Page 40 of Burning for You

“God, Jesse!” It was Dad’s vintage Rolex.

“So make this count,” he says and pats my shoulder.

I carry Carolyn onto the horse trailer.

“She’s that heavy?” Jesse teases me as I try to stop Carolyn’s body from sagging.

She’s the slimmest woman I’ve ever seen, in a healthy way, I just need to get her into position. It’s my heart that’s weighing me down.

“We haven’t got all day, Jeans.” Jesse herds me toward the trailer.

“The midget told me the news,” I say, steadying my grip on Carolyn. “The takeover is officially announced, and the cash injection is now complete. Turns out it’s her and her dad.”

Jesse smirks. “Are we too late? So Brilliance has got all the money they need now?”

“On the flip side, we’ve got the one who has the ultimate control—which in our context is more important.”

“I like the way you think, brother.”

I quickly climb onto the trailer to hide myself from Jesse’s stare. Just before I lay Carolyn down, I tighten my embrace—I don’t want to drop her, and at the same time I’m dying to feel her again.

I quickly bind her hands.

“You sure no one saw you with her?” asks Jesse.

“Course! I was just a taxi driver taking a lady to her hotel.”

I jump out and join my brother.

Jesse looks at me wickedly. “I’m thinking… maybe we should’ve taken them both. Put Bright and Meyer in the same room and get her to watch me torturing him.”

“Jesse. We take Carolyn to the woodland shed and scare her. That’s it.”

“I can’t promise I won’t hurt her.”

“Just don’t do anything stupid!” I fetch Carolyn’s suitcase from the trunk of the taxi.

“I’ll see you later. Don’t do anything stupid,” he mimics my voice. “You look like you’re ready to mate.” He then makes a hasty U-turn and disappears.

The sun is still strong. I take off my shirt and check on Carolyn one more time. “You watch her, okay?” I whisper to Grudge.

I jump onto the driver’s seat of the Ram and tow my precious two-ton load along the highway.

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