by Jan Moran
His gaze narrowed and Courtney worried she’d revealed too much, but when his expression relaxed, she let her breath out. His smile, though, it annoyed her as much as it made her insides all hot and squishy.
Then he stepped up to her and she caught his enticing scent again. How he still smelled like wine she didn’t know, but it made her want to breathe him in and have another taste.
“That, right there,” his smug grin shouldn’t have turned her on even more, but she had no control over her body’s reaction to him, especially in close proximity. “That tells me everything I need to know.”
She braced herself for another kiss, every inch of skin prickling with anticipation, begging him to ignore the words she’d uttered. Instead of leaning in, he did an abrupt right face and climbed the stairs.
“Son of a bitch,” she cursed, knowing he’d just played her. Courtney stomped up the remaining steps and charged into the foyer, but Aiden had disappeared. Instead of searching him out and trying to deny everything he assumed from that little interaction, she went to the desk and logged in to the computer. The thing hadn’t even booted up when Aiden appeared on the other side of the desk, scowl firmly in place.
“What the hell is my mother doing in my office?”
“Why don’t you ask her?” she snapped back.
“She told me you hired her.”
“No, you hired her.”
“When did I do that?”
“When you pawned her off on me yesterday morning.” Courtney didn’t actually mind her conversation with Vanessa. “You know, that other time when you were being a dick.”
Maybe that was pushing the envelope, but he’d just crossed a line on the steps, so Courtney was just following his lead, even if she had taken it in the opposite direction.
“My mother doesn’t need a job, she needs a hobby, preferably one not associated with the winery.”
“I don’t agree. She had some interesting ideas for entertainment and events. I know you want to run this whole place on your own, but you’re just going to crash and burn. Your mother wants to help and entertainment is her forte.”
“Spending money is her forte. Don’t let her trick you into thinking otherwise.”
“Trick me? Like you just did outside?”
Based on how Aiden’s scowl morphed into a smug grin, she was going to regret steering the conversation in this direction.
“That wasn’t a trick, that was honesty.”
“There was nothing honest about that,” she insisted.
Aiden moved around the desk, trapping her between him and the wall. “No? So if I kissed you right now, you wouldn’t kiss me back?”
“I—” she started, but before she could lie, his mouth was on hers again. While she knew this was another mistake she’d regret, she couldn’t force herself to pull away. No, instead, she did just the opposite, her hands moving around him and clinging to the tight muscles of his back. He pressed her against the wall, the evidence of his desire pushing against her belly.
He chuckled against her mouth and turned his head. She expected him to say something smug that would piss her off even more, but instead he looked down. Courtney followed his gaze to find Humphrey wrapped around Aiden’s leg and having a go at it.
“I think we got your dog all worked up,” Aiden said.
“Humphrey, no,” she commanded. The light bulb flicked on, all of Austin and Erik’s snarky expressions and comments making perfect sense. “They named the dog Humphrey,” she muttered, pushing Aiden back and reaching down to extract the small dog from his leg.
“Seems appropriate,” Aiden said.
“I had no idea. They didn’t tell me he did that.”
“You could put him in his kennel and we can pick up where we left off.”
Yes, she wanted that, but no, she couldn’t. “I’m not, I, work, I need to get to work,” she stammered.
He laughed and lifted her chin. “I’m not sure what is more adorable, when you’re pissed off or when you’re all flustered.”
“I’m not…flustered.” She took a deep breath and focused on the words forming in her head before she spoke. “I’m clocked in. I need to work.”
“Right,” he drawled, all knowing. Yes, she was flustered. Who wouldn’t be with that hot body pressed against you and those lips working their magic. “So, about my mother. What exactly did I hire her to do?”
Courtney was surprised by the question and his accepting tone, but grateful he pursued that subject and not insist they talk about the kiss…again.
“She’s going to hire the entertainment and plan events. She had some great ideas that would bring the locals up here. I suggest you listen to her with an open mind and give her a budget. I think she’ll do great.”
“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one since you don’t know my mother very well, but don’t be surprised when I fire her.”
“It’s your business,” she said, dropping into the chair before he had a chance to pin her against the wall again.
“Sometimes I wonder,” he muttered, giving Humphrey’s head a pat before stepping around the desk. As if playing jump rope with an exposed wire, every hair on Courtney’s body stood on end, Austin’s gaze fixed on her until he disappeared around the corner.
Releasing the breath she didn’t realize she was holding, she gave herself a mental head slap. “I have to stop letting him do that to me,” she said to Humphrey. “Come on, cutie, let’s get you some water and a little snack.”
Chapter 7
“How’s the new girl working out?” Amber James asked when she walked in Monday morning.
It had been a long weekend of trying to avoid the new girl so Aiden didn’t pin her against the wall again and have his way with her. Knowing she wouldn’t be in today had made for a long night. Avoiding her was better than not having the opportunity.
“She’s great.” Adorable, sexy, distracting — even when she wasn’t even there.
“I knew she would be. She’ll transition perfectly into the marketing position, too, when you’re ready to fill that.”
Instead of asking Amber why she hadn’t informed Courtney of the position change, he focused on the reason for her absence. “How was the marathon?”
“Half marathon. It was okay, I didn’t finish first, but I was in the top ten. I need to up my game.”
“You could just ask him out,” he suggested. Amber was interested in Pete Mitchell, Aiden’s best friend and the winery’s grounds keeper. Since Pete was a runner, she’d taken up the sport, believing the only way to get his attention was to win a race. She had her heart set on Lilac Ridge’s annual Mistletoe Marathon, a race that circled around the roads and trails in Lilac Ridge the first weekend in December. The first place man and woman had to kiss under the mistletoe after the race.
“He still thinks of me like a little sister,” she sighed. The three of them had been friends forever, but Amber had always liked Pete more than just a friend. “But when we both win that race, he’ll see me differently.”
Seemed like an extreme way to win someone’s affection, but this was coming from the guy who kept putting the moves on his receptionist when he should be keeping his distance.
“Well, I’m glad you’re back. Here’s the stack of people I want to hire and here’s the stack that needs a second interview. You also need to get Courtney set up in the system. I got her into the timesheet program, but all that other HR garbage you do needs to be done.”
“My job is not garbage, mister.”
“No, but it may as well be Greek. Oh, yeah, and you need to get my mother in the system.”
Amber chocked on her coffee, which was Aiden’s intent. “Your mother? Are you drunk?”
“No, not drunk. She’s handling events and entertainment. She actually has some great ideas.” Aiden had taken Courtney’s advice and been receptive to his mother’s ideas. She had started out in the entertainment industry, after all, and had arranged some of the entertainment back
when Grandpa was still running the winery. Neil had done away with that aspect of the business, something Aiden didn’t understand or agree with, so he was surprised his mother was so eager to get it going again.
“Okay, and we can expect to see her around here?” Amber asked. Amber had survived his father’s tenure as the owner of the winery. He knew he could trust her and since she knew his family history, she did a good job of running interference with his family.
“I gave her the marketing manager’s office since I’m not filling that position.”
“Not filling it yet,” Amber said.
“We need to get in the black before I can even think about that. Since my grandfather’s old office is vacant, we can use that when we need it.”
“You can’t do this all alone, Aiden. The marketing and operations manager positions exist for a reason. Don’t burn out on me before you even get started.”
“I’ve got it all under control, I promise.”
“Famous last words.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” he encouraged. He was tired of everyone questioning his ability to run the winery. He expected it from his mother and sister, but not from Amber.
Amber grabbed the stack of folders at the corner of his desk and left Aiden to his own to-do list. The list seemed to be getting longer rather than shorter, but that was the nature of rescuing a business from the dire circumstances his father had put it in.
The restaurant was on schedule to open next week. It was later than he had hoped, but he was determined to do it right and the staff needed to be trained on all things Black Vines, including the winery’s history, the layout of the landscape, the wine-making process, and the wines that were produced. Friday he had a wine tasting planned for all the employees, accompanied by menu samples and a lesson in wine-food pairing. His training program included a test at six weeks to ensure every staff member was able to answer customer questions on the key points and features of the winery.
Thinking about the logistics of the wine and menu tasting reminded him of that night at the Hale with Courtney. She’d been reluctant, but eventually embraced the wine tasting process. Watching her swirl, then sniff, and taste the wine had been a kick to his gut. Everything she did, she did with passion, committed to it one hundred percent. She wasn’t vested in this winery. It was just a job, but she acted like it meant the world to her.
The knock at his office door had him opening his eyes and springing forward in his chair. Courtney stood at the door, Humphrey on a leash at her side. “I’m sorry, I didn’t wake you, did I?”
Aiden hadn’t even realized he had closed his eyes like that, but when it came to Courtney, he had a tendency to do things without realizing it. Like kissing her. Thinking about her naked, writhing beneath him.
He cleared his throat one more time and wheeled his chair to the desk, hoping Courtney didn’t notice the tent pitched in his pants. “I wasn’t asleep, just thinking.”
“Oh. Good.” She remained at the door, unusual for her. He liked it when she charged in with whatever demands she had of him and charged right back out.
“Come in. What’s up? Today’s your day off.” Nothing like stating the obvious, genius. She was dressed in cut-off shorts and a worn t-shirt, so even if he wasn’t aware of her schedule, the casual and hot as hell clothes would have tipped him off.
Courtney moved across the room with slow steps, her flip flops clapping on the marble floor with each step. “I need you to sign something for school.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Just a project proposal. My instructor approved it, but it has to be approved by my employer. It’s not a big deal. Just your signature.”
Her apprehension inspired his curiosity. She wasn’t timid, ever, except maybe when he kissed her senseless, but even then she recovered quickly enough to push him away. This was new and as intriguing as every other emotion he’d had the pleasure to witness. “Tell me about the project,” he said, taking the paper.
“Well, it’s for my small business marketing course. It’s a marketing strategy to grow the customer base by integrating complementary products and services from other local businesses into what’s offered here. By complementary, I don’t mean free. I mean products that complement the wines we produce here.”
Aiden caught her ownership of the wines, intrigued at her vested interest. “I know what you meant,” he said, smiling as he flipped the signature page to find an outline. It listed several local businesses, including a creamery, the Hale resort, a local wedding planner, a greenhouse and nursery, and several local farms. The outline also included events, pricing, and advertising as key topics.
When he looked up at her, the apprehension was gone, the sassy girl not even giving him a chance to ask questions. “It’s just a project, so don’t be a dick about me taking over your job or whatever. I have to use an actual business as the basis. Whether or not you use the information doesn’t impact my grade, but since your business is the target, you have to sign off on it.”
She usually called him an ass, so this time his dick took notice even though she wasn’t being complimentary. “I didn’t say anything,” he defended.
“No, but you had that look and I know how defensive you are about doing everything yourself.”
“Determined isn’t defensive,” he said.
“Semantics,” she muttered. “Can you sign it, please?”
He was pretty sure that was the first time he’d heard her say please and it seemed to be a painful plea from her. She might accuse him of not wanting help, but she seemed to struggle with it too.
“What happens if I don’t sign?” he asked.
“Then I have to find a business willing to let me focus my project on and completely rewrite my plan.”
“How long did it take you to write this?” he asked.
“Long enough that I don’t want to start over. Plus, I, uh, might have already told my instructor that I had permission when I submitted my synopsis.”
Aiden wanted to laugh, but preferred to see if he could rile her up instead. “Might have? Then why didn’t you ask me before?”
“You’ve been busy. I’ve been busy,” she waved her hand around. “It slipped my mind.”
“Or you were avoiding me.” Because nothing seemed to slip Courtney’s mind.
“I wasn’t avoiding you,” she insisted.
Maybe not, and he had been avoiding her, so maybe that was part of the problem. He grabbed a pen and signed where his name was typed.
“You’re signing?” Courtney asked.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t get you. You want to do everything on your own, now, suddenly you’re letting me do this.”
“It’s a project, right? School credit. I have a certain way I want to run things here, but I’m not going to interfere with your schoolwork just to be a dick.”
She chuckled and he moved around the desk with the paper in hand. Her smile faded, eyes widened, the pupils pushing all the gold-speckled brown irises to a thing ring. “Worried I’m going to kiss you?”
“No,” she whispered, her head shaking like a bobblehead on the dashboard of a truck on a bumpy road. She cleared her throat. “I’m worried Humphrey is going to have a go at your leg again.”
Aiden didn’t take his eyes off Courtney. “He seems fine.”
She cleared her throat again, but the way her tongue darted out conflicted with her words. “It’s probably best if you just give me the paper and we’ll let you get back to work.”
“Yeah, it’s probably best.” His hand slipped around her nape and her breath caught. “I’ve never been good about doing what’s best.”
He wasn’t gentle this time, claiming her mouth and pushing his tongue past her lips until he found hers. He turned her around in a slow dance, easing her back to the desk. He’d done his best to keep it clear of clutter in case the opportunity to play out his fantasy presented itself, but he wasn’t expecting to see Courtney today, so it
was covered in who the hell knows what. With a quick sweep, he cleared it and no more lifted her onto the edge when Humphrey reminded him he was still there.
“Shit,” he muttered, trying to shake the dog off, but the little terrier was relentless.
“Jill said he did this to Austin every time they kissed. She thinks it’s a jealousy thing.”
Aiden reached down and picked the dog up, holding him right in front of his face. “Listen, Humphrey. I’ve got your momma right where I want her and have a long list of things I want to do to her. You gotta cut me a break, all right? There’s a nice ham bone in it for you.”
Courtney pushed Aiden back and slid off the desk, taking the dog and retrieving the signed paper he’d dropped on the floor. “We need to go.”
“Don’t run, Courtney. Come on, I know you’re feeling it too.”
“That doesn’t make it okay. There are rules.”
“What rules?” he asked.
“No fraternizing with your superior,” she explained.
“This isn’t the military,” he reminded her.
“No, but it’s my job and you’re my boss and I can’t afford to get fired because I can’t control myself.”
That little admission had him closing the space between them. He didn’t give a damn if the dog humped his leg for the duration, he wanted her in his arms, warm, and soft, and making all those little noises that got him hot and hard.
But when Courtney giggled, he gave up and pulled the dog off his leg again. “I like you, Courtney. I don’t give a damn about rules or being your boss or whatever.”
“You hardly know me.”
“I know enough.”
“When things go south, I don’t want to lose my job or feel awkward whenever you’re around,” she said.
“What makes you think things will go south?” he asked.
“Because that’s how these things work. I’ve got school and the rescue and this job. Not a lot of time for a man in my life.”