Damn it. This was not good. Noah was only supposed to be staying a couple of days, not take on a job as my…my boss. I couldn’t work with him. No way I could be that close to him every day and keep him locked in the he’s just a memory box where I had kept him all these years.
I followed Ryan outside and into the wine production facility that was his home away from home, and when I was satisfied we were alone, I asked, “Did you know this was happening today? That he was going to be my new boss?”
“We literally found out this morning.”
“Unbelievable,” I said to no one in particular.
Ryan grabbed a pair of gloves and shoved them in his back pocket before picking up the wire cutters. “He didn’t have a choice, Laurel. He was ready to pack his bags and go back to Italy at the end of the week. This is all Harry’s doing.”
Harry? Of course this was Harry’s fault. What else was new?
“I can’t work for him, Ryan.”
“Why not?” Ryan picked up a bundle of wire and slung it over his shoulder. “Because you used to date? If anything, I think that’d make it easier. You know you get along with him.”
“I got along with him when he was a teenager. Now he’s…he’s…”
“An adult?” Ryan laughed. “News flash, so are you. I think.”
“Helpful, Ryan. That’s really helpful.”
Ryan headed for the door, but before he walked out of it, he looked back over his shoulder at where I was frozen in place. “He’s feeling just as weird about all of this as you are. When he found out, he stormed out of the courthouse like his ass was on fire.”
Oh shit. So that was why he’d had a horrible morning.
“He’s been told he has to stay a year or Mom won’t get the winery.”
“What? That’s…that’s crazy.”
“Yeah. His whole life has been turned upside down. He’s going to need your help getting to know everything and everyone around here. I think it’s good that it’s you stuck with him.”
While I disagreed on that, I kept it to myself, and with a final wave, Ryan headed out to mend one of the wine trellises.
I stood there staring after him, thinking about this morning and my coffee with Noah, and as everything Ryan just told me came rushing in, I did the one thing any respectable woman in a conundrum about a man would do.
I sent off a text to my best friend.
Need a girls’ night this weekend. You free?
11
Laurel
“MOM? YOU READY to go?”
Jake’s voice traveled downstairs to where I was standing in my bedroom’s en suite applying the finishing touches to my makeup. It was a routine I could generally do with one eye closed and little to no caffeine in my system, but this morning I seemed to be running behind.
“Nearly! Why don’t you go on ahead? I don’t want you late for school.”
I tossed my tube of mascara on the counter and reached for the hair curler to do a quick touch-up on the front few layers of hair.
That was how Jake found me a couple seconds later when he stuck his head in the door.
“Wow, you look nice.”
My eyes found his in the mirror, and I frowned. “I look like I always do.”
“No, this is a different kind of nice.” He looked at his watch. “And you’re running ten minutes late.”
“Shit.” I released my hair, which bounced back in a nice curl just beneath my chin, and placed the wand down on the counter. I knew I’d been running a little behind, but not by that much.
Great. The last thing I needed to do was be late on my first day with my new boss.
Jake drummed his fingers against the doorframe and cocked his head to the side as I pulled the plug from the wall and did a final quick spray of my hair.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the new management at the winery, would it?”
Yes. “No.”
I screwed my nose up as my son gave me the eagle eye, and then I made a break for it, brushing by him and heading to my closet to hunt down a pair of heels.
“Because I wouldn’t care if it did. I already told you that.”
I located the black strappy heels I’d been hunting for and scooped them up, then took a seat on the chest at the end of my bed to slip them on. “It’s not like that. This is his first day, and I have to show him around. I want him to be impressed with how we run the place.” And yes, maybe a little impressed by me. Okay, a lot impressed.
When Jake said nothing, I looked up from the strap I’d just secured. “What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll see you there after school.”
“Yes you will.” With the other shoe on, I got to my feet and smoothed my hands down my skirt. “What do you think? Do I look professional?”
Jake pushed off the door and kissed my cheek. “Yep. I’ll see you later.”
“Later.” I waved, followed him out of my room, and put a Pop-Tart in the toaster as I listened for the front door. The second I heard it shut, I let out a sigh.
I needed to pull it together. I was acting like this was some kind of date, not work. Nothing was going to be different. It was going to be like any other day. Except this time, I’d been in close proximity to the man I’d shared my first kiss, my first dance, and my first time with.
Yeah, sure, it was just going to be like any other normal day. That was why I’d spent all of last night picking out an outfit that screamed professional, in control, and, okay, maybe a little bit I’m a smart, sexy woman.
But I wasn’t going to think about that. I was going to find my keys, get in my car, and blow Noah’s mind—with my knowledge on the winery, of course.
I slung my handbag over my shoulder and headed to the door, but before I rushed out, I skidded to a halt and cursed—my Pop-Tart. I quickly dashed back, tore off a paper towel, and juggled it from hand to hand as I again made my exit.
BY THE TIME I’d parked my car and made a mad dash for the front entrance, I’d somehow managed to shave a couple of minutes off my time. I pushed through the front door and was relieved to note that no one was around to see me sneaking in late.
I sent up a quick note of thanks to the big guy and ran a hand over the wayward curl that had fallen across one of my eyes. The door to my right opened, and in walked…Noah, of course.
So much for my unnoticed tardiness.
Looking as put together as ever in a charcoal suit and white shirt, which he’d casually left unbuttoned at the neck, Noah looked devastating in that relaxed and self-assured way I was coming to associate with him.
His thick hair was swept back from his face and his tempting lips pulled into a smug smile. His eyes zeroed in on me and he walked in my direction.
Breathe, I reminded myself as my thighs clenched under the slow perusal he was giving me. Breathe and remember that he is the new one here today, not you.
“You’re late,” he said, coming to a stop in front of me. “What happened? Did you catch all the red lights on your way over here?”
There were exactly two traffic lights in downtown Chamberlin, so Noah knew very well that that had not been the case.