Free Romancing My Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Contemporary Romance by Melissa Foster

he’s the last person I was seen with.”
    Anderson nodded. “As you wish, ma’am.” He slid Pierce a knowing smile and closed the door.
    Pierce climbed into the driver’s seat. “That was quite a statement. Do I look like a killer?”
    “A lady-killer, maybe.” She nervously ran her finger along the center console.
    He reached across the console and held her hand. “Does that mean you don’t trust me?”
    “If I didn’t trust you, I’d never get in your car. I just don’t have you all figured out yet.”
    “Well, a man can’t give away his hand in a few short hours, can he? You’ve got all night to figure me out, or at least I hope you do.”
    Oh, good Lord. So do I .
    “First things first. King’s Bar to get your paycheck?”
    “Oh my gosh. I have had such a busy day that I totally forgot.” She couldn’t believe he remembered. “Thank you for remembering, but if you’d rather not, I can get it another day.”
    “I’d rather.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
    The kiss should have made her more nervous, but it had the opposite effect. It felt natural and right, which was pretty damn scary. How could riding in a Jaguar with a handsome guy feel right to a woman who was currently living in her car?
    A few minutes later, Pierce pulled up in front of King’s Bar. The Jaguar looked out of place on the dark street.
    “I’ll just be a minute.” Rebecca reached for the door.
    Pierce cut the engine. “I’m going with you.” He stepped from the car and came around to her side.
    “You really don’t have to.” She didn’t want him to see what a condescending ass Martin could be, or how she might have to handle him. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and though Pierce had seen her deck a guy, he hadn’t seen her get up in a man’s face and tell him exactly what she thought of him. That was not the woman she wanted him to think she was. She’d only done what she’d had to do. All she wanted was a normal life. Was that too much to hope for? After tonight, she hoped to move forward, presenting a calmer image.
    “I want to.” He reached for her hand again.
    Rebecca looked at their hands. “Pierce, I really don’t need a babysitter. I know it’s chivalrous of you to want to be there, but…”
    He drew his brows together and stepped closer. “Rebecca, I’m not being chivalrous, although I do enjoy hearing the word connected to me.” He smiled and it made her smile, too. “If this guy was nasty enough to cause you to quit, then he’s probably not going to be very nice when you ask for your paycheck. I just don’t want it to be any more uncomfortable than it needs to be.”
    “I know, and thank you for that, but I’m a big girl. I can handle this on my own. Really.” She watched his jaw clench as he turned away and ran his hand through his hair.
    “How about I wait just inside the door?”
    “How about you just wait here?” She didn’t mean to sound so final, but she hadn’t ever needed a man to handle her affairs, and she wasn’t going to start now just because an incredibly gorgeous, kind, and generous, muscular man who smelled like heaven wanted her to. To soften the blow of her rebuttal—and because she was dying to—she touched his cheek.
    “Thank you for wanting to help, Pierce. Just give me five minutes, okay? If I’m not out in five, you can barge through the door and do whatever you have in mind.”
    “Are you sure you don’t know my sister?” He laughed. “She’s just as stubborn as you.”
    “I’m pretty sure we’d get along great, then. Thank you for wanting to help, Pierce.” She pulled the door open and headed inside, trying to ignore the tug of how good it felt to have someone offer to help her for a change. She wouldn’t let herself revel in those good feelings for long, though. She needed to look her most confident and serious when she approached Martin, not glinty eyed and swooning.
    Martin looked up from behind the bar as she