Page 78 of Bargain With the Boss

I knew every damn inch of her body. I knew where a little cluster of freckles were at her hip. I knew that she had a sensitive spot at the base of her spine that made her moan.

Get a grip, Hastings.

“Fuck.”

Jude tipped his head.

I dug deep to figure out something to talk about that didn’t make me sound like a love-struck idiot.

“What the hell is going on with you?”

“I...hell, J. I like your sister.”

“You what?”

“I know, I know.” I backed away from the table when Jude stalked my way. “I’m not sure how it happened. Well, I know because she’s smart and beautiful. I mean smart doesn’t even cover it. Her brain is wow.”

Shut up, Xavier.

“And she makes me think and sometimes not think which is actually really nice. I don’t have an empty brain all that often.”

“It’s going to be offline if you don’t stop fucking talking.”

I tripped over one of the kid toys strewn around the kitchen and stumbled into the corner of the kitchen island. I winced, but kept putting distance between me and Jude.

“It’s not one-sided—at least I’m pretty sure it’s not.”

“Pretty sure?” Jude’s eyebrows shot up under his disheveled hair. “She’s been here barely two weeks, X.”

“I know. But to be honest, I was already interested when she first arrived last year.”

“Not helping your cause.” Jude headed around the kitchen island and I shuffled back the other way. “She’s here to help out not for you to help her out of her damn clothes.”

“How do you know it was me that did the undressing?”

“So you already did!”

“Shit.” I sprinted for the back door and Jude grabbed the back of my shirt before I made it off the porch steps. He hauled me back in just as Maddie was coming up the walk with the carrier.

Jude held a finger up to say one minute.

Maddie pressed her lips together. I wasn’t sure if it was against a laugh or worry because she ushered Owen back toward the yard.

No help there.

Jude pushed me through the kitchen to the hallway that led to his office.

I probably should have kept my damn mouth shut. I didn’t even know if there was something worth sharing. Maybe she really did mean just one night. I hated how my heart sank at the thought.

He jammed me into the door, and I grunted before I got my hand on the doorknob only to get thrown into one of the club chairs around his desk.

It slid back more than a foot before Jude loomed over me. “That’s my little sister!”

His breath was hot and his eyes wild.

I took it, saying nothing. There wasn’t much else I could do. It was better to face this head-on—I hoped.

“And you know me,” I said evenly.