Squib Kick

The soft glow of the chandelier in Jeremy's chateau kitchen cast long, warm shadows on the antique oak table where they sat, their half-eaten dinner growing cold. The grandeur of the place was a stark contrast to the simple intimacy of their conversation. Jeremy had already presented his proposition: a week away from the city, up in his mountain ranch, branding cattle under the wide-open skies. Alexandra, a spirited insurance saleswoman and the defensive captain of her football team, found the offer enticing, but her commitments weighed heavy on her mind.

Jeremy watched her, reading the worry etched on her face, the slight furrowing of her brows. He admired her sense of responsibility towards her job and her team, but he also knew the need for respite. They both needed it. And so, an idea sparked in his mind, a win-win solution that might just tip the scales in his favor.

" Alex, " he began, his voice soft yet steady, " What if you could mix business with pleasure?