I went inside for a moment, washing my hands and grabbing a couple of bottles of water for Violet and I. I had set her the task of sweeping out the stables, knowing it would annoy her, and that she was already worn out. Violet had done everything without a word of complaint, though I knew she wanted to. She was too proud, too stubborn to say anything aloud, so she went along with the plan that I set for her, without asking me again for an explanation. The truth was, I wasn’t doing it only in the hopes of driving Violet away. I wanted to see what she was made out of, if a city girl could handle something tough like the country. Despite myself, I was curious about her, even though I told myself not to be interested.

I made my way back to the stables to see Violet sweeping away. She exhaled, blowing a strand of hair out of her face as I handed her the water bottle. I could tell that she was irritated, and it made me feel slightly guilty before I forcibly reminded myself of exactly what Violet was doing here, how she’d been sent to manipulate me.

“How’s it going?” I asked her. She looked up at me, and I didn’t see the anger there that I expected.

“It’s fine,” she said. “Although I’m doing all the work.”

“I am being lazy right now, you’re right,” I said to her, taking a drink of water.

“Aren’t you always?” she asked. I laughed.

“Is that what you think? That I don’t work with my hands?”

“I’m sure that you do plenty with your hands, Mr. Maverick,” she said softly. I realized then that she was flirting with me, a sweet look in her eyes. I was tempted to fall into them, into her trap, but then I remembered exactly what she was doing. I pressed my lips into a thin line.

“Right,” I said. “Well, that’s the difference between you and I.”

A confused look passed over her face. “What?”

“You’ve never worked with your hands in your life, have you?” I asked. I was trying not to get angry, but her flirtatiousness, that sweet smile—it crawled under my skin and wouldn’t let go. It made me want to take her out, kiss her, hold her full body against my own. The desire to do so was what made me angry. It meant that her charms were working on me, even though I knew what her goal was. It meant I was stupid, and I hated being out of control in that way, so attracted to a woman that I couldn’t keep my head straight.

“I—I don’t—”

“Finish sweeping the stalls, please,” I said. “I’ll be back in an hour. I have to run to the office.”

“Okay,” she said slowly, her jaw tense. “I’ll see you later.”

I walked out without saying anything to her, knowing that I was being unkind, perhaps unreasonable. I told myself that it was perfectly reasonable to get angry at her for both deceiving me and leading me on with those seductive words and sensual, deep green eyes. 

I went to the office for around an hour, greeting the employees there. It felt good to see them; growing up, these people were like family to me. I spent a lot of time at the business branch learning the ins and outs of the advertising business, and though I was an artist, I felt like this was what I was meant to do. For a few moments, I was able to forget about Violet and the things she had made me feel, the scheme that she was playing me with. It came to my mind again, though, as I got back in the car to go to the ranch.

I parked the car, expecting to see everyone inside. When I went in, there was a disapproving look on my mother’s face, her arms crossed over her chest.

“What’d I do?” I asked her immediately.

“You’ve had that poor girl working out there all day,” she said.

“I just told her to finish sweeping out the stables,” I said. “I thought it would only take her a few minutes. Has she not come in yet?”

“No,” said my mother. “And you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Cooper. Go get her and bring her in.”

“I didn’t—”

“Go get her,” my mother insisted, shooing me away and out the door. I grumbled and walked across the property to the stables, where the light was on and the door was slightly open. I went inside to see that her back was to the door and she was just holding the broom, leaning against it.

“Violet,” I said to her. She swiveled around on her heel and glared at me, her eyes narrowed and filled with rage.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“It’s time for dinner,” I said. “Look, I’m sorry, I thought you’d go in—”

“Fuck you, Cooper,” she hissed.

“What?” I asked her in a dull voice. “What did you say to me?”

“You’re an asshole,” she said, her voice full of anger, eyes flashing. “I was just trying to get along with you for a few minutes. And you left me here.”

“Violet, I am trying to apologize.”

“Screw your apology,” she spat, her hands on her hips, head cocked to the side. “I don’t want to hear it. You’re disgusting.”

I felt anger rise within me at her words. I stepped closer to her, then closer. She backed up against the wall, her eyes on mine, nostrils flared in defiance. It felt like my body was being drawn to hers like a magnet, so close that I could feel her breathing, feel how ragged it was coming out of her chest.

“You want to say that one more time?” I asked her, studying her face.

“Asshole,” she said, her voice trembling on the two syllables, breathless. I leaned into her, nipping at her bottom lip, unable to help myself. I tugged on it gently, pulling it back, letting it pop out of my mouth before I sucked on it tenderly. I nipped at it again, this time letting go, pulling back to look her in the eye.

“I ought to fire you,” I said. “I ought to get rid of you right now.”

“You are not my boss,” she said in a fierce voice. I leaned in to kiss her again and this time her lips parted for me. My tongue slid along her upper lip, tracing it, tasting it. It only made me want more from her. My hands pinned her in on either side, not wanting her to move, glad that she didn’t try to pull away from me. Instead, she stared at my mouth.

“I can’t stand you,” she said. “I didn’t come here to sweep your stables.”

“You came here for an easy ride,” I said to her gruffly. “You know why you came here.”

For an instant, I thought I saw guilt pass over her face. But then it was gone, replaced by a combination of lust and cool rage.

“Tomorrow, we go to the business branch,” she said.

“No,” I said firmly.

“What?”

“No, we’re not going. We’re doing this again tomorrow. Me and you. The branch can wait.”

“No,” she spat. “Why?”

“Because you don’t have any manners, rude girl,” I said softly, leaning in, placing one last kiss on her perfect mouth.

“Dinner is ready,” I said to her. “Better get going. Early day tomorrow.”

She muttered something under her breath, her voice filled with hatred. I didn’t care in that moment. I shoved open the barn door, holding it open for her behind me. She followed me silently, and I could feel her death look on the back of my neck. In that moment, I was glad that she was as angry as I was. We went inside and she stomped to her room without further word to me, and I went to my own, running my hand through my hair in exasperation.