He was angry, I could tell. I felt like I didn’t belong here, as if the dinner wasn’t awkward enough. Still, I tried to ignore it as I shoved the last bite of tiramisu into my mouth. Dear lord, how could anything be so sweet and perfect?
I pouted when I saw there was none left.
“Rose?” Wyatt said as he looked over at me, “You, uh, you got some on your,” he reached over and brushed the bit of whipped cream off my cheek.
His thumb lingered a second longer than it needed to.
There it was again. Those little electric shocks, the ones that ran up and down my body when he touched me.
I couldn’t control them, but I wouldn’t lie. They felt amazing.
“Wyatt, walk me to my car,” his father said as he lifted him up by his arm out of the chair.
Wyatt jerked away from him. He was stronger than the older man, and the action sent a glass flying.
“Dammit, Wyatt.” He swore as he stared at him. “You couldn’t make this a success, could you?” he asked.
I blinked at the two of them then stood up, shaking the water off of me.
“Look, dad,” he started but his father was angry. I could tell by the way his face turned three shades of red in under a second that this was not going to get any better.
“You’re late, you bring her with you, and then you can’t even bother to act like you want to work with the guests we have?” he said.
“Because I don't. Where in the hell did you find these assholes anyway? In the underbelly of the agricultural world?” he asked.
“I met Samuel in Washington,” he started.
“Right, lobbying. Like I said, the underbelly. They want to make a quick buck dad. They want more chemical fertilizers, they want measures that we both know are only short-term solutions. They’ll come in, they’ll insist I use their products, and when the ground dries up and the people are left with diseases,” he started.
“Again, with the pesticides. You think organic is any better?” he asked.
“I think it’s the way of the future. Organic and naturally certified are a growing market. They are what sells.”
I can’t believe we were in the middle of the fanciest restaurant in all of Billings, Montana and the two of them were arguing about organic versus traditional commercial agriculture.
“Gentlemen, if I could please ask you to take this matter outside,” the host walked over to them, a smile on his face as he tried to guide them away.
“Damn you, Wyatt. Can’t you see I’m trying to do what’s best? I’m trying to leave you a damn empire.” His father threw his napkin on the table and stormed out.
I just sat there. Shocked.
“I’m sorry,” Wyatt said to the host who just smiled and assured him that it was alright. His father had probably spent over a grand on dinner.
I sucked in a breath. Shocked.
At least dinner came with a show.
“Well, that could’ve gone better,” he said as he pulled me out into the street.
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” she asked as she looked at me. She wasn’t happy.
“What do you mean?” I asked, tongue in cheek.
“I saw the look in your eyes when he got pissed and went off the rails. Don’t think I didn’t notice it, Wyatt. You get a kick out of pissing off your old man,” she said.
She wasn’t wrong. I loved to watch him get angry. I loved the way he gave up control. It was the only way I could think to get him to understand he wasn’t wanted. I’d tried reasoning with him. I’d tried asking him to leave, but he didn’t listen.
He didn’t care at all.
Still, I hated for her to see me like that. And I was even more upset that she found it so amusing. The corners of her mouth tilted up in a smile even as she looked at me.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. Just the way you never seem to change,” she admitted.
My car came around the corner and parked. “What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Sure, you took over the business, but not really. Dad still runs the place, doesn’t he? He still tells you what to do. And you still rebel with your women and your cars. Don’t you think it’s a little old?” she asked.
I’d had enough of her smart mouth. I grabbed her and pushed her against that car, forcing her to up to look at me as I swooped down onto her lips.
I’d wanted to kiss her the whole night, but I’d kept my composure up until the last minute. I couldn’t hold back any longer.
She wasn’t going to push my buttons. No.
I pressed my lips hard against hers as I threaded my hands through her hair and pinned her body up against that car. She could’ve pulled back, could’ve gone cold, but she didn’t.