Burn for You (Slow Burn Book 1)

think sometimes it’s easier for a man to be the worst version of himself than to let the world keep breaking his heart.

In a broken voice she said, “I just want you. Rich, poor, smiling, growling, bearded or clean-shaven, I just want you, Jax. There’s nothing in the world I want more than you.”

From the sofa, Rayford cackled and clapped his hands.

Bianca whirled around and glared at him. “Rayford! You did that on purpose!”

He shrugged. “Sometimes you gotta give the blind a helping hand.”

I took her sweet face in my hands. She slid her arms around my waist and hugged me, and I wondered if it was possible for a person to die of happiness. I felt like I might float right off the floor.

She flattened her hands over my chest.

I thought my heart would explode it pounded so hard.

“Yes, that’s right. I love you, Jackson Boudreaux!”

It sounded like an accusation or a confession of something terrible and terminal, like you’d say, “The tumor is inoperable and I only have a week to live.”

She shouted, “I’m here to stop the man I love from marrying the wrong woman!”

Taylor’s mouth dropped open.

Rayford giggled.

And my heart stopped dead in my chest.

I wheezed, “Love?” before Bianca cut me off.

“Well hello there, sir,” said Rayford calmly. “As you can see, Miss Bianca and Miss Taylor were just gettin’ acquainted.” His smile grew wider. “I tried to tell Miss Bianca you were busy, but she almost broke down the front door, so here we are.”

She looked like an escapee from an insane asylum, and also the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“And another thing!” she shouted at Taylor. “You really shouldn’t wear brown lipstick!”

Someone was shouting in the library.

A woman.

I knew it was only my lovesick heart that made the voice sound like Bianca’s, but I took off at a run anyway. My steps echoed like gunfire off the marble floor.