That doesn’t stop me from stepping onto the gravel path behind her. Bianca turns at the sound of my approach. Her friendly smile slips into a scowl when she realizes it’s just me.
“Colton.” She mutters my name like a curse.
I walk forward until her bewitching scent fills my lungs and calms me. “Hey, Princess.”
Bianca’s eyes flick from my baseball hat to the ink covering my arms, trailing lower over my shirt and belt buckle that leadsto the bulge beneath my zipper. She sputters as the denim stretches tighter under her admiration. I should be ashamed of my body’s reaction, but the blush staining her cheeks is far from offended. Her gaze remains on my swelling cock and she traps her bottom lip between her teeth. The urge to thrust my hips forward to give her a better view flexes my muscles.
After a thick pause, her gemstone green eyes lift to the sky while she mutters something that sounds like a prayer for patience. “Why are you following me?”
It’s almost comical that she believes this is a rare occurrence, but my expression remains neutral.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” My gaze drops to her right hip to avoid confusion.
When the joint seized and she crumpled in pain, it felt like a whip lashing across my skin. Failure drilled into my bones while I watched her suffer. There wasn’t anything I could do. Not that I’m in a position to extend open arms for support. Any attempt wouldn’t be welcome.
Which Bianca confirms by crossing her arms in a defensive pose. “I’m fine.”
“Looked like a bad one.”
Her sigh is a blatant dismissal. “You’re off the clock, Cowboy. Time to find a new victim to harass.”
I almost smirk in the face of her sass. As if I care about anyone but her. Well, that’s not entirely true. Brody is my best friend. More like a brother. He found me at my worst and gave me a purpose. If I’d stayed on my own any longer… I grimace at that alternative. It would’ve destroyed me. But thanks to him, I don’t have to worry about succumbing to the past. That’s why I’ve kept my distance from his sister—out of respect—but then he went and hired me to guard her. It’s almost like he knew I was already doing the deed for free.
Another annoyed huff escapes the woman in front of me. Our gazes collide. There’s something churning in hers. That intuition from earlier has me widening my stance, preparing for the firing squad. But Bianca stays quiet. I’m more than familiar with this attitude she insists on serving me. Her stubborn silence chaps my ass and she knows it. My irritation spikes when she presses her lips into a firm line, making me do the honors.
“Say it,” I rasp.
Her chin lifts. “What makes you think I have anything to say to you?”
I know you better than you think, Princess.But I don’t reveal that. It won’t earn me any favors after the mess I made in Germany. There’s just so much left unsaid between us. A new complication is the last thing I need in this uphill battle.
The tension between us strangles me until it’s difficult to drag in a full breath. “There’s something on your mind. Let me have it.”
Bianca’s pause is heavy as she considers how hard to jab. “Where did you grow up?”
“Outskirts of Cloverleaf Meadows.” Which is the middle of fucking nowhere.
“Is your family still there?”
It’s a struggle to keep my expression devoid of emotion. “Not sure.”
Her brows pinch inward. “You don’t talk to them?”
The thought alone sours my stomach. “Haven’t kept in touch.”
“Why not?”
“How about you tell me why you’re asking instead,” I drawl.
“I met your dad.” She thinks on that for a beat before adding, “Or that’s who he claims to be.”
Fuck, it’s worse than I thought. “And?”
She falters, clearly expecting a different response. “He wants me to pass along a message.”
“I’m not interested in hearing it.”
“Okay.” Bianca averts her stare. “Guess I’ll deal with him on my own.”
