Page 22 of Up in a Blaze

His brows had shot up. “You would do that for moi?”

“Yeah, Henri.” There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.

“You still want me?” he’d asked.

Snorting, I’d said, “What? My cameras didn’t give me away?”

His laughter had filled me with damn joy. He’d smiled. “Chéri, you love me.”

I had felt the heat hit my cheeks and had braced for teasing, but instead, Henri’s smile softened, and he’d stepped close, stopping in front of me. “You have seen that no one has held my interest, Blaze. No one has amounted to anything because I have always had you on my mind, and I knew that I cared for you too, mon amour.”

A deep groan dropped from my mouth as I’d lunged at him.

Thinking of that now had a smile tugging at my lips. I nodded down at Henri. “You’re right. I’m damn lucky.”

Henri huffed, smiling. “Now, do you wish to talk about a puppy?”

Groaning, I rested my forehead to his and closed my eyes.

“Or,” he added, “we could put a pin in this subject until this strip joint is up and running?”

Kissing his temple, his cheek, and grazing his lips with mine, I then told him, “Didn’t know you could be reasonable and smart at the same time.”

It drew the reaction I wanted. He smacked my chest, and he ranted at me in French.

Once he was done, he crossed his arms over his chest and glared up at me. Smirking, I said, “Drink your hot chocolate, and I’ll suck you off again. We need some sleep, firecracker.”

His glare narrowed even more before he rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

Christ, I love this man.

CHAPTER SIX

HENRI

Nerves turned my stomach to lead as Blaze and I sat across from Country in his office at the compound. I’d just finished telling him my idea and how I would love to invest and be hands-on in some way with this venture.

But all that would only be if he agreed. I mean, I could do it on my own, but it would be bad form for me to steal the employees from Polished. This way we could share the responsibilities, and I wouldn’t feel guilty if anyone quit Polished to work at the strip club.

Country leaned back into his chair. “Huh.”

What did that mean?

Was it a good or bad huh?

“Since I will be a partner, I will help in any way I can,” I told him again.

He leaned forward to pick up the phone and pressed a few buttons. “Yeah, come in here.”

Why was he holding back from saying anything?

Why did he need someone else in here?

I shifted on my seat, wanting to climb onto Blaze’s lap and have him hug me tight. My nerves kicked up even more.

When the door abruptly opened, I let out a strangled sound. Blaze reached over and grabbed the armrest of my seat to drag the whole thing close to him while glaring at State as he entered.

“Hey,” he greeted, tipping his chin our way.