AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I hadn’t thought…”
His face softened a fraction before his persona slipped into place. Only now, she understood it. From watching the YouTube videos, she realized he was in business mode.
“What about over there? You’re close to the shelter so you can roll right out of bed and go to work. Close to the animals but there’s room for development and hell if you change your mind, we’ll just move it again.”
Her wounded pride resurfaced. She worked hard for what she had, it might be close to nothing but it was hers and he swooped in and tried to save her at the last minute? No.
“Why are you doing this? I didn’t ask for any of this, I don’t want it.” Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced around at her space changing. “Take it away, leave. I’m fine on my own and I don’t need you to rescue me!” she shouted and slapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t shouted at anyone in a very long time and the last time she did, there were painful consequences.
She paused, waiting for Will to lash out the way that Marcus had.
Instead, Will threw back his head and laughed, the deep boom of it rattled her chest and flared her anxiety. “Right there is fine, guys,” he called to the men. She heard the whir of machinery and the clunk as it dropped onto the ground.
“It’s not funny. You think you can just turn up here and make changes tomyproperty because you’re some bigshot with money?”
“I know what you’re doing,” he replied, a soft smile on his face that lit the fire inside her even more.
She stuck her hands on her hips. “What am I doing?”
He grabbed her hand and slapped the keys to the trailer home into the palm and she tore herself away from him.
“I won’t use it.”
“I figured you’d say that, all that damn pride you’ve got must be exhausting to carry around. So, I had a backup.” He smiled again, and it did funny things to her stomach. No, it must have been all the sugar from those donuts.
Will turned and stalked into the shelter, unbothered that she trailed after him spluttering protests. She didn’t know whether to follow him or to make sure the men weren’t doing anything to her land. Will appeared a moment later with her sleeping bag,candle, the torn down curtain that had hid her secret, the stack of ratty clothing and the manila folder.
“I’m confiscating this, you can have it back when you’re settled in your new home,” he said.
Her mind was swimming again from all the change. She didn’t like change and didn’t like the forcefulness Will was exhibiting.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice low as tears threatened. Humiliation at all the men witnessing her and Will’s exchange and knowing she couldn’t look after herself.
He fixed her with a piercing stare. “Because you won’t do it for yourself. You won’t help yourself or let anyone else help you. I’m leaving you no choice.”
“I’ll never owe anyone a thing!” she hissed.
“Sometimes we need people to help us and not owe them anything. That’s me speaking from experience. It’s not mine, you won’t owe me anything. The title is in your name. Welcome to your new home, Rebelle.” And with that he walked away from her, carrying her minimal belongings.
A knot of anxiety caught in her chest. “Wait! The candle, I need that, please!”
He turned back and he must have seen something in her expression because he relented. He held out the candle and she snatched it from him. “Surely you agree I need clothes?” she muttered, hugging the candle close and breathing in its calming scent, letting the memories of her sister soothe her nerves.
He ran his eyes over her, barely concealing the lust. His cold stare heating as it inched over her flesh and the look had her recoiling.
She snatched her clothes from him and stalked back into the shelter, needing comfort.
Too much change, too many people. Decisions she couldn’t control, and it was all too much. She climbed into Bryan’s penand sat down, her back against the plexiglass. He came over and with a groan, collapsed into her lap. She tried to ground herself, her emotions a maelstrom that slowly calmed as she focused on the sensation of stroking his wiry fur.
As the sun began to set, the noises outside died down to nothing and it was just her and Bryan and her breathing techniques. There was a shuffle behind her and Will cleared his throat.
“They’re done, it’s all ready for you. The fridge is stocked, the bed is made. It’s all yours, Rebelle. There’s a washing machine coming tomorrow, I’m sorry I couldn’t get it today, but I think I used all my persuasive powers getting the trailer home here.”
Her words tangled in her throat, torn between wanting to cry and scream and seeming ungrateful for what life and Will had dropped at her feet. But he was ruining all her plans to save herself.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said and then the door closed.
She stayed on the ground with Bryan for hours until her curiosity finally won out. She got off the floor and took Bryan with her as she went outside into the night.
