Chapter Five

Jason

She has a son?

I still can't wrap my head around the fact Bianca has a son. I never would've imagined it in a thousand years… I've never met a woman that's so shrouded in mystery. It feels like every time I think I may have figured her out, I discover a new layer that I never saw coming. I don't know how to feel about this new development. Hell, I have so many questions spinning around in my head.

And after touching her this morning—and frankly, grabbing her for longer than I should have—I can't help but want to know every little thing about her.

Who exactly is Bianca Harris?

What kind of life does she lead outside of work?

Does her son have the same gorgeous gray eyes as her?

I find myself increasingly intrigued by her strength and resilience. The thought of her being a single parent tugs at something deep inside me. What kind of struggles might she be facing that I haven't even considered? Does she have the support she needs? The more I think about it, the more I realize I should have treated her with more kindness and put my lust aside to make sure she was taken care of.

I should put a lid on this maddening attraction now that a child is in the equation, but I can't seem to stop myself. There's something about Bianca that's different from anyone else I've ever met. She's strong, but there's also a vulnerability, an innocence about her that draws me in. Maybe it's because she doesn't let anyone see it or because she keeps so much of herself hidden away.

It's so damn confusing. I've never felt this way about anyone in all my thirty-nine years. Sure, I've had a few women in my life in the past, but none ever came close to making me feel this way. My attraction to Bianca isn't just physical; there's an emotional pull that goes beyond anything I've experienced before. It feels like a craving I can't satisfy, a puzzle I can't solve.

It's not just that she's beautiful, although she is. It's something deeper, something that makes me want to protect her, to be there for her in ways I've never imagined. This is so out of character for me. I recognize the need to keep my distance, to regain control over my emotions, but I can't help myself; I want her. Badly.

My phone beeps, the sound jerking me back to reality. I let out a ragged breath as I reach for the phone. It's a reminder for a lunch meeting with the company's executives. I grab my jacket and head out of my office, pushing aside the mushy emotions clouding my mind. I need a clear head if I'm going to survive a meeting with the funny men in suits that I work with. I cannot let myself be the sheep in a pack of wolves who wouldn't hesitate to tear me apart, just because I've fallen in love with a woman.

The thought brings me to a sudden halt. Did I just admit to myself that I'm in love with Bianca?

Muttering a soft curse under my breath, I resume walking towards the elevator. As I drive out of the garage, I'm surprised to see Bianca, hauling a heavy-looking car seat over her shoulders as she hurries along the sidewalk.

I pull my car to a stop beside her, leaning forward and pressing my horn to get her attention. "Bianca?"

She stops walking and looks in my direction, her expression caught between surprise and confusion. The car seat seems to be weighing her down so that her posture looks a little slumped. I notice she looks more frazzled and tired than usual, causing an unexpected tightness in my chest.

"What happened?" I ask, glancing from her face to the car seat on her shoulder with a questioning frown.

She blushes slightly, avoiding my gaze. "My car won't start," she replies with an embarrassed shrug. "I'm hoping to catch a taxi even though it's nearly impossible at this time of day. I just need to get to Oliver."

"Hop in," I blurt out without thinking. "I'll give you a ride." I know, in that moment, that this is what I was meant to do today, lunch meeting be damned.

"No, I can manage," she says, shaking her head. "I wouldn't want to impose."

Without saying another word, I get out of the car, walk around to her side, and take the car seat from her.

"What are you doing?"

Ignoring her question, I open the back door of my car and begin installing the car seat. The installation is more difficult than one would imagine, but I finally manage to piece the whole thing together. Not without some struggle though. Bianca watched the whole process over my shoulder, silently snickering at my struggle.

"Easy enough" I mutter in a satisfactory tone, taking a step back to inspect my work. "We're good to go."

The corner of her mouth turns up slightly in an amused smirk as she goes to adjust the seat, moving it this and that way. "Pretty solid," she says almost begrudgingly. "You did a good job."

I can't help but smirk, enjoying the glint of amusement in her eyes. "See, I'm more than just a powerful CEO with a pretty face," I say with a wink. "Now, what's the address?"

Bianca rattles off the address to her son's preschool and I plug it into the GPS, trying not to focus on the flowery scent of her perfume or the effect that her proximity has on me. A tense silence settles between us, thick and tangible as we get on the road.

I risk a glance in her direction and our gazes clash, causing my heart to lurch unexpectedly. Her. eyes grow wide in shock, her lips parting up in a soundless gasp. I let my eyes linger on those supple lips, imagining what it would feel like to kiss her, to taste her. The thought sends a jolt through me, and I quickly look back at the road, trying to steady myself. This isn't the time or place to indulge in fantasies.

"I appreciate the ride," Bianca finally breaks the silence, her voice calm and even. "Thank you."

"It's nothing," I reply, trying to keep my tone casual even though my pulse is racing. "Just glad I can help."

"Well, at least this gives us a chance to get over the awkwardness of whatever happened by my desk this morning," she says with a cheeky grin and a glance to me hands.

I burst into laughter, surprised to witness such a quirky side to her. She joins in the laughter, and I am instantly mesmerized by the transformation of her face. I find myself getting lost in the upward curve of her lips and the sparkling beauty of her eyes. The tinkling sound of her laughter surrounds me like a warm blanket creating a feeling of fuzziness in my chest. I'd never seen her like this, so young… so carefree, and at that moment, I realized I'd do anything to keep her laughing.

"You're gorgeous when you laugh like that," I blurt without thinking.

She freezes, her laughter dying down as weariness seeps into her eyes. She clears her throat awkwardly, breaking out eye contact. Just then, we pull into the preschool.

"Thank you for the ride," she says, reaching for the door handle, but I place a hand on her arm to stop her. She turns back to me. I let my eyes fall to her mouth, lingering deliberately before returning my gaze to her face, taking in her rosy cheeks and slightly parted lips.

Without thinking, I start to lean forward, almost as if pulled by an invisible force beyond my control. Her eyes light up with awareness. She knows my intention, but she isn't running away. My heart lurches when I glimpse the lick of fire in the beautiful gray depths of her eyes, a reluctant yet potent desire that caught me by surprise. Oh, fuck.

Suddenly, there's a knock on the window and just like that, the moment is gone, like it never happened. Bianca pushes open the door and goes to speak with the sunny-haired woman who knocked on the window. The woman is Bianca's son's class teacher and as I watch them walk away together, I find myself reeling from emotions that I never thought I was capable of.

Bianca comes back outside carrying a cute little boy in her arms. His little backpack is slung over her shoulder, and he looks just like a miniature version of her. He's curled up against her, his cheeks rosy from the fever, and I can't help but be struck by how similar they look with their striking gray eyes and glossy dark hair. My chest tightens with a warm feeling as I watch Bianca get closer. She looks so comely with a child in her arms, irresistibly stunning and I find myself falling for her all over again.

"Jason, this is Oliver," Bianca introduces as she buckles him up in his car seat.

"Hi, Oliver," I say, trying to keep my voice gentle, but Oliver looks away shyly, burrowing his head in Bianca's chest. She ruffles his hair and looks at me with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that; he's shy when meeting people for the first time."

"You don't have to apologize," I say, giving her what I hope is a reassuring smile.

Bianca nods and leans forward to place a soft kiss on Oliver's head before coming to join me at the front. I start driving, and the car fills up with an awkward silence. The moment we shared moments ago seems now like a distant memory or a figment of my fevered imagination.

"Do we need to stop anywhere?" I ask, breaking the painful silence. "Anything you need on the way home?"

"Yeah," she responds hesitantly, her cheeks coloring up in that adorable way it does whenever she's embarrassed. "If you don't mind, I'd like us to stop at the drugstore. I need to get some cough medicine for Oliver."

I nod, keeping my gaze on the road ahead. "Alright, we'll make a quick stop then."

At the drugstore, Bianca tries to get out, but I stop her with a hand to her shoulder. "You should stay here with Oliver; he feels more comfortable with you. I'll run in and get what you need. Just tell me the brand."

Bianca's expression softens, her lips curling upward in an appreciative smile: "Thanks, Jason. It's the Kiddies brand."

I hurry inside, making my way to the medicine aisle. As I scan the shelf, I find the brand she asked for, but it comes in so many flavors that I just can't decide which to choose. Just to be safe, I grab all the available options, and also some extra tissues and a small toy car for Oliver, thinking it might cheer him up. When I return to the car and hand Bianca the bag of medicine, she blinks at me in surprise.

"I got all the flavors, just in case he doesn't like one," I explain with an awkward shrug.

"Thank you, Jason," she says with a warm smile that had my heart doing cartwheels. "That's really thoughtful of you." As she takes the bag from me, our fingers brush, sending electric shivers up my spine.

"Sure, no problem," I mutter, trying to play it cool. She remains in the backseat with Oliver, telling me her address as she strokes his head in an effort to relax him. As we drive back to Bianca's place, the tension starts to ease. Bianca seems more at ease too, and as I watch her take care of Oliver in the backseat, I feel a new kind of respect for her. She's got her hands full, but she handles it all with grace.

"How's he feeling now?" I ask, glancing in the rearview mirror to check on Oliver.

"He's hanging in there," Bianca says, looking down at him with a fond smile, then she looks back up at me, her smile turning intimate. "Thank you," she mouths, holding my gaze through the rearview mirror.

I look away as my cheeks warm up, keeping my gaze straight ahead and hoping she doesn't hear the unrhythmic thudding of my heartbeat.