Page 2 of Burning for the Billionaire 7

Chapter 2

Grace

Itamp down my anxietyabout seeing my family in a few hours because something is wrong with Rowan, but he won’t tell me what. We’re on a flight to Colorado—first class because he insisted on buying the tickets— and I can’t enjoy the view from my window seat. I’m too concerned about Rowan. He’s been a little distant.

My worried gaze practically bores holes into the side of his face, and as if he feels me staring at him, he turns to me. His lack of a smile or words don’t faze me. I’ve gotten accustomed to his taciturn demeanor.

Warmth radiates from his eyes as they move over my face, though. The blatant affection in his hot gaze melts my insides.

“Hey.”

The corners of his lips barely tilt upward. “Hey.”

“Are you okay?”

His eyebrows hike up. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

“You’ve been quiet since you got home from work yesterday.”

He blinks, and then his soft, guttural chuckle washes over me. Heat sears my cheeks. Smiling, I answer his unasked question.

“Okay, you’ve never been chatty, but...” I know him enough now to know when something is bothering him. “You’re definitely distracted. Did something happen at work? With Melanie? Your mother?”

“I’m fine. Stop worrying about me. You have enough on your mind, getting ready to see your family.” He lifts my hand to inspect it with a frown. “Look at this, you’ve nibbled your fingernails down to stubs.”

Instinctively, I curl my fingers to hide them. “Great, something else for Isabelle and Mom to criticize when they see me,” I grumble.

Rowan kisses my knuckles, drawing out another smile from me. It’s incredible how his presence alone makes me happy.

“Hmmm, looks like I failed to fully distract you last night and this morning. I’ll have to up my efforts.”

My breath gets stuck in my throat. Reels of our time in the shower, then in bed last night, play in my mind. “Gee, Rowan, if you up your efforts, I might not survive,” I breathe. My ass is still deliciously sore from his erotic spanking, and I swear I can still feel him between my thighs.

His wicked grin makes me even hotter. I bet he’s having filthy thoughts about me right now. He makes me feel so desirable.

“We should put that to the test soon. I’d love to introduce you to the mile-high club, but I doubt we’ll both fit into the tiny bathroom.”

I laugh. Considering that he’s twice my size, I agree. “The idea is appealing, though.”

Still holding my hand, he grins at me. The contact is enough to drive away my anxiety until we land in Denver.

***

Three hours later,Rowan turns the rental car into a long driveway leading up to a gray and white two-story European-style house. It’s surrounded by an immaculate lawn that’s not so green because winter is around the corner.

“Welcome to Greenwood Village,” I gesture to the house, “and my childhood home.”

“It’s nice,” Rowan says, turning off the ignition.

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