Eddie had seen the fury on her face. He knew why she was upset. He knew he should leave well enough alone. But knowing and doing were two different things.
“Well, let’s think about that. ” He tilted his head, admiring her. “Comin’ in hot. Lots of levels at work there, I think. You’re hot. You’re clearly on a rampage. As for coming—”
“Jessups,” she said with disgust as she shouldered by him.
“Lovers’ quarrel?” his brother Jack muttered, and Laura shot him a look that could kill.
“Shut it. ” Eddie punched his brother on the arm, then jogged to catch up to her on the bleachers. “You sure are pretty when you’re wound up,” he said to her back. He couldn’t help it—he loved nothing more than to bait Laura Bailey.
“Then don’t wind me up. ”
He grinned, a thousand one-liners popping into his head.
She put up a hand. “Don’t go there. ”
“Can’t help it. ” He’d been going there with her for as long as he could remember.
“Just naturally repellent?”
“Only trying to make you smile. ”
She paused, turning slowly. “Honestly?” A wicked gleam had appeared in her eyes. “You really want me to smile?”
“Oh, yes. ” He put his hand up in a vow. He was dying to know where she was headed. “Scout’s honor. ”
“Then I want you to remeasure the property line. ”
“You want me to…what?” It’d taken him a moment to register what she’d said.
“You heard me. ”
“This again?” He should’ve known that hoping for anything else would’ve been in vain.
“Yes, this again. This is far from over. ”
What did she care about the property line, of all things? “Jack will think I’ve lost it. ”
“That’s your problem. ”
“Fine. You want me to measure, I’ll come out Saturday with my survey gear. ” That property was gorgeous—he dreamed of owning land just like it someday. He’d be happy to spend a summer afternoon trekking in the woods, measuring. “No skin off my back. ”
She looked taken aback, and it gave him a flash of satisfaction. “You’ll do it?”
“Happy to. Want to join me? We could take a little skinny-dip in the creek after. ”
Her eyes went flat. “What do you think?”
He smirked. “I think I’ll be measuring alone this weekend. ”
“That’s right, you will be. ”
“Fine, I’ll do it, but it won’t make any difference. ”
She huffed—the girl actually huffed—and spun to find a seat in the stands.
“Hey, I was promised a smile. ” He took the bleachers two at a time to catch up—the girl had long legs—but he was enjoying the view all the same. “You gonna choose a seat, ’cause I could chase you all day. ”
It was true. Ever since high school, she’d been his catnip. And just as in high school, the girl still thought she was better than the rest of them. She had the fancy car, the gym body, and the designer clothes to prove it. He happened to be an accomplished businessman, but she was too caught up in her prejudices ever to see that.