Page 29 of Work and Play
“Yes. Someday, we will. With grapes that I brought from my grandfather’s winery in France.”
Who knows why this snippet of Finn’s history surprises me, but it does. “I didn’t take you for the sentimental type,” I blurt out. Unfortunately, my words land wrong on Finn.
When he frowns and stands up from where he was leaning against the fence, I realize I’ve hit a nerve. “Yeah, well, family is important to me.”
He goes to walk away, and I put my hand out to stop him. “Wait, Finn, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply —”
He shrugs off my touch. “I know. It’s fine. Let’s just go and see what we’re here to purchase.”
I watch his long strides grow the distance between us, and I can’t help but feel like he was letting me in, and this time I was the one who pushed him away.
If I was in a bad mood earlier, I’m in a worse one now. Finn has done nothing but glare and growl monosyllabic answers to any question I’ve asked of him. Pierre left us alone to look over the equipment and décor for sale, and while my inner designer is cheering at the amazing quality of the items available, the rest of me is fuming mad.
I said one thing. One thing that he took the wrong way and now he’s being even more of an asshole to me than before.
When Finn wanders off down a hall, allegedly to find a bathroom, I stay in the empty room alone, my temper rising. Finally, logic and reason abandons me, and I go to find him and give him a piece of my mind. I go up a flight of stairs, not even paying attention to the amazing old-world art on the walls. I try the first door I come to, but it’s a closet. Then I hear a tap running. Bingo. Another door down the hallway opens, and I’m waiting.
“You need to stop being a grumpy ass caveman right now, and work with me.” My hand is smacking his chest with every word, forcing him to take a step back into the bathroom. But I’m so frustrated, and so focused on giving him a piece of my mind, I just follow, not thinking about how weird it might seem to follow a guy into a bathroom. “I’m trying to do my job and you’re just being a growly jerk, and I’m done with it!”
“Ashley, wait!”
I freeze at the urgent tone in his voice, my hand in the air, as the door clicks behind me.
“Ah, fuck.”
“What?”
He heaves an exasperated sigh. “The door is broken. If you hadn’t been so intent on berating me, I could have stopped you from getting stuck in here with me.”
“Broken?” I say dumbly, turning around and jiggling the handle. “How the hell is it broken?”
“Well, gosh, Ashley, I don’t know. If I did, do you think I’d still be standing here?” he says, sarcasm dripping from his words.
God. He’s sexy, even when he’s being an asshole, and I hate the fact that my body is responding to him being such a jerk. In an attempt to hide my reaction, I cross my arms in front of me and glare at him. “You’re not exactly Mr. Fix-It. Let me try.” I turn back and examine the door. Sure enough, the handle doesn’t seem to engage to open. “How did you get out the first time?”
“I didn’t let it latch fully shut.”
Well, shit.
My head drops down to the door that has sealed me in a small room with the man I’m beyond frustrated with, and beyond attracted to. “Seriously? We’re stuck in here? What is this, some cheesy, made-for-TV movie? Get lost, Hallmark, this is my life!” I’m spiraling and I know it.
“Relax, would you? I’ll just text Pierre for help,” Finn says, and I hear him pull out his phone.
“His battery is dead, remember? He mentioned that before he went off with Oliver,” I mumble, still facing the door.
“Fuck. Okay, I’ll just climb out the window.”
That makes me turn around. “And what, rappel down the wall like spider man?”
Finn opens the large window and looks down. “It’s not a big drop. I can make it.”
I walk over and look out myself. He’s right, it’s maybe only six feet down, thanks to the way the building is set into the slope. Still, jumping out a window onto cold, icy ground isn’t my idea of a smart plan.
“But the ground is all slushy and that patch of snow seems hard packed. We could try calling out for someone,” I offer.
Finn shakes his head. “There’s no one else here, it’s just us. It’s fine, Ashley. I’ll jump down, then walk around and open the door for you.”
I watch as he climbs up onto the windowsill, worry gnawing at me. “Wait, Finn, you don’t have to do this.” My hand goes to his back and I feel the muscles underneath his shirt.
