Page 21 of Blaze

Blaze props up on one elbow, resting his head in his palm.He sets his other hand over both of mine, where I’ve been wringing them in my lap.“You have a choice, baby.I want you to know that no matter what you’re running from, you’re safe here.No one can get to you at this estate.It’s guarded twenty-four-seven.”

I study his face.He’s not pushing me.He’s patiently waiting.“No one is after me, if that’s what you’re thinking.I didn’t break any laws or anything, either.I just got fed up with my stepmom trying to control my life, so I left.”

He nods slowly, squeezing my hands.

I chuckle.“Ironic since you’re bossier than anyone I’ve ever known, and now I feel like I just traded one controlling man for another.”

His body tenses.“Tell me about this man.”

After taking a deep breath, I continue, “He’s not someone I felt connected to.It’s complicated.”

“I’ve got the rest of my life freed up to listen to you,” he teases.

“You don’t have to be anywhere?”I ask again.It seems odd that he doesn’t need to be somewhere.

“Nope.I work here now.For the estate.I’m a business and finance guy.My job is to take over that side of things here in Wilde.It can all wait.”

A giggle erupts.“As long as you don’t fail to pay Gretchen on time.”

His grin captivates me.“I won’t let that happen.Promise.”

A few seconds go by while I organize my thoughts.I’ve never shared this story with anyone.I hadn’t intended to, but I feel drawn to Blaze, and I trust him for some reason.I’m pretty sure I’m half in love with him already, which is ridiculous and probably just a result of him saving me.

Nevertheless, there’s no harm in sharing my saga.“So, my mom died when I was a baby.She had a brain aneurysm.My dad remarried when I was so young that I don’t remember anyone before my stepmom.But then he died when I was six.Hit by a drunk driver.He had a sizable inheritance from his parents, so my stepmom was set for life.She’s spent the last fifteen years mostly having lunch with other rich women at her country club.I don’t think anyone there really likes her, though.She’s not old money.”

Blaze chuckles.“I’m picturing someone with hot-pink yoga pants, a boob job, and bubble gum.”

I roll my eyes.“You’re not that far off.I never felt like I fit into that world, and she never encouraged me to.I wanted to get away, so I applied to college.My stepmom wasn’t very supportive of that either.She said I didn’t need ‘no schooling,’” I toss some air quotes up, “and I should get married.She tried to set me up with guys.”

Blaze winces.“When you were eighteen?”

“Yep.”

“Yikes.Did you go to college?”

“Yep.She said we didn’t have the money for it, which was ridiculous, but I didn’t argue.I worked hard, got scholarships, and went to college a few hours away.Those were the best four years of my life.I didn’t have my fake-acting stepmom hovering all the time, trying to set me up with her other fake-faced friends’ sons.She always embarrassed me, so I kind of kept to myself growing up.I never brought anyone home.”

Blaze frowns.

“But then I graduated from college.I probably should have thought through my degree choice a bit better when I picked it because there aren’t a lot of jobs available for someone with a BA in Art History.”

Blaze smiles.“But it’s useful here in this old mansion.”

“Yeah.”I cringe.“I still can’t believe we’re lying on this bed.It’s probably worth a lot of money.”

“To me, it’s just our bed, baby.I bought a new mattress for it, if that helps.”

I give my ass a bounce.“I see that.Very comfortable.”

“So go on.What happened after you graduated?”

Sighing, I run a hand over my messy curls.“I was blindsided when I couldn’t get a job right away, so I moved back in with my stepmom.She insisted.She was worse than ever, thinking I was the catch of the town now.Twenty-one, college degree, pretty… According to her.”

“She’s not wrong.You’re gorgeous.”Damn, his smile.It’s hard to look away.

“Whatever…” I roll my eyes.“Pretty is not the way I would have ever described myself.I was always more of a tomboy.”I hesitate, my lips parted, thinking back.“No… Maybe that’s not true.My stepmomsaidI was a tomboy.She made it a reality when I was a kid.She said I was too messy and played too rough for dresses and skirts, so she bought me jeans and T-shirts.”

Blaze never glances away from me, and his gaze is so damn intense it’s unnerving.He looks pissed.“You didn’t choose your own clothes?Not even in high school?”