“You’re unbelievable,” she cried, grabbing the nearest item she could get ahold of—a dishrag, as it turned out—and slinging it at my head. There was that fire again.
I caught it easily and clenched my teeth to contain the laughter that wanted to escape.
“Easy, Tiger,” I jested.
She bristled even more at that.
I really shouldn’t try to rile her up, but it is too intoxicating to resist.
Her ponytail was coming loose, and little pieces of hair floated around her head.
With a huff, she turned away from me and slid the cooked eggs onto plates.
“I should spit in yours,” she hissed, venom coating her words.
My lips twitched. “We both know you won’t do it.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she glanced at me over her shoulder, her blue eyes softening. “I know.”
She grabbed the plates and turned around. “Toast?” She nodded at the toaster.
“Yes, ma’am.” I mock-saluted her.
She rolled her eyes and set the plates down on the bar before taking a seat on one of the stools.
I grabbed our toast and buttered them before joining her.
“Here you go, Tiger.” I handed her a piece.
She took it, flicking her head to the side to rid a piece of hair from her eyes. “Tiger?”
“It’s nothing.” I shrugged, shoveling food into my mouth.
“Of course not,” she muttered, pushing her eggs around her plate. Finally, she speared a bit and took a small bite. “Stop watching me.”
I looked away. “I’m not watching you.”
“You were,” she argued.
“You were mistaken.” I took a big bite of toast and smiled goofily at her as crumbs fell out of my mouth.
She glared back at me. “Mistaken, my ass.”
I finished my breakfast and took her plate when she was done. She barely ate anything. I shook my head at the nearly-full plate before moving to the trashcan to dump it.
I heard her shuffle off the chair, and before she could leave the kitchen, I called out, “If you decide to come to the party, it’s pretty casual. Most of the girls wear bikinis and shorts or something.”
She paused and her eyes raked over my face. I didn’t know exactly what she was searching for there. The girl confused the hell out of me.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She turned quickly, and, with a swish of her ponytail, was gone.
I shook my head.
Ari baffled me in a way no one else ever had.
I knew—knew deep down in my gut—that there was much more to her than she was letting on.
The question was, would I be willing to get close enough to find out what exactly that was?