Burn For You (Boys of the South) by Marquita Valentine Page A

sprinkle sugar on her tits and lick it off, work my way to her nipples and suck on them, see if I can make her come or if she needs more attention.
    Focus, Beau. I force my attention to her mouth, to her words, and try like hell to concentrate on what’s she says, not how her lips move or... Jesus .
    “If we all went around saying what we wanted, then we wouldn’t have friends, jobs, or even be liked. So it’s best to— ”
    “Not saying anything at all, unless it’s nice.”
    She nods once, and I swallow a groan.
    Oh, good God. Landry Basnight is a southern belle through and through. Even Paisley, as high classed as she thinks she is, would laugh at Landry’s little rule for living.  The girl who sat in my lap at King’s is the total opposite of the girl in front of me. She’s prim and proper, and most likely has more rules. Rules that I want to break.
    She nods. “Something like that.”
    “Montgomerys don’t adhere to that rule... Well, except maybe for my stepmother. And my brother, Chase, but only because Love makes him, and he wants to set a good example for his girls.”
    “Love makes your brother say nice things?” she asks, eyeing me like I’ve lost my mind.
    “Love is my brother’s wife.”
    “Oh.”
    I grin at her. “Didn’t you Google me?”
    “Was I supposed to Google you?”
    I tilt my head to one side. “Might have seen my bare ass if you did.”
    Her mouth drops open a little, and her cheeks flush. “Well...ah... that’s good to know.”
    It’s really too bad I can’t hire her as the nanny, because I’d make it my life’s mission to get her all flustered as often as possible. “So... about the night we met.”
    “I quit my job because everyone heard I got five hundred dollars for fifteen minutes with you. The rumor got around, and men assumed I was fair game,” she says flatly.
    Stunned, I run a hand through my hair. “Sorry about that... if I had known, then—” I blow out a breath. “Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done differently.”
    “It wasn’t your fault,” Landry says quietly. “Why should it be your problem in the first place?”
    “I left because Mia was sick, or I would have stayed. I would have,” I swallow. Protected her? Taken her to a hotel and fucked her brains out?
    Since I made the promise of no women, no parties, and no racing to Paisley in return for time with Mia, I haven’t found myself in too many situations where I was tempted to forget about our agreement.  But that night, with Landry, I’m pretty damn sure I would have crossed every line and put my time with Mia in jeopardy.
    Which is reason number one why I shouldn’t... or rather can’t hire Landry.
    Only Paisley’s dating again, back with that rat bastard, Austin, while I sit at home like some wallflower waiting for a prom date who’ll never show. How is that fair?
    “I would have done things differently. But I couldn’t stay at King’s with Mia needing me. She comes first, no matter what.” I need Landry to understand the situation I’m in. How important Mia is to me. I’m not this shallow, playboy type who screws women and bails when things turn tough, no matter how I acted in the past few years. My future is completely changed.
    Now, I publically claim Mia as my daughter, and for whatever reason, Paisley’s not fighting me on it. She’s not exactly supporting me either, but I’ll take what I can get.
    “Thank you, but what’s done is done, and since I’m pretty sure you’re not going to hire me, I’ll be on my way.” She rises to her feet, smoothing her skirt down, and then holding out her hand. “Thank you for letting me play with Mia. She’s a sweet girl and lucky to have you for a dad.”
    For the last time, I take Landry’s hand in mine, softly stroking skin I’ll never touch again.  “If things were different, you’d be my first choice, but... I made a promise to Mia’s mother that I’d stay on the straight and narrow.” Actually, I had