“Respectfully, I don’t believe you.”
“Because you’re a rich, entitled asshole,” she answers, a little too chipper. “Disrespectfully.”
I thumb through the hundred-dollar bills in my wallet, wondering if her seeing I’m good for it will change her mind.
It doesn’t. She just stares at me with humor written all over her face.
I take a deep breath. Fuck, she knows how to wear out every ounce of my patience. Anyone else, I’d already be out the fucking door, not willing to put up with the antics. But I need her, so my feet stay planted.
“Showing me your money isn’t going to change my mind. But there is one thing you can do to get me to agree to whip up some food for you tonight.”
A glimmer of hope sparks deep in my chest. “What is it?”
“Give me a day.”
“I don’t have a day. I need food right now.”
“No, you give me a day. Of your time. In this town. I think if you really spent some time in this community, you’d understand why I love it so much. It wouldn’t be some dingy town to you anymore.”
Words don’t come to me. I just stare at her, trying to decide if she’s serious. “That would involve us having to spend time together.”
“I’ll try not to kill you.”
I have no desire to spend any more time in this town than I need to. I didn’t buy the gallery to become a local. There’s no reason for me to get to know the town. The gallery is to cater to people visiting the town, not living here. The artists are people I already know, none of whom live in Sutten.
“I don’t see the reason for doing it.” My voice gets sharper, but I can’t help it. It sounds like a form of torture to spend an entire day with her. In this town.
When Beck and Margo got married here, they made me do all the touristy things with them. I didn’t enjoy it. And I actually like Beck. I don’t like Pippa. Not in the slightest.
She shrugs dismissively. No one has ever dismissed me the way she does. She goes right back to cleaning the tiny kitchen, totally pretending like I’m not standing right here.
My body is frozen as she begins to hum to herself. Holy shit. She’s serious.
She turns around, letting out an annoyed sigh that I’m still in her presence. “Stop gawking. You’ll get wrinkles.”
I must be terrible at hiding my thoughts at the moment because she opens her mouth to speak again. “Two can play this game, Camden. I don’t see the reason in doing you a favor if you aren’t even willing to give Sutten a chance. If you don’t want to embrace this town, that’s fine. But don’t expect me to help you out. If you aren’t willing to give me one day, then I hope this opening fails epically and you’re forced to leave us alone.”
This. Woman.
Typically, people don’t have the nerve to speak to me the way she has, especially not a stranger. Maybe my friends, but even that’s pushing it.
My mind races with my options. She’s made her position clear as day. Now it’s up to me to decide if I want to actually agree to her stupid, useless idea.
It really is just a day.
But one day of my time is worth a lot of money. Time is money, and every single one of my days is planned out in perfect precision. I like numbers. I like things neat. Order turns me on, and looking at the red-splattered Pippa reminds me of one thing: Pippa is anything but orderly. She’s quite the opposite, and one day with her might drive me to the brink of insanity.
There’s only one thing that’ll drive me even further to the brink of insanity. This gallery failing. I won’t let it happen.
And one way to make sure this business flourishes is a successful opening.
I need her, and she knows it. I’m at her mercy, and even though I fucking hate it, I have to agree to her silly request.
“Fine,” I rasp, the word tasting like acid in my throat. “One day. It’s yours.”
Her large, round eyes go wide in shock. “Seriously?”
I give her a curt nod, tucking my hands in my pockets because I’m anxious about what the hell I just agreed to. I already regret it.
“How do I know that you won’t bail on me? It seems unfair that I have to make everything tonight and you could just tell me to fuck off tomorrow.”
Her words are insulting. I know she knows nothing about me, and I sure as hell haven’t given her any reason to want to know me, but if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. “I’m a man of my word.” I’m pissed she would think otherwise.