Page 24 of Hottie on Her Shelf
“Your eyes flirt just looking at a woman.”
Whoa.
That was flung at him like an accusation—but it was more of an interesting reveal on her part. One he’d think about the next time he needed an ego boost. For now, though? It just made things trickier.
Fitz spread his hands wide, palms up, in the classic nonconfrontational position. “This isn’t a trade-off; sex for campaign tips. It is—was—a straight up, no-strings-attached offer of sharing expertise. For your benefit. I’d get nothing out of it,” he emphasized. “I’d expect nothing in return. Definitely not flirting,” Fitz couldn’t resist adding.
“It’s insulting that you think I need the help. It is reprehensibly insulting if you think you can turn my head with your smoldering eyes. You—your body—you can’t turn my attention away from the campaign with it. Keep your lips and your offers to yourself, Mr. Mayor. It won’t work!”
Fitz blinked. Smoldering?
What had crawled up her ass?
Yeah, they’d shared that one moment in the pub where something, maybe, could have happened. Nothing did, though. Thanks to his restraint. Was Hallie insulted or hurt that he hadn’t crossed that line? Was that behind all this blowback?
Either way, he wouldn’t stay here, letting Hallie shove his good deed back in his face like it was a coconut cream pie.
“Fine. Be the laughingstock of the town. Be content with votes in the single digits come election day. But when that all happens, remember that I tried to throw you a lifeline and keep you afloat.” Fitz pushed out of his chair, mad as hell. “That’s a mistake I sure as hell won’t make again.”
He stormed out of the library, wishing the doors weren’t the electric whooshing kind so that he could’ve slammed them.
No good deed goes unpunished. That was his takeaway. And that was her last chance. Fitz would now throw himself into campaigning. He’d do it harder and longer and better than ever before. That’d show her.
Of course, then he’d be stuck being mayor for another four years.
