“Okay, I’ll go with you.”
“But don’t you have responsibilities with the band?”
“That’s where you’re in luck. We’re actually on an extended break. The band is building a studio here, so I’ll be here a bit helping with that.”
“Oh my gosh. You are a lifesaver.” I can’t contain the smile taking over my face. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“Don’t get too excited.” He grins and I wonder if this is how he felt when I tried blackmailing him into going. “I have some stipulations of my own. Well, one really.”
I remove my hand out from under his. “Like what? This whole thing is fake, there will be no actual feelings coming into play.”
“Believe me, I know where you stand on relationships.” He chuckles and I refuse to admit how much the sound warms my heart. “But, I want you to tell your family, out loud, that you don’t want a place in the business.”
Never in my life have I stood up to my parents. Not because I haven’t wanted to, but because it’s terrifying. Plus, my siblings would do everything in their power to keep it from happening. They love the family business, though. I don’t know why they can’t accept the fact I don’t.
“I can try.” An honest answer is what he deserves after offering to go with me.
“No.” He shakes his head again. “You will. There’s noreason to tiptoe around your feelings because of something everyone else wants.”
“Is that why you keep trying to talk to me? You don’t avoid your feelings?”
His cheeks redden before he gathers his composure. “I know where I stand with you. I’m saying this as a friend.”
“Fine, fine.” I grumble and look away. “I’ll tell them point blank I don’t want to be a part of the business.”
“Can you say that a little louder? I didn’t quite hear you.” He taps his ear.
“I will tell my family I don’t want to work at the winery.” I hope he’s happy. “You realize you’re kind of annoying, right?”
“I’m annoyingly right? I know.” He glances around the counter. “Do you have a piece of paper?”
“Why?”
“So, you have my number when you find out the dates.”
Oh, duh. I look behind the counter where Emily keeps the notepads. We take most of our orders on the tablet or computers but she likes to write things down when she’s walking around the shop.
“Here you go.” I hand him a sticky note and pen.
“Thanks.” I watch him scribble his number on the paper before sliding it back to me. “So, can we get the order placed before they really can’t fit me in?”
“Shit. Yeah, sorry.” I pull out the tablet and open up the product page. “Does he have a certain style he wants?”
My focus may be on Tristan and the order he’s placing, but it doesn’t mean I don’t hear footsteps hightailing it down the hallway. If I were to place a bet, I’m guessing Kate was listening in to the entire conversation. I already know I’m going to catch hell for this.
“Well, aren’t you a devious one?” Kate grins at me as I walk into the warehouse to let them know about the orders on order for tomorrow.
Emily glances up, confused. “What do you mean? Paula’s probably the quietest person here. I don’t see how she’d get a chance tobedevious.”
Looks like I was right. Kate was totally listening in on my conversation. My cheeks redden at being found out. Of all the people to hear what went down, it had to be her. I haven’t known these women as long as they’ve known each other, but Kate is definitely nosy and likes to get the whole group involved.
“I don’t know what you mean.” I take a seat at the work table and glance down at the tablet in my hand. “There are four orders placed for tomorrow. They should show up in the list soon.”
Kate snorts and I want her to drop it. “Did you really think that trade off was going to work?”
“I was hoping it would.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Why did you even come up there anyway?”
She shrugs and tilts her head to the side. “You would have let anyone slide in an order past the due date.You’ve done it for other occasions. I wanted to know why this one you would need our approval on. It was pure curiosity.”
