Page 21 of Ice Princess

“I did.” Gunner’s voice is incredibly deep and quite soulful for someone as quiet as he is. However, he doesn’t sound apologetic at all.

“You…” I point to him. “And me?”

He nods.

“Are dating?” I hiss.

Another nod.

“When were you going to informmeof that?”

“That’s what this conversation is for.”

I look up at the treehouse, at a loss for words.What on earth is going on right now?“I don’t understand. Are you ordering me to date you?”

He squints into the distance. “I’d call it more of a negotiation.”

“You must be joking.” I release a frustrated breath and rake my fingers through my hair. “But even if you aren’t, my answer is no. I’m not interested in you nor will I ever be interested in you. Even if you were the last man on earth, I wouldn’t date you. Even if I was cursed to be alone and miserable for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t choose you. I’d rather chew on a box of radiator caps than be your girlfriend. Is that clear enough?”

His gaze on me remains steady and unwavering. “I’m not interested in dating you either.”

I throw my hands up. “Thenwhydid you say that?”

He just stares at me.

“Fine. I don’t need an explanation or an apology. Just go back to your mom and the other ladies and clarify that we have nothing to do with each other.”

“No.”

“No?”

He nods decisivelyI said what I said.

“Gunner Ezekiel Kinsey, have you lost your mi?—”

Gunner steps toward me.

I shuffle back on instinct.

He stops and, for a brief moment, looks hurt by my retreat. But what does he expect? Gunner is a big guy. That long-sleeved, black shirt he’s wearing can’t hide his impressive musclesor the ink peeping out at his wrists.

He could break me in half if he so chose. Since we’re mortal enemies and his family pretty much run this town, he could easily get away with my murder.

Heart hammering in my chest, I declare, “If you don’t tell your mom the truth, I’ll tell her myself.”

Turning sharply, I walk away.

“I’m surprised you asked to meet at the treehouse,” Gunner says to my back.

I freeze.

He adds, “You and I used to play here, remember?”

“Did we? I totally forgot.” I scratch behind my ear.

It’s an unfortunate stain in my memory. Believe it or not, there was a time when I looked forward to tagging along with my mom to the Kinseys’ farm. A time when I thought I might one day marry Gunner Kinsey. A time that’s a lot simpler than now.

“Back then, I even had a nickname for you,” Gunner says.

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