Wine or Lose: A Steamy, Small Town, Office Rivals to Lovers Romance by Amanda Chaperon

Author:Amanda Chaperon [Chaperon, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” my dad asked.

“I said…the Tigers just called. One of their game hosts tried Delatou & Danvers over Memorial Day weekend and was just raving about it to everyone I guess. One of the higher-ups in their food and beverage department heard about it and requested samples. He just called to offer us an exclusive contract as the official canned cocktail of the team!”

I still couldn’t quite believe it. Even saying the words out loud, and the contract sitting in my email inbox, didn’t feel real. We’d been on the market for a whole twenty days, and we were already signing exclusive deals with one of the oldest franchises in professional baseball.

I leaned back in my chair and pinched myself.

Yep, definitely awake.

“Mar…” my dad trailed off. “I don’t know what to say.”

“How about…congratulations?”

“Of course! Congratulations, sweets. I’m so damn proud of you, and Liam. I knew you could do it.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” I said, smiling wide. There was truly nothing better in the world to me than hearing my father tell me he was proud of me.

And damn, it felt nice to accomplish something big—my first major deal as CEO.

Before I even had a moment to consider what Cal would think of this, the man himself knocked on my open office door.

I held up my finger and said to my dad, “Sorry, Daddy. I’ve got a meeting to head into, but I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Of course, kiddo. I love you, and your mother and I are so damn proud.”

“I love you too.”

When I hung up, Cal said, “Got a sec?”

Word traveled way too fast around here, and I was going to need to have a frank conversation with Cindy about keeping her mouth shut sooner rather than later.

“I guess,” I said with a sigh, nearly protesting when he shut the door behind him.

But I couldn’t let him see how he affected me. It wasn’t his fault the bolt clicking closed was like a gunshot, triggering the memories of our time together here.

Then again, maybe that was his fault.

It had been two weeks since I’d cut ties at Owen’s cabin, and being in this office day in and day out was a trust test to my resolve. Every time I sat in this chair—which was all day long—I vividly remembered riding him atop it.

How he walked me outside and kissed my forehead after.

I gave in to an involuntary shiver, and the corner of his mouth twitched knowingly.

I needed a new fucking chair—actually, an entirely new office would be best.

“I heard about the Tigers’ partnership,” he said, stuffing his hands deep into the pocket of his slacks and leaning against the armrest of my couch. “Congrats. That’s…a big deal.”

“It is, thank you.”

He stared at me, as though willing me to elaborate, but honestly, I had nothing else to say. Cal’s praise would always come under duress, with conditions attached, and I wasn’t willing to make an emotional investment in him when he couldn’t make a professional one in me.

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