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Even though all I want to do is rush forward and tackle her to the mattress, I fight the urge, dropping my athletic bag to the carpet instead.
“What’s up.” I give her a chin lift, striving for nonchalance.
I’ve never had a problem talking to girls. Hell, all I have to do is flash them a smile and most fall onto their backs before spreading their legs wide.
This one, however, isn’t like the others.
And there’s something I like about that.
The fire burning in her dark eyes doesn’t escape me.
Instead of returning the greeting, she growls, “You lied.”
“Is that so?” I yank off my sweatshirt and cross the room, tossing it over the back of the chair before settling my ass on the corner of the desk. The tension vibrating through the air continues to heighten as I fold my arms across my chest. “How exactly did I do that?”
Her attention drops to my arms before she swallows thickly and raises her gaze to mine again. “You told me the car would only cost a couple hundred dollars to repair, and it ended up being thousands.”
I should have realized she would ask Declan for the total amount instead of just letting it go. This is one girl who wants to take care of everything herself. She’d rather die than allow anyone to help her, even when she’s in a pinch.
“He also fixed a couple other things,” I tell her.
“Oh, I’m aware.” Springing off the bed, she jumps to her feet and advances. “Here’s the problem—I didn’t ask you to do that!”
“You’re right, I made an executive decision because it needed to be done.” I push away from the desk and take a step forward before grinding to a halt and holding myself back. “Exactly how long do you think your car would have lasted with a cracked radiator?”
She opens her mouth to no doubt blast me into next week before snapping it shut again and giving her head a quick shake. A few silent seconds tick by before she grudgingly admits, “I don’t know.”
I inch forward, closing more distance between us. She’s so angry that I can practically see smoke billowing off her in waves.
“Well, I do. Did you realize that a car can overheat with a cracked radiator? What if something like that happened when you were coming home from school or the restaurant?” When she stands her ground, I swallow up another couple of feet. “What would you have done then? You’d be stranded. Alone. At night.”
Her teeth sink into the plumpness of her lower lip as she glances away. She’s so damn stubborn.
So fucking independent.
And it turns me on like nothing else.
Her attention snaps back to me as I take another step. I’m so close that she has to tilt her chin upward to hold my gaze. Some of her fury evaporates, but not all of it.
“You should have been honest from the start. You knew it would be expensive. And you also realized I didn’t have the money to pay for it on my own.”
She’s right about that. But I also knew what would happen if she didn’t get her car fixed. It would make her life more difficult, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Maybe I took the decision out of her hands, but I did it for all the right reasons. Whether she wants to see that or not.
I cock my head. “What would you have done had I told you the truth?”
The delicate column of her throat constricts as she swallows. “I’m…not sure.”
That’s a lie, and we both know it. I’m so tired of this girl fighting me at every turn.
“Yes, you do. Now you’re the one lying.”
Her eyes flare.
When she remains silent, I ask, “Would you have repaired your car if you’d known about the cost?”
In answer, her shoulder slump and she glances away.
But I’ll be damned if I let her off that easily. “Well?”
Shame claws at her cheeks. “We both know I wouldn’t have been able to afford it.” Her voice drops until it sounds as if it’s been scraped raw. “I have no idea if the damn thing is worth the money you sank into it.”
Even though it’s a risk—and I’m probably taking my life into my own hands—I reach out and stroke my thumb along the curve of her jaw. “I don’t give a shit about the cost. I care that your car is safe for you to drive. That’s all that matters to me.”
Her brows pinch together as renewed fire leaps into her eyes. “I don’t want your charity or pity, Asher. I don’t need it.”
“Who said that you did?” Instead of calming her down, everything I do only seems to rile her up more. My fingers continue to stroke over her soft skin. “You’re the most independent person I’ve ever met and more than capable of taking care of yourself. I just helped a little bit. That’s it.”
