"Maybe that's why you're always so miserable." I held his stare vowing that I wouldn't be the one to break away first.
"I'm not always miserable, Harper. In fact, when I'm with you, even when we’re fighting like this, I'm far from miserable."
What the hell did that mean? "I don't know why you’re saying that. Are you playing some sort of game?"
"I'm not the one that plays games. That's you, sweetheart."
I could see this conversation wasn't going anywhere. "What do you want Noel?"
His gaze shifted down toward my lips and despite my vow not to be the first to flinch. I stepped away from him.
"You can’t have that. None anymore." I was proud that despite the way my body heated, I was sending him packing.
His expression morphed into something between regret and resignation. He took a step back. “I wish I knew for sure.”
“Well, when you figure it out, don’t let me know.” I walked through the fence door.
"What do you know about boss kid?" He followed me into my yard.
Good God. This man was beyond irritating. "It’s none of your business."
"Humor me.”
I was beginning to rethink Bran's denial about not hiring Noel. These twenty-questions Noel was giving me made me suspicious.
"It’s an organization that teaches entrepreneurship to at-risk youth. Can I go now?"
"What do you know about entrepreneurship?"
I understood why he asked the question. After all, I was a socialite. I'd never had a job. I'd never run a business. But Noel's question still hurt because his tone was condescending. I realized that to him my only quality was my body.
"I get that you don't like me and clearly you don't think I'm very bright. I'm going to ask you to leave one more time and then I'm going to call the police and report an intruder." I turned away, but his hand caught my arm turning me to him. I yanked my arm away.
He held his arms up in surrender. "I'm sorry I'm being an asshole."
"Truer words I’ve never heard. I still want you to leave."
He pressed his hands to his hips and turned his head away as if he was trying to think of what he wanted to say. Sure, I was curious, but not so much that I was going to stay and see what other offensive or insulting remarks exited his mouth.
I started to turn when he said, "I'm sorry that I didn't believe you."
As much as I wanted to keep walking, I stopped.
"Yesterday you suggested that maybe there was more between us than just great sex."
Dammit. I wished I’d never done that. "And you've proven that wrong."
He shook his head. "I feel it too, Harper. It's crazy considering how you and I can barely say two kind words to each other, but the truth is my interest in you goes beyond sex. I think you're strong and you’re your own woman. I respect that. You challenge me and as annoying as it is, I find that I like it."
I stared at him, not sure if I could believe him. "You're a masochist?"
He laughed. "Maybe. Cupid seems to be."
He wasn't wrong about that.
"Let me prove it to you. Go for a walk on the beach with me and Mo. Afterward, I’ll make you dinner."
I narrowed my eyes. I should say no, but I desperately wanted to say yes. God. What was it about him? "Like a date?"