Page 29 of Claimed By my Frenemy

"Hey, Mia!" I call out as she gets closer, hoping my staring wasn’t too obvious.

She looks up from where her eyes are trained on the ground and studies me. The sun is in my eyes, so I shade them with my hand, watching as she continues over until she’s only a couple of feet from me. "Hey, Theo. How’s the project coming along?"

"Not bad, actually. We managed to fix the pipe issue, so that's one crisis averted. I also fired that crew. They were going to end up being more expensive for me in the long run."

"Good to hear." She crosses her arms casually. I see her eyes scanning my property, trying to evaluate how much progress we made in a day.

“When do you think you’ll be done?”

I want to tell her that it’s all dependent on her, but I don’t think this is the right moment to start pressuring her again. If I pressure her too much, then she won’t want to give anything. “We’ve got some estimated time frames. I’ll at least be able to open the first building in August. I want to get in some good reviews before winter season hits. It will also give us a chance to finish construction and use the feedback to make the other half of the resort even better.”

“So, you’re going to have guests staying on a property where there is active construction? I’m sure they’lllovehearing your jackhammer at 10:00 p.m.”

I smile sheepishly at Mia, working to keep my eyes from resting on her breasts. If the top moves just a little, her nipple will pop out. And if that happens, I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself from reaching out and touching it.

“No, actually, that’s just foryourbenefit.”

“So, you can see me come out on the porch in my pjs?”

“Why wait for you to be in your pjs when I can see you in your bathing suit?” I nod to her current outfit, and she looks down at herself, putting her hands on her hips instead. We’ve definitely crossed the line from awkward, neighbor conversation into flirtatious, maybe more than a one-night stand conversation.

“I have a question for you. Why are you always working on your property? I thought you were a big-shot investor. Don’t big-shot investors just sit in their offices all day and make decisions?”

“There is definitely a lot of office-sitting and decision-making, but I like to be involved every step of the way.”

“So…you’re a control freak?”

“I don’t know that I’d take it that far.”

“But you’re not denying it.”

I raise an eyebrow at her, and Mia giggles.

I want to reach out to her, show her we can continue to have just as good of a time as we had last night, but the distance between us is too much. I take a step closer to her. “So, I assume you were taking a day off at the beach?”

“Yeah, I hung out with my friends.”

“Your friends? The ones who wanted you to kiss me?” I ask, biting my bottom lip.

I notice how my lips temporarily distract Mia from what she’s saying. “Y-yes, those friends.” She seems to come back to herself as her eyes flicker away from me. “And it was great. I needed that break. How about you? How was…digging in the dirt or whatever you’re doing?”

“Taking soil samples so we can plant the right kind of grass here. And it was actually nice and quiet today without the contractors here. The new ones start tomorrow.” I clear my throat. “I’ve actually had a chance to think about what we talked about the other day.”

Mia raises an eyebrow. "Oh? And what did you think about it?"

I take a deep breath, hoping this conversation doesn’t spiral out of control like the others. "I was thinking about the resort idea. How it could really boost the area and bring in moretourists. It’s not just about the money, Mia. It’s about making this place thrive."

She frowns slightly, and I can see I’m starting to lose her already. She hasn’t even fully heard me out. "Theo, we’ve been over this. I want to keep things small and personal. A bed and breakfast, not a resort. I’m not willing to sell my dream so you can have yours."

Her words hit me hard, and I take a moment to really think through what I’m going to say. I have to keep this conversation calm and non-confrontational. "But what if I told you that you could have a share of the profits? We could work together on this. Combine our efforts and make something amazing. I’d not only pay you out for your land, but you could receive ten percent profits for doing absolutely nothing. It would be a passive way to earn money."

Mia's eyes narrow, and she takes a step back. "You really don’t give up, do you?"

"No, I don’t, but hear me out. This could be beneficial for both of us. You’d have a steady income, and I’d even be willing to let you have some design control over Building C.”

“Building C? You barely have room for two buildings.” She motions harshly to the land behind me.

“That’s where your land would come in.”

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