marco
She didn’t believe me.
As we walked back to the car, the words that had come spewing out of my mouth earlier were still hanging in the air, and I knew two things for certain.
First, there was something about Rae that was different. She was hot, no doubt about it. But I’d dated pretty women before. There was something else. A dichotomy to her that didn’t make sense. She was bold, quitting her job to come here. Yet hesitant when it came to Jerry. She walked with a sway to her hips that could only come from an inner confidence that made her even more attractive. And yet she was self-conscious about her body. She sparred with me, trading barbs all night, the cutting edge of a lawyer inside her. But at the same time, admitted to feeling defeated after that asshole’s visit.
I wanted to know more. To peel back the layers and understand Rae better.
Unfortunately, the other thing I knew was that she thought I was full of shit. Honestly, I didn’t blame her. Nothing about my past would make a smart woman like Rae think otherwise.
“There’s a gazebo,” I said, not having planned it, but knowing Rae would think I had, “down there by the lake.”
She sighed.
“I made a promise and won’t break it. No touching.”
“This is starting to feel an awful lot like a date, Marco,” she said in a tone that reminded me of my mother telling me to take the many cups out of my room and ‘please locate the kitchen sink’ when I emerged.
“Because it is,” I said, already veering off the path toward the parking lot. Luckily, she followed.
“No, it’s not.”
“Then what is it?” I asked, just catching her shiver as I looked back.
“Two colleagues sharing a meal.”
“Colleagues,” I repeated as we came upon the small, and thankfully empty, gazebo positioned not far from the lake’s bank. If it were daytime, Rae would see benches scattered throughout the property. A real slice of lakeside paradise that could help Freddie double, maybe even triple, his current profits.
“So do colleagues feed each other?” I asked as we sat. Or more precisely, as Rae sat. Before she could answer, I said, “Stay there. I’ll be right back.”
Running back up the path to the car, I prayed Rae wouldn’t follow me back. Surprisingly, she was still there, looking out at the lake, when I returned with my sweatshirt. Handing it to her, I sat. Probably too close given my promise not to touch her.
“Thanks,” she said, putting it on.
“Looks good on you.” A potato sack would look good on Rae.
“So...” She was clearly hesitant with me so close. I knew I should move. But I wouldn’t. Unless she asked. “You said your dad still isn’t completely sold on the brewery? Even though it’s doing so well.”
Before we left dinner, we’d been talking about the brewery which, somehow, always made its way back to a discussion about my father.
“I don’t know why it matters so much. It’s doing great. Cos is thrilled. Neo and Min couldn’t be happier with the opening and its reception so far. My mother has come around.”
“But your dad hasn’t?”
I shrugged. “In a way, I guess. He’s learned to let go of the vineyard, the day-to-day business of the wineries. But he still has a lot to say about the brewery.”
“You don’t think he trusts you to run it?”
That was an easy one. “No. I don’t.”
“Have you given him a reason to?”
I looked at her. Rae wasn't being a smart ass. If Min had said that, I’d have immediately gone after her. “I’ve done everything right. Went to college. Came back to work for Grado. I hardly ever take a day off, but never complain. I love my job. And my family. Most of the time,” I added.
“I’ve seen you with them, Marco. You’re different than you are...now.”
“Maybe.”