His grin turns wolfish. “That’s even hotter.”
“You have serious issues.”
Miller Ashford, in all her pint-sized, designer-clad glory, finally comes to a stop in front of us. She crosses her arms over her chest, weight shifting to one hip, and her smile deepens, dimples cutting deep in her cheeks.
“Long time, no see,” she says, tilting her head slightly like she’s assessing me.
I nod. “Wasn’t expecting you.”
She lifts a shoulder, like she’s got all the time in the world. “Figured if I gave you a heads-up, you’d find some way to dodge me.”
I huff out a laugh. “Still convinced the world revolves around you, huh?”
She grins, the same shit-eating expression she’s worn since we were kids. “I mean, it’s been working for me so far.”
Ridge, still looking her up and down like he’s mentally composing a love letter, clears his throat.
Miller drops her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose just enough to get a better look at him, her sharp green eyes flicking over his face with mild interest. “And you are?”
Ridge straightens. “Ridge. Ridge Wilding.”
Miller purses her lips. “Another Wilding, huh? Your brood just keeps multiplying, it seems.”
Ridge grins. “That a compliment?”
She considers for a second. “If you need it to be.”
Duke lets out a low chuckle, and Witt mutters, “Damn, she’s a spitfire.”
Miller squints at him. “Wait. I actuallydoremember you. You were scrawny with a terrible haircut.”
Ridge huffs a laugh. “You weren’t exactly winning any awards in the haircut department either.”
She levels him with a look. “It was the early 2000s. We were all victims.”
“Some more than others.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’re real confident for someone who looked like a wet Q-tip until at least age fifteen.”
Ridge smirks, clearly enjoying himself way too much. “Bet you were a real joy to be around back then.”
“I still am,” she deadpans. “I’m just a tiny, rage-filled ray of fucking sunshine.”
Duke shakes his head. Witt just mutters something about Ridge needing a cold shower and better decision-making skills.
I clear my throat, cutting through whatever the hell this is. “What do you need, Mills?”
She turns back to me, expression shifting slightly, the teasing dropping just enough to let me know she’s got something serious to say.
“I need to talk to you. Alone, if that’s alright.”
I study her for a second before nodding. “Yeah, okay.”
As I move to follow her, Ridge leans in with a grin and murmurs, “If you don’t want her, I’ll take her.”
I shoot him a look. “Go build a fence, Ridge.”
Miller snorts as she walks past him, reaching up to adjust her sunglasses. “I’d drive a drill through your eye socket for fun.”
