To her credit, she didn’t flinch. But then she was an actress. It was easy to pretend.

“Why? So you could make sure you weren’t home? Or make certain you didn’t come back?” Her gaze traveled over him, her eyes darkening at the sight of him in his running shorts, tank, and sneakers.

She clearly liked what she saw. So did he, but sexual attraction meant nothing in the wake of hurt and fundamental differences.

At the reminder, he let out a groan. The sooner they talked, the sooner she’d get in her rental car and leave. Buying time, he glanced over to the lush green lawn where Bella was sniffing the grass. He had no doubt he was going to wind up with another brown spot, because another thing about Bella, she squatted where it suited her.

Women, he thought to himself, frustrated. They always got their way.

“What did you want to discuss?” he asked coldly. Because he couldn’t imagine he and Sasha had much to say to each other.

She met his gaze and lifted her glasses, revealing those stunning blue eyes he’d always been able to get lost in.

“I can’t get into character if I’m on edge because you’re being an ass and glaring at me.” The first glimmer of insecurity flashed in her eyes. “I thought we could…”

“I’m not rehashing the past,” he said, cutting her off.

She swallowed hard. “Fine. Then can we call a truce? Look,” she said, reaching out as if to touch him and immediately snatching her hand back. “I need your input on Amanda’s character. It’s something I like to do when I’m in a movie based on a novel and the author is going to be on set. It’s important I meet everyone’s expectations. Including yours.”

Goddammit. Xander might be able to put up a wall between them personally, but he was being a dick professionally and that wasn’t acceptable. If she couldn’t play the part because of him, the movie based on his novel would suffer. She probably knew she had him on that point but was smart enough not to show it with a smirk or knowing look.

“So can I come in?” she asked, gesturing to the front of his house.

His Hamptons retreat that, unlike his Manhattan apartment, city crowds, and noise, didn’t trigger his lingering anxiety from combat. He wouldn’t call it PTSD exactly. He just needed peace, quiet, and solitude. And Sasha, the woman who’d broken his heart, now wanted to invade his sanctuary, ensuring she’d leave her presence and scent behind.

***

Well, that went worse than she’d thought it would. Sasha followed Xander and his obedient, sweet dog up the couple of stairs to the porch, waiting while he unlocked his door and let them inside.