Page 93 of Pick Me This Time

Instantly irritated, I felt my eyebrows knitting as I stared at her in the rearview. “I’ve been here, Fi. You and I haven’t been together for a decade. Let’s refrain from using nicknames like baby that make it sound like we’re something more than we are.”

I glanced at the tourists to make sure they’d all taken their seats. Once I was satisfied, I nodded and called out to those waiting in line. “We’ll be back soon, folks. Thanks for being patient.”

One of the guys I’d hired went back to organizing them into groups that would fit on the truck and I glanced at Fiona. “Why did you want a tour? You know everything there is to know about this place.”

“Yeah, but like I said, I missed it.” She batted her lashes at me. “And I missed you. I’ve barely seen you since I got here.”

“Good thing you didn’t come here for me,” I ground out, turning my attention to the road and the tour. “Alright, folks. Welcome to Northfield Farms. We’re very happy to have most of you here today, on a farm that has been in my family for three generations. My name is Sterling North, and I’m looking forward to showing you around today.”

It was the same spiel I’d been giving every year since I was a kid, and it was pretty routine, but at the same time, there was something stirring about saying it again after so long. Fiona leaned forward, putting her face in the window and flashing me a sweet smile.

“I never thought I’d hear any of that from you again. How does it feel?”

“Fine.”

“Oh, come on, Sterlo. Talk to me. Let’s catch up. I really do miss you, you know.”

I bit my teeth. “No, you don’t. You just miss the life you used to have.”

She frowned, shaking her head. Her hand snaked in through the window and her fingers curled around my shoulder. “That’s not true. You and I had some good times together. Do you remember that time when we⁠—”

“Not now, Fi. I’m giving a tour.” Throughout which, she took every opportunity to flirt with me, but no matter how deep I went looking, I just couldn’t find any shred of interest or attraction for her.

I finally dropped off her group back at the barn, and one of the new employees took over the tours. Fiona followed me around the patch like dog shit stuck to my shoe. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Look, Fiona, no offense, but we’re busy. What is it you want exactly?”

Her long eyelashes fluttered again. “Get a drink with me later. Please?”

“I can’t tonight,” I said immediately. “I’ve got work to do, and that also means that you need to get going. Thank you for coming. See you around.”

With that, I waved and walked away, making sure she wasn’t following me again. At the time, I had no idea that she’d taken my response as the door still being open. I hadn’t meant it that way, but with hindsight being twenty-twenty, I found out later why it was important to be firm when dealing with an ex.

Especially when dealing with one as tenacious and determined as Fiona Marksmith.