Page 11 of Towering Contract

She’s all business right now, and I’m going to have fun getting under that cool façade. Hearing her call me handsome was a boost to my ego for sure, but I love our verbal spars no matter what she’s saying.

“You mean baking cookies in your pool house?” I raise a brow at her, and she huffs.

“For your information, it’s called a casita.”

“So it’s a house. By a pool.”

The little sound of frustration she makes has my grin growing.

“Come on, Zel, you can’t tell me you’re not excited to get out from under Janet for a few days.” That earns me a tiny smile and a reluctant shrug.

“She’s just being protective.” It looks like she thinks it over for a second and then lets out a long sigh. “But I’ll be glad to get a break from her relentless matchmaking.”

Now I’m the one feeling irritated. My hand grips the steering wheel so tightly it makes a squeaking sound and I have to ease up. “Looked like you were enjoying yourself at the party.”

“Some of it isn’t so bad.” Why does it sound like she’s trying to get a rise out of me?

“You need to watch some of the men you talk to.” The warning comes out as an order, and Zelly turns to glare at me.

“It’s none of your business.”

“It’s my business when your mother is shoving pieces of shit in your face,” I snap and then press my lips together to keep from blurting out anything else.

“What does it matter who she shoves in my face? You don’t get to tell me who to marry.” Zelly is almost as fired up as I am, and I know I should calm this down.

Too bad.

“If it were up to me, I’d lock your ass in a tower.” My mouth is getting the better of me, and this has escalated quickly.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing you never requested to marry me.”

Her words are like a kick in the balls. She crosses her arms over her chest and rolls her eyes.

“You don’t get a say in my life, Flynn. On who I marry or who I talk to. You’re not on the list of approved suitors, so keep your nose out of my business.”

The silence that stretches between us is deafening, but I’m not able to form words. Instead of speaking, I go back to driving while my thoughts spin out of control.

My request was the first one Zelly ever got. I know this because I handed it to Janet on her eighteenth birthday. It was right after her accident, and even though I was giving her space to heal, I made my intentions clear.

With the way Janet looked at me that day, I knew that I didn’t stand a chance in hell of winning Zelly. It didn’t matter that I had the money, the social status, or the connections. Janet was always going to look at me like I was my father, and I had to find another way to make Zelly mine.

Part of me hoped that over time, Leo would have asked about it or would have picked up on all my hints. I was afraid that if I came out and said it that it might ruin our friendship. I see now that giving Zelly space and thinking Leo would see my love for her was a huge mistake.

“You’re right, Zel,” I say as I begin to turn down the road to my home. I stop the car to key in the code at the gate and turn to face her. “I’m not on your list of approved suitors.” Her eyes move to mine, and the thing that’s always so strong between us pulses like a heartbeat. “But did you ever think that if the list is created by your mom, it might just be total fucking bullshit?”

She’s silent for half a second before she finally cracks and lets out a snort of laughter. “You’ve got me there.”

The air in the car was so tense, but now it feels almost like old times. Almost.

“Come on, give me a cookie and I’ll show you my house.” I hold out my hand, and she pretends to be annoyed as she gives me one. I see the smile she’s trying to hide, so I’ll call it a victory. “Damn, these are good.”

“I hope you enjoy it because you’re not getting another one.”

“We’ll see about that,” I tell her as I park the car at the front door. “Don’t get out.”

When she looks at me funny, I get out of the car and go around to open her door. She blushes a little when I hold out my hand and help her out of the car before grabbing all of her suitcases.

“Don’t you have someone that can do that?” she asks, looking around like someone is coming to get them.

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