Page 19 of Mad Rivals
I can’t get involved with him, and especially not now. He’s my competition in business, his father betrayed mine, and on top of it, we’re going to have to work together at least to some degree since we’ve both been hired to work on this project.
“No,” I finally say.
“Why the hell not?” he asked, his ego clearly bruised.
“You’re not my type.” I fold my arms across my chest.
“What if I wasn’t asking you out on a date?”
My head feels a little dizzy that I assumed he was, and I’m not sure how to respond to that.
“Fine, I was,” he mutters. “Then let’s have a dinner meeting after we discuss the master planning with our teams.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m happy to meet you during the daylight hours in either my conference room or yours,” I say.
“So you’re heading up this project for VBC?” he asks.
Say no, Kennedy. Tell him no. Put somebody else in because you can’t get tangled up with this guy.
“Yes.”
Fuck.
CHAPTER 10: Madden Bradley
Game Fucking On
I watch carefully as she snags her lip between her teeth, and for as much as I know nothing about her, I knowwomen. She’s telling me everything I need to know with her body language.
She regrets saying that she’ll be handling this project for VBC. She doesn’t even appear to want to work for her father, and we share more in common than she’ll admit—or than I’ll admit this early in the game, to be honest.
So why is she taking on this project? My arrogance has the answer.
She’ll get to work with me.
She’s only pretending to hate me.
Though she did pique my curiosity with that line about the history between our fathers. I know nothing of it, but I did my best to school my reaction when she mentioned it.
I’ve tucked it into my pocket for later. I’ll bring it up when he’s reaming me out for not scoring the full project.
My ego took a hit when she said I’m not her type, but I don’t buy it anyway.
“Great. I’m heading it up for Bradley, so it looks like we’ll be spending a lot of time together. Do you have other projects?” I ask.
She glances away, and then she admits what I suspected. “No.”
“Will you look at that,” I say, feigning shock. “Neither do I.”
She rolls her eyes. “Enough with the theatrics, Bradley. How are we going to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Work on this project together when I can’t—” She cuts herself off.
Can’t…what?
Can’t stand me? Can’t stop staring at my mouth? Can’t stop wanting me?
