Risking the Vine (Romancing the Vine Book 1) by Gemma Brocato Page A
Authors: Gemma Brocato
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breeze from the Gulf.”
“I do like this time of year in this region. It seems the days are brighter and sunnier. Although we still get plenty of rain.”
Well, this was awkward. He’d brought up the weather like they were on a bad date and didn’t have anything better to talk about. He opted to change the subject. “Tell me more about what you do for MedServices. I might be able to help you with a job search. I’m a big dog in my company.”
“Big dog, eh?” Jac shot him a mirth-filled glance as she climbed into the cart. She took a moment to get settled before answering. “I investigate billing and insurance filing errors. I have to know billing codes and be familiar with the biggest insurers’ policies on write-offs and payment procedures. It’s a lot to keep straight.”
The cart beeped as he backed from its stone parking block. “You know, there is a growing need for patient insurance advocates. We have a small two-person department whose only job is to help patients decipher their bills. In many cases, they find errors in favor of the insured. I’m always happy to sign off refunds in those cases.”
He wasn’t kidding. The satisfaction he received from settling claims where the patient had been overcharged was second to no other business pleasure. His head bobbed back as he pressed the accelerator. “We plan to expand the advocate staff quite a bit, as our patient base grows.”
Jac raised her eyebrows. “That’s awesome. Usually a company resists providing refunds. Or at the very least, makes the patient jump tall buildings to prove they’re owed money. That’s why I’m thinking about getting out of the business altogether. It’s their money and MedServices tries too hard to keep it from them. The practice makes me uncomfortable.”
“So, back to farming?” Luke questioned. He maneuvered around a corner on the cart path leading to the bottom of the hill. An oversized green pole building gleamed in the dappled morning sunlight filtering through the leaves of the oak trees next to it. With the vineyard rolling away behind the building, the scene itself was picture worthy.
Next to him, Jac shrugged. “I really don’t know much about agriculture. I can’t go into a new venture without being informed. I’ll either stay put at my job while I take classes and learn everything I can, or . . .” She trailed off and shrugged again.
When he leaned forward to look at her face, her eyes were shrouded in doubt.
“Hey, things will work out. Between my connections and Bella’s we could find you a new job, once you decide that’s what you want.”
“I haven’t even told Bella this latest news yet,” Jac admitted. “But she’s hooked up with a lot of other HR types and keeps mentioning positions to me. I know she’s always looking for me. For which I am very grateful. Just as I appreciate your willingness to help. It’s really nice of you.”
Luke dropped his hand from the steering wheel onto her thigh and gave it a squeeze. His palm heated with the contact. He’d meant it to be reassuring and friendly, but the jolt of lust spearing straight to his groin proved otherwise. He quickly visualized the latest budget spreadsheet to fight back his rising erection. Jac’s lips parted and over the crunching of gravel under the tires, he swore he heard her quiet gasp.
He pulled into the parking area next to the other carts, sad the interlude was over. Braking to a stop, he reached for the ignition switch. Pressed against the steering wheel, he grinned over his shoulder in time to catch her studying his ass. Color flared on her cheeks. She looked away, but not before she cast another quick glance at his crotch.
His cock hardened against the zipper on his jeans. God, they were a team.
“Ready to go make some art?” he asked.
She nodded. “As we were driving down the hill, did you notice how pretty the scene was? I wonder if we could recreate the barn somehow.”
“Damn! I was thinking the
“I do like this time of year in this region. It seems the days are brighter and sunnier. Although we still get plenty of rain.”
Well, this was awkward. He’d brought up the weather like they were on a bad date and didn’t have anything better to talk about. He opted to change the subject. “Tell me more about what you do for MedServices. I might be able to help you with a job search. I’m a big dog in my company.”
“Big dog, eh?” Jac shot him a mirth-filled glance as she climbed into the cart. She took a moment to get settled before answering. “I investigate billing and insurance filing errors. I have to know billing codes and be familiar with the biggest insurers’ policies on write-offs and payment procedures. It’s a lot to keep straight.”
The cart beeped as he backed from its stone parking block. “You know, there is a growing need for patient insurance advocates. We have a small two-person department whose only job is to help patients decipher their bills. In many cases, they find errors in favor of the insured. I’m always happy to sign off refunds in those cases.”
He wasn’t kidding. The satisfaction he received from settling claims where the patient had been overcharged was second to no other business pleasure. His head bobbed back as he pressed the accelerator. “We plan to expand the advocate staff quite a bit, as our patient base grows.”
Jac raised her eyebrows. “That’s awesome. Usually a company resists providing refunds. Or at the very least, makes the patient jump tall buildings to prove they’re owed money. That’s why I’m thinking about getting out of the business altogether. It’s their money and MedServices tries too hard to keep it from them. The practice makes me uncomfortable.”
“So, back to farming?” Luke questioned. He maneuvered around a corner on the cart path leading to the bottom of the hill. An oversized green pole building gleamed in the dappled morning sunlight filtering through the leaves of the oak trees next to it. With the vineyard rolling away behind the building, the scene itself was picture worthy.
Next to him, Jac shrugged. “I really don’t know much about agriculture. I can’t go into a new venture without being informed. I’ll either stay put at my job while I take classes and learn everything I can, or . . .” She trailed off and shrugged again.
When he leaned forward to look at her face, her eyes were shrouded in doubt.
“Hey, things will work out. Between my connections and Bella’s we could find you a new job, once you decide that’s what you want.”
“I haven’t even told Bella this latest news yet,” Jac admitted. “But she’s hooked up with a lot of other HR types and keeps mentioning positions to me. I know she’s always looking for me. For which I am very grateful. Just as I appreciate your willingness to help. It’s really nice of you.”
Luke dropped his hand from the steering wheel onto her thigh and gave it a squeeze. His palm heated with the contact. He’d meant it to be reassuring and friendly, but the jolt of lust spearing straight to his groin proved otherwise. He quickly visualized the latest budget spreadsheet to fight back his rising erection. Jac’s lips parted and over the crunching of gravel under the tires, he swore he heard her quiet gasp.
He pulled into the parking area next to the other carts, sad the interlude was over. Braking to a stop, he reached for the ignition switch. Pressed against the steering wheel, he grinned over his shoulder in time to catch her studying his ass. Color flared on her cheeks. She looked away, but not before she cast another quick glance at his crotch.
His cock hardened against the zipper on his jeans. God, they were a team.
“Ready to go make some art?” he asked.
She nodded. “As we were driving down the hill, did you notice how pretty the scene was? I wonder if we could recreate the barn somehow.”
“Damn! I was thinking the
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