Page 24 of Ruining His Smirk

Braddock came to a stop in front of me.

He was wearing a light blue sweater today instead of yesterday’s yellow one. His shoulder-length hair was half tied back. The overhead recessed lighting glinted off the small gold studs in his ear. For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

He held my gaze without flinching and I had to give him that because I knew I looked intimidating to most people.

“I just want to make one thing clear, Landry,” he said evenly. “I had no idea the captain had asked for you. But just because you’re here doing him a favor doesn’t mean anything changes between us.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You’re still the same jackass. And after this project is over, I never want to see you again.”

I stared at him. Did this idiot honestly think I wanted to see him again? I let out a humorless laugh. “If that’s supposed to make me feel scared, you’re doing a hell of a shitty job.”

He lifted his chin and attempted to stare me down. It wasn’t working because I was half a head taller than him.

I took a step forward. “I don’t know where you got the idea that I’m interested in you, Braddock, or your opinion, or anything you have to say to me.”

A slow smirk spread across his face. “Oh yeah? Then why’d you send me that note, Landry? That doesn’t sound like somebody who’s apparently had no interest in dragging the same issue around for the last year.”

“It was the first, the only, and the last time I ever contacted you,” I ground out. “And it was for a rematch.”

He didn’t move.

“Which, by the way, you declined.”

I folded my arms tighter across my chest, willing myself to stay calm. “That just goes to show I was right all along. If you’re so confident you won fair and square, then fight me again.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Braddock’s voice dripped ice. “Why would I do that? I have far more important things to do.”

He took a step and closed the distance between us. I could smell his fucking shampoo and feel his breath.

“I already won.” He got right in my personal space. “I have absolutely nothing to prove to you.”

Our faces were only inches apart and I was hanging by a thread. I bit the inside of my cheek to ground myself.

Do not strike first.

Do not strike first.

“More importantly,” he continued with that smirk on his ugly posh mug, “I don’t engage with men like you.” He lifted a finger and pointed once between the two of us. “You and I don’t belong to the same class of people.”

The words landed harder than if he’d shouted them. I felt a chill travel down my spine.

“I’ve dealt with men like you before.”

His pale green eyes never left mine.

“I know exactly your kind.”

I couldn’t breathe.

“So let this be a warning.” He pointed at my chest. “Do your job here. And I sincerely hope you know what you’re doing.”

Then his expression hardened.

“When this project is over, leave my ship.”

He took a step back and turned away. “And never, ever contact me again.”