This was a business arrangement. He needed to remember that. It was an opportunity to stick it to the Trasatti family. That was all. Her show of attitude had caught him by surprise. She sure wasn't the timid waif she appeared to be. If he'd been thinking straight, he would have taken the time to assess the situation before advancing on her. He'd wanted to put a little fear into her, gain some respect and hopefully a little distance from this crazy attraction he felt for her. His intent had obviously backfired. He turned, like the machine he'd trained himself to be and went back to the counter. He pulled a loaf of bread out of a bag and then a head of lettuce, burying his feelings in the mundane task. He'd have a major problem if he couldn't keep his hands off her. He felt the need to constantly hug her, to hold her close. Sure, he wanted to comfort her, but more than that, he wanted her. Bad. The recognition that she was attracted to him, too, tied his insides in knots. He hadn't expected it. The whole thing really pissed him off. He didn't need this kind of a distraction. What he needed was to kick the Trasatti family's ass.
