them to do one job, and they fucked it up. But Willow wasn’t wrong. I really should’ve checked things out myself. If I was worried about where she was staying, I should’ve laid eyes on it myself. My sister is going to have my ass when she hears about this. I already know it. She got every ounce of my mother’s “I don’t put up with shit” attitude, and frankly, she scares me.
When I pull up to the barn, my two favorite dipshits are standing outside. Normally, I’m part of that crew, but today, I’ve been promoted to leader of the dipshits. We like to take turns so that we don’t all have to be responsible on the same day.
They’re throwing hay to the horses in the stalls when I come up on them.
“So, uh–when was the last time either one of you checked on the cabin that you said was livable?” My hands land on my hips, and I glare at both of them.
Heaving out of breath, Maverick stabs the pitchfork into the bale of hay and says, “Oh, I don’t know, probably about a year ago? I stopped in there to wash my hands. The water is cold as shit, but the place is sturdy and has running water, electricity, and a bathroom. I consider that pretty livable.”
For him, that is probably livable. He spent the majority of his life on the road and on the back of the bull. I should give him some credit- he’s been knocked in the head so many times he’s probably got a few screws loose.
