looking sexy and adorable and breakable. There’s always got to be one fly in the ointment, and she’s clearly it. I don’t want to want her, but I do, and chemistry simmers below the surface of all our interactions.
The question is what to do about it.
My attention snags on the curve of her neck. Her hair is in one of those messy buns, strands spilling out to curl over the base of her neck and brush across her cheeks. I have the urge to bite her, hard enough to leave the mark of teeth before sucking her soft skin and soothing the sting with my tongue.
Obviously, that won’t do at all.
The only thing I can think of is to stick to my plan and keep things as cordial as possible. Keep things polite. And don’t engage.
I can’t respond to her prickliness.
Or that chip she has on her shoulder.
Or her desire to fight with me.
The best way to quell the heat is to be as impassive and professional as possible.
She jabs aggressively at the enter key and then nods. “Okay, you’re in.”
“Great.” I straighten and turn to face the computer, leaning down to get a better look.
She glares up at me. “Do you mind?”
I’m not inappropriately close. It only feels that way because of the tension between us, and as much as I want to say something suggestive and confronting, I ignore the urge and move to grab the chair on the other side of the desk.
I drag it over before settling in. I smile at her, all pleasant like. “Better?”
Her gaze narrows, like she’s suspicious of me, before she turns to face the screen. “This is the shared drive.” She clicks on the button. “I have it organized into distillery business and restaurant business.” She shrugs. “Although, I’ll admit I’m still new to that side, and it might be a good idea to set up time with Jackson and Gwen to go over it in more detail.”
She clicks away.
I forget to watch the screen and instead study her more intently. “How did that come about?”
Her fingers fall still, and she turns her attention to me. “What?”
“The restaurant side of the business. What made you decide to use some of your land for such different crops?”
Her brow furrows, pulling a bit. “Jackson decided.”
“Just like that?”
Her lips curve into a half smile. “Just like that. It’s his land too. Wyatt and Jackson talked it over, and there was acreage we hadn’t expanded into yet. It made sense.”
Actually it didn’t make sense at all. I did some research, and the rum distillery had been growing at a steady clip. Not allowing the crops to expand slows their production and expansion.
I raise a brow. “Did it?”
“Well, yeah, do you know who Jackson is?”
“A little.” I looked him up on the local library computer when I did my research.
She nodded. “So then you know that a restaurant by Jackson and Gwen is like a worldwide culinary event. They will help put us on the map.”
“But doesn’t it slow your growth?”
She shrugged. “Wyatt’s not interested in mass production. He wants to focus on high-quality, specialty bottles. He’s after an exclusive market, not competing with Captain Morgan. His rum in Jackson and Gwen’s restaurant helps his end game.”
It’s in line with what both Jackson and Wyatt told me as we walked through their operations. But it doesn’t really factor Cat into the picture, and I can’t help wondering how she fits into their business plans.
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
The frowning is back.
“You’ve talked about what Wyatt wants and what Jackson wants, but what do you want?”
The downward curve of her lips deepens, and a shadow passes across her features. For a split second she looks crestfallen, but her mask snaps back into place so fast I’m not even sure what I saw.
“I’m here to support the business and take care of the operations to free them up so they can focus on what they do best.”
Didn’t answer my question, but I don’t push it. Climbing inside her mind is not on the agenda.
I nod. “Fair enough.”
There’s silence. Our gazes meet. She searches my face with those silver eyes, but I’m not sure what she’s looking for. I don’t think she finds whatever it is, though, because she snaps back, jerking her attention to the computer in front of her.
“Let’s walk through all the schedules.” She glances at her Apple watch. “I’ve got forty-five minutes, and then I have to change for the tasting this afternoon.”