Free Pretty Packages by Mi'Chelle Dodson Page B

questioning. “If you had, I would have dropped all my other men for you.” She moved closer. “ All of them.” She slowly ran her hands up his large chest. “Oh, Kenny. We would have still been together now.” She embraced his neck and met his gaze again. “In every way.” Giada licked her lips with anticipation.
     
    * * * *
     
    Inhaling sharply at her unexpected touch, Kentucky realized in that moment that it wouldn’t take much effort to snatch her away from Fabian. One kiss and Giada would be his again. It was in her hungry look. That look became even more ravenous because she now knew about his money.
    My money! Kentucky thought, forcing himself to focus on why Giada had really sought him out tonight. She didn’t really want him. She wanted his money.
    Well, she’s not getting either. Kentucky frowned. Then he took two steps back, causing Giada’s hands to fall back to her sides.
    Giada frowned at his clear rejection of her advances.
    “I didn’t tell you I was rich, because I needed you to choose me for me, not my money,” Kentucky said, picking up the conversation where it left off. “And how long have you known about my wealth anyway? Did you set up this job as a way to get back into my life?”
    “I found out that you were more than a bouncer just this morning after Fabian told me who his new bodyguard was going to be. I did some checking of my own afterward and discovered all kinds of interesting things about you.” Giada smiled, looking pleased that she now knew so many of his secrets.
    “Interesting things like what?” Kentucky asked, not about to tell her anything she didn’t already know.
    “One, like the fact that your net worth is greater than most of the clients you protect, including Fabian.” Giada looked especially pleased about that. “Two, that you’re getting ready to open some fancy boarding school for fatherless kids in Georgia .”
    “Had you taken the time to check a little deeper, you might have found out that financing that fancy boarding school has rendered me asset rich, but cash poor,” Kentucky said, trying to deliberately deter her interest in him with a few true facts.
    As expected, Giada frowned with disappointment. “You mean to tell me that you have no money?”
    “I won’t starve, but I certainly don’t have enough for your expensive tastes,” Kentucky replied, not surprised, but still disappointed that she was that same impatient gold digger as before.
    “But you will again in a few years, right?” Giada asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.
    Kentucky scowled, repelled by her renewed interest in him solely because he would one day be rich enough for her again. If she wanted him so badly, why hadn’t she tracked him down before now?
    Why hadn’t she pursued him when she still thought he was among the working poor?
    If she had tracked me down back then, I would have . . .
    “It’s always about money with you, huh?” Kentucky said, interrupting his own thought pattern. He didn’t have time for what-ifs. “Bye, Giada. Go back to Fabian or some other sucker foolish enough to get mixed up with you.” Turning the doorknob behind him, he went back inside.
    “You arrogant—” Giada didn’t get a chance to finish the rest of her sentence before he slammed the door in her face.
    Kentucky peeked out a nearby window in time to see her storm back to her car. Before Giada stepped off his porch, he heard her say, “Who does he think he is slamming the door in my face! Now that I know he needs this job, I’m going to make the next six weeks of his life a living hell!”
    That’s what you think, Kentucky thought with flaring nostrils.

Chapter Ten
     
    Kentucky showed up for his first day of work all business. He’d been hired to protect Fabian on social outings, professional engagements, and to act as chauffeur on occasion, with Sundays off.
    He was not hired to pay attention to Fabian’s girlfriend. As a result, Kentucky determinedly blended into the