His blue eyes light on fire. “Go ahead and try. He won’t be walking out of here with his dick attached.”
“How attractive,” I mutter.
Colton towers over me until he’s all I see. “Fuck around and find out, baby girl. You have no idea what I’ll do to protect you.”
“Another glorious day.” Bianca hums as we browse the first aisle of the outdoor market.
I inhale, trying to catch a whiff of her perfume. “Mhmm.”
“Are we lucky or what? The weather is crisp but not too chilly.” Her attention is quick to spot a tiny horse figurine that’s for sale at the next booth. “Gosh, I love this town.”
“And their handmade crafts,” I mumble.
Trips to these local events fit into our regular routine. She’s in her element and radiating happiness. The glow in her expression matches the sparkle in her eye. It’s incredibly endearing, spreading warmth through my blackened heart.
“I do love my crafts.” A grin lights up her features even more while she spins in a slow circle. “Look at all this stuff. We’ll never get bored.”
Yearning spreads through me while my focus devours her joy. I discreetly pay the vendor for the small horse statue and tuck it into my pocket. “This is where we’ll stay until you decide otherwise.”
“I can’t imagine anywhere better. It’s cozy and peaceful and exactly where I imagine my mom visiting.”
“You chose well,” I praise while sliding into stride next to her.
Bianca tips her head to the sunny sky. A dark braid hangs over her shoulder. My fingers itch to discover if her hair is as silky as it looks. I clench my hand into a fist and fight the urge as usual. Her smile widens while she soaks in the moment.
“Essen feels like the place I’ve been missing,” Bianca sighs to break apart the silence. “I was meant to be here.”
“Your mom would agree,” I murmur.
“She put the idea in my head for a reason. There’s such rich history.” Her arm flings toward a block of nearby buildings that are older than Minnesota. “Just look at that, Cowboy. The architecture is freaking impressive.”
“Sure is,” I agree. “Not to mention the endless festivals and parties.”
“This is the best.” She grants me another wide smile. The carefree expressions are frequently aimed at me lately, but I’m always eager for more.
I get caught staring and lower my gaze. “It’s strange that you’ve never been to Europe until now.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’re rich beyond reason. If you snapped your manicured fingers, a private plane would appear and jet us off to another location.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Don’t make me sound so… spoiled.”
“Well,” I chuckle. “That’s the truth. It’s refreshing that you don’t take it for granted.”
I’m expecting a rebuttal, but Bianca is quiet. My gaze slides over to find her eyes already on me. A blush colors her cheeks and she averts her stare.
“You have a nice smile,” she murmurs. “It’s an underrated trait for men. Really sells me.”
I hadn’t even realized I was smiling. The expression was almost nonexistent until she started dragging them out of me. My lips quirk higher under her admiration.
Bianca sighs. “Too bad my brother hired you to follow me around.”
“Why’s that?”
She hops on the balls of her feet to get closer to my ear. “You’re growing on me.”
Desire floods my bloodstream like a drug, but I force myself to appear unaffected. We’ve fallen into a cooperative pattern of sorts that I refuse to ruin. She’s finally accepted my company without a fuss. I appreciate walking beside her rather than behind. The lines are still drawn between us, but they’re getting weaker. An opportunity to blur them isn’t hard to come by.
