Pierre stands up and claps his hands. “Excellent. Ashley, let’s finalize a time to meet again with the two finished plans.”
I stand as well. “Actually, I can finish them today if you’re available to meet tomorrow?” I quickly run through what I’ve got in my car to make sure I have what I need to stay overnight. Thankfully, I was ready with a spare outfit change just in case and I always have some basic toiletries with me.
A swift nod comes from Pierre at my suggestion, but Finn remains silent. “Excellent. We shall meet here again tomorrow at ten.” Pierre looks down at his phone, then back to me. “Unfortunately, I must go. Finn can help you find your way to a motel in town if you like.”
“I’ll be fine. Thank you, Pierre, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smile at the older man and start to gather my papers, making a point not to connect my gaze with Finn.
Finn stays where he is the entire time I’m packing my bag, silently watching me until I turn to leave, desperate to get away from the tense atmosphere between us. I don’t know what I’ve done to piss him off, but the cold shoulder is not fun.
“Have you ever been to a top-tier winery, Ashley?”
Arrogance drips from every word, light-years different from the relaxed, flirtatious man I ran into at the bakery.
“Depends on what you mean by top-tier, I suppose,” is my casual response. He’s trying to get a rise out of me, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to give in.
“We’re not going for some bohemian cat café vibe here. Our clientele will expect our space to be elegant and classy. That can’t be achieved with throw pillows and sconces.”
I slowly put my bag back down, silently counting to ten in my head to try and maintain my calm. Who the fuck is this guy, thinking he can tell me how to do my job? Am I telling him how to make grape juice? No I am not.
“Finn, you obviously don’t want me here. That’s fine. You’re not the one who hired me, Pierre is. So get over yourself.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me, and a grin stretches across his face. “Get over myself? Huh. Okay, I have to admit I haven’t had anyone say that to me in a while.” He pushes back his chair and stands, and I suddenly realize just how close he is. Close enough for me to get a whiff of his cologne, a decidedly masculine scent that makes me think of all the finer things in life, wrapped up in one deliciously wicked package. “Look, Ashley. It’s not that I don’t want you here, it’s that I don’t think we need you here. Yet, here you are. I’ll play nice with you, as long as you remember that at the end of the day, this job might be temporary for you, but it can have permanent impacts for us. We need it done right.”
Again that flash of vulnerability shows itself. And softens me against his hard edges.
“I get it, Finn. I want this to be a success. For me, and for you.”
He nods. “Okay. So, tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.”
As soon as I get back to the motel I’m staying in tonight, I change out of my formal clothes and into the yoga pants and tank top I had in my car, courtesy of a class I never ended up making the day before I came here. Thank God I work for myself, is all I can think as I survey the spread of my materials on the bed. Carrying around a selection of materials, as well as my sketchbook, laptop, and design software is part of my normal routine, which makes this last minute designing a lot easier than it could have been.
I may not have everything I would want for a full-scale design pitch, but I think I’ve got enough to show Pierre and Finn the two ideas, and just for Finn, I’ve included some rough budgets. The thought of showing him what I can do in terms of repurposed materials and thrift store finds makes me smile in anticipation. I’ll hopefully be able to satisfy Pierre’s design dreams along with Finn’s budget worries and come out with a signed contract in the end.
The thing is, the way I do my job is very hands-on, meaning I’ll need to temporarily relocate to Dogwood Cove for a couple of months. That in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, given my lack of a living situation back in the city. No self-respecting girl my age wants to still be living with their father. Where things get complicated is with Finn. There’s no sense in denying the fact that I’m attracted to him, even if he doesn’t exactly want me here. But I can’t let myself get distracted by him.
Because he looks like he works hard and plays harder.
If only I were here to play, not work.
My phone interrupts my wicked thoughts of Finn with an incoming video call from Sarah. I open the app and settle back against the headboard. “Hey girly, how’s T-dot?”
Sarah’s curly hair is wild around her face as she smiles back at me. “Oh my God, boo. It’s nuts here. The art scene is incredible.”
Sarah got her dream job working at an art gallery as an acquisitions expert. She’s putting her fancy arts degree to use and loving every minute of it. A pang of jealousy hits me, but disappears quickly. I’m working my dream job as well, it just isn’t going quite so well at the moment.
“Tell me all about the winery. Did they love your soul sucking design?”
I roll my eyes dramatically. “Oh my God. Nope, they did not.” I pause for effect, and burst out laughing when Sarah starts to curse. “Hang on, hang on. It’s fine. The owner, Pierre, he saw the sketch I showed you of how I would design the space if it were mine. Remember the one full of reds and golds? He loved that design,” I finish triumphantly.
“Yes! Naturally, your style wins the day. I am so proud of you, boo!”
My heart fills with affection and longing. “I miss you, Sarah.”
“Oh man, I miss you, too. It’s just not the same being out here without you.”
I fall silent at that reminder. At one point we planned to move to Toronto together someday. But my dad had a health scare two years ago, and I realized I couldn’t leave British Columbia. Being on the other side of the country, away from my one remaining family member was too scary.
