Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

She straightened her shoulders. She hadn’

t done anything wrong. She wouldn’t be ashamed.

“I am not interested in your brothers.”

He didn’t look like he believed her. Her short burst of confidence started to dissipate.

“And even if I was, would that be so bad?” Why didn’t he want her to get involved with one of his brothers? She wasn’t a terrible person. She was kind, polite, hard-working. Boring.

Yeah, she was definitely that.

“Yeah, it would.” He pointed at her. “Do not encourage that shit I just saw again.”

She took a step back, unable to help herself. She hadn’t encouraged them, had she? What if it happened again? Would he send her away? Of course, he would. He wasn’t the type to not follow through on his threats.

Where would she go? She liked it here. She felt safe here. Could breathe here.

She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her and reached back, accidentally placing her hand on the still-hot oven tray. She pulled it back immediately, hissing. Thankfully, it wasn’t as hot as when it had first been taken from the oven, but it still stung.

“What did you do?”

She gasped as she realized he’d moved without her noticing. He now loomed over her, glaring down at her. She tucked her throbbing hand behind her. It was probably a childish reaction, but she didn’t need him berating her for messing up yet again.

“Nothing. I have to start getting dinner ready.”

“Give me your hand.”

He held his out imperiously. He didn’t move any closer. Didn’t try to reach for her. Just held his hand there like he expected her immediate obedience. And weak fool that she was, she gave it to him.

His hand engulfed hers. For a moment she couldn’t help but wonder what that hand would feel like against her naked ass. What need did he have for paddles when he had one at the end of his arm?

Mia. Stop being an idiot.

“Little fool, you burned yourself.”

The insult rushed through her. And she rocked back. All right, so he got to boss her around. He got to make all the rules. He even got to be a cold asshole. But there was no need to call her names.

“It was an accident.”

“Notice you’ve had a few of those.”

She gaped at him as he led her over to the sink and turned the faucet on, sticking her hand underneath.

“What do you mean?” She turned to look at him as he moved away.

He turned back with a firm look. Two steps back and he was next to her once more, his front against her back as he leaned over her, grasped hold of her hand and firmly placed it under the water again. This time he held it there for a beat or two. And as her body reacted to having him so close, she berated herself for having drawn his attention back to her. She should have let him leave. Then they could have just gotten on with their days.

But, no, she had to prod the beast.

“It means I’ve noticed a lot of things seem to go wrong around you, Calamity Jane.”

She gasped in an insulted breath. She thought she preferred being called a little fool.

“They do not!” she protested, trying to turn to look back at him. But he kept her firmly pressed against the counter. And she couldn’t help but react to his closeness. Her whole body went into hyperdrive, she felt like her insides were melting, her knees growing weak.

She needed to get past this weird attraction she felt towards him.

“Yeah? Tell that to my grandmother’s lamp.”