Burn For You (Boys of the South) (16 page)

“Hardly at all.”

My heart hurts for her. I can’t imagine the pain she’s going through right now, being separated from her daughter. “We will be back before you know it, and Mia will be in your arms.”

She waves me off. “That’s not important. I need you to listen right now, Landry.” The shock and distrust must have shown on my face, because she laughs a little. “Kimmie did a great job when she found you. Mia’s in good hands.”

“Um, thanks?”

“Oh Landry. This is exactly why you and I need to have a girl talk about Beau,” she says, frowning.

My stomach flips. I don’t think I’m going to like what she is getting ready to share with me.

***

B
eau

“What was that all about?” I ask as soon as Landry reappears.

Her cheeks are flushed, and she won’t look at me. “You were there. I promised Paisley that she could talk to Mia using FaceTime or Skype or whatever she wanted that had video.”

“Then why do you look so guilty?”

“I don’t know—maybe because we got caught snuggling on the sofa,” she says.

I can’t help but grin. “You won’t look at me over a little hugging?”

She nods, peeking at me through lacy lashes. I wonder if she knows how hot I find that. How fucking provocative it is, because on her, it’s an innocent look that makes me want to respond in not-so-innocent ways. 

“Baby doll, what would you do, if we did more than that?”

Her face turns as red as the shirt she’s wearing. “We won’t do more than that.”

I should agree with her. I should take that as a sign to back the fuck off and let things lie. But what I should do, and what I want to do, are two very different things.

“So sure?” I cross the small distance between us, until our bodies are inches apart.

“No.”

“No, you’re not sure, or no, we won’t be doing anymore than that?” I touch her face, lifting her chin so I can stare into her pretty eyes.

“Is it because I’m a convenient piece of ass who signed a non-disclosure agreement?”

Son of a bitch.
“Paisley got to you, didn’t she?” I ask, already knowing the answer. “Do you really believe that about me?”

“I don’t want to.” Her lush lips tremble. “I want to believe what you said to me earlier. But it’s hard.  And she’s not the only one to warn me away from you.”

Despite the rage burning through my body at the havoc my ex has caused, I keep my tone and my touch gentle. “Maybe you could try, for me? I swear on my mother’s grave I won’t touch you sexually, unless you ask me to.”

Landry’s eyes get all big, then wet with tears. “You don’t have to swear on her grave.”

“It’s that important to me.”
You’re that important to me
, I want to say, but I’m sure I’ll spook her. “I’ll be only your employer and if you allow it, your escort around Monaco and maybe even your friend.” Even if it kills me inside.

“I can handle being friends. I
want
to be your friend,” she says.

Suddenly, a scream splits the air. “Mia,” I breathe and a split second later, I’m in a flat out run to her room. I slide the door open with so much force that it bounces back and hits my side.

“Shit,” I breathe, ignoring the pain and focusing on my daughter. “Baby girl, what’s wrong?”

Mia’s face is covered in tears, her chubby little arms reaching for me even as I pick her up. She doesn’t stop crying.  I rub her back, trying to soothe her.

I turn, bumping into Landry. Her eyes are wet too. Jesus, I’m surrounded by crying females.

“What can I do to help?” Landry sniffs.

Mia lets out an ear-piercing scream, and I grimace. “Ear plugs would be great.”

W
e start
the descent to land at the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport just as the sun is starting to set. My jaw cracks open on a yawn as I rise to my feet, stretching as I do. We’ve been in flight for nearly twenty-one hours, stopping once for refueling. The second half of the trip did not go as smoothly as the first. Mia screamed nearly the entire time, refusing to eat or drink anything. Basically, it turned into the flight from hell.

Through it all, Landry stayed patient, even calming me down at one point when I’d had enough and had to leave the main cabin. It wasn’t that I wanted to hurt Mia or even felt like hurting her. I was helpless, and I’ve been helpless for so long that I can’t take it anymore.

I grip the top of my daughter’s car seat as the plane bounces twice on the runway and then slows down. After it comes to a complete stop, I check on Mia, and then unbuckle my seat belt.

I stride to Landry and gently shake her awake. “Landry. We’re here.” Her sleepy hazel eyes blink up at me. “Sorry, baby, but you have to wake up.”

“Hmmm,” she says in an adorable, sleep-filled voice.

“We’re here,” I repeat.

“I’ll get Mia.” She unbuckles her belt before I can stop her and tries to stand on wobbly legs. I wrap one arm around her, steadying her while throwing myself a little off balance. “You get yourself, and I’ll get my daughter.”

“Okay.”

As we exit the plane, a few guys in dark suits load our luggage into the trunk of a private car. By the time all is said and done, Mia is asleep in her car seat while Landry sits on the opposite side, one hand on my daughter and the other in her lap.

She’s silent, possibly dozing, and it’s all I can do not to talk to her, not to ask her what she’s thinking, because I’m burning up inside to know everything about her. She fascinates me, in a way no female ever has before.

Landry is so... perfectly normal. She’s not broken or damaged, or even a little cracked. Not like me. This beautiful woman, who’s holding my daughter’s hand, is genuinely lovely.

I’m fucking enchanted by her, by her thoughts, and what she wants out of life. And I’ve sworn not to touch her like I want to, just so she’ll trust me. Just so she won’t think the worst about me.

Damn Paisley Sawyer’s lying ass.

I hear a little noise and lean forward, checking on my daughter. Landry does the same, our gazes crashing together. She smiles at me, a little chagrined and a whole lot gorgeous.

“She’s still sleeping, bless her little exhausted heart,” Landry whispers. “Her daddy doesn’t look so alert either. When we get to the hotel, I’ll take care of her so you can get some sleep, too.”

Taking in the lavender shadows under her pretty eyes, I raise my brows, “You’re not exactly operating on all twelve cylinders either.”

“But I don’t have to drive on a racetrack this afternoon. You did the amazing get-the-baby-to-sleep trick, now it’s my turn to make sure she stays sleeping.” She laughs a little, and I notice that neither of us has settled back in our seats. “My momma gave me really good advice when it comes to babies, by the way.”

“What’s that?” I ask, keeping my voice low so I don’t wake Mia. Right now, I’d shoot anyone who would dare wake my baby girl up.

“She said to sleep when the baby sleeps.”

I twist my lips. “That would have been nice to know
at the beginning
of our trip.”

Her cute nose wrinkles. “I didn’t remember until just now.” Suddenly, she pats my hand. “Don’t worry, Beau. I’m here to support you while you do the racing thing. You concentrate on winning.”

My heart flips in my chest. I know I’m paying her to be here. I know that the two of us, because of Paisley’s interference, will never happen now. I know all that, like I know the track at Daytona, but all that knowledge doesn’t prevent me from imagining that Landry’s here in a completely different capacity.

That she’s here for me, and
only
me.

Landry leans back in her seat and stretches her legs out. “I heard the driver say it’s about thirty minutes to the hotel, so I’m going to get a cat nap while I can.”

“Sounds good.”

“Night, Beau.” My name is a sigh, and I want her to say my name like that again, only I want to be inside of her when she does.

“Night, Landry.” Closing my eyes, I force all thoughts of Landry out of my head. I’m falling for her.

God help me.

***

L
andry

I rub my eyes and sit up just as the driver opens our doors. He helps me out, and I wait for Beau and Mia at the entrance to an ultra-swanky hotel.

The steps are marble with a perfect aisle of dark red carpet trimmed in gold. It reminds me of something a movie star would walk down.

“Follow me, please,” a porter says as Beau and Mia join me.

A quick walk through an ornate lobby and we arrive in front of a row of gilded elevators. They reflect the richness of the room, the furniture, and the people in it.

“Wow,” I breathe.

“Exactly,” Beau says, and I glance at him. He grins. “My first time, too. Remember?”

“Yes,” I say, suddenly shy. We’re sharing this moment together. I fight the urge to reach for his hand and hold it in mine.

“We’re just staying here for this week, until the apartment is ready,” he explains as we walk. “Or this might be where my apartment is. Honestly, I can’t think straight right now.”

He switches Mia’s car seat to his other hand, a welcome barrier between us.

I exhale and walk inside the elevators as soon as the doors open. I have a feeling that we’ll need barriers between us for our entire stay, and not because he’ll break his word.

But because I’m afraid I’ll beg him to touch me.

Thankfully, we arrive at our room without incidence, and twenty minutes later, Beau’s laying Mia in a crib.

Plunking my purse down, I crash in her room, in a king-sized bed.

My eyes have barely fluttered close when fingers ghost over my cheek. “You’re in my bed.”

Groaning a little, I force my eyes open. “Sorry. I thought you wanted me in here with Mia.”

Beau leans over the bed, bracing a hand on either side of me. I can’t stop staring at his mouth, or wishing he would kiss me. I shut my eyes tight.

“Landry,” he says softly, capturing my attention. “Let’s get you to your room.”

“I can’t move,” I groan, struggling to get into a sitting position. “My body feels like someone’s sitting on it.” Tears prick at the back of my eyes as I rub them. We’ve been up for nearly thirty hours straight. I’ve never been this tired in my life. “I’m the worst nanny ever. I can’t even take a little crying.”

“That wasn’t a little crying. That was a pissed off baby,” he mutters.

I lurch toward the end of the bed. “I’ll be better tomorrow,” I promise.

Beau suddenly pushes me back down. “Scoot over. I’m too damn tired and so are you to go anywhere else.”

My eyes are already closing even as I roll onto my side. I feel his body press into mine. I make a contented sound, almost like a purr.

“Bad idea, Montgomery,” I hear him murmur into my hair.

“S’okay, Beau. I want you here with me.” I pat the bed, searching for his body and hit his leg a couple of times. “Stay. Sleep. Friends sleep together with clothes on.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he whispers into my ear.

The last thing I remember is his arm snaking around my body and pulling me closer.

T
he three
of us sleep for almost twelve hours straight. I missed yesterday’s practice, but I don’t really care right now.

Landry turns in her sleep, her pert little ass wriggling against my groin as she settles against me. I stifle a groan.

I would have gotten up twenty minutes ago, but I didn’t want to give up the feel of her in my arms. I still don’t want to.

While we slept, we’d gotten all tangled up in the other, and I’d awoke to her nose buried in my neck. Our legs were threaded through one another’s and her hand was on my right ass cheek by the time I woke up.

What man in their right mind would leave that? 

I glance at Mia’s crib. Her hands are waving in the air for a minute, before she sits up. Her strawberry blond hair sticks out all over the place. The minute I catch her eye, she grins and starts reaching for me.

Careful not to wake Landry, I leave the bed and head straight to Mia. “Good morning, sunshine. Let’s go get you changed and dressed, and feed that tummy.”

Mia gets all excited. I’m not sure what to do first, so I make a bottle and let her drink it while I get her out of her dirty clothes. 

“Need some help?”

I smile at Landry, taking in her tousled hair and rumpled clothing. She looks sexy as hell, but friends, despite sleeping together with their clothes on, don’t say shit like that. “If you’d run her a bath, that would be great.”

“On it, boss,” Landry yawns.

Obviously, I got out of bed at just the right time, because she doesn’t seem embarrassed about it at all. A good thing, but a little of that was the best night’s sleep ever wouldn’t have hurt my ego at all.

“Beau,” Landry calls out. “Do you want me to put her toys in the bath?”

“Up to you.” I make a face at Mia, and she smiles around the bottle. “Feeling better, huh?” Dipping my head, I blow raspberries on her fat little tummy, and she giggles. “Love hearing that sound.”

The bottle goes crashing to the floor, completely drained. I lift Mia up and she burps, milk breath wafting over me. “Nice one.”

Landry walks back into the room. “Bath’s ready. Do you want me to bathe her?”

“Nah, I can do it.”

Landry tilts her head. “I know how to wash a baby.”

“You don’t know how to wash
my
baby,” I say with a grin, scooping Mia up and heading to the bathroom. I know Landry gave Mia a bath the other night, but I have to tease her anyway. “How dare she group you in with all the other babies? You’re my sweet girl.”

“Oh good grief,” Landry mutters from behind me, but there’s a smile in her voice. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”

“No.”

She eyes the shower, longing appearing on her face. It’s on the other side of the room. Privacy glass surrounds it on two sides while a stack of wavy glass blocks partition it off from the rest of the room.

“Go on. I won’t look.” I check the water before sitting Mia in the middle of the tub. She grabs a rubber hippo and squeezes. Water flies out and hits me in the eye. I wince, swiping off the water. “Thanks for giving her bath toys.”