I watched her for a second then cleared my throat.
“Well,” I said calmly, “last time I checked, it was you who offered to take up space in my bed again. And I turned you down.”
Her expression dropped.
“So, Ms. Rodriguez,” I continued. “If I wanted to sleep with you again, I would’ve.”
I let that sit for a second. Her lips parted, but I didn’t give her space to jump in. Then I leaned just slightly closer to make my point clear.
“You’re not slick,” I added. “You’re testing me and right now? You’re failing.”
Silence settled between us letting me know I guessed right. Then I stepped away.
“Now,” I said, picking up a file from my desk, already moving on, “go find Lavender and a sweater. Then go sit in your officeand do the workyouwere assigned. Get rid of the TaskRabbit,Rabbit.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
She changed her approach quickly.
“Yesterday, Lav said you’d show me the vineyard,” she declared. “So… show me around.”
This fucking girl.
“Aurora, what you’re wearing ain’t appropriate. You won’t be comfortable out there.”
“I’ll manage.”
She wasn’t asking, she was pushing. Testing how far she could go before I pushed back harder.
Fine.
I studied her heels, dress and hair. Maybe this was a way to teach her hard headed ass a lesson.
I nodded once. “Aight.”
“Aight?” She echoed.
I turned and walked away from her, pushing open the side door of my office that led out to the stables.
The shift in air hit immediately with a cooler, heavier scent of hay and earth.
“Let’s go.”
Without hesitation, she walked closer.
“Aht, aht, aht. The rat can’t go.”
“What? Why?”
“You stupid or something? Dogs can’t eat grapes. I don’t want him running off, eating the product, then dying and you blaming me.”
She scoffed. “Chewy doesn’t run away. And you don’t care if he dies. You just don’t want him messing up your precious produce.”
I smiled lightly. “The dog stays.”
“Ugh!” She stomped away. “Give me a second.”
