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"Good!" she fires back.
Huffing, I turn and head out of the trailer. Once I'm outside, I head straight for my truck, which is parked near the cabin that I just refinished for her.
Seeing the cabin only worsens the aching hole that has opened up in my chest.
I turn my gaze away, clamp my jaw shut, and climb in my truck. It's always been something of a refuge for me and today is absolutely no exception. It’s like being wrapped in a layer of bubble wrap, insulating me from the very real feelings I’m having and blunting them ever so slightly.
I spend the drive home reminding myself that Pearl isn’t really my fiancée. Her emotions are not my problem. I also need to remember the goal right in front of me, so close I can almost reach it.
Her land. Her distressed land. That’s what this is all supposed to be about.
But it isn’t about the land, god damn it.
I went and let my heart get involved in this. At least I can admit that.
I have feelings for Pearl. I care for her. For god’s sake, I just custom built a fucking cabin for us to live in together, for god’s sake.
Instead of loving a cosmopolitan and career focused woman, I ended up falling for an offbeat diner waitress who really wants to baby. And I’m the idiot who wants to give her everything I have.
I make it to my house and cut the engine, but I don’t go inside just yet. Because I’m not sure about anything else except for this one fact. If I don’t at least try to smooth over the fight we just had, I’m a giant bag of dicks.
Blowing out a breath, I start my truck again.
I have an errand to run.
Thirty-Two
Pearl
River shows up at my door the morning of my family’s barbeque with a black velvet box in his hand.
I stare him down for a second. He glances down and kicks the cement step
he's standing on.
"I'm sorry, Pearl.”
Folding my arms across my chest, I level him with a look.
“You are not coming in this house so easily, River. What exactly are you apologizing for?”
There is tension in the lines of his face. “For fucking things up. For being an ass. I honestly didn't mean to upset you. I hope that you realize that I always want you to be happy."
Pursing my lips, I step back and make room for him to enter the trailer. He steps into the kitchen and then offers the velvet box to me.
"What is this?" I ask. I take the box and look at him. It’s impossible just to embrace him the way I normally would.
A teeny, tiny, almost unseen crack has formed in the icy pond we’re walking on. And it remains to be seen whether that crack will widen into a dangerous fissure or eventually knit together and refreeze.
He looks like a kicked cat, his expression watchful, his eyes just a little bit guilty.
"An ‘I'm sorry’ gift." River sucks air in between his teeth. "I bought them because I think you'll look beautiful in them."
I sigh silently and then open the box. When I see what’s inside, I gasp.
Nestled in folds of silk is a diamond pendant necklace and a matching pair of diamond earrings. My mouth opens and I touch the necklace disbelievingly. "Oh, River," I breathe. I glance up at him. "You really shouldn't have. This is pretty extravagant for an apology gift."
He arches a brow. "Well, that depends on whether or not you accept the gift and my apology, or not. I hate the idea that you're mad at me."
