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Over the roar in h, heard Rayford’s murmured words of hello, heard the front door close I decided to take Rayford’s advice and pour e off, so as soon as I entered the library I made a beeline for the crystal decanter on the sideboard and poured lass

Rayford ushered Bianca into the library and asked her if he could get her anything

"A three-legged stool and a whip," she said

When I turned to look at her, she sent ht smile "Isn’t that what every lion ta this way too lass so hard it was in danger of shattering in my hand "That will be all"

"Yes, sir," he said pleasantly, and soundlessly slid the library doors shut, leaving Bianca andoutside with his ear pressed to the wood, which was definitely possible

Bianca looked at me "So, Mr Boudreaux, are you ready for a Mrs?"

I downed the entire glass of scotch in one gulp

Her laugh was as grim as her expression "That makes two of us And if you don’tMy sto duck fit only hard liquor can help" She crossed to the sofa and perched on the edge of it, knees together, back rahtly around the s she carried

So she was nervous, too That eased some of the tension betweenunco she took this as seriously as I did was heartening

I poured her a scotch and gave it to her She took it, avoiding my eyes, and tossed it back like I had Then she blew out a hard breath and looked up atwhen you hover"

"I can’t believe you’d find anything inti," I said, but did as she asked and sat opposite her in a chair, the coffee table between us

"I suppose you’ll soon be finding out all kinds of things about lass

A painful silence followed I decided to break it with an admission of truth "I’m worried"

Surprised, she blinked up at me "Worried?"

I nodded

"About what?"

My voice caher than I intended "About this About e’re about to do, if we agree to do it Butyou hate me"

One of her hands trehter to stop it "Thank you I don’t knohy, but that azed down ather space I wanted her to start when she was ready, to ask whatever questions she wanted to ask, to feel that she was in control of this exercise in insanity I ht not know much, but I knew that any s friendly in the future hinged on her, and her alone

I was already all in It was Bianca who still hadn’t placed a bet or shown lanced up and aze "I know you prefer it"

She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and chewed it I’d never seen her do that before, and found it devastatingly sexy

She said, "And you’re wearing a suit With a tie"

My smile was faint "I never said I didn’t own any suits I just said I hate them"