Page 30 of Burnout
He reaches out and tugs on one of my braids. “You look like Elsa.”
“Ooooh. The best Disney princess, good burn.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“You would know.”
Ugh. I drop my arms to my sides and take a step forward. “I’m good at what I do and I helped Colter. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Last night he was set on it, then he insulted me and I said no, and nowhe’schanged his mind?
“Aside from self-preservation?” His gaze drops from my face again, taking in my closed-off body language.
“I’m flattered you think I could harm you.”
“More like I don’t want to waste my time. I’ve got a limited amount of it, and I can’t afford to squander it fighting with you and not making any progress. Pity though. You’re sexy when you’re pissed off.” He winks. He actually freaking winks at me.
And is that supposed to be a compliment? Am I not sexy the rest of the time? Ugh, this man. I think he’s the most infuriating person I’ve ever met.
“Then why bother apologizing?”
“Seemed like the nice thing to do.”
“You aren’t nice.”
“Fine. I take it back. Happy?” He smirks like arguing with me is a perfectly pleasant way to pass an afternoon.
“No,” I grit out.
“Take the apology or don’t, princess, but you should put on some more sunscreen. You’re starting to burn.” He ducks down into the water until his shoulders disappear underneath thesurface. He looks far less intimidating and almost playful, but I’m too keyed up to enjoy it.
After I get out of the pool and apply sunscreen—not because Knox told me to but because I was already thinking I needed to—I find Colter and Quinn sitting around an unlit firepit with a group of guys that are introduced as out-of-town riders. My friend gives up her seat for me and sits on Colter’s lap.
Knox stays away. He and Brooklyn seem to be hitting it off. Although she has some competition with a pretty brunette in a thong bikini with an impressive boob job. She sits at the edge of the pool showing off her body and smiling at him. He smiles right back. None of that earlier tension in his body is visible. He looks totally relaxed. Ugh. I hope she smothers him in her perfect, perky tits.
As the day ends, the mood of the party shifts. More people arrive, bringing new energy and making me feel zapped from the sun. Most of the people in the pool get out and sit around one of several fire features in the yard. There are three, plus another large seating area at the back of the yard.
Quinn and I pull on shorts over our suit bottoms, and Colter lets us raid the fridge in his house.
“Your nose is pink.” Quinn tosses two pretzels in her mouth as she stares at my face.
I bring a hand up and then grimace when my skin is warm to the touch. “Is it bad?”
She and Colter both shake their heads.
“Oh well, no one here to impress anyway,” I say.
“Hey. Some of my guys are cool as hell.” Colter looks between me and Quinn to back him up.
“Most of them are in relationships though,” Quinn says. “And that one kid is like seventeen.”
“He’s nineteen,” Colter insists.
“We’re not into anyone younger than us,” she says. “Right, Ave?”
“I guess.” I take a pretzel from the bag she’s holding.
“I saw you and Knox talking a couple of times.” She beams. “Spill.”
“There’s nothing to tell really.”
