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“We were just discussing the timeline for getting these new grapes in the ground,” one of the developers said. Honestly, I hadn’t even bothered to learn their names. They refused to respect me, so I gave them the same courtesy in return. “How soon do you think your contact in California can get them on a flatbed and driven out here?”
It was an innocent question, and one every man standing around me deserved the answer to. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple.
“So,” I said slowly, turning to Liam. “I was actually really hoping you could drive out there and inspect the plants and grapes before we make any further decisions.”
“What do you mean…drive?”
“I mean, I want you to take one ofourflatbeds out there, inspect the product, and drive it back if you deem the quality good enough for us.”
“And if I don’t deem it good enough?” Liam asked with a raised brow. From the outside, I’m sure it appeared as though he was pushing me, testing his limits with me just like every other man I’d dealt with in this business. Hell, one of the developers had an almost proud smirk on his face, like he was silently congratulating Liam on a job well done.
But I knew Liam better than that. The man was practical and logical, almost to a fault. I knew he was asking because he couldn’t see the point in wasting his time when we could easily send someone else out.
“Then you’ll get a nice, once in a lifetime, cross country road trip out of it,” I said with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
“I can’t go right now,” he said. “I have too much to do this summer.”
I nodded, having known that was coming. “Fall, then. After Labor Day.”
“That’s harvest time.”
“Shit,” I breathed. “Winter. You can go after Christmas.
“So we’re not getting the grapes in the ground this summer?” the other developer asked.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then why the fuck are we here?” he exploded.
“Watch it.”
I looked up in shock. I’d expected Liam to come to my defense—not that I needed the help—so I was surprised when Calvin’s voice echoed into the air between the five of us.
“She’s fucking with us,” the developer said with a sneer.
Calvin opened his mouth again, but I cut him off.
“I’m notfuckingwith you,” I said, stepping closer to him, emphasizing the word as though doing anything involving its many connotations with this man made me sick—which wasn’t far from the truth. He wasn’t particularly tall. I’d guess either my height at five-nine, or just an inch over. It made things easier when I moved into his space and looked down my nose at him. “Idowant to develop this land. But there’s only one man whose opinion I trust when it comes to our grapes, and that’s him.” I pointed at Liam. “If he’s unavailable until after harvest, then we plant next spring. Your job, in case you forgot, is to determine whether or not this is a good spot for themwheneverwe plant them, or if we should consider another spot on the property. It isn’t your job to decidewhen. Understand?”
The man’s face was beet red with suppressed rage, but he wisely kept his mouth shut and merely nodded.
“Good.” I spun back to Liam and clapped my hands. “Now that that’s settled, do your thing, my friend.”
Not needing any further encouragement, Liam sprang into action, gesturing for the developers to follow him, and I breathed a sigh of relief at a crisis averted.
Honestly, deciding to crashthe meeting with Liam, Amara, and the developers had been a genius move on my part…until it wasn’t.
I didn’t know what came over me when the one guy got belligerent and started swearing at her, but I’d been helpless to resist stepping in to defend her.
Since when did IdefendAmara Delatou? What the fuck was happening to me?
But really, this was abusinessmeeting, and all of these guys—myself included, as much as I tried to forget it—worked for Amara, not the other way around. They were way out of line in swearing at her and treating her like she didn’t belong here.
And when she lit into him, proving she really didn’t need my help after all? Fuck, I hated how hard it got me.
I needed to get laid, but unfortunately, the thought of being with anyone but Amara made my skin crawl. Seriously, something had drastically altered my brain chemistry. Maybe all the alcohol I’d consumed in my lifetime was finally catching up to me.
Liam returned to my side after traipsing up and down the slope for a half hour, Amara on his heels, taking pictures while the developers took notes, asked questions, and gave suggestions. I had to admit, Amara was holding her own out here. Being the only female with her male counterparts actively gunning for her couldn’t be an easy position to be in, but she handled it with poise and professionalism—except where I was concerned.
