Page 13 of Heartless Pucker in Love

Clearing my throat, I averted my gaze. “I like color.”

His attention shifted to my hot pink-painted lips and my breath hitched. It could be my imagination?I was pretty sure it was?but I thought I saw a hint of interest in his eyes. “I got that.”

With an annoying smirk in place, he brushed past me. Even with a slight limp, he still managed to saunter away and looked good doing it. No one should possess that much swagger. Huffing, I peeled off my gloves and stomped in the direction of the bathroom.

I spent longer than necessary in the bathroom because I had to get my body heat down. My temper too. Julian sent them both skyrocketing. Peering at myself in the mirror, I said, “You are not sexually stimulated by that cad. Nope. Not at all. Your face is red from irritation. He irritates you.” Nodding firmly at my flush-faced reflection, I took a deep breath and reluctantly went in search of Julian.

He was in the kitchen operating a blender. Seeing me, he smiled. Gazing at the cast on his left hand, I lifted a brow. “You should be resting that wrist.”

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. “I have plenty of others telling me what to do, the last thing I need is one more person. Sit.” He nodded to the stool directly in front of him.

Gazing at the green mixture in the blender, I wrinkled my nose. “If that’s what you’re offering to drink. No thanks.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “You don’t even know what it is. I’m trying to be nice here. Don’t be ungrateful.”

When I glowered, he chuckled and started the blender again. I mentally kicked myself. Julian was deliberately trying to get me riled up, and I kept falling right into it. “Don’t need you to be nice, you ass.”

The kitchen went quiet. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” The smile I gave him was extra sweet.

Eyeing me with suspicion, he poured his mixture into two glasses and slid one to me. “Here you go, a peace offering.”

Side-eyeing the glass and then him, I accepted. “What is it?”

“Just try it.”

“It looks disgusting. How do I know you're not trying to poison me?”

His deep chuckle caused my abdominal muscles to clench, along with a few other muscles in the lower region.

“April, if we didn’t murder each other from childhood up to now, I doubt either of us will ever go through with it.”

I grunted, but it came out as a laugh. “Good point. We had plenty of opportunities to do each other in.”

“You’ve actually tried.”

My eyes snapped to him. “What? No, I haven’t.” Clutching my chest, I racked my brain for a period when he drove me to physically try to hurt him, but I got nothing.

Julian snickered. “You pushed me off the swing on the playground in the second grade.”

I rolled my eyes and sent him a dirty look.

“What? I could have died. I demand an apology.” He smiled over his glass, and I felt disgusted that I wanted to smile back.

“I’m sure you said or did something to deserve it,” I returned, “so let’s call it even.” Grabbing the glass of green liquid, I took a sip. A burst of flavors took my taste buds by pleasant surprise. I took one more sip then another.

“Good, right?”

Lowering my gaze, I shrugged.

“Oh, come on. If you compliment me, the word won’t end.” Julian smiled a smile that projected pure charm. “I promise.”

Ugh. The smoothie was really good. “It’s alright,” I grumbled.

He shook his head. “I’ll have to take that, I suppose.”

“What’s in it?”

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