Page 116 of Not Safe For Work

I’m already in Sonoma. Spending the night with my family. I hope you’re excited for tomorrow, though. I can confirm we’ll be barrel tasting a few upcoming vintages

“Just in case he still needed motivation,” I say.

Tristan Cross:

You and a wine thief sounds like quite the fantasy

Ugh. Does he have to make everything sexual?

“What’s he talking about?” Gavin asks.

“Oh. A wine thief. It’s a tool we use to pull wine out of the barrel. Like a pretty glass turkey baster…kind of. It’s really fun to use, actually. I’ll show you when we get back.”

“Damnit,” he swears under his breath. “Now I’m thinking the same thing as that asshole.”

I laugh and type back to Tristan, wanting to end this conversation.

Me:

See you at eleven!

“Let’s head back,” I say, just before I’m interrupted by my phoneagain.

Andie Oh:

Hey love bug! Daanesh wants to come with us tomorrow. He wanted me to check with you first though since I know you’re planning a meal and everything

Me:

Of course he can come. Does he usually attend stuff like this though?

“I swear I didn’t say anything to him. Other than I was coming,” Gavin says, his hands up in surrender.

Andie Oh:

Mario invited him. I don’t know if he’s a secret wine lover or what, but he seems to have really high hopes for this

Me:

Honestly, I still can’t believe Mario knows my name

“Why would you say that?” Gavin asks. “Our office isn’t that big.”

“I don’t know. Mario just seems like the perfect executive. He’s always getting written up in blogs on LinkedIn. Why would he have time for the little people like me?”

“Liv, you’ve been the highest producer on the global sales development team for a year now. You helped source the two largest deals we’ve ever closed as a company. And you took it upon yourself to plan this event, which is not only bringing three huge prospects, but several of our largest clients to help with retention. If Mario didn’t know your name by now, he would actually be a shit executive.”

My cheeks burn at so many consecutive complements.Don’t be ridiculous. That’s nothing. The words sit on my tongue, burning to be let out. I swallow them down along with their bitter taste.

And I find some new ones.

“You’re right,” I say. “I’m killing it. Plus, who could forget the name Olivia Diamond?”

“Exactly.” He kisses my nose and my toes curl into the soft grass beneath us.

“Can I drive home?” I ask, battling my eyelashes. The sun is just starting to set, casting a blanket of gold over all the rolling hills. The perfect time for a joyride.

“Liv, you still don’t have your license. I should never have let you drive in the first place.”

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