Page 32 of Exposed

The jerk actually has the nerve to smile.

Fine. It’s more of a smirk. And it looks really good on him.

That makes me hate him even more.

A smile indicates happiness.

A smirk, on the other hand, means he finds me funny.

Well, there’s not one thing funny about this situation, buddy.

He has the audacity to lower his voice and speak slowly, as if I’m a wild animal or toddler. “If you spray that in this enclosed space, the next five minutes is really going to suck for both of us, not just me.”

Anger mixes with my anxiety to create a concoction so desperate, my thumb trembles on the trigger. “Then start the elevator, and let me off.”

He shakes his head. “I need to tell you something?—"

I butt in and don’t allow him to finish for the second time. “No.Don’t you dare tell me anything. I don’t want to know anything else about you, Daniel. The more I know about people like you, the deeper my troubles get. I’m already here because of what I know about Dex. I can’t afford anything else. I’m going to go home to Virginia to live in my mom’s attic like every other woman experiencing a premature midlife crisis. I’m not excited to be a spinster preschool teacher, but it is what it is. Maybe I’ll do it up right and start collecting stray cats.”

Daniel Armstrong does not heed my warning. He takes a small step and closes the stuffy distance between us.

I grip my pepper spray tighter and try not to think about the fact he’s right about our enclosed space. But I’ll do it if I have to.

“Goldie, you’re not having a premature midlife crisis. You were thrown into a shit situation by your brother.”

“Half-brother,” I correct him. “I refuse to claim Dex any more than I have to. I’m ready to be done with him.”

He nods and takes another step toward me. “I get that. I would be too.”

I adjust the pepper spray toward his face. “I’m ready to be done with you too. You’re no better than he is—doing business with Dex and that Cory guy.”

“If you put the pepper spray down, I’ll explain.”

“Open the elevator doors and let me out so you don’t embarrass yourself and cry like a baby in the fetal position after I light your eyeballs on fire.”

He sighs as his eyes drag over me from head to toe. Finally, his gaze lands on my weapon of choice positioned a foot from his face. I’m ready to rock and roll if he makes another move. The spray might recoil, but the idea of getting revenge on Daniel Armstrong for lying to me is just too appealing.

This elevator will never be the same.

“Kills me,” he mutters. “This better not backfire.”

My frown deepens. “What better not backfire?”

The next thing I know he moves.

Quick.

So quick, what he does doesn’t register until it’s too late.

I gasp before letting out a little yell. “What the heck?”

My pepper spray is ripped from my hand and he tosses it to the corner of the elevator behind him. I don’t know what’s coming next and go into full on defense.

I throw myself forward with all my might.

My hands go to his wide chest to push.

He doesn’t budge.

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