Page 33 of Rough Around the Hedges

“I’m disappointed, Rose. I thought you’d have a smart comeback for that one.” He put down the file and looked over at me. “Or are you too busy thinking about that night?”

“I was keeping my thoughts to myself, lest I insult your honour, my good sir.”

“That’s the nicest way anyone has ever told me that I’m terrible in bed.”

“Make of it what you will.”

“Then I’ll ignore it. We both know you’re lying.” He slid one sheet of paper to the side, turning his attention back to what I’d handed him. “But if you’ve forgotten how good it was, we can always have a do-over. My offer to bring a bed in here still stands.”

“I’d rather sleep with George.”

“Who’s George?”

“You don’t need to know.” I waved my hand dismissively. “Do you realise we’re wasting time?”

Oliver’s lips pulled up to one side. “What do you mean? We’re getting to know each other.”

“That’s exactly what I was referring to.”

“Ouch. How can you be so cruel after our magical night together?”

Please. The only thing magical about that night was how quickly I disappeared.

Well… maybe.

I stared at him flatly. “Never mind legal action over your breach of contract; I’m about to sue you for sexual harassment.”

He chuckled and held up one of the sheets. “I need to have my lawyer look this over before I confirm or agree to anything with you, but it does appear that my closure notice is void. However, operate on the two-month notice for now, and—”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Absolutely not,” I repeated. “What I handed you is a copy of the most recent contract, signed eighteen months before the late duke passed away. I will operate based on the notice period in the contract I know to be correct, not the one you’d like me to abide by just because it makes your life easier. And I will only acknowledge it once the correct notice has been issued.”

Oliver pursed his lips. “But the contract I have doesn’t match what you have, and that contract—”

“Is wrong.” I got to my feet and met his gaze, annoyance fizzling in the pit of my belly at his audacity. “I don’t know what kind of impression you have of me after your lackey was snooping around trying to dig up dirt on my life, but I’m telling you now that I’m not the pushover you seem to think I am, given how you’re trying to convince me to accept an illegal closure notice.”

Oliver said nothing, but his jaw tightened, almost as if he was pissed that I was calling him out.

“I wasn’t joking when I told your errand boy that I’d take legal action if you didn’t meet me. I came here as a courtesy to let you know about this to avoid unnecessary stress for both parties, but clearly, I shouldn’t bother offering you my goodwill in the future.” I picked up my backpack and pulled one strap over my shoulder. “You’re not a stupid man, Mr de Havilland, so don’t act like one.” I reached over and tapped the folder. “I’ll leave thatwith you and await delivery of the correct closure notice. Good day, sir.”

I walked over to the door and was just about to open it when he said, “Are you often rude to people you work with, Miss Matthews? From what I’ve heard about you, I expected a little respect.”

I paused, clutching the door handle, and looked over my shoulder. “In that case, I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you. But I have to ask, what right do you have to my respect? Should I give it to you freely because you’re the duke? Or because we’ve slept together?” I raised my eyebrows. “You might be used to people respecting you because of your position and bowing down to you, but you’re sorely mistaken if you think I give two shits about who you are. I will never respect someone who uses his position of authority to investigate me behind my back in order to gain the upper hand over me.”

He sighed and dropped his head forwards, removing his glasses once more. He rubbed his hand across his forehead before peering at me through his fingers. “It wasn’t to gain the upper hand.”

“But you have it, no? You know vastly more information about me and my life than I do about you and yours. Regardless, I don’t care for your reasoning. I never intended on seeing you again after that night, and my feelings haven’t changed. I have no desire to have any kind of relationship with you beyond what I absolutely must as the committee chairman,” I said, hauling my backpack strap back up on my shoulder. “Even if I did, it would have died the moment you walked onto my allotment and told me you were destroying the place I love more than anything without a second thought.”

“I’m a businessman and lord of this estate, Miss Matthews. There’s a place for sentimentality, and my bank account is notone of them.” He dropped his hand and stared at me intently. “From my perspective, the allotment site is a business asset, and it’s one that is steadily losing the Hanbury estate money. The feelings of those who rent that space from me do not factor into my decisions.”

“That’s fine. Your feelings don’t factor into my decisions, either.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” I pulled open the door and glanced back at him one more time. “And if your little dossier on me is correct, you’d be wise to be very, very afraid.”

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