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She was not looking at his butt in those worn jeans. She refused. But, damn it, that’s all she could focus on and he . . . well, now he was just fighting dirty.
Smoothing a hand down her pencil skirt, Olivia prepared for battle.
* * *
Jax gritted his teeth as he checked the panel once again. He didn’t have the time or the patience for some city slicker who thought she could come in and take charge . . . no matter what their past entailed.
Clearly, Olivia—“don’t call me Livie”—wanted to keep a personal detachment. Fine, he could play her game. But he wasn’t about to let her just sell this place out from under him. He had too much to lose if the airport was taken from him.
After she’d hightailed it out of town in her little sporty car and a whip of her short blond hair, Jax truly didn’t think he’d ever see her again. Unfortunately, life happened and she was back for the first time since she’d been eighteen . . . with a more expensive flashy car and much longer hair in a paler shade of blond.
That punch of lust to his gut wasn’t going to be a problem. There was no way he’d be persuaded by another beautiful woman ever again—he’d learned that lesson the hard way.
Just because she came strutting in claiming she now owned half, that meant nothing as far as he was concerned. Obviously, she was ignoring how this partnership came to be.
Livie Daniels was all business wrapped in a perfect, curvy package. That pink suit was a nice touch . . . if he found city chicks to his liking. Jax was rather amused at how she thought she could talk down to him like he had no idea what she was doing.
That whole “better for you and the town” speech had been a nice touch, but he’d been a senior airman in the United States Air Force. She’d have to do better than that if she was going to try to get on his good side.
“Excuse me.”
Of course she’d followed him. Someone like Livie didn’t like being told no. Well, she better get used to it because he wasn’t selling his half. Ever. No amount of money could compete with loyalty and family—and Paul Daniels had been like a father to Jax.
Not only had he told her no, he’d ignored her, so that probably didn’t make her happy either. Too damn bad. He didn’t have time to cater to a pampered princess . . . no matter how sexy she looked in that suit wrapped over her curvaceous body. She was still trouble in stilettos and he had other things that needed his immediate attention.
Slowly Jax eased out of the cockpit, reached up and curled his hands around the wing, staring at her across the way. It was all he could do not to smile at the streak of grease across her cheek.
She hadn’t had a thing on her when he’d swiped earlier, but he’d been in a mood and couldn’t resist the petty maneuver of messing her up. He’d seen that bright red Beemer pull onto the grassy lot, had taken one look at her face, and known the prodigal daughter had
returned.
The thirteen-year-old boy inside him didn’t have to remind him how he’d had a silly crush on someone five years older than him, how he’d always felt awkward when she looked his way or flashed a smile. He was well beyond that kid now—and had the life lessons to know better than to get sidetracked.
Livie Daniels in all her perfection and class was an instant reminder of the last time he’d let lust guide his judgment. Never going down that path again.
She returned his stare as she crossed her arms over her chest. Okay, time to draw this little meeting to a close. As much as he enjoyed the scenery, they were not going to come to an agreement right now . . . maybe never. And as long as he never agreed to sell, then she was at his mercy.
“I realize you don’t want to be tied to this place,” he started. “Believe me, I don’t want you here either. But we both own an equal amount, so you’re going to have to get along with me.”
Her mouth dropped open on a gasp. “Excuse me? I’m buying you out. We don’t have to get along or even be friends.”
When she threw out an impressive number for his half, Jax raised a brow and whistled. He immediately thought of what he could do with that much cash, but instantly pushed pipe dreams aside. Selling his soul came at no price. He was proud of this life he’d created. Carrying on a legacy started by a man who meant everything to Jax was worth more than any amount of money offered.
Now more than ever, Jax knew life wasn’t about cash. He had a daughter to look out for and to pass on the lessons he’d been taught—lessons in loyalty and love were priceless.
“Nice, but no thanks.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” she scolded, as if her words would hurt him. He was immune at this point in his life.
“And you’re not getting my half, so suck it up, Princess.”
He moved around to the other side of the cockpit and opened the door. If he couldn’t get this air vent working again, he was going to have to reschedule tomorrow’s flight—and he couldn’t exactly reschedule when the elderly couple needed to get to their granddaughter’s wedding in Sarasota.
He had to pick up his daughter from preschool in a couple of hours and he really wanted to take her to the park and a movie, but he wouldn’t be able to if he didn’t get this work done. He couldn’t exactly work when his unwanted guest wouldn’t leave him alone to think.
He should’ve let her just fall on her ass earlier.
Heels clicked across the floor and he knew this fight was far from over. Whatever. He could handle her . . . he just didn’t want to.
