Chapter 52

Lara

I keep my gaze locked on Ashton, waiting for him to break the silence. When he doesn’t, I take the initiative and ask, “So, where’s my rejection?”

He stares at me with a look of confusion. “Rejection?”

“Yeah,” I reply, growing frustrated. Is he seriously going to act like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about? Why is he pretending to be so clueless? “We clearly don’t get along, so where’s my rejection? Just spit it out already.”

His eyes wander over my face, and I hate how my heart somersaults in response. Even though I dislike Ashton as a person, I can’t deny how attractive he is.

He is wearing a simple black shirt, but it hugs his muscular physique and leaves little room to fantasize about what he might look like naked. I gulp at that and lift my eyes to his, but that doesn’t make the situation any easier. His blue eyes are scanning me with an inscrutable look so intense that breathing becomes harder.

“Who said I was going to reject you?” His question hangs in the air, ma