Page 18 of Seeds of Malice

He shakes his head. "No. Sure, we had a thing once, but that's been over a long time."

"Oh."

His lips twitch. He studies me.

The butterflies in my stomach take off. I ask, "Why do you look amused?"

His lips curve into a bigger smile and he arches his eyebrows. "Glad to know you don't like the thought of me having a girlfriend."

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Heat crawls up my neck and into my cheeks.

He softly chuckles. "It's okay, gorgeous. I like you too." He winks and pecks me on the lips. Then he turns and grabs a packet of hamburgers out of the fridge.

Happiness soars through me. I'm too shocked and excited to move.

Dax Carrington just kissed me.

He did, right?

I didn't imagine that?

"Ugh. She has it bad," Avery scoffs, snapping me out of my bliss.

Embarrassment floods me. I'd love for Avery and me to be friends, but it's hard to see how we will ever be. For some reason, she's got it out for me. Well, except when she's invading my space.

"Ignore her," Dax orders and hands me a tomato. "Mind slicing a few?"

Relieved to have something to do, I eagerly grab it and another one off the side of the grill. "Sure."

"There're knives in the drawer," he directs, pointing at the counter.

I make my way to the outdoor kitchen and pull open the drawer. A dozen very expensive knives gleam in the sunlight.

I select one, then concentrate on the tomatoes, enjoying the summer heat and music.

Dax brings an onion over and says, "Can you grab another knife for me?"

I reach for one inside the drawer, then hand it to him and motion toward the onion. "You're brave."

Arrogance fills his expression. "I never cry."

"How is that possible?" I question.

"It's all in the preparation."

"Oh?"

He takes his knife, slits the onion in half, then picks it up. He peels a layer of skin off, claiming, "Yep. First, you soak it in cold water. It slows down the production of chemicals. You can freeze it if you prefer, but I never remember to take it out in time to defrost."

"Wow. I'm going to have to remember this trick. I cry long after the onion's cut," I admit.

"Again, we have peons on payroll to do all this." Avery huffs, stepping next to us and finishing her drink. She tosses the bottle into a trash can and grabs another.

"Such a snob," Dax seethes.

Avery chirps, "At least I'm being real, big brother." She tilts her head and gives him a knowing look.

"Leave them alone," Cooper adds, joining us.

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