Page 51 of Bossy Hero

Jackpot.

I still got it.

I’m suddenly distracted from my attempted flirting when my brain registers how fucking delicious this stuff is. “Damn, Maddie. This tastes amazing.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, bringing her hand to her mouth to suck the moist crumbs off the pad of her thumb.

Fuuuck.

“Did you make it?”

She nods once, just a tiny move like she’s proud but doesn’t want to be viewed as such. “Yes. It’s always been my thing.”

You’ve always been my thing, Maddie.

One side of my face lifts with a crooked grin as I bite back those words. She doesn’t want to hear them anyhow.

And I don’t want to be rejected again.

“So what did I hear you call your company?”

With conviction and a dash of pride, I answer, “Redleg Security.”

She slopes her head, angling her ear toward me. “Red leg? Like the color and body part?”

I hold up my pointer finger. “One word. Redleg. It’s an homage to our Army background. Before joining the Rangers, I was Field Artillery. A long time ago, FA soldiers used to be designated with red stripes running down the outside of their pant legs. It seemed fitting since I’ll be hiring as many vets as possible.”

Her face brightens. “Oh, I like that. Very clever.”

I swipe another chunk of banana bread from her hand, tossing it into my mouth before she can object.

Her eyes flash wide, and her mouth rounds. She draws back a few inches from me, cuddling the bag to her chest. “Stop. Thief.”

The sweet sound of her laugh travels right to my heart.

“If you want to stop me, you’ll need to throw me in jail. Because that stuff’s delicious, Maddie.”

She tosses the rest of the bag at me. “Here. Enjoy.”

I’d snort this stuff if I could.

After a contented sigh, she sips her wine. “How long are you in town?”

“I fly out tomorrow at 1100 hours.”

The skin between her brows pinches. “So soon?”

“Busy life back home.”

Her focus shifts to the flames in front of us. “That’s too bad,” she mutters so quietly I almost miss it.

Unable to resist, I add, “Well, I came to welcome the big guy home. I did that. Nothing else for me here. Unless...”

Her cheek twitches. “Unless what?”

With my heart in my throat, I answer truthfully. “Unless it’s someday.”

Give me a fucking reason to stay, Maddie. Just one damn reason.

---