Chapter 5
five
True
Fuck.
I can’t believe I found a curvy little Goddess asleep in my bed and basically told her to have sex with me in exchange for my cabin.
Real smooth, True.
This is exactly why I don’t date—I’m not good around women. I need to end this little game, drive her into town, and forget I ever laid eyes on her.
Yeah, right, like I could ever forget her face or body—they’re burned into my brain forever.
I busy myself laying out the supplies to make French toast, making a mental note of the groceries I’m running low on. A strange sense of pride rushes through me at the thought of Journee eating the food I had in the refrigerator and cabinets—like I’m her man and I provided for her.
The griddle sizzles as I place the egg-coated bread on it, pulling me out of my fantasy of Journee living here in the cabin with me as we raise a family.
“Hmm, that smells good.” Journee steps into the room wearing next to nothing. Those short shorts are going to be the death of me. “My sister and I love breakfast for any meal of the day.” She takes a seat at the kitchen table thankfully hiding her lower half from my view.
Her comment about having a sister gives me the opening I was looking for to ask about her life.
“How exactly did you end up in my cabin? Are you visiting family or friends? Maybe a husband or a boyfriend?” The last question comes out as a growl as I think about my woman having a boyfriend or a husband.
“No boyfriend or husband.” I sigh in relief, knowing she isn’t taken. “A fiancé, though.” She adds, and I see red, slamming the plate of French toast on the table, making her jump.
“Sorry,” I mumble, taking the seat across from her, as I think about her future husband who she plans to move into my cabin after she buys it.
Like hell I’ll ever let that happen. I pick up the maple syrup, heavily coat my French toast, and wait for her to continue.
“My wedding day was ten days ago, but I ran.” She glances down at her French toast, pushing a piece through the syrup on her plate, avoiding my gaze, almost as if she’s ashamed to admit it.
“I realized I didn’t love my fiancé—I barely knew him.
When it came time to marry him, I ran from the church and ended up here.
I saw your note on the door, and since it was unlocked, I let myself in and have been here ever since.
” She lifts her chin defiantly, silently challenging me to question her reason for running from her groom, when I couldn’t be happier with the turn of events.
“Why did you agree to marry him if you don’t love him?” I have to know what would make her feel compelled to marry someone she doesn’t love.
She drops her shoulders with a sigh, “I’ve never told anyone this before—I’m not sure why I’m telling you. Maybe because you’re a stranger. Or maybe because I’ll never see you again.”
I growl unexpectedly at her words, shocking both of us. “Go ahead and finish your story.” I coax, needing to hear the rest of it.
“I’ve always dreamed of having a family of my own.
My parents weren’t the most loving, but I knew that when I had kids, I would give them all the love I never got from them, plus more.
” Her voice sounds so small and sad. All I want to do is pick her up and hold her until her pain goes away.
“Anyway, all my friends started getting married. I felt like an old maid, even though I’m only twenty-three.
” Shit, I’m fifteen years older than she is, definitely too old for someone as young and sweet as she is.
“When my parents suggested I marry one of my dad’s business partners' son, I jumped at the chance—not because I loved him, but because I wanted children.” When I don’t say anything, she continues in a sad voice.
“You probably think I’m stupid for jumping into a relationship like that. ”
I don’t let her finish before I jump out of my chair and rush to her side, where I kneel beside her and tilt her head so her eyes are fixed on mine.
“I think you’re brave for walking through the woods by yourself.
I think you’re smart for realizing you were making a mistake by marrying someone you don’t love, and I think you’re way too young for me and for the thoughts I’m having about you. ”