Page 32 of Burn for You (Slow Burn 1)
I resisted the urge to ask what was wrong, because clearly something was. But I knew she wouldn’t tell me. And besides, she was my employee now. I needed to stop thinking about her glorious ass and fixing whatever problems she might have and keep it professional.
Someone needed to tell that to my cock, because he wasn’t listening to me. Pert Ass Land was too much of a temptation.
Bianca said, “Someday, though, hopefully. I love kids.”
She loves kids. She looks like that and she loves to read and she cooks like a three-Michelin-star chef and she loves kids.
And she’s made it perfectly clear she can’t stand me.
I shoveled pasta into my mouth to stifle the groan breaking from my chest.
Bianca walked over to Cody and ruffled his hair. He grinned at her, cheese smeared all over his chin and most of his hands. Then she rinsed the dishes in the sink and loaded them into the dishwasher, like she’d been preparing meals in my kitchen for years.
I stared at her for a moment, surprised by how much I liked having her in this space. And it wasn’t just her spectacular ass that made me feel that way. It was her.
Mouthy, bossy, yet surprisingly non-shark-like her.
Who can’t stand me.
Who was now in my employ.
Goddamnit.
“And now I really need to get back to the restaurant. I’ll give both coordinators a call this afternoon,” she said, turning to me, “and let you know if I have any other questions.”
“Fine,” I growled into my bowl of delicious pasta. Then, because my dick was throbbing and she was leaving when I wanted her to stay and I fucking hate feeling confused and I’m shit with good-byes, I snapped, “Rayford will give you the check for your fee on your way out.”
Even with a solid slab of marble separating us, I felt Bianca’s anger flare at the sharp, dismissive tone I’d used. I glanced up to find her staring at me with fire burning in those beautiful, dark eyes.
“It’s always a pleasure, Mr. Boudreaux,” she said with quiet sarcasm.
And we’re back to Mr. Boudreaux. Fuck.
She exchanged good-byes with Charlie and then turned and walked out.
I swear I tried not to stare at her ass as she went, but even Achilles had a weakness.
TEN
BIANCA
The first thing I did after Rayford dropped me off at the restaurant was hustle over to the bank to deposit Jackson’s check into my mama’s account. We’d scheduled her initial round of chemo for a few days away, and I didn’t want to take any chances that Jackson, in one of his inexplicable beastie moods, would put a stop payment on the check.
With that done, I felt better.
Until I ran smack into my ex in the bank’s parking lot. Literally into him.
The noise I made when I collided with his chest was something so unladylike my mama would’ve pitched a hissy fit if she’d heard it. It was part grunt, part groan, and part something that sounded like it shot out of my butthole on a hot burst of air, excuse my French. Hands flailing, I dropped my pocketbook on the ground and stumbled back in surprise.
“Whoa!” A pair of strong hands gripped my upper arms to steady me. “Easy, girl. I know I’m handsome as sin, but there’s no need to throw yourself at me.”
I looked up—and there he was. The Devil himself. Beautiful as a sculpture and just
as soulless.
“Don’t flatter yourself.” I shrugged off Trace’s hands. “I just wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Looking me up and down, Trace smiled.
