Trading for Love

19. Babysitter

Vincent POV

Charlotte stilled in my arms as my anger rolled through me. She was arguing with me, underminding me, and making me a raging ball of anger. No one had ever spoken to me like that and lived to tell the tale. There was no way I could allow her to get away with it. Her attempt to walk away from me was just the spark to light the fire.

" You may scare everyone else, but you don't scare me," Charlotte grumbled from my arms.

" I won't be bullied into doing whatever you say Vincent. If this is going to work, you need to respect me in the way you expect to be respected." Her voice was low and calm but full of meaning. She was telling me that this was going to happen one of two ways. She would either do it with my blessing or without it. Either way she was going to do what she wanted. She was going to fight me every step of the way if I challenged her choices but I wasn't willing to just let her run around and put herself in harms way. Once it was out that she was my wife she would be in constant danger and I needed her to understand that my decisions weren't up for debate. There would be danger at every turn for her but I couldn't chance scaring her off before she had signed the contract.

Right now I wasn't in favor of Charlotte going to another mans home that I didn't know their relationship. The meer thought of another man touching Charlotte was enough to make my blood boil. I'd be damned if I let her go alone.

" You want to go fine, but I am coming with you," I growled next to her ear. This was as close to a compromise as she was going to get with this situation. I would not be leaving her with any man.

" What makes you think I need a babysitter?"

" What makes you think I'm going to let you go anywhere without one?"

* * * *

An hour later Charlotte finally appeared in the driveway. She was dressed in jeans and a flowing peplum top cut low over her chest. Her auburn curls hung loose down her back, grazing her waist and bouncing with her every step. She was gorgeous, the picture of perfection, and absolute torture. I could only hope the drive to "Ty's" was a short one because seeing her looking so good and being in close confines was not going to be good for either of us.

* * * *

We had pulled off in a small hole in the wall gas station to fill up, Charlotte informing me that we were less than an hour from Ty's. We had been driving for a little over six hours most of which was filled with silence only being broken by Charlotte telling me when and where to turn. The longer we drove the more tension filled the truck so I jumped at the oppurtunity to pump the gas.

Mitch and Heath were parked behind us in the Escalade attempting to look like they belonged and failing miserably.

I racked the pump handle and climbed back in the truck to find Charlotte on the phone.

" -in about thirty minutes.... yeah.....yeah.....I'll explain it all when I see you.....bye," Charlotte tapped the screen on her phone, ending the call as I started the truck again.

" Who was that?" I asked turning from the lot, Heath and Mitch falling behind us.

" Ty. I was letting him know we were on our way." My jaw clenched but I gave her a tight nod as I attempted to focus on the narrowing road in front of me.

Twenty minutes later we were rolling through a small town that seemed to consist of a fire department, school, grocery and feed store, and not much else. There were small houses scattered here and there, kids running around in the yards. It was a quaint area all things considered.

We left the town as fast as we had arrived, Charlotte directing me through the countryside. We eventually turned onto a gravel drive, a metal arch with 'Gravestone Farm' carved into it marking the entrance. As we drew closer to the house I saw what could only be Ty sitting on a wrap around porch. The white house was plain, as was the gray barn beside it but if I knew one thing for certain, looks could be deceiving.

As the truck came to a stop I had only a moment to throw it in park before Charlotte was barreling out the door and dashing for Ty. She had smile so big I thought for sure she was going to split her cheeks as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

My blood boiled in an instant as he lifted her, spinning her in a circle before setting her down. My hand itched to pull my Glock from its holster and end him for touching her. She was mine and I was going to make that abundantly clear.

I stepped from the truck, shutting the door with more force than really necessary but it was enough to draw Charlottes attention away from Ty.

I chucked the key fob at Ty, who managed to snag it out of the air just before it collided with his face. There was a clear look of shock on his face as he took in Charlotte and I. He seemed to slowly be registering something as I stepped up to stand by Charlotte, slipping my arm around her waist, pulling her to my side. Charlotte took a deep breath before turning her smile on Ty again.

" Ty, I would like you to meet my husband, Vincent Marchello." There was an audible intake from Ty as I felt my own smile creep across my face.

Charlotte had just called me her husband.