Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
paula
The shock on Tristan’s face isn’t something I factored into this plan. He tried talking to me at the wedding, even after I blew him off for months. I figured this would be a dream for him.
“So, do we have a deal?”
“I-I don’t know.” He shakes his head and stares at the ground. “Why would you even make that suggestion?”
To his credit, it is a half-cocked plan. It sparked after Kate said we could take the order. He doesn’t need to know they didn’t co-sign on it.
“You need something, I need something. It works for both of us.” I only hope he doesn’t hear the desperation in my voice. I cannot face my entire family on my own. They will come at me like starving lions.
Finally, he lifts his eyes until they meet mine, and there’s fire in them. “Is this coming from you? Or did the bosses say it?”
Damn it. So much for trying to throw that in there. “It’s from me, okay.” I pick at my nails while avoiding in and all eye contact with him. “They said they can fill your order. Even the ones for the other bandmates.”
Tristan crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. “That’s great. Can I give you the info and give you, my card?”
“Yeah.” I grumble.
He moves closer and leans on the glass case. “You know, you didn’t have to try to trick me into going on this trip with you.”
“Okay.” I roll my eyes. “How else would I have gotten you to agree to this?”
“By asking.” He shakes his head as if it was the obvious answer. For him, maybe. But I don’t typically ask for help. Anytime I’ve done it before it’s come with strings attached.
“Sure, like you would have said yes after I basically gave you the cold shoulder at the wedding. Besides, I didn’t even know you were back in town.”
“Then why offer this now?”
“Because you were here. It’s not like we dislike each other. We just want different things. And you are a safe option.”
“But you know how much I travel.” I can feel his eyes staring a hole into me. “How do you even know I’ll be able to make the dates? It would have all been for nothing.”
He has a point. I didn’t even consider that. Especially when I don’t know the dates for the vacation yet.
“Look.” I sigh. “It wasn’t a well thought out plan. I know that, but I cannot be around my family for that long alone. It was worth throwing the idea out there.”
“When is the trip?”
“I have no idea. My baby brother is supposed to send me the dates today.”
His eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Wait, are you telling me, your family hasn’t given you the dates but they expect you to be there?”
“Welcome to the shit show.” I raise my hands in defeat. “There’s no telling these people no. It’s unacceptable.”
“Wow. Kind of glad I only have one sibling.” He takes a moment to think about what I’ve said. “Why is it so critical that you’re there?”
A million reasons jump to the top of my head. Because they want to control my life. Because they don’t want me to be successful unless they have some sort of input in it. But that’s not what I tell him.
“They still want me to be a part of the business. And, not just a voice. They want me to be hands on, and my heart isn’t in it. Running a winery has never been my passion.”
“Do they know that?”
As much as I want to say yes, they do, I’m not sure that’s right. I’ve never explicitly told them I don’t want a part in the business. I’ve only ever dodged their questions or given vague non-committal responses.
“I think so.”
He reaches across the counter and places his hand on mine. “How important is it that you go on this trip?”
“According to my brother, it’s very important.”
“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 no reason 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 to be devious.”
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.”
“And you happened to linger because…”
I grew up with five siblings, I know why she stuck around. Everyone likes a bit of gossip from those closest to them. Especially, when I’m not one that shares too much about my life. It’s easier that way.
“Curiosity like I said.” She grabs a flower and trims it down before placing it in a vase. “But, I am intrigued as to why he’d tell you to just ask. It’s almost as if y’all know each other outside of listening to Crooked Halo at the bar.”
Sam rolls her eyes and nudges Kate with her elbow. “She clearly doesn’t want to talk about it, drop it.” She glances at me. “Seriously, you don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to. Kate seems to forget people have boundaries.”
“No.” Kate shakes her head. “I don’t forget. I barge straight through them. We’re a close-knit team, it’s only fair that we know some details about each other.”
“That’s not what you were saying when Xander entered the picture.” Emily laughs. “You shut us down at every line of questioning.”
“We’re not talking about me.” Kate grumbles.
“It’s fine.” I wave the comments away. “We spent a night together a while a back. It’s no big deal.”
“That’s how me and Xander met.” Kate sighs, and a smile takes over her face. She really and truly is in love, and I’m happy she’s found it.
“It wasn’t exactly a one-night stand type of thing, though.”
“What do you mean?” Emily asks.
I run through the events of the night, and when I look up at my coworkers, and friends, their eyes are wide. Disbelief written all over their faces.
“He also tried talking to me at Tiffany’s wedding.” I point to Emily since she’s the one who saw him. “But, I completely blew him off. I don’t understand why he’d offer to go on this trip with me.”
“I do.” Kate raises her hand as if she’s in class.
“Enlighten me.” I wave my hands over the table, a sign for her to give me the evidence.
“He’s got it bad for you. It’s the only explanation.”
“No.”
“Yes, the fact the one-night stand wasn’t typical means he’s invested. Looks like you’ll end up in a relationship soon.”
Shit. That’s not what I want to hear at all, even if I have zero aspirations to be involved romantically with anyone.