Page 42 of Rebellious

Sighing, I cross the concrete border and wait by the ledge. “This is as close as I’m getting,” I announce. I know her games, and I don’t think for a second she couldn’t hear me.

She treads the water one-handed, slowly making her way to the side. “You know,” she says with a slight twitch of her lips, “you could have texted me your question.”

My jaw twitches. “And you would have ignored it along with the other texts I sent today.”

She chuckles, all proud of herself. “That’s probably true.”

See? I gave her space this morning, but then I joined my father and went to the property to set up for the carnival. I was hoping to see her and corner her into talking to me, but she was gone before I arrived. Anniston said she met Vee for lunch. So I’ve waited. And texted. And waited some more. It wasn’t until my brother flipped me off and said everyone was having dinner at the main house that I realized she was home and punishing me for last night.

“What can I do for you, Jameson?”

Jameson.

The only name that will send me into a raging asshole.

I can handle BJ or Ben, or even Jameson Junior, but just Jameson sends my patience up in flames. Maybe it’s how she says it, aloof and cold, as if she’s speaking to a stranger. However she means it, I read her loud and clear.

“Don’t call me that,” I growl quietly. I don’t want her father to hear me, but I’ll be damned if she addresses me like the bag boy at the local market.

She smirks. “Don’t call you by your name?”

I squat down, intending to keep my voice low. “I know what you’re doing,” I warn. “We’re not at home. We have witnesses.”

She paddles more, her hand lazily pushing back the water. “I know exactly where we are,Jameson. Your threats don’t work here.”

Fuck it.

I stand, shucking off my shirt and then my shoes.

“You wouldn’t dare,” she says, looking just past me, no doubt checking if her father is watching.

I shrug, slipping off my watch and tossing my phone onto the pile of clothes on the concrete. I can feel my muscles tensing with every second she holds that shit-eating grin. If she doesn’t think I’ll snatch her ass out of the water with her dad here… she’d better think again.

“Okay, fine.” She huffs. “What question did you need to ask, B—”

I don’t wait for her to finish before I jump in, splashing cold water over her, and snatching the float beneath her.

“Bennett!”

I haul her up and pull her to my chest. We’re both breathing heavily as we glare into each other’s eyes. “You’re an asshole,” she bites out.

“You’ve called me worse.”

She tries to pull away, but I tighten my hold. “Let me go,” she clips.

“No.”

She looks behind me and whispers, “He’s getting up.”

My stare never wavers. “Then he’ll have to pry you from my hands.”

She rears back, her throat working as she digests my words. I’m not playing around. Just because we’re home doesn’t mean I won’t work my issues out with her.

“Bennett,” Theo drawls. “I’m going to grab a beer.” Aspen’s eyes widen and I arch a brow, fighting off a grin. “When I come back, I expect you two to be playing nice.”

Aspen slumps in my arms. Whatever her plan was, it’s ruined now.

I nod, my eyes never leaving Aspen’s. “Will do, sir.”

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