Page 24 of Broken Headboards

“A lady is on top only as long as the man lets her be,” I say to her, clenching my teeth.

She looks at me, with fire in her eyes.

“A man only gets to tell her because the lady lets him,” she says back. “Don’t forget who has the fucking power in that juvenile little analogy of yours, Austin.”

She’s pissed.

Good.

I’m pissed too.

“You started it,” is all I can say back. I mean, I gotta say something. But really?

“Really?” she says, smirking. “That’s the best you can come up with?”

“I’m not used to losing to—”

“A woman?”

“A cheater.”

“I may have my methods, but I’m not cheating,” she says back.

“Then how’d you know?” I ask again.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Tess says with a smile.

“Maybe I can get it out of you over dinner?”

“I doubt it, but you can try,” she coos.

“Tonight. Per Se at 8,” I tell her.

There’s a long silence.

“Fraternize with the enemy?” she asks.

“Maybe use it as a chance to learn about your competition,” I say back to her.

“I doubt you’re any real competition, Mr. Randall,” she teases.

“And I doubt you really believe that,” I say back. “If you’re anything like me you’re dying to find out how I tick so you can figure out ways to beat me.”

“I already did just now,” she reminds me.

“The game has just begun, Tess,” I tell her. “Don’t get out of your training bra just yet.”

“Maybe you should stop waving your dick around all over the place like a dog,” she throws back at me as she turns around.

Jesus. This woman fights tooth and nail. Two days at Oakmont and she’d run the place tighter than me.

Tess turns around.

“I’ll see you at 8. But good luck, Mr. Randall. It looks like you need it more than I do.” She winks, and I know she’s referring to my earlier comment.

“You’d be surprised with what I can accomplish without any luck,” I grab her hand, bring it to my lips and kiss it gently, my eyes never leaving hers.

She withdraws her hand, but I don’t miss how she lingers for just a second.

“I’ll see you then,” I turn around, feeling vindicated.

She might’ve been able to beat me in round one, but that’s the one and only time.

It’s now ten, Tess and five, Austin.

She might’ve won a battle.

What she doesn’t realize is that the war is just beginning.