Laine puts her face in her hands and sighs. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually fuck my new boss the night before my interview.”
There’s something about the wordsfuckandmy new bosscoming out of Laine’s full lips in reference tomethat sends a wave of heat crashing through me. My sore ass tingles beneath my cuffed jeans, as if to saywhat about now? Do you fuck your new bossafteryour interview?
“Why do you even want this job, though? What about Le Jardin?”
Laine sits up straight and clears her throat. “I’m on a temporary leave of absence from Le Jardin.I’m not coming back to Georgia to relocate or anything.” She saysrelocatelike it’s physically unpleasant to taste. “I just … came into this free time, and I’ve missed my family. When my parents asked me to do this favor for Cosimo, it seemed like the right time to come home and reconnect, get to know Chance’s kids better.” She shrugs, but her voice is tight, constrained, like whatever feelings bubbling within her about this development have been fermenting for a while.
I blink at her and the windfall she’s presenting. A favor to my family exactly when we need it most? And it’s not some disgraced vineyard hand that’ll be making our wines, either—Laine’s a trained and celebrated young vintner who works at one of the most prestigious vineyards in the country. The timing is almost unbelievable.
“Wait. When did you learn about my dad leaving?” I lean forward.
Laine squints, considering. “About three weeks ago?”
Three weeks?Dad knew three weeks ago that he was leaving, and he waited untilyesterdayto tell me?
“Hey, are you okay?” Laine reaches out to put her hand on mine, bringing me crashing back into the present. The concern in her golden-brown eyes makes a knot rise in my throat.
“I’m—fine. It’s just you knew before I did.” I swallow. “I found out yesterday, actually. It’s part of why … last night I needed to … Well. It’s been a lot to process.”
“Oh, shit,” Laine breathes out, and her shared surprise at how Dad’s handled this feels validating, but also suspiciously like pity. I pull my hand back, and Laine straightens in her seat immediately.
I blow out a breath and get my business face back on. “Look, we need a vintner to make it through harvest with the vineyard intact, and you’re the only option we have unless I want to hire Bobby the thief.”
“Bobby thewho—?”
“What did Dad offer you? He doesn’t usually handle the money, and I’m concerned I won’t be able to honor whatever he’s promised you.”
Laine bites her lips, a crack of nervous energy spidering its way across her cool demeanor. “He said I could stay in the vineyard’s treehouse rent-free plus forty hours a week at minimum wage.”
My mouth drops open a degree.That’s all?I can’t believe Laine agreed to work for so little, but then again, with housing included, it’s not a horrible deal … Kudos to Dad, too, because it’s one we can afford. Barely, but still. “And that … works for you?”
“For now, yes.”
“Okay. Deal.” I hold my hand out to shake, then yank it back just as Laine reaches for mine. “On one condition, though.”
Laine looks at me warily. “What?”
“Your sister is my sworn enemy. I need to know you’re loyal to Bluebell Vineyards, that you’ll work hard for us and put our interests first, especially when it comes to getting theEveryday Bon Vivantshowcase. Does that affect your decision?”
Laine’s face tenses, and a flash of anxiety illuminates her eyes, disappearing just as fast. “Everyday Bon Vivantis coming here? To Blue Ridge?”
Napa-trained Laine is nervous aboutEveryday Bon Vivant?
“Yes, for their annual festival after harvest,” I say slowly, trying to unpack the confusing emotions scuttling across her face. “Bluebell has a good chance to win the local showcase spot. It’s my top goal this year, and if you work here, you’re onmyteam, not your family’s, favor be damned. If you can agree to all that, then we have a deal.”
“Deal,” Laine says, but hesitation lingers in her voice. What part of what I said is holding her back?Everyday Bon Vivantor being on my team?
She reaches out, and her hand shakes mine like it wasn’tinsideme last night. A small, perfunctory smile appears on her face. “I’m going to make this vineyard shine, wait and see.”
I frown. “We already shine.” Sure, our sweet, simple wines are for basics, but basics love wine, too. Bluebell Vineyards believes in providing accessible happy juice for everyone, not just sexy California wine snobs.
Laine opens her mouth to say something, but myyou-sure-about-that?expression makes her think better of it. After a long pause, she says, “Sure.”
Still feels like an insult.
“Oh, and about last night …”
My pulse picks up in speed. “Yes?”
