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I set my paddle in the kayak and lay back, acting as if he didn’t affect me at all. “I wouldn’t have guessed you to be so sensitive. Does my opinion of how you do your job really matter?”
The water splashed against the shore, and I tried to relax, even though my heart raced every time this man was near.
Maybe it was my instincts warning me to stay away from him.
Maybe it was just the fact that I was wildly attracted to him.
Of course, I was… because why not be attracted to someone dangerous? Someone who would cause you grief.
It was all I knew.
I’d studied psychology for more than half of my life.
I knew how to read the signs.
And River Pierce was full of warning signs.
“What matters to me is when someone judges me unfairly. I dealt with that enough as a fucking kid. As an adult, it pisses me the fuck off.”
I hadn’t expected that answer, so I shot forward, sitting up and tearing my sunglasses off my face to meet his angry gaze. “So, let me get this straight. You’re offended that I’ve misjudged you?”
“Did I stutter?”
“Why do you care what I think of you?” I hissed. “I’m an evil queen, remember?”
His lips turned up in the corners. This man was all over the place. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or joking half the time.
“Ahhh… is someone sensitive about being called an evil queen? Have I misjudgedyou, Ruby?” His voice was gravelly and sexy as hell.
“First off, I don’t care what you think of me. I care whatIthink of myself,” I huffed. “And for the record, calling me an evil queen is not an insult to me. It means my work here is done.”
“You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you? You think your big, fancy degree makes you an expert on people?”
A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips.
It was very evil queen of me, and I liked it.
“Well, yes, genius. I have a Ph.D. in psychology. That, by definition, makes me fairly skilled at reading people.”
“So, tell me,Doctor… who am I? You seem to think you know me so well. I’m curious how skilled you are.”
I loved this part of the game. When someone lets me assess them and call them out for just how easily I’d been able to read them.
“Sure. It would be my pleasure. I’ll even do it pro bono because I’ll enjoy it.” I raised a brow and thought it over. “You had a rocky past. I don’t know what exactly happened in your childhood, obviously, but it left you with trust issues. You don’t do relationships or anything where commitment is involved. You’re smarter than most of the people you interact with,” I said, and he barked out a laugh as if I’d just said he was the smartest guy in the room. “Don’t get cocky. You aren’t even the smartest person in this cove.”
“I see. So, I’m smarter than most, but not smarter than you.”
“It’s my opinion. But I make it a point to be more knowledgeable than my opponents, so don’t take offense.” I shrugged.
“Do you really believe that your assessment about how I don’t do relationships makes you some sort of brilliant doctor of psychology? It’s not a secret. Hell, everyone in this town knows Idon’t do relationships. Get in line, Evil Queen. You haven’t told me anything I haven’t heard a million times.”
Now it was my turn to chuckle. “Yeah, but they don’t know why you’re so closed off. They don’t know that if you took away all the layers, it would come down to fear.”
“I see. I’m afraid of women. Is that it?” I could tell he was enjoying himself.
“You’re afraid of being hurt. You’re afraid of loss. You’re afraid of allowing yourself to feel joy. You’re afraid of trusting anyone outside of your circle.”
He was quiet now as his gaze studied mine. “Wow. All this time, I thought I just enjoyed fucking different women because I get bored easily. Thank you, Dr. Rose. I feel like I can breathe now.”
