His brows lifted slightly. “Really?”
“Yes.” I exhaled through my nose. “I can’t wait to go home.”
Back to Napa.
Back to waking up before the sun came all the way up. Walking the rows with Spades, checking the soil, the leaves, the fruit.
No assistants.
No noise.
Just work that required attention and gave something back when you did it right.
Out there, nobody was watching me. Nobody was asking questions I didn’t want to answer. The only thing that mattered was whether the work got done properly.
“Well, I hope you feel better soon.” Marcus pulled me out of my thoughts. “The launch was a success, though. You should be proud of that.”
I scoffed. “Yeah. Right.”
Marcus tilted his head. “You disagree?”
“I’ll believe it when I see the numbers.”
He gave a small nod, like he expected that answer. “Well, as someone who gives unsolicited legal advice to you and your friend, maybe it’s time you cut back.”
“Stop.”
“Marlon.”
“Marcus. Enough.”
He held my stare for a second, then lifted his hands slightly. “Fine.”
Silence settled between us again, more awkward this time.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “I didn’t mean to be short with you. Dillon got me waiting here like a bitch, and it’s making me nervous.”
“I was wondering where he was,” Marcus said.
“He said he had to handle something.”
Marcus studied me for a moment, then offered. “Maybe it’s his daughter.”
I cleared my throat, reaching for my coffee.
“Right. Her.” I took a sip before setting the cup down again. “You know her? You two seemed cozy last night.”
“Please, Marlon.” He shook his head. “She’s a child to me. Plus, I am married, remember?”
I held his gaze. “So men don’t cheat on their wives?”
He returned it and I saw it in the way his expression tightened, just slightly. He caught on to my implications immediately.
“Idon’t,” he declared.
Hm.
“Right.”
