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“I think I’m the person who’s going to make your life a misery if you don’t rethink everything you just said and then some,” she said, her tone saying he should be apologizing on both knees. Ilan rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, okay,” he said, making it clear that was the last thing he was about to do. He gestured to the deck above them, “Don’t you have better things to do than ruin my day? Hamsters to feed or something?”
“They’re guinea pigs you—”
“Guinea pigs are food,” he said because he was a dick. She cursed and he was fully aware he deserved it. Telling someone their pet was food was a rotten thing to do. He wasn’t even sure why they were arguing. Other than that was just what happened when anyone spent more than two minutes with Abigail Meyer, apparently. He’d intended to come over and have a perfectly reasonable conversation about whatever-it-was that she was concerned about. Based on her phone call, it seemed to be that she wasn’t a morning person and couldn’t understand why anyone would be working at seven am.
“This isn’t Peru,” she said, her tone icy. It took him a second to remember what Peru had to do with anything–that’s where they ate guinea pigs. Her arms were crossed tightly under her breasts, and he couldn’t help that his eyes strayed. He tried. He really did. But he was only human, and his guys had been talking about how attractive this loudmouthed-pain-in-his-ass was since last week. It was difficult not to notice. It did make him feel more like a lecherous ass, though, and he forced himself to look her in the eye.
“You’re right, that was a shitty thing to say,” he said, and she raised her eyebrows, clearly shocked. He chose not to wonder why his taking responsibility for saying something shitty was so surprising. If he thought too hard about it, he’d be angry all over again, and they’d never get anything done.
“Oh, right. Well, thank you, I guess,” she said, stepping back and making contact with one of the wooden deck supports. She relaxed against one of the heavy beams, her hands falling to her hips. His eyes followed the line of her collarbones, and he bit the inside of his cheek.
“Don’t get me wrong, you’re still a pain-in-my-ass,” he said aloud, in case this sentiment wasn’t entirely clear. Her eyes immediately flashed. He could feel himself losing whatever minuscule amount of ground he’d gained. “But I shouldn’t make fun of your pets. It’s not their fault.”
“Glad you think so,” she said stiffly, and it was all he could do not to laugh at her outright. There was something about this woman that made him enjoy goading her. He’d noticed it that first night at the bar when she’d made such a big thing about music. There was something about the way she seemed to be made entirely of velvet-covered watch springs. She was just a series of small, tightly coiled, delicate springs that wound tighter and tighter inside her so that she drew up by inches. He wondered what would happen if even one of those springs broke free.
“We don’t have to fight,” he said, hoping he sounded reasonable and not like he’d been wondering about her delicate parts. His mouth twisted, and he was once again glad she couldn’t hear his thoughts.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure we do,” she said, her mouth pulling into a smile if she was an apex predator.
The kind that swooped down from the sky and picked up tiny little guinea pigs, his mind said, and he shook his head to clear it. He opened his mouth to say something else, but what came out surprised them both. “I’m attracted to you, and I don’t like it.”
Abi’s mouth fell open. He almost laughed, but there was a roaring in his ears that he was pretty sure meant he was about to have a stroke. He didn’t just say that. Did he just say that out loud? Did he really just say that out loud?
The look on her face said he most definitely said that out loud.
“…Why don’t you like it?” she said after a long, strained moment.
Ilan choked, then coughed, then scrubbed a hand over his face, not sure what to say. He knew he had to say something though. He could hear the sounds of the saws and chippers in the distance, knew his team was still working, and knew it was pissing her off, even if she seemed to be ignoring it to focus on him. He was very much aware that they were behind a six-foot privacy fence and her deck obscured anything anyone could see from the bottom of the property where the tree line started. Anyone that came looking for him would just see the large expanse of lawn, then the wooden deck.
They were completely in the open and also, somehow, completely alone.
“Are you going to answer that, or are you too chicken?” she said, her tone saying she was used to dealing with small children all day and if he wanted to act like a smitten five-year-old boy, that’s how she would treat him.
“Because,” he said, searching for something to say that would save the situation. Even though he knew there was nothing that could save him now.
“Because,” she said back, mimicking the inflection almost perfectly.
“Because you’re prickly and high maintenance, and it shouldn’t matter how good you are in the sack.”
She laughed in his face, but she stepped away from the deck support, taking a step toward him. Her hand skimmed over her hair, tucking some strands behind her ear. “You’re such a prince.”
“Nice talk,” he shot back, wondering if he should just sayI know you are but what am I?
“What makes you think I’m even a little bit attracted to you,” she said, her tone betraying her. She was inches away from him now, her chest so close to his he’d be touching her if he breathed too deeply. His hand hovered before he could stop it, reaching up to almost-but-not-quite touch the line of her jaw.
“You mean aside from the way you came on top of me in your car?” he said, and she flinched. He wondered if she regretted it.
“Just because I know how to get myself off doesn’t mean anything,” she said, but he saw the note of desire in her eyes and knew he had her.
“That’s not what you said at the Co-op,” he said, unable to stop the grin. Abi glared.
“Just because you’re a good kisser, and I’m good at orgasms, that doesn’t mean I’m into you.”
“Well that’s good to know, I won’t kiss you today,” he warned, and her eyes flashed again, saying unmistakably that he was a fool.
“Good. I don’t want you to anyway,” she said, and it was such an obvious lie he couldn’t help the laugh.
