Page 40 of Blush
“You think wine is poison?”
“I mean, alcohol isn’tgoodfor you. That’s not exactly breaking news.”
“Everything in moderation,” Mateo said. “Except toxic chemicals.” He smiled.
“Fair enough,” Sadie said.
Was Mateo flirting with her? Or was he just extremely opinionated about soda? It was hard to say.
“So,” Mateo said. “You’re going into your senior year?”
Sadie nodded. Hmm. Asking about her age was a possible sign of interest.
“What’s your major?” Mateo asked.
“English. I’m working on my thesis this summer. Did you, um, go to college?”
“Stanford,” Mateo said.
“Really?”
“You don’t have to look so surprised.”
“I’m not surprised.” She was shocked. “It’s just, why did you come back to the vineyard?”
“I thought about moving to the city after school but decided to return to the North Fork. It seemed there was no better place than a vineyard to put my degree in sustainable development to use.”
Sadie found that incredibly hot. Mateo was flexing. Mateo wasdefinitelyflirting with her.
“Listen,” Mateo said, leaning closer, “I’d rather you not mention seeing me here today.”
Sadie found her pulse racing. Clandestine. She was into it. “Totally. I get it.”
“I don’t want your family to know I’m already interviewing.”
“Wait—what?”
“The man I was talking to. It was about a job.”
“You’re quitting?”
“I have to start looking before I get laid off. I have my father to think about. He doesn’t just work at Hollander, he’s lived there my entire life.”
Oh. The sale.
Mateo stood up. “For now, though, it’s back to work,” he said.
“Yeah, um—okay. See you back at the winery.”
He smiled. “Remember: stay off the poison.”
“Right,” she said. “No soda for me.”
Sadie watched him leave with just the subtlest sinking feeling. The entire room seemed to dim. Mateo had that kind of energy about him.
When he was out of sight, she reached for her Diet Coke.
Twenty-three
