Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,30
with morning coffee and donuts.”
That was twenty minutes ago.
While he was gone, I went to the river to wash up. I changed clothes and began putting everything away. I knew Blaise would go back today, and I knew there’d be a fight if I tried to stay. So I was giving in, but it wasn’t because of him. To be honest, I didn’t know why I was giving in. Maybe it was because I couldn’t feel Owen, or maybe I’d lost the desire to camp after last night.
Whatever the reason, I had most of my stuff put together by the time Blaise pulled back up in his Wagon.
He got out, flashing me a smile—a drink holder with coffees in one hand and a bag of donuts in the other as he came down the trail. He took in the near-empty campsite with a slight frown before setting the coffees and bag on the table. “You actually giving in on the camping thing?” He straddled one of the benches.
I went over and hopped up, my feet coming down just beyond his opened knees.
He lifted one of the coffees for me. I took it, our fingers sliding against each other, and we shared a look that made my insides sizzle.
“I figured if I didn’t, you’d send up your brother and Bren.”
He grunted. “Shit. I never thought of them. They’d be perfect. They’re huge pains in the ass.”
I hid a grin, sipping my coffee and almost groaning, it was so good. He unwrapped one of the donuts and slid it over to me.
Seriously sweet. Who knew?
“Can I ask about them?”
He smiled, picking up his coffee. “I’m fairly certain you know them better than I do. Maybe I should be asking you.” His tone was teasing, but those words packed a punch.
“You don’t know your brother that well?”
“Cross?” He frowned. “No, just that he hates me.”
Oh. Damn. “He hates you?”
He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big thing. I’m still hung up on finding out the whole daddy lie, you know?”
“Oh.” I thought a moment. “Your brother was nice to me the night I helped them. He and Bren were. The tall one was okay, but the other one was kinda mean.”
Blaise’s eyes blazed. “What’d he say to you?”
“Nothing you haven’t.”
He scowled. “That pisses me off. I can be mean to you because I like you, but he can’t.”
“You like me?”
His scowl vanished. “I mean…” He shrugged. “I was thinking making you come last night and this morning kinda conveyed that message.”
“Yeah, but you don’t date.” Aw, crap. Here it was. I hadn’t meant to bring us here, but I guess I needed to know the parameters. Whatever that meant.
He got all serious, leaning forward. “I don’t date. I mean…” Regret crossed his face. “But I can’t say we’re only friends either. I’m…” He expelled a ragged breath. “Man, I don’t know. My last talk like this was with Mara when I said, ‘I’d like to continue boning you, but if you need an exclusive handle, I’ll walk.’ She was fine with it, but you’re not like that.” He watched me intently.
My throat felt tight. He was right.
I wasn’t like that.
I’d thought maybe I could be, but I couldn’t. Knowing he’d been with me last night and this morning, and that he could be with her tonight made me want to die.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not that girl,” I murmured.
“Well,” he said softly. “Fuck me then.” He leaned closer, his hand on my knee. “I don’t want to be just friends.”
“I don’t want to be another Mara.”
He flinched. “You’re not. I don’t know what this is, but I know you’re not that.”
Could he… What was he saying?
He looked away and pressed his lips together. “How about we shelve this? Come back to it later, and I promise not to touch anyone else until we know exactly what we’re doing.”
“Really?” But what does that mean?
He nodded, finishing his donut in one bite and standing. “I can’t promise a relationship; I know that much. But I can promise you I won’t touch anyone else right now. That’s all I can give you. I’m sorry.”
Well, damn. Seeing no other choice, I dipped my head in a nod. “Okay.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
I was confused, but he wouldn’t touch another girl. Okay then. I tried to smile. “Why am I suddenly terrified?”
“Fuck if I know.” He picked up his coffee, finishing that too, and looked around. “Why don’t you finish packing everything up, and just