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four
CHARLEE
I stare out the window,watching the snow start to come down more. My sister Marley texted me a bit ago and asked if we had enough supplies to last a few days because an unexpected storm is rolling in quickly. She became the deputy of Winter Falls about six months ago. It was a bit surprising. She’d gotten a degree in social work, but so far she’s been enjoying it.
Everyone in town loves Marley. She’s easy to love. Except for some new man that moved into town. He’s always calling the police station with a reason to get her out to his place. He’s really crushing on her. She claims he’s a grump. I think he’s a bit in love with her. Not that I told Marley that. She’ll need to learn that on her own. She can’t seem to see herself how everyone else does.
I’d been a bit surprised when Rowan asked for us to come out here to hash out some of the divorce details. I thought once we got everything situated that I’d be able to go spend Christmas with my family. I don’t think that is going to happen now. Not only because of the snow either. Rowan is up to something.
As much as I love the town of Winter Falls, we never come here anymore. It’s hard to make things work with Rowan's schedule. The man works so damn much. He’s never home, and even when he is, it feels as if he’s distracted.
Though when I think back, it’s hard to recall if he always worked that much or if it started about the time I began to push away. I don’t know how the past two years have felt both painfully slow but are still a blur as if they’d gone by fast.
“Want me to make dinner?” Rowan asks after he gets the fire going.
“A storm is rolling in. They said we’ll be stuck here for a few days.”
“It’s Christmas. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”
“Maybe I was.” I fold my arms over my chest. It’s the only way I can try to maintain the wall between Rowan and me. I need to keep my guard up, or we’ll end up in bed together.
“I’m spending Christmas with my wife.”
“Stop calling me that.” I roll my eyes.
“No.”
“It hurts!” I snap. Rowan lifts his brows in surprise.
“What’s gotten into you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? What, you care that I have a backbone all of a sudden?”
For so long I worried about making everyone happy but myself. Until one day, I decided that I was going to do what I thought was best for me. I was tired of waiting for Rowan to make me a priority in his life. I never knew if he’s coming or going. He can be so hot one second and cold the next.
“I care a fucking lot.” A slow smile pulls at his lips. “It’s sexy. I rather like it,” he says, surprising me. He walks over to stand in front of me. “I saw some Christmas decorations in the closet. How about I go get us a tree? If we’re going to be stuck here, we might as well do it up.”
“Rowan.” I close my eyes, dropping my head to his chest. It doesn’t matter how mad I might be, there is always this pull I have to him.
I’m starting to see what’s going on here. If I didn’t know any better I’d almost bet he set up this snowstorm. I know it’s impossible to control Mother Nature, but I don’t put anything past Rowan. Not when he’s a man on a mission. I’m not sure what his plan is, but I know he has something up his sleeve.
“Please.” That one word breaks my resolve.
I simply nod my head in agreement because I know I’m fighting a losing battle. If we are going to be stuck here with each other for the next few days, we might as well make the best of it. A pang of sadness hits me out of nowhere at the thought of this being our last Christmas together.
“I want to come with you. To pick out the tree.”
“It’s cold, and it’s really coming down.” His brows furrow together.
“I’m not asking, Rowan.” I tilt my chin up. “I’m not a child.”
“Trust me. I know you’re far from a child, but I can’t stop wanting to take care of you.”
“I know.” I shake my head. “It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you, Rowan. But taking care of me doesn’t mean putting me in a box to pull out when you want to play with me.” He opens his mouth to say something but closes it, seeming to think over his next words.
“I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“I do. That box gets lonely. Especially when I don’t think you hear me.”
