Chapter Three
Charlotte
The audacity of that man.
The absolutely unbelievable gall of him.
The… I didn’t even know what. I’d run out of words to describe how he’d made me feel.
Angry, appalled, embarrassed… horny.
No. Not that last one. Never
And to think I’d driven over there hoping to get to know him better. Hoping I might walk away with a date, even. Now I didn’t want to lay eyes on him ever again.
I’d driven home in a rage yesterday afternoon and immediately refunded his deposit, as promised, even though I really couldn’t afford to—but another month of eating ramen and peanut butter and jelly was a small price to pay.
Then I stewed all night long, not bothering to call my friends because I knew what they’d say. While I loved them all dearly, they seemed far too willing to bring the fantasies we read about and discussed during book club meetings into real life.
Sure, it was hot to read about dominant men who punished their women when they misbehaved, but actually having a man think he had a right to do that to me? And at a business meeting, no less?
No freaking way was that happening. I didn’t care how hot he was or how much his voice made my lady parts tingle. I would not be bending over and baring my ass for Tobin Daniels.
The doorbell ringing drew me out of my fuming, and without thinking, I stomped to the front door and threw it open, expecting one of the book club ladies to be standing there. Probably Mellie or Grace since I hadn’t responded to any of their texts asking me how things went with the sexy farmer yesterday.
Unfortunately, that’s not what I found on my front porch. Instead, there was two hundred pounds of man who looked hotter than he deserved for having such a crappy attitude toward women.
“What are you doing here?” I sneered. The sight of him refueled my simmering rage, and I fought the urge to slam the door in his face. The urge lost… but just barely.
Tobin took a deep breath and let it out before he spoke. “I came to apologize, Ms. Winslow. I was out of line yesterday. It was completely inappropriate of me to make assumptions about… well, about what I assumed.”
His obvious discomfort with apologizing and spelling out what he did gave me a delightful shot of pleasure, which I didn’t attempt to hide.
“Was that apology painful for you, Mr. Daniels?” I asked, unable to resist poking him a bit. “Did the words burn your lips on the way out?”
His eye twitched, but he controlled his reaction and ignored my question. “I’d like to ask that you continue to work with me on the farm’s marketing campaign. I promise to keep our relationship strictly professional.”
I ignored the twinge of disappointment at his promise and reminded myself that I didn’t want a man who demanded he be in charge. Instead, I studied him and considered his offer. He appeared earnest enough, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to subject myself to working with him when I knew we were incompatible. The reality of the situation sucked, and it would be tortuous seeing him and talking to him with no hope of it becoming more.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Mr. Daniels. I’m still quite upset about what happened yesterday. I went to your farm for a business meeting and ended up being threatened with assault. I’m sure you can understand my reluctance to put myself in that position again.”
His eyes flared at my description of the events. I didn’t know why I was being dramatic and pushing his buttons. This wasn’t like me. I was the quiet and shy one. I was the one who wanted to keep fiction and reality separate. Why was I intentionally annoying him?
“I didn’t threaten you, Charlotte, and you were rude and judgmental,” he replied, obviously struggling to remain calm. He took a deep breath and let it out. “But I admit I had no right to try to punish you for your behavior. That’s what I’m here to apologize for. This town, and my family, have a history of living in a traditional way, and I let it bleed into our professional relationship. It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right that I was rude and judgmental, and now I’m being antagonistic,” I agreed and then sighed. “I’m sorry for my attitude and actions, but I just don’t think this will work. It’s unfortunate because I had a lot of great ideas for the farm, but I’m not sure I can get over yesterday.”
His face contorted in pain before he closed his eyes and let out another breath.
“Charlotte, please, I’m begging you. I loved your ideas and you’re the only one I want to work with. I don’t want some city slicker who doesn’t understand anything about Walker’s Grove thinking he knows how to grow my business,” he said.
I didn’t remind him that only a few years ago I was just a city slicker myself, but living in Walker’s Grove had definitely changed me, and I knew what he meant. I still wasn’t sure about his proposition.
“Mr. Daniels, I appreciate that you liked my ideas, but I just don’t know if I’m comfortable around you.” As I spoke the words, I knew they weren’t exactly true. Even though the man had tried to spank me yesterday, I wasn’t afraid of him. I knew he wouldn’t really assault me, physically at least. I was more afraid of him wiggling under my defenses if I spent time around him, and I wasn’t about to fall for him and agree to the type of relationship my friend Mellie had with her boyfriend.
He looked down at the ground for a long minute and sighed before he focused on my face again.
“I would really appreciate it if you would take some time to think it over before you say no. I know I screwed things up yesterday and I’m sorry. Please reconsider and work with me again. You understand what I’m hoping to accomplish with the farm and with your help, I know we can do it.”
He looked so earnest, so apologetic, and so contrite that I found myself giving in.
“I’ll think about it and let you know tomorrow, Mr. Daniels,” I said with a nod. “If you’ll excuse me, I have plans.” Not really, but I’d find something to do with myself once he left.
He nodded and stepped back.
“Thank you, Charlotte. I look forward to hearing from you.”
I gave him a tight smile and closed the door before he’d turned to walk away—so basically right in his far too handsome face.
A few hours later, Mellie, Grace, and I were tucked into a corner booth at our favorite brunch spot in Ellicottville, a swanky ski village about twenty minutes away from Walker’s Grove. Wealthy people from Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and even Toronto owned second homes here, so, of course, they needed high-end shops and restaurants to spend their money. Which was a boon to locals who rushed to fill those needs. Mellie owned a lingerie store called Sweet and Sassy that did very well for her, primarily off sales to tourists and vacationers.
We’d just settled in and started looking at the specials when our waiter approached the table.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” he said with a grin that surely earned him healthy tips. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be working on us today. “How’s everyone doing today?”
“Good, thank you,” Mellie replied, polite as always. Her family was one of the wealthy vacationers who’d come to Ellicottville to ski when she was a child, and she’d fallen in love with the place.
“We’re doing great,” Grace said, with a look that had me rolling my eyes. Grace was constantly on the hunt for a man, but she always ended up with duds. “What’s your name, handsome?”
He leaned against the side of the booth and crossed one ankle over the other, looking like he was settling in, but before he could speak, I decided I wasn’t dealing with this today.
“His name is Tony, Grace. It says it right there on his nametag,” I said, earning a huff from my friend. “I’m really thirsty today, Tony, so I’d like a pitcher of mimosas please.”
He stared at me for a moment, either surprised at my order or at my cutting off his flirting, but then straightened and nodded.
“Of course. A pitcher of mimosas for the table.”
“No, no, no, Tony. That pitcher is for me. These other two need to order for themselves,” I jerked my head towards Grace and Mellie and continued studying the menu.
“I’ll have a Bloody Mary, please, Tony,” Grace said in a syrupy tone that made me want to pluck my eyeballs out. I loved her, but the woman needed to give it a rest sometimes.
“I’ll just have a water, please, since it appears I’ll be driving everyone home later,” Mellie said, making me look up at her to see if she was mad.
“I’m sorry. I won’t drink the whole thing,” I promised. “You can have one, too.”
She laughed and shook her head. “It’s fine, Charlie. I don’t mind. Now tell us what happened with Farmer Tobin. I’m guessing it wasn’t good.”
Grace leaned forward, nodding. “I can’t believe you didn’t respond to any of our texts! We need the details!”
“I’m not saying anything until I get at least one drink in me,” I replied firmly. “Decide what you want so we can order when he gets back.”
My friends looked at me and then at each other before following my commands. Normally I wasn’t so bossy. Normally I was quiet and stayed in the background. But apparently that all went out the window after dealing with an arrogant man.
The waiter returned with our drinks, took our order, and left without trying to make any more small talk, thank goodness. I took a long gulp of my mimosa and set down the glass, trying to gather my thoughts to tell the story. It was just so unbelievable that I didn’t know where to begin.
“Well,” Grace prodded. “What the hell happened, Charlie?”