Page 16 of Whispers of My Skin

“No need. We’re not going to the hotel,” he answers flatly.

“But what about the room my mother booked for us?”

“Didn’t see any point in wasting good money,” he informs me. “So I made other plans. Now go back to sleep.”

His stern, unforgiving tone brooks no further argument.

Clearly, he has no wish to converse with me.

Silence it is then.

I turn my back on him to face the window instead.

Resting my forehead against the cool glass, I gaze at the passing scenery. The traffic gradually thins as we head out of town and into the countryside, leaving behind the houses, offices, and shops. Then I smile to myself as understanding dawns. This is a very familiar route, in fact, I know it like the back of my hand.

Now that I know where we’re headed, I relax a little.

Lack of sleep over the last few days catches up with me, my eyelids droop and I finally succumb to the Land of Nod.

I stir when I realize we’ve come to a stop. It’s dark and I’ve lost track of time, but I immediately sense that we’re here.

We’ve arrived.

We’re home.

As I struggle to wake, strong arms pick me up and carry me out of the car, and I discover how wonderful it feels to be held securely in Joel’s arms, safe and protected.

“Hmm, Redlands. So nice to be back home,” I murmur contentedly as I snuggle deeper into his arms. “If only we could go back in time and return the ranch to its former glory.”

“Guess we’ll just have to give it our best shot, won’t we?” Joel replies in an unexpectedly tender tone. Has he snapped out of his bad mood? But would it be a good thing if he has? He’s far harder to resist when he’s being nice. Irresistible, in fact.

“Wait here,” he says, sitting me down on the wooden chair by the front door. It’s been here since my grandmother’s time, but it’s hard and uncompromising. A bit like she was, by all accounts.

He strides back to the pickup, returning with our suitcases.

“Let me help,” I offer, rising to my feet, stretching and yawning to wake myself up.

“I’ve got this,” he replies, as he opens the front door and carries the bags in.

We enter the house in darkness but find our way around the familiar surroundings to put some lights on, lending the place a warm and welcoming glow.

This is home, a place where I can relax and be myself.

But I can’t forget that this isn’t just my home anymore. It’s our home. There are other facts I mustn’t forget either.

Joel is not only my husband. He’s Redlands’ new manager. And effectively mine.

Redlands is the whole purpose we got married, not for any kind of romantic reason.

He’s here to take control. Of everything. Of my entire life.

And that’s what I wanted, isn’t it? That’s why I went and found him.

“Erm…shouldn’t we talk… before…?” I ask hesitantly when we reach the foot of the staircase leading up to the bedrooms.

“What is there to talk about?” Joel quirks his eyebrow as he stares down at me…

“About us, our marriage,” I murmur awkwardly. “What we want, our expectations.” And what you overheard today.

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