by JoAnna Grace
Tina’s breath caught when she saw Bo scanning the restaurant. He had on a pressed, black button up with white pinstripes. She was used to him in white tank tops or dirty cotton shirts. The man cleaned up nice—damn nice.
“Oh, that’s him. She’s drooling,” Keri whispered to Marshall.
Tina turned to them. “It’s not a big deal, okay. He’s my crewman, for crying out loud.”
“Sure.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Whatever you say.”
Tina waved them off and walked forward to get Bo’s attention. The moment he saw her a small smile curved his lips up. His smooth, shaven jaw was razor sharp and his hazel eyes locked on to hers with the force of a lightning strike.
“Hey. Sorry, I’m late. Damn truck was giving me fits.”
“Again?”
“Had to hitch a ride.”
“Bo, why didn’t you just call me? I would’ve come—”
“Pride is a bitch, sometimes, which is why I’m all sweaty. The old man who gave me a ride didn’t have air conditioning in his car.”
Tina touched her lips to keep from laughing. It almost didn’t work because he was really aggravated about his truck and at himself. As she tried not to hurt his ego, his eyes warmed and the tension in his neck faded.
“Go ahead, laugh. You’re taking me home. Damned my pride and damned if I’m walking in this heat.”
Tina cut her giggle free, reached out and offered her hand. “Come on, macho man, let’s get you a cold beer.” Her whole body shivered when he laced his fingers through hers, and they locked eyes. It was as if they were suddenly two different people, not a boss and her employee, but simply a woman and a man. A rightness settled in her chest even as butterflies took wing in her belly. The sensation was all new, so innocent and fresh. Tonight started a new chapter in their knowledge of one another and the possibilities excited her.
They slid into the round booth and she introduced him to her friends, who sympathized with his vehicle issues.
“If my boss wasn’t such a tight ass, I’d get another one,” he joked, a rarity for him. “She works me like a dog.”
“I’ll remember that on Monday.” Tina poked him in the arm. Her friends thought it was cute.
His arm came up over the back of the booth behind her shoulders, but not touching her. It was odd how natural it felt to lean in just enough that she was sheltered by his body, but not enough to touch it.
Once Bo relaxed and cooled off, he easily fit into the conversations. Not that he said much, a word or two here and there, but his presence was like the final piece to a puzzle, rounding out the big picture. He talked cars with Bear and sports with Marshall. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the housing market in the area, mentioning he researched it once he was hired on with Tina’s crew. Somehow, he even talked to Jayden about her boutique and her crazy mother issues. For a man who said so little, he connected with everyone at the table.
When Jayden mentioned her side job teaching dance aerobics at the gym, Bo asked if they had any martial arts classes.
“Bo is a black belt,” Tina bragged, loving the way he humbly accepted it.
“Really? That’s cool,” Jayden said. “I’ve always wanted to learn karate. There’re so many styles. You’d never get bored.”
“I’m going to make him teach me some moves.” Tina elbowed him and he grinned at her.
“We are still talking about karate, right?” Keri raised a brow. Tina waved her off and rolled her eyes, but heat crept up her neck.
Marshall slid out of the booth and pulled Keri with him. “The only moves you need to worry with right now are on the dance floor.” The couple loved to line dance together. They practiced at home and liked to show off whenever they had the chance.
Tina was distracted, watching them and she barely noticed Bo lean over to whisper in her ear. “Just so you know, I’m not nearly that coordinated.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “No big deal. My feet are killing me anyway.”
“And one more thing.” He ran his fingers along her bare shoulder. “You look amazing.”
Tina smiled up into his hazel eyes. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
His eyes were so intense, so focused on her and her alone, that it made her pulse kick up.
“Oh, dear Lord.” Jayden pounded her head on the table and held up her cell phone. “It’s Mama.” She swiped the screen and put it up to her ear. “Hey Ma… Yes, Marshall is with me… Where else would Keri be, Ma? You’ve got their kid. It’s not like she ran off to Vegas… Yes, ma’am, I’m sorry I’m being overly sarcastic.” Jayden pointed her fingers at her head and pulled the trigger. Tina and Bo both chuckled. Bear shook his head. “It must be the alcohol… Yes, Ma, I know what the Bible says about alcohol. I’m not selling my soul for beer… No, Mother, I don’t need you to come get me. I plan on going home with Bear tonight and having a hell of a one-nighter.”
Bear held his hands in the air. “Score.” That earned him a kick to the shins from Jayden.
“Yes, I’m kidding, Ma. If I’m too drunk to drive, Tina is taking me home.” Jayden rolled her eyes. She would never get drunk in public, it would be such a scandal. However, she loved to push her mother’s buttons. “Have to go, Ma, hard liquor is calling my name. Mother, if you call me again in an hour, I’m going to turn my phone off. Oh, yeah, love you, too.” She ended the call and banged the phone on her head while her three friends laughed their asses off. “This is why I will forever be single. Only Chris could brush my mother off, no other man would even try.”
Tina couldn’t stop braying with laughter, turning her face into Bo’s shirt to cover the noise. Maybe her life was crazy, but compared to Jayden’s insanity, Tina was sitting pretty.
A slow song came on and Bo pulled her hand, leading her to the dance floor. “This is about all the dancing I know how to do.” A sweet blush crawled up his cheeks as he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I’ll follow, if you lead.”
Tina sucked in a breath. His eyes were intense, his words conveying more than simply what was happening on the dance floor. “I don’t always have to lead.”
“But you like to.”
“I’ve always had to.” Tina moved in close, but kept her eyes focused on him. “I don’t trust anyone else to do it.”
“Then you need a new dancing partner.” He pulled her close to his chest and Tina naturally melted to fit right where he wanted her. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of his cologne. It felt right. It felt perfect. Bo held her firm and steady, with their hands laid over his heart. He moved her fluidly around the dance floor, nothing spectacular, but soft and gentle and in control. Her body was in his hands and the thought sent a chill up her spine.
She’d never given in this easy.
As if he had felt her tense up, Bo put his lips to her ear and whispered. “Relax, I’ve got you.”
He knew… And that scared her even more. She gripped his shoulder and buried her head in his neck. Bo’s arm tightening around her stole her breath. For the first time in her life, she felt like a man understood her internal battles.
When the song ended, Bo smiled down at her and stole her heart. Everything within her knew that asking him out had been a good decision.
“I like your friends,” Bo said as they walked through the parking lot to her truck a couple hours later.
“They’re great, right?”
His approval shouldn’t have made her so happy, but it did. She’d wanted to see if he would fit inside her circle; she needed to make sure the attraction she felt for him wasn’t just because they were thrown together at work. Bo proved that not only could he fit in, but he could keep up with some of the most important people of her life. Bringing a guy out with them was a big step for her. Trey never made it that far and she’d dated him for months. He came out with the crew, but not like this.
“Let’s go down by the park and meander aroun
d?”
Bo nodded, seeming happy to do whatever she wanted. It was painfully clear he was making an effort to keep his distance. He didn’t try to hold her hand or touch her back. He’d been the perfect date so far. Even when a strange guy asked her to dance after seeing Marshall spin her around, Bo told her to go have fun. He paid for her meal, even when she argued. He held the door and had impeccable manners. If only he would say more than a couple words at a time.
“You really need to get a grip on your talking habits, Bo. I couldn’t shut you up all night,” she teased, loving the way he blushed around her. “Seriously, your jaws are always flapping.”
The cute grin on his face turned into a full smile. She’d never seen him smile, not like that. Her blood heated up.
“I’ll control myself.”
They walked along the rows of shops facing the river, across main street and down to Conner Memorial Park located right on the water. The water lapped at the bank below. In the distance, a couple of boats motored by, their lights shining in the darkness.
God, she was nervous, which made no sense. She’d worked beside him for two months perfectly aware of him as a man. They talked about jobs, figured out problems, made jokes. Tonight was different, though. She was hyperaware of his gait, the confident but casual way he walked, the way his body moved under that pressed black shirt. He’d worn tank tops to work all the time and yet tonight she was obsessed with the way his shirt stretched over his wide, hard biceps.
“Can I ask you something?” he said, breaking her concentration.
“Sure.”
“Why’d you invite me out tonight?” He stopped walking and angled his body to face her, stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. “Seems like you’ve wanted to keep your distance lately. Why now? Why tonight?”
That was a loaded question, one she couldn’t answer right off the top of her head. Her gaze touched the features of his face—his thick brows, the soft warmth of his eyes, his straight nose that had a small break at the bridge, his full lips and defined jaws, and that stubborn chin.
“I can’t figure you out, Bo.” She laughed nervously and bit down on her lip when he didn’t respond. “You surprise me at every turn. About the time I think I don’t want to get closer or get to know you better, you blow me away. Like finding that wallpaper; why’d you do that? How did you even know what you were looking for?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I texted the picture to my phone the night you showed me. Thought I’d help.”
Tina tilted her head to the side. “You didn’t have to. None of the other crewman tried to find it, not even the guy who was supposed to.”
“I did it for you,” he stated. She heard the words, but couldn’t wrap her mind around them. Bo remained physically closed off, hands in his pockets.
The air left her lungs in a rush. “You confuse me.”
“I think that’s pretty clear.”
“Clear as mud.” She laughed, shaking out her long hair and turning her eyes to the heavens for answers. “About the time I think you might be interested, you shut down.”
“So says the woman who constantly reminds me that she doesn’t want my help, except for on the job and sometimes not even then.” Bo pursed his lips and rocked back on his heels.
Tina walked over to the railing and focused on the way the water rippled and reflected the moonlight. “I guess you’re not the only one sending mixed signals or no signals.”
“No.” He shook his head. Bo leaned his elbows on the rail. “Your signals were loud and clear… until tonight.”
Tina’s whole body deflated. Was that truly how she was? No wonder none of her relationships worked.
“You’re different with them.” He motioned his head back in the direction of Bear’s. “You open up more. It’s nice.”
“I guess, I’m oblivious. My head is always at work, you know? Even tonight, I was thinking about Jay’s house and what needed to be done.” She sighed. “I’m surprised you even showed up.”
He stood and tugged her hand bringing her flush against his body. Tina felt tiny compared to his broad frame. Heat rippled off of him and flowed into her. Bo was raw power, harnessed, then again, barely controlled. “Let me clarify. I want you. What do you want?”
Those three words sent her head spinning. I want you. “Bo,” she whispered, placing her hands on his chest. The strength under her palms frightened her. The steadiness of his pulse frightened her more. His words were as steadfast as his body.
“Here’s the deal, T. The job site, well, that’s your domain and I’ll follow orders all day. But if we start something beyond the job site, then I’m in control. You’re used to men fearing you, obeying you. I won’t. Make sure you understand; I’ll take you over. I won’t give in. You’ll be mine and only mine. I’ll give everything I have and take everything you give. Neither of us do anything halfway, and I’d rather we cleared this up tonight before I fall even harder for you.”
Tina didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Bo hadn’t spoken that many words in the two months they’d worked together. He’d kept this side of him under wraps, hidden from her. Damn, it was sexy. Her chest rose and fell with each labored breath. His words rooted their way into her mind, branded there in a way that made her body shudder with need. She closed her eyes, breathed him in and let his masculine scent fill her head. She didn’t know how to answer. Bo was absolutely right, she’d always dated men who were submissive to her demands. She’d worn the pants in the relationships. Up until this moment, she assumed Bo would be the same way.
She was wrong.
Now she understood. Bo respected her authority as his boss, but as his woman, he would be the dominant personality. The shy, quiet, obedient man who came to work, would not be the same man who would court her. Could she deal with that? Was she able to give in and let a man take control?
He tilted her chin up until their eyes met. “You need to think about it. Don’t answer tonight.”
Good, because she didn’t think she could answer coherently. Bo’s passionate declaration scrambled her brain.
“There’s one other thing.” His brows dipped low and his lips pinched together. “Let’s head back to my place first.”
“Why?”
He touched her cheek, studying her features as if he might forget them. “Because you might not want me around at all after I tell you.”
TINA ALLOWED HIM TO drive, which only confirmed that she was capable of letting him take some control. A woman like her would either have issues with a man taking her over, or she would secretly desire it. He had been brutally honest about his intentions because that’s what she understood: no bullshit, no sugar coating the truth, cut and dry, this is how it is, can you live with it or not?
“Talk to me, Bo.” She commanded in her boss tone, as he liked to think of it. She didn’t use that tone around her friends.
He took a deep breath and let it fly. There would be no secretes between them, at least not from him. His mother had kept lots of secrets and he would have nothing like that with Tina.
“I did four years in California for assault with a deadly weapon.” He didn’t look at her, if he saw pity or fear on her face it would break him. “My mom was—is—an addict. We lived here in Riverview with my grandmother until I was a junior and Mom couldn’t take it anymore. Nan is the person who started me in karate. My grandparents wanted to teach me discipline and honor. They were the only ones who ever gave a shit. My mom hooked up with this asshole, married him, and he moved us to California. I grew up in a house where I didn’t come out of my room after seven at night, because my mom would be high and my step-dad would be, well, you don’t want to know.” He gripped the wheel until his knuckles hurt. “When I was old enough, I started working and used my money to take more karate lessons. I was good, the instructors went above and beyond to help me because I won lots of awards. My grades were high. I took honors classes. I had scholarships lined up, grants, the works. I was all set to get the hell o
ut of there and my mom flipped out. She begged me not to go, kicked my step-dad out, and even tried to clean up. She helped get me into college, handled all the paperwork and everything.” He sighed, remembering how different he was back then, how determined he was to reconnect with his mom, prove he was a good son who could take care of her. He wanted his mother to be as proud of him as his grandmother was. “It all went well for about a year or two. I had a good job, making money teaching karate to kids. I went to college right out of high school, made the football department proud for two seasons.
“Halfway through my last semester at that college, I got called into the dean’s office. I thought we were going to discuss football or my grades, or what university I would transfer to. Instead, I found out my mom and the step-dad, who was never really out of the picture, were funneling money from my scholarship fund. They’d taken all my grant money, thousands of dollars.”
“Oh my God,” Tina whispered.
“Needless to say, school was over for me.” He huffed out a bitter laugh. “My Nan, she begged me to come home. Told me I belonged here and sent me a bus ticket. So I quit my job, packed up my stuff and waited until my mom got home from wherever she’d run off to that day. They were late, so I went to tell this friend of mine I was leaving and say goodbye. On my way home, I could hear the screaming from down the block. I ran into my house, found my step-dad standing over my mom, his hands around her neck.” Bo gripped the wheel, the scene still far too vivid in his mind. “I lost it. The anger, at how they’d both intentionally screwed me over, just broke loose inside me.”
“Oh, God, Bo. I can’t imagine.”
He’d pulled the truck into his grandmother’s driveway and turned off the engine. They sat there in the light coming from the porch.
“My mom threw me under the bus. She told the police I was trying to kill my step-dad, that I was a trained killer and how dangerous I was since I had a black belt. They believed her, cause I messed up my step-dad pretty good, nearly killed him, or so the police said. Mom begged me to take the punishment, she cried and told me how much of a danger I was to myself and others. She told me I had scared her to death and how I’d become nothing more than a violent thug. By the time they got done with me, I didn’t have any fight left. Nan came out to California, she tried to help but I was so fucked in the head I gave up. Pled guilty and spent the next four years trying to figure out where I went wrong.”