Page 112 of The Reason I Married Him
“Like I said, Wyatt, I don’t need your help.”
She goes to her travel mug of coffee, takes out the creamer from her mini fridge, and pours some into the steaming liquid. Fuck is she stubborn. Probably the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.And I lived with Cadance Clearwater for several years.
“I know you don’t need it, but I want to offer it. Make me do stuff, put me to work. Does something need to be built? Do you need help picking out chickens? Want to go over future plans? Let me be of assistance.”
“Seriously, Wyatt. We’ve got it covered.”
She puts a lid over her cup of coffee, and I can feel my frustration boil over, so instead of pushing her, I decide to step back.
“Okay,” I say, moving over to where I put my shoes.
As I put them on, she says, “Okay?”
I look up at her expression of disbelief. “Yes, okay.”
“Why don’t I trust that you’re just dropping this conversation and won’t show up on the farm, doing something weird I asked you not to do?”
“You might not know this, Aubree, but I can listen. If you don’t want me out there, fine. I’ll do something else.”
I finish tying my shoes and stand from the bed. “What are you going to do?” she asks, her voice almost in a panic as if she’s worried that I’m going to do something completely unhinged.
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business,” I say. I pocket my phone and head toward the door, where she stops me.
“Can you please just tell me if it has anything to do with the farm?” There really is panic in her eyes, so I shake my head.
“No, Aubree, I wouldn’t mess your farm up, okay? The only thing I want to do is help, but since you won’t let me, I’ll do something else. I’ll see you later.”
She stops me again, and even though I know she hates communication, I can sense she wants to say something. “Um, are you . . . are you angry about, you know, not helping?”
She can’t even look me in the eyes when she says it, and fuck, it makes me want to shake her, to beg her to tell me who has made her this way. Who has made her so skittish, so insecure around men?So untrusting.I probably know who, but I’d dearly like to ask what happened. I want to get to know her on a different level. To understand her better.And not live with a stranger.
This may have started with an idea, a plan, a handshake kind of deal, but with every day I get to know Aubree more, it’s less clinical, less cut and dry. Some gray is being mixed into this deal, and the gray wants to get to know Aubree and see what makes her tick. With Mac, she’s warm, attentive, and kind. She stirsHattie, admires Ryland, and she dotes on her niece. She’s firm but considerate to her staff. She’s an incredibly smart, focused, and selfless person, but I doubt anyone but her family sees that.
In the short time I’ve spent with Aubree, I’ve realized that it’s not that she’s grumpy, but she’s guarded. She’s been hurt and has put up walls to avoid being hurt further.
I want to be the person she allows to peek over it.We might only be together on paper for a year, but I’d love the chance to be her friend.I need her to give me a chance.And that surprises me. Because a few weeks ago, I was a devastated mess about a disappearing fiancée.
“Am I angry with you? No, Aubree,” I say as I tip her chin up with my finger. “I’m not angry. Do I want to help you? Of course. But I’m not going to pressure you. I want you to feel safe around me and that means letting you go at your own pace.” I release her chin and reach for the knob, but she stops me again.
“Um, about last night.”
“What about it?” I ask.
“I, uh . . .” She looks down at her coffee. “I’m not, you know, like that.”
“Like what?”
“The cuddling type,” she says, still avoiding eye contact.
“You told me that last night.”
“Well, I didn’t want you thinking that’s what I need from you or anything. Like I don’t need you to hold me every night or whatever.” She tries to brush it off, but I see right through her.
“I know,” I answer. “I truly know you don’t need anything from me, Aubree. You’re strong, you’re capable, and you are so fucking smart. The last thing you need is my help, and I mean that. But it’s okay to lean in, lean on someone. And if you feel like you need that, I’m here for you. I’m not your enemy. I’m not someone you need to worry about. I’m here for you, whateveryou need, even if that’s someone to hold you at night so you don’t feel so . . . alone.”
Her beautiful eyes flash up to mine.
Her teeth pull on the corner of her lip.
