Prologue
“What in the name of crazy ass females are you doing?”
“I’d tell you, but I’m not really helping you if I just give you the answer, so let’s try something new, dumbass.” I mumble the last word under my breath, ‘cause even though it’s true, Mama would beat my butt for saying it to him. “There’s a big tree,” I point, just in case he somehow missed it. “And I have a ladder, a thick rope, and a tire. Now, take your time. I know it’s a tricky one…then lemme’ hear any guesses you have. I’ll even tell you if you’re hot or cold.”
My mouth twists in delight when the anger causing his nostrils to flare makes its appearance as a wild blaze in his eyes.
Nothing pleases me more than getting under his skin.
“You got a death wish, girly? That water’s too shallow for a damn rope swing!”
Well, lookie there, he got it in one guess.
“And I count four rocks big enough to split a head open like a melon from where I’m standing. Don’t be dumb. You’re not hanging it!” He tromps over, grabbing my rope and slinging it to the other side of the river effortlessly. “As if you could tie a knot tight enough to hold anyone up anyway.”
He starts to walk away, breaking the cardinal rule of self-preservation when fighting with me: turning your back on me. So he has it coming…the hard kick in the ass I give him.
He stumbles a bit, but manages to stay on his feet, growling from somewhere deep in his chest.
“You’re a pain in my ass!” I yell. “Now, you have one of your own. So hobble along, nosy.”
He slowly turns and the wicked twist to his mouth has me bracing for his payback. Closer he comes, with quick, confident steps until he has me backed up against the tree. Leaning in, that curl grows into a full smile and our noses bump.
“You gonna try and hang the swing?” he asks in a low, grumbly test.
“Well, no, not now. I seem to be out of rope. And I suppose—” I turn my head to the side and look at anything but him.
“That I was right?”
“Maybe,” I casually hitch a shoulder. “But you really should mind your own business.”
“You are my business,” he says so smugly I can’t help but snap my focus back to him.
“I’m your business?” I scoff loudly. “And just how do you figure?”
“‘Cause I said so.”
“You don’t get to decide that! I do. And trust me, I will never, ever, want to be anything close to your business.”
“We’ll see about that.” He taps the end of my nose. “Lot of life left, and never’s a long time. So,” he starts walking away again, stopping to smirk back over his shoulder, “I’m likin’ my chances. I usually get what I want.”
I didn’t think much of it then…just another typical run-in with the “Ass of Ashfall.”
And I definitely didn’t tell her about the encounter. Because while it meant absolutely nothing to me…it would’ve meant everything to her.
And her feelings mattered.
He didn’t.