Enemy's Secret - Ashlee Price Page 0,34

you can't argue with photos. Although it still isn't an open-and-shut win for Goldtree, either. Just because Dad talked with that executive doesn't mean he plagiarized from them.

Seeing Kyra up on the stand, verbally eviscerating us, in her fucking element is just... shit. Acting as if there's nothing between us. It's infuriating. Arousing.

On our way out, I stop her in the lobby. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

She eyes me uncomprehendingly, that same confident veneer on that I want to rip off.

"Picnic with me - tonight," I tell her.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I have plans."

"Now, then. I've got everything in a cooler in my car already."

She eyes me curiously. "You planned this too?"

This was not how this conversation was supposed to go.

"C'mon," I say, "you can do an hour. The hearing ended early."

She bites her lip. I'm right, and she knows it.

I lean in so that my lips brush her ear. "Don't make me make a scene. Kiss you how I want to. Right here. Right now."

She pulls away, face flushed, hissing, "Don't you dare."

I step in. "Kyra. Come on. An hour."

"Fine," she says, smoothing her skirt and looking around. No one's seen or noticed anything, though. "An hour. But we're leaving separately and meeting at the Starbucks on the corner."

"Stealth mode." I grin. "Got it."

I'm willing to accept it... for now.

In the Starbucks parking lot, we park side by side. She rolls down her window. I roll down mine.

"I don't know about this," she says.

"Neither do I," I say. "Think we should pick up some brie too? I've only got cheddar."

Her glare just makes me smile. "Seriously."

"I am being serious," I continue. "Wasn't brie your favorite type of cheese?"

"Ugh." She gets out of her car, slamming the door behind her. "There's no winning with you."

If I have any say, we'll both be winning tonight.

"Do I get to know where we're going?" Kyra asks as she gets into my car.

"No," I say.

"Landon."

"A park."

"Fine."

"Good."

I drive a bit.

"You were great today, by the way," I say.

A pause. "You're not mad?"

"No. Why would I be? You're just doing your job."

"I know, this is all just... weird."

"Lucky, too."

Her smiles brightens the car. "I guess."

"I know."

I park on the side of the road, then help her out.

The weight of the cooler as I heft it out reminds me I'm overdue at the gym. I've fallen off a bit since I started seeing Kyra more.

A few minutes later, we're there. Teardrop Park.

"I like the name," Kyra says with a giggle.

"I've yet to see an actual teardrop here," I reply, "but who knows."

She giggles and my face slackens into a dopey smile. Hell, I get stupid around her.

It isn't hard finding a bare patch of grass shaded by some shrubs. I set out the blanket, we sit down and get eating.

"Do I get to know these pressing evening plans?" I ask, as we start on the baguette and cheese.

"No," she says.

"OK."

We eat in silence. There's no one around except an overeager wasp.

"What is it?" I ask.

"What are we doing, Landon?"

"We're having a picnic."

"No, I mean - we're on opposing sides in this big court case, we broke up over nine years ago - what are we doing?" She looks almost angry as she says it.

"Enjoying each other's company."

A bitter laugh.

"What do you want me to say?" I find myself growling, with more anger than intended. "All I know is I like spending time with you. I want to keep doing it. What's so wrong with that?"

"What's so wrong is that I'm not the same girl you were dating nine years ago," she returns, just as angrily. "Things are different now, I'm different, and - there's things you don't know about me."

"Then tell me!"

"It's not that simple!"

Now we're yelling, and all I want to do is kiss her. Kiss away the rage that's arced her eyes into slits.

I do.

She pulls away. "You can't just fix everything with that."

Another kiss. "No?"

She pulls away. "I mean it, Landon. I don't know if I can do this."

"What are you saying?"

She puts down the baguette she's accidentally crumbled in her hand. "I'm saying that this is all messed up. You. Me. Us. I swore I'd never get involved with you again, and now, here I am, having a freaking picnic with you, and - "

I take her hand, squeeze it gently. "Hey."

She's looking away, almost as if she can't bear to look at me. "I don't think I hate you anymore."

A surprised laugh bursts out of me. "That's what this is all about?"

"No, of course not!