Page 9 of Protective Boss

“Shit. Fuck. Shit,” I mutter under my breath, my frustration mounting as I turn the key again and again to no avail.

“Not today. Not today,” I mutter with a tight hiss.

I need to get to my son, to make sure he is home safe and snuggly with me until he feels better. As much as I want to hit the steering and vent my anger, I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm. There's no point in getting upset—it won't change the situation. I have to think fast.

With a soft sigh, I get out of my car and grab Oliver’s booster seat from the back. Hoisting it over my shoulder, I head back towards the entrance of the parking garage, walking as fast as I can.

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."