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I’m functioning on instinct. It’s fight or flight now. All I hear are gasps around me when I look right into the camera and say, “How about you go fuck yourself?” I choose fight.
“Okay, first of all, I am downright fascinated by your blow-up doll preference. Can we table that for now but revisit it someday?” A sneer touches his lips. Ha. Didn’t like that one. “Second, I’m a grown-ass woman, don’t call me a girl. And third, when you’re finished having this epic man-child meltdown,” I wave my hand up and down his body like he did to me, “can you please let Hank know that Billie Black is here for her job interview?”
Surprisingly, being a shitty, misguided person isn’t enough to make a little girl stop loving her dad. But it is enough to make me lose respect for him. And that is a heart-wrenching combination… loving someone you can’t respect.
My father’s word might mean nothing anymore, but mine is still good. I kept the promise I made to myself—leave and never darken the door of that lifestyle again.
I admire the physique within his tailored suit pants. Trim waist. Incredible ass. Ten out of ten would grab.
Because men like Vaughn are a trap I will never fall into.
“Well,” I say, gazing ahead, “why don’t you introduce me to the new man in my life?” He turns towards me slowly with a grave look on his face. “He’s going to be a lot of work, Billie.” “Of course, he is, Hank. Men always are.”
Two can play that game. “Enjoying the view, Miss Black?” She tilts her head to the side and rests it against the door frame. An almost imperceptible smirk touches her mouth. She lightly taps her pointer finger against the indent along her top lip. “Yeah, Boss Man. You look good on your knees.”
Fucking my employee is off the table. The farm is in too much trouble. But fucking with my employee… now that’s another story altogether. Off to the races, honey.
I stood over him, gawking like a teenager, purely for research purposes, of course.
After collecting data, I can now conclude that under different circumstances I would climb the man like a tree.
“Billie Black, did you just call your employer a bitch baby?” I say, giving her an incredulous look. “Yeah, yeah.” She grins as she walks towards the small pen beside the house. “Turn your fine trust fund ass around and come have a beer with me. I owe you an apology.”
Vaughn rises and with one large side-step moves between my legs. When he almost instantly wraps his steely arms around my waist, I can’t hold back the sigh that escapes my lips. He feels so warm and solid pressed up against me—soft and vulnerable. I snake both my arms around his neck and we melt into each other. I’ve never hugged a person who needed to be held so badly. It should feel strange, hugging your boss like this, but wrapping myself around Vaughn Harding in the middle of my kitchen feels like the most natural thing in the world.
“Maybe he’s not innocent.” Vaughn’s head shoots up to look at me. “Maybe he’s not, and, you know, that’s okay. People aren’t black and white; they’re just shades of gray. Maybe he did some bad things, made some bad choices, but that doesn’t make him bad. It doesn’t negate all the wonderful things he did for you or the important role he played in your life. He can be both.” I huff out a breath. This is a conversation I’ve had many a time. Except with a horse. Best listeners in the world. Telling another human is new, but I forge ahead. “You can feel disappointed, and angry, and sad, and
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They move as one. Like what they’re doing together is as natural as breathing. That’s how Billie had felt in my arms. She felt right.
From behind me I hear a sigh and, “I think I’m in love.” I turn to see the bartender staring at the scene in front of her with absolute awe. She shifts her gaze to me. Pointing over my shoulder she says, “That lady right there is a stone cold badass.” She’s not wrong.
“Is she okay?” I hear from down the hall. “Hey, Hank.” I drop my hand and look up at the ceiling, “I don’t know.” “Did she put on a show at least?” he inquires with a smile in his voice. A laugh bubbles out of my throat. “Did she ever.” “She’s an impressive woman.” I roll the back of my head along the wall to look at him. “She is,” I agree, honestly.
And thank you? A fucking thank you? After we both just completely incinerated each other? With chemistry like that? I don’t think so, Billie.
Cole sighs, quieting his tone, “Vaughn, you’re taking this personally. But, and I mean this as kindly as possible, get the fuck over it. It’s time to be an adult. You need to stop holding the people you profess to care about to these idyllic black and white standards. It’s unrealistic, the only person you’re hurting here is yourself. Humans are complex.” His voice hitches uncharacteristically, “Sometimes a person needs a fresh start. This wasn’t my story to tell.”
“How long you been staring at me, Boss Man?” she mutters. “Since day one,” I whisper in her ear. “Take the sappy shit somewhere else, Vaughn.” I snort. “There she is.”
I volunteer as tribute!
“I don’t want to talk. We’re not friends.” His words are like a paper cut. They sting, but don’t produce any blood. “What I want is you, straddling me, and I don’t let friends do that.”
“No, Billie.” His hands stroke me. “I’m going to eat that perfect pink pussy and then put you back to bed. And tomorrow? Tomorrow all you’re going to think about is how good you felt with my tongue inside of you.”
I am so fucked.
Fuck. I am such a goner.
My feelings for her scare me. They’ve paralyzed me. Basically, I’m a total pussy.
Close a high-stakes business deal? No problem. Fire someone? I’m your man. Talk to a girl you like and respect? I guess I’ll just crumble instead.
“Let me redefine that line you keep talking about: you are more than my employee and I am more than your boss. I’m done giving you space that we both don’t want. It’s not at all complicated. You’ll work with me during the day and underneath me at night. Every night. There will be no tiptoeing. There will be no running. There will be no one else.”
“Eyes open, Billie,” he rumbles as he squeezes my chin and tips it down. “I want you to watch me fuck you.”
“What should we christen next?” It’s a question as much as a request. I garner an eye roll and an affectionate smile when I nod eagerly, “Everything.”
My girl is so ready. I slide into her. Slow. Steady. Skin on skin for the first time. Wanting to be as close to her as possible. Moving together, we share feelings that neither of us can put into words yet. She got hard and dirty Vaughn last night, but this morning I feel off balance. Sentimental.
“You are banging your boss.” I point at her. “And you love it.”
“Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Harding.” Her tone of voice is one I’ve only ever heard her use on people she’s about to verbally eviscerate. “Hope that knowledge keeps you warm at night because I definitely won’t be.” Her voice is cold as ice when she finishes by saying, “I’m not going to sit pretty on the arm of someone whose dubious decision-making skills are based solely on public perception again. I deserve someone who will choose me. We’re done.”
DD nickers at me when he hears the back porch door open. I imagine that he’s saying something like, “Bring my hay, peasant!”
