Page 6 of A Reason to Try

I never enjoyed feeling like a bully. It was why I was still single.

This woman, though, she stood her ground, meeting my glare with a defiant fire that caught me off guard.

Like she was challenging me, daring me to bring my worst, and for a moment, I felt the ground shift beneath me.

There was an undeniable spark in the air, a tension that crackled like static electricity. But it was more than physical. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper beneath her tough exterior.

Maybe it was the way her lips curved into a smirk when I got riled up or how her eyes sparkled with mischief and cheek.

Whatever I did, and I meant that in a take your pick kind of way, not an I’m innocent kind of way, I’d definitely gotten a reaction out of her. Like a fierce little kitten her fur was sticking up, fangs bared, and bloody hell, could she hiss.

It was a reminder that I wasn’t the only one who had baggage.

I wonder what hers is. Wonder if I can carry the load for a while.

I shook my head roughly. What the heck was she doing to me? Was she a witch or something?

She was small. A short little thing. Barely five-two. But the rest of her, good God, the woman was fit. There was no denying that.

Several of the guys were staring, and I growled at them, making more than one avert their gazes.

Fucking pricks.

Something in me rose like a great green beast at the thought of those bastards perving on her. I didn’t want to look too closely at it right now.

But I also wasn’t so shallow to think that was the only reason she had me mesmerized. This woman, Carolina DeLusso, made me curious.

I knew better. Really, I did. But instead of apologizing and falling to my knees like I ought to have, of course, I doubled down on my asshole behavior. Clinging to it with both of my meaty fucking paws like it was a lifeline.

Fucking numpty.

The last woman I dated used to fall apart if I so much as growled. She was always whinging and moaning at me.

But this woman? No, I didn’t cower her. Not one bit.

I was aware of my team in the periphery of my vision. The lads were getting a good fucking show, and that pissed me off more.

I didn’t want them looking at her, seeing her, hearing her, smelling her.

Fuck. Could they smell her? I sure as fuck could.

She smelled like peaches and sweet cream. Like days filled with promises and nights filled with sin.

She smelled good. Very good. Just as good as she looked.

Suddenly, I wanted her all for myself. Hardly aware we were still going back and forth with this whole thing, I was so damn busy trying to get a grip on my emotions, I didn’t register what she was saying until it was too late.

“Normally, Mr. Barret, I would say I’d handle it, but you know what? I QUIT!”

Wait. What?

Did I seriously just make this gorgeous female quit her job on the spot? Fuck. I had to do better.

“Get a fucking move on,” I yelled at the guys still hanging around.

I could see she tried hiding her body beneath her oversized sweater and leggings, but they only emphasized her hourglass figure and pinup girl curves.

The tits on her could fill even my hands and that ass. Christ!

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