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“You weren’t supposed to stay here long enough for them to ask.” The words came out without warning.
“I never said how long I was staying.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I happen to like it here.”
I shook my head and went to the kitchen to wash my hands.
She fucking followed.
“What’s your problem? It’s not a huge deal.”
“Oh, it is to them. They’ve been blowing up my phone.Tammy already told me not to run you off. Hugh made a joke about how I’ve never had a woman in my house in my life.”
“I could see that,” she said flatly. “Your attitude runs them off.”
The words turned up the heat on my already flaming temper. “I would like it if my attitude would work on you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re trying your best, aren’t you?”
“Honestly? Yes. The farm was doing fine before you showed up. I don’t need you crawling around trying to change things when I’ve run this place by my damn self for over a decade.”
“And yet the main thing that people know it for isn’t growing outside. This is a berry farm, Cain. There aren’t any berries.”
“Then it should have been managed better by itsowner.”I gave her a pointed look.
“For a man who doesn’t want me here, you sure have a lot of complaints about how the farm was run. Sounds like you have things you want to change too.”
There was a nugget of truth to that, which only pissed me off more.
“So, what’s your deal?” she asked. “Tell me, and I can figure it out.”
“I don’t need a spoiled city girl who’s never had to work a day in herlifeto figure it out,” I snapped. “I’ll do what I’ve always done. Run this while you do whatever the fuck you want to.”
“Excuse me?” Her voice was low and she stepped forward. Most of the time I’d seen Mollie smiling, but there was no lick of joy on her face now.
Good. Maybe she finally knew how I felt.
“You heard me.”
“No, say it again. And then explain it.”
“You’re a spoiled city girl.” Now, I stepped forward. “Theluxury car. The fancy clothes. They all tell me you’ve lived a pretty privileged life back in the city. You haven’t had to guess if you would be fed or not. Or work your ass off to impress the one person who would take a chance on you. I know your type, Mollie. And you don’t belong here.”
I expected tears or for her to run off and hide. What I didn’t expect was for her to laugh. “You don’t know a thing about me, Cain. So let’s get one thing straight. I refuse to be talked down to by another man. You don’t have to like me. Or even tolerate me. But you do have to respect me.”
“Or what? You’ll fire me? Good luck doing this on your own.”
Her lips pursed. I had her there. “You know, all I wanna do is follow in my grandfather’s footsteps. Papa Bennie took a chance on you a long time ago. But you’re making it impossible for me to do the same.”
Those words hurt. It looked like we had both scored a shot. “So then fire me, princess.”
“Oh, I can do a lot worse than fire you.” A slow smile spread on her face. “I know how much I piss you off, so it’s time I see exactly what you do all day.”
“What?”
“I’m gonna follow your every move. I’m gonna learn what you do. And then, if your attitude isn’t in check, then Iwilltake it over.”
Fuck.“And what if I don’t let you?”
“It’smyfarm, Cain. You should learn that you can’t tell me what to do.”