“Maybe he’s opening a second restaurant,” Carrera said.
After a beat, she patted his hand. “Do better. For me.”
He nodded as the image of a very sexy, very blonde Slash flashed in his mind. Though he couldn’t stand her, he couldn’t deny that she looked good. She looked damn good.
On his way home, he stopped in front of Slash’s townhouse. The outside light was on, as was a light on the first floor, and both upstairs. He pulled over. Blinds hung closed on the first floor, but light spilled from the upstairs rooms.
He cut the engine. If he rang her doorbell, would she invite him in? What would he even say? They hadn’t spoken, really spoken, in years. Would he apologize? If he did, would she even accept it? As he sat there running through the scenarios, she appeared in an upstairs window. Like an angel, backlit in bright light, she peered outside, then slowly closed the blinds. Seconds later, she appeared in the next room and closed those as well.
If she saw him, she didn’t let on. From what he did know about her—professionally—nothing got past her.
He got out of his truck, made his way across the quiet residential street. As he was walking up her yard, the front door opened. She stepped outside, hitched her hands on her hips, and glared at him.
She’d pulled her cascading blonde hair into a ponytail, her long bangs draped over one eye. She flicked her head, sending the hair flying off her face.
“I’m sure you’re here because Elsa asked you,” she bit out. “Be warned, I willneverplay nice with you.”
He continued toward her as if pulled by a powerful force. Inches away, he glared down at her.
“I’m not scared of you and I willneverbe intimidated by you,” she said.
“You’d know if I was trying to do either,” he growled.
She narrowed her eyes.
He gritted his teeth.
“I meant it when I told you to go fuck yourself,” she growled.
Then, she glanced at his mouth, her gaze hovering on his lips before she peered into his eyes.
Fuck me.
He lowered his head to kiss her, but she palmed his chest with both hands to keep him at bay.
“If you eventhinkabout kissing me again, I will knee you in the nuts so hard, you’ll see every fucking star in the universe before you pass out on my front lawn.” Then, she removed her hands. “Now, get the hell off my property and don’t come back.”
With a fiery gaze that screamed “fuck off,” she stared into his eyes while angry energy swirled around them.
He stood there glaring back.
She walked into her house, shut the door behind her.
“What the hell was I thinking?” he grumbled as he made his way back to his truck.
But he knew exactly what he was thinking.
He might hate her, but he couldn’t ignore the attraction, now more powerful than ever.
