I hung up as he spewed swear words like a veteran sailor.
Lizzie ran over and started gathering her things. “Stay out of my personal stuff.” She tried to get her voice deep and scary. All that came out was a high-pitched squeal. One that I used to pull out of her by taking Harry, my pet lizard, out of his aquarium whenever she was in my room.
Her hand reached for the Taser. I got it before she did. “Not so fast, Lizzie.” I emphasized her name.
Her perfectly smooth skin pinched around her fake green eyes. “You think you’re smart because you figured out who I am?”
“Baby doll, I am smart. I have a high IQ.” I smirked.
She hiked the backpack onto her shoulder. “You’re still a douche. Age hasn’t changed you one bit.”
Fuck, I hope not. “Why would I change? What you see is what you get. Unlike you. Who are you hiding from?”
She stuck out her hand, her hip, and her bottom lip. “Give me my Taser.”
My gaze roamed over her slow and steady. High cheekbones, toned thighs that filled out her black jeans, ample breasts beneath a tight red sweater, and lips I salivated to bite, taste, and tease until she lost the attitude.
I pushed to my feet, tucking the Taser into the waist of my pants at my back. “You have to come and get it.”
She rolled her eyes as she lost her pouty look. “Still playing games like you were six years old.”
“Still pouting like a little girl who lost her Barbie doll.” Please pout some more. I loved it when she stuck out her lips.
She growled instead. The woman actually growled, low, deep, and ball-squeezing as all get out. My dick twitched. Do it again. Or maybe not—I was a second away from being as hard as the marble fireplace.
“Seriously, if you don’t give me back my property, I’ll have to kick your tight ass.”
I gave a half smirk, inching toward her. “You think my ass is tight? Have you been checking me out?”
“I don’t waste my time on obnoxious guys, and you have one too many flaws.” She held out her palm, shuffling backward. “Now hand me my Taser, and I’ll be out of your life.”
I pressed forward. I couldn’t let her leave if she was in trouble. Yet the more she kept pushing me away, the more determined I was to understand why. I hadn’t seen her in seven years. So I couldn’t imagine what I’d ever done to make her hate me. I’d also promised my old man that I’d talk to Lizzie about Mom seeing Gracie.
She gave a quick glance over her shoulder, moving slowly around the couch.
“Flaws? There’s not a flaw on my body. You should know that since you saw me with only a cowboy hat on in Brew’s class.”
She growled again.
Fuck me. I had a ton of control over my dick, but if she continued to growl, I was about to jack off without my hand.
“Conceited much?”
“Just pointing out a fact,” I returned as we tangoed around the couch. “Let’s make a deal.” Let me kiss you. Nah, I couldn’t. Not until she took off that wig and her contacts. I had to see the real her, feel her soft, dark hair flow through my fingers, and look into her blue-gray eyes.
She snarled. “I don’t deal with the devil.”
“Baby, I do. Tell me who you’re hiding from, and I’ll give you back the Taser.”
Bumping into the table behind the couch, she stopped, seemingly thinking about my offer.
I settled in front of her, and we stared at each other. I thought back to Dillon’s porch and how close I’d been to kissing her. I had a feeling if I even attempted to press my lips to hers, she’d haul off and punch me. She’d done that the first time I’d kissed her on the cheek in the seventh grade. That feistiness was one of the traits I loved about Lizzie. But we weren’t in grade school anymore. My body hummed with the need to kiss her. My mind, on the other hand, was telling me to back off. One kiss, and I wouldn’t stop. I’d be ruined. If she rejected me, I wouldn’t be the same. My brothers were right. I’d be fucked up again. Apart from that, I couldn’t kiss a woman who didn’t want me to, and not one who had a boyfriend.
Her gaze roamed over my face, slow and sure.
I reached out and gently touched her fake hair. “You’re prettier without this wig.” My voice was hoarse.
The barrier between us dissolved as she exhaled. Then she lifted up on her toes, planted her hands on my chest, and brought her lips close to mine.
I let go of her hair as my heart flipped like an out-of-control gymnast doing back handsprings. Then she snaked her hands underneath my shirt to my back. The lust coursing through me receded when her hands crept lower to the Taser.
I sprang backward. “Nice move. I see you’re still as cunning as ever.”