Page 39 of Bitter Rival

After safely removing the blade, I stow the axe in the woodshed, stack up the firewood, and pull a tarp over it. “That’s enough fun for one day.”

“What’s wrong?” she teases. “Scared I’ll bury it in your back?”

I brush past her. “Haven’t you done that already?”

She sighs loudly. “You need to get over it. I don’t know why your father left me half of everything but it’s old news so just live with it. Unless you want to walk away,” she says, goading me as we round the side of the house. “It’s entirely your choice. No one is holding a loaded gun to your head and forcing you to stay.”

I walk through the front door and down the hallway, hoping to lose her but no such luck. She’s right behind me, her flip-flops slapping against the limestone tiles, like a yappy dog nipping at my heels. “And give you the satisfaction of walking away with everything? Never.”

I grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator and chug half of it then wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and catch her staring at me. I hold her gaze and we play that game where the first one to look away loses.

Once again, I win. She can’t play that game for shit. Daisy is always moving, always looks like she’s in motion, even when she’s standing still.

She hops onto the counter, kicks off her flip-flops, and pulls a bowl of blackberries into her lap. She probably picked them from the bushes down by the creek. I haven’t even ventured down there yet. Have barely set foot on this property.

She pops a berry into her mouth and moans. Whenever she eats something she loves, she sounds like she’s having an orgasm. “So good,” she says, offering me a blackberry, which I decline.

I chug the rest of the water and toss the empty bottle into the recycling bin then head for the door.

Her words stop me in my tracks.

“If you walk away from this, I will too,” she says from right behind me. “Just say the word and I’ll follow you out the door.”

Slowly, I turn to face her.

If I walk away, she stands to gain everything.

Why would she side with me?

I drew the battle lines from day one and declared her the enemy. I’ve never once treated her like a friend, so this has to be a trick.

“What game are you playing?”

“I didn’t realize this was a game. But you know how much I love a good game.” Her smile is so devious that for a brief moment, it reminds me of Astrid.

Something about that smile and the challenge in her tone makes me snap. I grasp her chin roughly and force her eyes to meet mine.

Her mouth parts and she licks her lips, wetting them. “If you want to kiss me, just ask,” she says, her voice coming out breathy.

I drag my thumb over her lush bottom lip, noting the way her breathing gets shallow and her eyes dare me, Just do it.

“If I wanted to kiss you,” I say, my voice low. “I wouldn’t ask for permission.”

Her eyes flare but she doesn’t look scared. She looks excited.

I’ll bet she likes it rough. I’ll bet she’s not afraid to get dirty.

And I’m imagining every dirty thing I could do to her as her tits press against my bare chest and my dick strains against the nylon fabric of my shorts.

Maybe that’s the answer. Maybe I just need to fuck her out of my system.

But as soon as the thought enters my head, I dismiss it. That would be a recipe for disaster.

And as tempting as it might be, I’m not going to kiss her. I shouldn’t even be touching her.

I drop my hand to my side like her skin burns and take a step back.

“What’s your deal, Daisy? What’s your hidden agenda?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. “The truth. If you’re even capable of it.”

---