Page 32 of Rough Around the Hedges

There was a knock on the door, and Bruce stepped in a moment later with a small tray. He put a cup of coffee on theside table next to me and set a cup of tea down in front of Oliver before disappearing as quickly and quietly as he’d entered.

I waited for a moment after the door closed before saying, “The only way toresolvethis if you withdraw your closure notice and keep the allotments open.”

“No can do. The land is too valuable for you all to merely grow a few vegetables on,” Oliver replied, holding his hand out.

Merely grow a few vegetables?Clearly, he didn’t appreciate any food on his plate if he was so dismissive of the growing process.

God, I hated him a little more every time he opened his mouth.

I glanced at his outstretched hand before meeting his steely blue gaze. “What, do you want me to smack your hand with my folder for your ignorant comment? ’Cause that’s what I wanna do.”

“Pass over the documentation you have showing that I’m in breach of contract. I have no time for this weird brand of flirting we’re engaging in.”

“Flirting with you is so far down on my to-do list that I may get to it in the afterlife.” I picked the file up from my thighs and passed it over, giving his palm a solidthwackwith it for good measure.

“I would have thought that flirting with me was already crossed off.”

“Excuse me,youflirted with me. I don’t flirt.”

Oliver stared at me. “I distinctly remember you flirting with me.”

“Look at me.” I motioned to my face and body. “Do I look like I need to flirt to get attention?”

“Ah, you’re right. Your stunningly co-operative personality is all you need to charm a man.”

“Well, you’d know that better than most.”

“Miss Matthews, has anyone told you how utterly exhausting you are?” Oliver slid his glasses back onto his face and opened the file.

“Yes, actually. My mother tells me daily. It’s like her morning greeting for me at this point.”

He looked over the top of the file at me. “Do you still live with your parents?”

As if Sherlock Holmes over there didn’t already know the answer to that since he’d had his assistant go on a shitty little sleuthing mission. Sucked for him, though—there wasn’t anything in this town that I didn’t know.

Or my mother didn’t know.

Same thing.

I sniffed. “In this economy? You’re damn right I live with my parents. Have you seen the price of rent?”

“Yes. I charge it.”

“Of course you do.” I smiled tightly.

“You seem displeased.”

“Get used to it. I don’t foresee ever being pleased to be in your company.”

“That’s quite all right. I pleased you enough the first time we met.” He flipped through the pages without his expression changing in the slightest.

This smarmy bastard.

Whatever had possessed me to sleep with him?

The alcohol, probably.

Note to future Rose: don’t drink in front of this man. Itwilllead to bad decisions.

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