AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Despite my thoughts and feelings, her words anger me. “Like hell you don’t.”
Her chin juts out stubbornly. “I’ll find someone else.”
“I signed a two-month contract.”
“I’ll have it voided.”
“It’s binding.”
“There’s got to be a clause.”
“Maybe so, but you’re stuck with me until you find someone new.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, her large breasts threatening to push out of the V-neck. She notices me staring, because she scoffs, putting her arms down. She steps forward, her posture imposing.
“I still don’t understand why you would take this job. Give me one good reason why you would want to be stuck with me for two months.”
I purposely let my gaze flick up and down her body, establishing some sort of stupid male dominance that I can’t quite explain. I push any feelings or niceties down, then put on my practiced and well-earned asshole persona that is more than just a safety net for me. It’s needed. Especially with Birdie, and especially for the type of job I need to do for her.
“One-word, pretty bird. Money.” The lie tastes like acid on my tongue. Sure, the money is great, but I mostly took this job as a favor to Ben, because of my goddamned loyalty to him and Wren.
Birdie’s face heats, causing red splotches to appear on her neck. It looks as if her head may pop right off her body.
“Right. Makes sense. You always were a straight-to-the-point kind of guy. I guess nothing has changed.”
“I—”
Before I can get another word out, one of her delicate finger’s points at me, then she presses it into my chest… hard. “And don’t call me, pretty bird. Got it?”
I hold up my hands, palms facing outward. “Okay, I won’t.Ms. Wilder.”
Her face turns stony, and she steps back. “One mess up and I’ll have the label fly you to the moon.”
Despite the tension between us, my body relaxes at the realization she’s accepted me as her guard. Even if she doesn’t like it, she’s going to let me stay.
“I don’t mess up,” I clip, pulling my shoulders back so I look menacing. It works because the poor thing shrinks back. Good. Keeping a safe distance from me is the best option for the both of us.
Birdie’s eyes narrow. “You will. And when you do, I’ll be ready to kick you to the curb.”
Her voice is a threat, but I take it as a challenge. I hold back a smirk. Birdie Wilder has fire. She’s definitely different from the girl who used to sneak out with me to go eat shitty pancakes at Denny’s at one in the morning. But sheisthe girl I remember the last day we spoke all those years ago.
“Like I said, I won’t mess up.”
“We’ll see about that.”
She turns and walks to the mini bar, her ass on full display in those tight jeans. There’s a natural sway to her hips that most men would kill to feel beneath their hands, and other places. After she downs a finger of bourbon, her body relaxes slightly. I can tell she’s thinking through the situation at hand.
“I have ground rules,” she spits out a moment later.
I bite back a smirk. “Of course you do.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let me hear them,” I say, ignoring her question.
“You’re here to do a job, not to piss me off or wiggle your way back into my life.”
Now I can’t help but grin. “I’m not here to wiggle.”
