Page 45 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

I shake my head slowly.

“Here’s the thing—I don’t know your real name.But it ain’tFawn,that’s for damn sure.And anyway, Boots fits you.”

I cross my arms tight over my chest, hugging myself.I can’t let this happen.I can’t let him continue to flirt with me, try to seduce me with supplies and food and beds and those unearthly eyes.

I can’t tell him my name or anything about my predicament.The best thing for me to do is to keep my mouth shut.

“When I saw you standing here trying to chop wood in your Daisy Dukes and your white thigh-high boots, I thought I was having a stroke.Some sort of custom-made, out-of-body experience.”He produces a lopsided grin.His lone dimple appears.

And I’m toast.

Things would have been so much easier if he’d stayed silent and kept frowning.

“Mrrraooow!” I glance down to see Pussy at my ankle, glaring at me with a warning.A warning not to be stupid.But what exactly does she mean by that?

Don’t be stupid enough to give him any information about myself?

Or don’t be so stupid that I end up pushing away an unusually good man?

“Trust your gut, Frank.”I hear Dad’s voice in my head.

I take a deep breath and study MacLaine’s face.The nose that’s met one fist too many.The eyes the color of wild violets.The unshaven chin.The sweet smile and the dimple.

I notice the gentle way he holds himself as he stands in front of me.Like he’s aware of how big and imposing he is, and he’s tamping it down.

Not because he wants to deceive.

But because he wants to reassure.

Toast.

CHAPTER 23

Special K

Boots stands with her arms wrapped around her middle, hugging herself tight.The cat leash is attached to her wrist, and Pussy is looking up at her, questioningly.It’s hard to see Boot’s expression.The fire is at her back, lighting up her blond hair like an angel’s halo.The light outlines her body like she’s some kind of ethereal goddess of fire.

I can’t believe that this incredible woman has appeared out of nowhere in the wilds of my ranch.She’s the picture of femininity with the backbone of a warrior.I don’t want to be anywhere else than right here with her.Or with her, no matter where she might be.

I step to the side to see her better.To read her face.There’s confusion there.And sadness.Her shoulders are more stooped than they were the other day, and her mouth is pulled down at the corners.The spark I saw in her eyes is gone.

“I apologize that I couldn’t return when I said I would.”I feel like a heel.“I was… it was not my intention to go back on my word.I try very hard never to do that.”

She has the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen.I could get so lost in them that no spec ops rescue operation would ever locate me.Her face is delicate.And I’ve already tasted her pretty mouth—she’s fucking delicious.

But at the moment, she’s fucking pissed.

I sigh, knowing I deserve it.

There’s so much I want to say to her, but I have a hunch she doesn’t care that I think she’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.I wonder how many hundreds of men have told her that.

She probably doesn’t believe me when I say I want to get to know her, which she’s also heard hundreds of times, no doubt.

More than anything, I want to tell her that I don’t understand the pull she has on me, and that I’ve never felt anything like it before in my life.How every fiber of my being is telling me that I can’t ignore it, can’t just walk away and pretend I never met her.

Because that would be a tragedy.

I want to kiss Boots again.And that’s not all I want.I want so much more.I want it all.Everything she is.