Page 65 of Flame
“I’ve seen your attempts at cooking, so I hope not.”
She shoves my arm, making me chuckle.
“Then I might be the nag. I might be on your ass all the time about the trash and your socks on the floor and watching too many sports. I might constantly beg for your attention.”
“I can safely say you willneverhave to beg me for attention.”
She smirks.
I can see where this is going. If I don’t redirect this conversation soon, she’s going to be bouncing on my cock. And as much as I want those giant titties in my mouth and her pussy wrapped around me, I need to give her time to process this. I need to give her the chance to back out.
Even if it kills me.
Groaning, I adjust myself as discreetly as possible. “How did the call go with your mother?”
Her smirk dwindles. “It went okay. She was surprised, I think. And really upset that I’m in this situation.”
My curiosity rises as her gaze settles on something across the room. I don’t know a lot about Bianca’s relationship with her mother. And I’ve never worked on Rory Brewer’s security team. But something tells me their mother-daughter bond isn’t what I see with my mom and my sister, Paige. They’re thick as thieves. In fact, even my mom and brothers’ better halves have a closer relationship than I ever saw between Bianca and Rory.
“She wanted to come tomorrow, but I told her to ask Jason,” she says, drawing her attention back to me.
Pools of emotion cloud her pretty green eyes. It makes it hard not to grab her and pull her onto my lap.
“Do you want her here?” I ask. “Because if you do, I’ll make it happen.”
She takes a breath to speak, but something holds her back.
“Is everything okay, Bianca?”
She exhales slowly. “I can’t tell if I’m being rational or if this whole thing has made me more emotional than I’m aware.”
“Wanna tell me and see if I can help?”
A smile ghosts against her lips. “I’ve never said this out loud.” She laughs to herself, almost in disbelief. “Okay, I’ll say it like this. I don’t want my mom to be here when we get married.” She shifts in her seat. “I know that sounds horrible, and you must think I’m some brat for feeling that way. But—”
“Hey.” I lay my hand on her thigh. “That doesn’t sound horrible. And I think you’re a brat anyway.”
A grin filters across her face.
I wink. “You just had a lot of shit thrown at you from inside your circle. You have every right to want to take a step back and protect yourself.” I give her leg a little shake. “And you’re going to have a husband who gives no fucks about telling people to back off. So if you need someone to help with boundaries, you’re marrying well.”
“I think I’m marrying well anyway.”
“My mother does seem to think I’m a catch.”
She laughs. I’m relieved. Despite her return to laughter, there’s more to her feelings than she shared. I want to know what they are, but I don’t want to push her. Not now.
If I’m completely honest, I can’t believe I care this much. It’s not that I was ever an asshole to Bianca—not intentionally, anyway. But I didn’t suggest talking about emotions and sharing personal shit or deep matters with each other. Yet … it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
Who knew?
I hide a grin.As long as I don’t turn into Banks and be all about emotions, I’ll be okay.
My phone starts ringing. “Ah, hang on.” I dig it out of my pocket. “This is my sister, and if I don’t answer it, she’ll just keep calling. And if I turn my phone off, she’ll send someone over here to order me to turn it back on and answer her.”
“I like her already.”
“You would.” I roll my eyes as she bumps my shoulder. “Hi, Paige.”
