Page 119 of Not Safe For Work

“Did you not have fun last night in la grotte?”

“Don’t you dare start speaking French right now. I need to stay focused.” She finally shuts the computer and leans down to kiss me. But it’s just a quick brush of her lips. “I’m gonna jump in the shower. Donotjoin me.”

I groan, pulling the covers back over my head. It’s going to be a long day.

“Thank you all for coming,”Liv greets the group after everyone empties out of the shuttles.

“Has anyone visited Diamond Sky before?” A few hands raise, Andie’s the highest. “That’s great. I’m Olivia Diamond, and this is where I grew up. A lot of wineries claim to be family run, but we live right there.” She points to their home on the west side of the chateau.

“I started working at Sizzl almost three years ago, and one of my favorite things about our company is our core values. One of those values is ‘treat all our customers like family.’ And inmyfamily, we like to celebrate with wine.”

She gets a few laughs with that one. I’ve never seen Liv more in her element than right now. We’re all outside, hovering around the entrance, but I could swear there’s a spotlight right on her.

“My brother Owen is one of our talented winemakers. He’s coming around with glasses for everyone to start the day. I hope you enjoy one of my favorite wines, the Lyra rosé. If you end up here after dark, you can actually see the Lyra constellation from our telescope on the top floor.”

Owen finishes handing out the glasses and comes to stand by me. My job today is to be his shadow, helping out where I can.

“Want one?” he asks. “I can open another bottle.”

“I’m good. Maybe in a bit.”

Liv continues to the group, “We’re still waiting on a few guests before we start the tour so please introduce yourselves. I’m sure Mario and Daanesh would love to meet you all as well.”

A matte black Maserati pulls into the drive and grabs my attention. Owen’s too.

“Damn,” he says, practically drooling. I might be too if I didn’t have a good guess as to who its owner might be. And when I see Liv grab another glass of rosé and head straight for it, I’m no longer guessing.

“Why do you look like that?” Owen’s voice barely comes through with the ringing in my ears.

“Hmm?”

“You look like you’re about to go on a murder spree. What’s up?”

I grunt, nodding my head toward Liv and the man who just declined her extended hand and stole a hug instead. Bastard.

“Do you know him? What’s the deal?”

I’m trying my best not to be annoyed with Liv’s brother, but he’s making it excessively difficult to read their lips. They start to walk toward us and I shove Owen behind a pillar so we can hide.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I explain the entire Tristan situation as quickly as possible. I know there’s a few key pieces I’ve left out, but it seems to get the point across because now he’s seething with me.

“What are we?—”

“Shh,” I whisper. “I want to hear what they’re saying.”

Owen follows my lead as I flex every muscle in my body, straining to hear them, like I can force some sort of superpower if I just try hard enough. Either it works, or they’ve moved closer to the other side of this giant pillar.

“I feel a bit tricked, Olivia.”

“That was never my intention. I remembered how much you said you loved our wine, and it’s not often we open the private cellar for an event like this.”

“When you said exclusive, I didn’t think we’d be joined by so many of your colleagues.”

If that asshole thinks he’s getting her alone, he’s delusional. The look Owen throws me lets me know he won’t let it happen either. I haven’t spent too much time with the brothers yet, but I’m glad to know at least this one’s as protective as I am.

“I’m sorry if you’re disappointed, but I hope you stay. I have a really exciting tour planned.”

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