Permission? As if I’d ever give that to him again. I learned my lesson the first time.
“W-we’re not kissing,” I stammer.
His lips curl, and I drag my gaze away from them. “Yet, it’s on your mind.”
“Because of Bella.”
He drops his hands. “Your eyes still aren’t dilating. Not even when you thought I was going to kiss you,” he says.
I blink. The concussion. “Maybe that says more about you than me.” I pull away from him. One step. Two. Not far enough. I need an entire building between us. Maybe a country. “Now go.”
“I told you. I’m not leaving without that painting.”
“AndItoldyouyou can’t have it.”
“You know what? A movie sounds great.” He turns to follow Bella.
“Soren, wait.”
My soft tone stops him in his tracks. I take a deep breath and look up at him with the sincerest pleading I can muster. “If you stay here, I will murder you.”
His left brow flicks up. “Is that a challenge?”
“I can’t do this.” I wave my hand between us. “I’m trying to give Arabella a good holiday, but I can’t spend it with a crook.”
His eyes narrow to something icy and distant. “Then hand over the painting, and I’ll leave.”
The fake switchblade is on the couch, and I pick it up. “Not a chance. I don’t trust you.”
He lifts a brow at my “knife.” “Is that your weapon of choice, or would you like to drown me with a water gun?”
“You know…” I stalk toward him, plastic knife outstretched. “I forgave you.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“Or at least I forgot about what you did. But if you’re going to come back into my life and make it a disaster, I’ll be enacting my revenge.” I’m done being walked on.
He stuffs his hands in his pockets in a relaxed and unworried manner. “Just so I know how best to prepare, is this the Maya who cried when I cut off the frog’s head in ninth grade biology or Penny, the lying nanny?”
I glare at him. “Neither. This is the girl with nothing to lose.”
His brows furrow, but he stalks forward, his voice low and threatening. “In that case, I look forward to what’s coming.”
“You won’t even see it coming.” I’m spouting nonsense now but I can’t make it stop. He knows it too.
“I’m intrigued.” His lips quirk to the side. “May the best man, or woman, win.”
It occurs to me if I’m going to get this man to leave, I’m going to have to be sneaky. Which means I might need Arabella’s help.
It’s a terrible idea. Encouraging Bella’s troublemaking side will only make everything worse. But I prefer a physical mess to the raucous circus in my chest at being forced to be near the man who left me all those years ago.
I need him gone, and I’m willing to stoop low.Verylow.
Chapter 10
Soren
“You’vegotthewrongnumber. Don’t leave a message.”
