AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sounds like quite the feat,” Sophia chimed in.
“When do you think you’ll break ground?” Sal asked as he took Sophia’s hand.
I looked at their joined hands. “We still have a couple of weeks yet, maybe a month or so. But hopefully, soon.”
My stomach flipped as my nerves shot into overdrive. I wanted to tell them more, but things were going so smoothly right now between Siena and me. I didn’t want to rock the boat.
“Well, is it a big secret, or do we get to see your plans?” Sal asked the question I knew Siena wanted to know. If I knew her at all, and I thought I had gotten a rather good read on her thus far, she’d probably been dying to ask it herself.
“I’d be happy to as soon as they arrive. Everything’s still in the works, but my father never disappoints.” This statement was true, I could confidently admit. I just had to find a way to get him to back off about the winery.
Siena scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“Siena!” Sophia admonished her.
“What?”
“I’m sure we’ll all be very impressed with what you’ve created,” Sal interjected, trying to circumvent another impending battle between the two of us.
“I’d be more than happy to show you once Mosby sends them.”
“Mosby?” he asked.
“Yes. Our architect. She’s brilliant.”
Siena opened her mouth to retort, but Sophia cut her off, “That’d be wonderful. Wouldn’t it, Siena?”
Siena gave her a sideways glare. “Yeah.” She plastered on one of the fakest smiles I’d ever seen. “Just dandy.”
“Great,” I copied her tone and insincere smile. I knew it’d get to her.
“Can’t wait.” Her voice was laced with sarcasm. But I didn’t mind. It turned up the heat just a little more. Moth to flame. Even though she seemed annoyed, I was certain part of her annoyance was because of her attraction to me. I felt the same way regarding her.
I cocked my head and switched tactics. “We should go for another run tomorrow morning.” I smiled my most charming of smiles—The Panty Dropper. It worked like a charm. Every. Single. Time.
I could see the immediate change in her eyes. “Huh?” Confusion rippled across her face. I could see the wheels turning in that brain of hers as her pupils dilated. The slight twinge of annoyance and angst evaporated and was replaced with a softer, more relaxed look.
It was my job to read people. I made a living at it. And the change in her eyes told me I could ask her to run a marathon tomorrow morning, and she’d consent. She’d probably agree to almost anything in this moment.
“Siena?” I asked, claiming her hand.
“Hmm?” She looked at our entwined fingers.
“A run? Tomorrow morning?”
Siena shook her head, probably trying to clear her thoughts. “Sure. That’s fine.”
“Can’t wait,” I copied her earlier choice of words and winked. “I’ll be here at, what?” I checked my watch. “Seven? That work for you?”
“Seven is fine,” she said nodding.
“Gotta find a way to release all this energy I seem to have found out here.” I winked at Siena. I knew she got my innuendo when her cheeks flushed a bit.
I bid the Morettis good night, making sure to thank Sophia again for her wonderful hospitality. I genuinely liked them. The fact I was attracted to Siena had nothing to do with her grandparents, and me liking her grandparents had absolutely nothing to do with her.
I looked forward, a little bit more than I had initially, to the time I’d be spending out here. It wasn’t as awful as I thought it was going to be. The fact I had a particular interest in Siena shouldn’t affect things if we both knew upfront that this was not a long-term thing. We had our own lives and our own careers to focus on. And, if I were completely honest with her, and if we agreed on terms, physically speaking, things would be fine. If she didn’t have any interest in me, no skin off my nose.
But if she felt anything close to what I was feeling, why not mix a little business with pleasure?
