Chapter 10
Jakob
There's a slight shiver to her as I hand off a cup of tea to her and sink into the chair opposite hers.
"Thank you," she whispers as her pale pink mouth clasps around the lip of the cup. Why I find that simple act erotic is beyond me. I think I may be losing my mind.
But how can a man stay sane when this maddening, beautiful, little woman is sitting in front of him? There she is, with my flannel shirt wrapped around her, my jogging pants swallowing up her legs, damp ringlets falling down her back, face now bare of the makeup that was dripping off her smooth skin when she walked in completely drenched from the rain.
Of all the people that could have shown up for this job interview, it had to be Little Miss Sunshine.
I can't even keep my mind in check around her. How am I supposed to have her in my house every day, living with me, taking care of my grandmother?
Her leg bounces non-stop and she looks downright uncomfortable. But I know she’s not intimidated by me. That much has been clear since the morning that she opened Grace’s front door. Anyway, it’s not my job to figure out what’s wrong with her. I just need to put an end to this interview and get her out of here before I make a stupid decision.
Like giving her this job.
I clear my throat as my eyes settle on her. "You know I can't hire you, right?"
She narrows her eyes, defiantly. "Why?"
"You were late to the interview," I state matter-of-factly. "That really doesn't set a good precedent. I need to know that the person who will be taking care of my grandmother will take her job seriously."
She squirms about in the vintage armchair she's sitting in. "I will take the job seriously. I promise. I just had a hard time getting here. That's all. I got lost a bunch of times. Then it started raining. And –"
"I'm sorry, Lily. I have a no tolerance policy for tardiness. It's not personal. It's just the way I run things around here." But even as I say it, I feel like the world's biggest asshole.
Now, her thigh-twitching has intensified. She twists her hands around in her lap. It's gotten to the point where it's distracting.
“What the hell is your problem?” I snap, gesturing to her bouncing knee.
She gives me a sheepish grin, her eyes full of amusement. "I really need to pee," she whispers. Then she sucks in her bottom lip, biting back her smile.
I press my eyes closed and take a moment to breathe. This girl...
"Bathroom is straight down the hall. First door on your right." I point a thumb over my shoulder.
She gets up and scurries down the hallway like her bladder is about to give way. And I find myself smiling. The girl is silly and charming in this unintentional way. I can't allow her to keep getting under my skin and throwing off my defences.
No.
I'm not hiring her.
I hear a horrendous retching sound in the distance. Is she vomiting? Nah, can’t be. I must be imagining things.
When she hurries back into the room a few minutes later, I'm standing by the front door, watching the rain batter the cucumber fields I worked on this morning. Her sweet, sweet smell trails in behind her.
"I’ll drive you back to Grace's house," I tell her.
Her eyebrows pinch together. "What about the interview?"
I scrub my fingers along my beard. "I told you –- I can't hire you. You were late."
Her face screws up like she thinks I'm crazy. "But I had good reasons," she protests.
"I'm sorry," I say as I hold the door open for her.
She pins me with the most hateful stare I've ever seen. "You're serious?"
I nod wordlessly.
After another long moment of glaring, she snatches her purse and the plastic bag of wet clothes stashed at the foot of the chair where she was sitting. She storms past me, throwing another caustic look my way. "You are unbelievable," she mutters.
My heart twists around in my chest as I lead the way to my truck, sheltered under the slanted roof extending from the farmhouse. I open the door and she climbs in, making sure to fold her arms across her chest and pout like an angry child. I just want to pinch that jutted-out lip between my fingers.
She's quiet as I drive her across town, her anger and her sweet scent filling the cabin of the truck. She doesn't look at me. Her eyes stay glued to the road as the windshield wipers fling water this way and that.
I'm probably being too hard on her. I should probably give her a chance. That's what Mini would say. But what does Mini know about managing workers? She doesn’t understand that people interpret your kindness for weakness and then get comfortable walking all over you. I have to stay tough if I'm going to remain in control.
The rain has let up by the time I guide the truck to the curb just outside of Grace's house. Lily's eyes fall to her lap where she holds her wet outfit and her purse. "Thanks for the lift," she says quietly.
"You're welcome," I say, determined to hold onto my resolve.
"And thanks for loaning me these dry clothes," she pinches the hem of my shirt that she's wearing. I like seeing her in it. I wouldn't mind seeing her in that shirt on a Sunday morning, standing at the stove, cooking me eggs and ham for breakfast. I quickly push the thought away. Not gonna happen, buddy. "I'll wash it and get it back to you later this week." A single tear courses down her cheek.
Ah, seriously? Tears?
"Lily..."
She waves me off. "No, no. I'm sorry. Really. I'm an emotional disaster these days." She wears a whisper of a smile even through her tears.
It yanks on my heartstrings.
I grunt as my walls come tumbling down. "Okay, okay," I grouse. "I'll hire you."
Her head snaps to me and a hopeful expression dances in her eyes. "You'll hire me?"
"Yes." I can't help but smile at the jubilation on her face. "I'll hire you."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She hurls her body across the console and wraps her arms around my neck.
Gooseflesh goes scattering across my skin as her warm sugary scent spills into my lungs. Blood instantly rushes to my cock and my arms wrap themselves around her back.
This girl has me going soft.
"Okay. Enough," I laugh as I brace her by the shoulders and push her back.
"Sorry," she grins, composing herself.
I adopt a stern face. "But you have to be on time."
She nods enthusiastically. "I will. I promise."
I gesture to the bag of clothes sitting in her lap. "And those Kim Kardashian outfits aren't gonna cut it out there on the farm."
Her eyebrows rise up as she lowers her head and snickers into her palm.
"What's so funny?"
"I'm just surprised you know who Kim Kardashian is."
I blow out a breath. "Lily – this is serious." She straightens up immediately and she purses her lips to keep from smiling. "Your main job will be entertaining my grandmother," I continue, "but every now and then, I'll need a hand with farm-related work. Harvesting, collecting eggs, watering plants."
"Understood," she says excitedly. "When do I start?"
"Tomorrow. Seven a.m., sharp."
"I'll be there at six forty-five. I don't care if I have to start walking tonight."
"And it's a live-in position. So you'll be staying with me – with us – on the farm six days a week. You'll leave on Saturday night and be back first thing on Monday morning."
She nods. "Sure thing."
Our eyes hold for a while. There's fire in the hollow of my stomach. I wonder if she feels that, too.
"Thank you, Jakob. Really."
I just nod because there's a knot in my throat. I can't believe I just hired the woman who's putting up one hell of a battle against my defences without even intending to.
With that, she climbs out of my truck and practically skips up the walkway. When she gets to the trashcan on the side of the house, she makes a big show of lifting the cover and tossing her soiled clothes inside.
The message is loud and clear. No more Kim Kardashian outfits.
I shake my head as I fire up the engine and pull away from this crazy, beautiful woman.