Page 28 of Perfect

“Is he? He’s still a man Harlow and men think with their pricks.”

He was so crude. My nervous tic kicked in but I tried to stay firm. “I can’t believe Tom would talk about me like that.”

Connor frowned, “Like what?” It then dawned on him what I meant. “Ah, the tits comment. I never said Tom said that.”

I scowled, “Then who?”

My stepbrother shook his head, “Believe me. Youdon’twant to know. Fucking trouble, that’s who. Most of the guys around here are players, Harlow. You should remember that.”

I wrung my hands together, feeling pressure to provide the perfect reply. “I’ll remember that the next time I give two shits about what you think. Tom’s sister is cool too. Met her today.”

There, I had said it. Boom!

I needed to pop her name in there to gauge his reaction.

Connor cleared his throat but he gave nothing away.

“So, I heard,” he asserted in a bored voice.

Silence filled the space between us and I tilted my head and focused on a spot behind him in the yard, momentarily breaking eye contact.

“Yes, she seemed really lovely. She surprised me,” I pointed out like it was no big deal.

His response was not one that I’d hoped for, although by now I should have expected it. Connor Barratt was a guarded guy and he wasn’t about to spill the beans about getting it on with Ella Wade.

“Ella Wade and the word lovely don’t share the same fucking planet. She wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Check out the competition. You girls are all the same.” he drew out.

My face twisted.

“To see what the fuss was about?” I shot back, puzzled at how easily he drew the subject back to me.

He stepped back and dashed a frustrated hand across his jaw. “Stop repeating my words, it’s just plain annoying.” His voice was raised.

I exhaled before putting in, “She’s pretty.”

“If you like that sort of thing,” he said dispassionately.

“There’s nothingnotto like. Surely you find her attractive?”

“Not particularly,” he replied before adding. “And if you think I’m going to gossip about relationships and boys you can think again.”

I forced a sigh as if I was disappointed and he shot me one ofthoselooks.

“Why not? Guys think with their pricks, don’t they? It sounds like all village boys are panting for it. Ella said the same.” I was on a roll. This was the most I had gotten out of him. “You’rea guy.” I pointed out with a winning smile.

“I think you’re heading into dangerous waters, Harlow. You don’t want to discuss my sex life. You wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

My heart surely skipped a beat as the word sex rolled from between those perfect lips. He was such a cocky sod.

I cleared my throat suddenly feeling hot and he quirked an eyebrow at me. I knew he was trying to embarrass me, so I took the bull by the horns.

“We can talk about your sex life if you want, why not? I’ll tell you about mine, maybe we can share tips,” I responded in a luring, confident voice, now copying his expression like for like.

He snorted at my reply. “Whatever. You don’t fuckinghaveone.”

Connor was right of course but I was now having too much fun. “How do you know?”

His expression was drawn and his look said that he was contemplating running me over with his Ranger. Maybe the thought of me with other boys annoyed him?

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