Blair sucks in a deep breath. I look back at her to find all traces of shock are gone. In its stead, is a twinkle of… Excitement? No, that can’t be right. I must be reading her wrong. I’ve nearly convinced myself of this when she speaks.
“Why hold back? I wantyou, too.”
I close my eyes and push the words away before they can sink beneath my skin.
“No,” I whisper, stepping back—away from her. When I open my eyes, I pin her with a steely glare. “I won’t be touching you.Ever.”
Blair has the nerve to pout. Her bottom lip juts out and she crosses her arms over her chest. “Why not? You just said?—”
“Just because that’s what Iwant, doesn’t mean I have any intention of acting upon it,” I interrupt, my words sharp and cold. Blair opens her mouth but I hold up a hand. “I respect Anchor too much to ruin his daughter and I care too much for you to debase you in such a manner. I can’t be as impulsive and stupid as you were, Blair.”
She flinches at my words. Good, she needs to hear this.Ineed to hear this. Saying these words out loud are important for the both of us. Hiding my desire from Blair would be impossible, but explaining why it can’t happen might make this situation more bearable between us.
Softening my words, I add, “While I won’t take liberties with you, taking care of you in every other way is the next best thing. So, like I said. Whatever you want, whatever you need, let me know and I’ll make sure you have it. Okay?”
The pout disappears slowly, but her arms remain crossed as she stares at me, a challenge lighting those dark eyes.
“Fine.”
I don’t like the small smirk pulling up one side of her mouth. She thinks this is a game, that I’m exaggerating the depravity I hold back. I’m not. And I definitely don’t want either of us to find out what it will take for her to drag it out of me.
I scowl. “Cut it out, Blair. I can tell you’re up to something.”
“Nope,” she says in a tone that says otherwise. “I’m not.”
“I’m serious, I don’t have any plans on fucking touching you. Not now, not ever. All I want is to know that you’re safe and sound,” I tell her.
She nods, placatingly. “Alright, Ledger.”
Then, Blair gives me a wink. Anger flares in my chest as the darker side of me rattles its cage. It likes this flirty, nonchalant Blair. That’s really fucking bad.
Before I can scold her for being reckless, the basement door opens, startling us both.
“All good down there?” Wes calls.
Perfect timing.
His voice is like a breeze of fresh air that drifts down to where the two of us are, clearing the tension between us. Blair relaxes, and I sigh in relief.
“Yeah,” I call back up as Blair slides off the desk. “We’re good. Just finishing up.”
I catch Blair’s arm as she moves to walk past me. With one last warning, I tell her, “If you need anything, let me know. Otherwise, befriend the others and try not to do anything stupid.”
Chapter 12
Rhett
Last night, there’d been no yelling between Ledger and his godchild, letting me sleep fitfully. When I woke, I felt ready for another day.
Holy shit, was I wrong. Work had beenrough.
Thank god it’s over.
My body aches from long hours of manual labor. I think even my toes are screaming in protest. Turns out one of the engines needed a complete overhaul in our semi, so tackling that today was a bitch.
I don’t usually mind hard labor. It lets me channel my energy away from my personal shortcomings into something more productive during the day. By the end of a shift, if I’m achy and exhausted, I almost feel proud of myself.
But today has been a different story.
