I considered her words for an instant. “Were you provoked?”
Her brows knotted.
“Was there a good reason for you to do it?”
That determination wavered, but when she said yes, it was a firm, curt word. “There was.”
“All right.” I turned around, spotting a mostly empty field, and the few girls behind already with an adult. “Let’s go, I have something in the boot of my car for you.”
We started toward my parking spot.
“So does that mean you’re in?” Adalyn pressed, catching up with my pace. “Also, you really need to work on your social skills, the line about the boot of your car was a little creepy.”
I ignored the pang of relief I felt at seeing her snark was back. “Sure thing, darling.”
“Still not your darling,” she quipped.
“Still don’t care.”
I was speed-walking at this point, and she was almost breaking into a jog, but even in those silly shoes, she was still keeping my pace. I was impressed.
“So?” she insisted, as we crossed the lot outside the Warriors’ facilities. “Cameron?”
I headed for my 4×4, throwing open the boot and extracting the box. “Where’s your car?” I turned toward a wide-eyed, and a little out of breath, Adalyn. Her lips bobbed. “I would love to finish here and finally jump in the shower, so if you don’t mind.”
Adalyn blinked at me and when I started moving, deciding I didn’t need her to find her car, she stopped me with a hand. Just like I’d done earlier, her palm settled on my forearm. Only this time I couldn’t really feel the warmth of her skin through the fabric of the fleece I had on.
“Cameron,” she said slowly, making me realize I’d been looking at her hand. I met her gaze. “What’s this?”
“A box.”
“What’s in the box?”
“Not my patience, that’s for sure.” She shot me a glance. “I said I had something you could use.”
“Can you please stop answering all my questions with cryptic messages I need to decipher?”
“Camping supplies,” I explained, already regretting this. “Inflatable mattress, pump, sleeping bag. I think it’ll be obvious when you take it home and open it. Now, where’s your car?”
Adalyn’s brown eyes widened. “Oh no.” Here we go. “I’m not—I am—”
“You’re not what? Sleeping on an inflatable mattress?” Her lips pursed in a tight pout. “Is the idea of sleeping on the floor not good enough for the princess? You know where the exit to the highway is, then.”
“I’m perfectly okay with that,” she remarked, voice turning to ice. “And don’t call me a princess, you don’t even know me.” Her head shook. “One thing is admitting out loud that I”—she struggled with the word—“need you to make this work. And that I’m sorry for dismissing you so hastily, okay? Because I am. That’s why I will go as far as unearthing funds for—”
“Christ. I don’t want money.”
That made her pause. “What do you want then?”
“For you to stop being so absolutely exasperating.” She frowned, like she didn’t understand. Jesus bloody Christ, she was going to drive me up the closest hill. “Take the goddamn box. The mattress in your cabin is infested, Adalyn.”
Her chin lifted. “I’m not accepting charity from you. I can handle myself. Unlike everyone thinks, I’m not some pampered brat who can’t survive in this place. I just need you to coach the team.”
“Charity?” I couldn’t help but hiss. Her expression wavered, but there was something in her face. Something that had to be motivating her to act so… proud. Distrustful of me. Thing was, I didn’t care. “This is not goddamn charity, Adalyn. It’s human decency.”
Her face hardened, turning to smooth-looking marble if not for the pink flushing her skin.
Frustration, heavy and thick, solidified inside my chest. “I’m not giving you this out of the goodness of my heart, believe me. I would love nothing more than to see you pack your things, leave town, and never look back.”
“That’s honest,” she deadpanned. “And a little repetitive.”
I heard the sound that snuck up my throat. “You want more honesty?” My eyes roamed all over her face, finding nothing but more of that hardness. “You’ve brought me nothing but trouble since you arrived in this town. You’ve broken every one of my attempts at the peace and normalcy I came looking for. And you haven’t even been here for a goddamn week.” Her lips twisted, urging my next words. “I don’t know you, you’re right. But guess what? You don’t know me either, darling.”
I dropped the box at her feet and something in that façade broke.
I stepped back. “But you’ll soon learn I’m not a very charitable man. I am selfish. Proud. And a little mean when I have to be.” My voice dropped. “So do as you please with the fucking box, but don’t think I’m helping you with shit.”
Turning around, I headed for the driver’s door. I was so done with that woman. I was—
“I’ll tell everyone,” she said from her spot at the rear of my truck. “If you don’t coach the girls. I’ll tell the whole town who you are.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Adalyn
“You WHAT?”
I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I blackmailed him. I think.”