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Ava rolls her eyes. “Let me guess, you don’t need me to do anything.”
“Good girl, you’re a fast learner.”
The pulse in her neck flutters at my words, but she avoids my eyes.
“Fine. In that case, I’m going to go and work on the deck. I might as well get my work done, seeing as you won’t let me help you with yours.”
She pushes away from the counter, but I grab her wrist. Her eyes drop to my fingers circling around it.
“Why do you tell my father what you’re writing about, but you won’t tell me?”
I curse myself the second the pathetic tone carries the words from my mouth. I drop her wrist and fold my arms.
Her eyes narrow, sweeping over my face. “What happened to, ‘I never said I was interested?’”
“I never said I wasn’t, either.”
She holds my gaze, the two of us locked into one of our silent battles.
The corners of her lips lift.
My palm twitches as I picture bringing it down onto her ass.
“You answer me a question, and I’ll answer you one. A truth for a truth.” She steps closer, looking at me from beneath her lashes.
I allow my gaze to soak in her breasts beneath the thin fabric of her bikini. Her nipples are tight little peaks, straining against it.
“Fine. You first.”
Her eyes light up. “Why are you the way you are? Why all the games, all the control? Don’t you ever just… Have you ever had a relationship where things were equal? Have you ever been in love?”
“That was four questions.”
A deep groove etches between her eyebrows as she huffs. “Suit yourself. I knew you’d never answer anyway—”
“I’m like this because I want to be. I have to have control because I hate feeling like I have none. All relationships I’ve had have been a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties, and I won’t ever allow myself to fall in love.”
“Mutually beneficial?” She snorts. “Sounds more like a business contract than a relationship.”
“I suppose it is.”
“What?”
“I like things a certain way, Ava. When people want more, things get complicated. I make sure they know what they’re getting, and what they’re not, before we start anything.”
“That’s so…” she screws her face up, “… clinical.”
“It’s necessary.”
She shakes her head. “And you never want to fall in love? Ever?”
“No one has control in love. I refuse to play that game.” I roll my neck, cracking it.
“That’s bad for—”
“My bones, I know.”
“—your heart, Jet.” She looks at me sadly. “Don’t you ever want to throw caution to the wind and give up control for once?”
