I tap my nose. “Can’t be givin’ away trade secrets.”
“Ugh.”
“I take it you’d like to volunteer to help? Though I don’t know how those stilettos would go on the roof, it could be a challenge.”
“I only wore those on the plane,” she huffs. “And now there’s this vicious rumor circulating that the ‘new girl from New York’ is tottering around in skyscraper heels and inappropriate outerwear; for heaven’s sake, it was a cute sweater and jeans combo, one I happen to like.”
She’s making headlines for all the right reasons.
“With no jacket, you’ll freeze to death. I’ll pick it up this afternoon once they’ve embossed it.”
“Thanks,” she sniffs. “I did have a jacket, but Bailey said it wouldn’t cut it. I didn’t have time to shop.”
Maybe after getting fired, she didn’t have the funds. She also mentioned something about her dodgy roommate. “This is all covered by the farm,” I tell her. “So you don’t have to pay anything.”
She blinks a few times. “That’s generous.”
“Not really. We’re not in the habit of letting our staff freeze to death. Bad for business.”
She narrows her eyes. “Was that a joke? Wow, you’re warming up to me, what else do you do for fun around here?”
I chuckle. “You saw bison burger on the menu, I’ll give you a clue what we do for fun.”
Her face turns to horror as she faces me once more. “You wouldn’t.”
“It’s wild country out here,Manhattan. You’re not in New York City anymore.”
“Are you going to keep calling me that?”
“If you’d like me to.”
She shoots me a glare that doesn’t last. “Funny.”
“So, we’re good to go?” I nod to her attire.
“Not until you tell me if I look ridiculous.”
I fold my arms over my chest, secretly liking the fact she wants my opinion. “Why does it matter if you do or don’t? You won’t freeze, isn’t that more important?”
I think I really annoy her, because she shakes her head, jabbing a finger at me. “I’m not taking fashion advice from a man wearing plaid.”
I look down at myself. “Fine by me… wait — what’s wrong with plaid?”
She looks up to the ceiling, then shakes her head. “I can’t think of one thing right with it, so there’s that.”
“Luckily, you don’t have to wear it, or we’d never hear the end of it.”
She glances down at herself. “Are the ski pants really necessary?”
My eyes lower to her ass like they can’t help themselves. I don’t know how she makes ski pants look attractive, but she does. Her cute butt fills them out just nicely, and I wet my lips like they, too, have a mind of their own. “I don’t think they’re optional in a storm, unless you want to get frostbite on your ass.”
Her lips part and her eyes widen at the same time as I snap my eyes back to hers. I wave my hands in the air like I didn’t just get caught gawking. “Just sayin’.”
“Since you’re my boss, I guess I have to do what you say, right?”
Is she challenging me? I give her a deadpan look. “While we’re at work, yes, but if you don’t want to stay warm and dry in said clothes supplied by Lawless Farms, then I can’t make you. Just don’t come cryin’ to me when you’re called out to the clearing and you come back frostbitten with fingers and toes missin’.” I hold her mittens in the air. “And you keep leavin’ these lying around.”
“Shoot.” She leans toward me to take them from my grip, but I hold them higher so she can’t reach. Then, because I’m an ass, I stand, knowing she has no chance of ever getting them.
