Timberlynn blinked back tears and looked at me. “My father.”
Now I was confused. “What does your father have to do with the Covey property?”
“He bought the Covey property. He outbid me on it and told me in an email he would keep outbidding me if I didn’t give up this…as he put it, ‘silly little dream of mine’, and come back to Atlanta.”
Anger moved through my body so fast it caused me to stand. “Your father was the one who outbid you? How in the hell did he even find out you were buying the place?”
She sighed. “Cory, my financial advisor, told him.”
“Is he allowed to tell him that information?”
“It wasn’t anything like that. He ran into him at a benefit dinner. Cory mentioned something about me being so in love with Montana and how happy he was I found a place to purchase. My father played it off at first, went along with him. He got information out of Cory by playing along, pretending that he knew I was here. Cory didn’t know my father wasn’t privy to that information.”
“So, your father is pissed you’re in Montana. He does realize he doesn’t get a say in where you live or what you do with your life, right?”
Timberlynn stared down at her phone and then turned to face me. “This is what he’s always done, Tanner. He attempts to control my life the only way he’s ever known how. Money. Now that I have my own, this is the only way he thinks he can control what I do. He’s upset with me that I left Georgia and didn’t tell him. He’s even more upset that I walked away from my nursing job. In some weird way, I think he thinks he’s helping me.”
“Helping you? By keeping you from your own damn dreams?”
She nodded.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
Timberlynn exhaled and dropped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “I know it doesn’t. I don’t know what to do, short of changing my name and moving somewhere he can’t find me. And I don’t want to do that. I really do love my father, and I was hoping once I got settled, I could talk him into coming out here. Seeing how happy I am. Part of this is my fault for leaving and not telling him. I know he’s more upset about that than anything. And to be honest, I’ve never told my father about wanting to own my own business.”
She covered her mouth to keep from crying. I grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “Hey, no crying allowed, or you’re going to make me want to hunt your father down and punch him for making my girl cry.”
The corner of her mouth rose into a slight smile. “Your girl?”
I nodded. “Yes. You’re my girl, and I’m going to make this right. I think I might have an even better solution. Will you give me a week or so to figure something out?”
She tilted her head and smiled at me. “Tanner, it is so sweet of you to want to come to my rescue. But I don’t need a knight in shining armor. I just need you to support me. And I’m afraid the Covey place is gone.”
“I’m not talking about the Covey place. Will you trust me with something?”
A skeptical look moved over her face.
“Timberlynn, I’m not asking you to let me rush in and be your savior, I’m asking you to let me come up with another solution for you to decide on. I think I might know of a property you’ll love even more than the Covey ranch, and I sort of have my own selfish reasons behind it. I’ll admit, it’s kind of crazy, and I might very well spook you, but I really need you to trust me.”
I took her hands in mine. She looked so sad, yet so intrigued. “Please, will you trust me?”
She smiled. “Yes, I’ll trust you.”
“Good. Now let me kiss you really quick and then go flip the bacon, because I think it’s burning.”
With a laugh, she leaned closer to me and I met her halfway. A quick kiss and I stood to leave. “Mom said there’s aspirin in the bathroom cabinets. You might want to take some.”
“I will,” she said with a sweet smile.
At least she was smiling now and not on the verge of tears any longer. I’d take that as a win.
Timberlynn snuggled against me on the sofa as we silently watched the fire flicker in the fireplace.
“That was the best BLT I think I’ve ever had,” she mused.
With a laugh, I kissed her on the head. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Ms. Holden.”
Her laugh vibrated against me. I looked down and saw the oversized T-shirt she had on. It was an old one of mine that I had left here at some point in the past when I stayed in the cabin. It wasn’t unusual for me, Brock, and Ty to spend a few days here, especially during the spring and summer. Crystal Lake held a lot of memories for all three of us.
“How’s your ankle?” I asked.
“Better. I think the hot shower and the aspirin really helped.”
“Good, I’m glad it’s feeling better.”
She looked up at me and smiled and it felt like I forgot how to breathe for a moment. God, she truly was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on.
I had to work at swallowing before I could make myself say anything. “You are…so beautiful.”
Her cheeks turned bright pink. “I look like a mess.”
I shook my head. “No, you’re perfect.”
She shyly looked back at the fire.
“I saw some ice cream in the refrigerator if you want dessert.”
Slowly, she moved away from where she was sitting next to me and stood. She reached for me and I joined her. We faced each other and Timberlynn gave me the sexiest smile I’d ever seen. “I’d like dessert,
