Page 82 of Fiery Romance

At least I wasn’t alone there.

“Also,” Island adds, “it is entirely within your right to find someone else to watch Regan, but I don’t appreciate being threatened out of the job.”

“Isn’t this a job you didn’t want in the first place?”

She pulls her lips into her mouth. “Well, that was before. Now, I have Amy who’s a she-beast in administration and everyone at the shop loves having Regan around and…”

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

On top of being hotter than hell, she’s also freaking adorable.

Must resist.

I lift a hand. “The point, Miss Hayes.”

“Until you’ve officially found another nanny, I want to keep watching Regan. And I’d like to take Abe to rehearsals.”

“Not going to happen.” I whirl around.

“Okay fine.” She scrambles behind me. “I’d like to convinceyouto take him to rehearsals.”

I open the door to the training room. “Miss Hayes, I suggest you leave. I’m very busy today.”

She slams her palm against the door before it can fall closed. “Why can’t you do it? It will only take a couple minutes to drive him.” She ignores my annoyed face and keeps talking. “Every time I’ve been here, you haven’t been doing anything that important. Besides, don’t you own all this? Can’t you just direct your henchmen from the car? Or from home? Or hire someone to do the job for you?”

I freeze. “You think I do nothing all day?”

“Look at all this.” She jerks her chin at the training room. “You got out of the military and didn’t want to leave it behind. So you used your family wealth to bring that feeling back into the real world. You’re basically playing pretend.”

My lips curl up in a cruel grin. She’s disrespecting my work.

I can’t let that slide.

“Alright,” I say calmly.

“A-alright? What do you mean?” Her eyes bug and she steps back, showing fear for the first time.

It’s too late, sweetheart.

“I’ll let Abe go to rehearsals and I’ll even let you take him.”

Her eyebrows furrow. “What’s the catch?”

I move toward her and she backs up, step for step.

“Shadow me this morning.”

No. Keep your distance, Clay.

I lean closer. “Follow me everywhere.”

“Even the bathroom?” she snaps. Eyes wide. Mouth lax. Scared but sassy.

I tilt my chin up. “Do you think you can handle it?”

“Easy.” Her eyes flash.

I straighten and turn swiftly. “Find someone from the female staff, ask for a change of clothes and meet me at the gun range.”

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