I just want to go back to how things were before you thought I was a liar.
Something came over his face and he leaned back. Frustration bit at her. It was so hard to communicate.
“So, you don’t want any sort of relationship other than a business one.”
She thunked her forehead with the palm of her hand. Wait, no, she was hitting the wrong person. She reached out and smacked her hand against his forehead.
“Right, we need a serious conversation about you hitting me,” he growled. Then he let out a huff of breath. “Fuck, this is harder than I thought.”
What? Trying to suppress your bossiness?
He stared down at what she’d written.
I’m not as fragile as I look. I won’t break if you growl at me. I just want you to be you.
Wipe. Write.
Because I like you.
He sucked in a breath. “Like like?”
She grinned.
“Fuck, you ever tell anyone I just said like like and I’ll spank your ass.”
Her face flushed and she was tempted to fan herself. Oh Lord. That was hot.
He was studying her closely.
“You really want to try a relationship?”
She hesitated then nodded shyly.
He placed his hands on the outside of her thighs. God, he was big. He made her feel so tiny. It probably should have scared her. But somehow, she knew he wouldn’t harm her.
“And you want me to be myself? That’s what I’m getting from this conversation.”
She nodded.
“You like that side of me,” he said arrogantly. “Because everyone else treats you like you’re fragile, don’t they?”
Shoot. He had noticed more than she’d thought.
She shrugged.
“Nope, you won’t be allowed to use the fact you can’t talk to me as a way of getting out of communicating,” he told her sternly.
Uh-oh, what beast had she unleashed?
I guess so.
He gave her a knowing look. Then he seemed to think something over. “There’re other things you don’t know about me.” He let out a breath. “You know that you were naughty today.”
She froze. What was he talking about? And what did that have to do with anything?
“You didn’t obey me when I told you to get back into the truck. As your bodyguard, I’m in charge of your safety. If I were a friend, I’d scold you.”
She wrinkled her nose.