Page 42 of Taken With You
“We haven’t done a great job so far.” She wrinkled her nose. “I guess I’m in good company, though. That isn’t the first public picture I’ve seen of you dancing with a woman at a gala.”
His shoulders tightened. Of course she’d seen pictures of him online with other women. Amanda was too intelligent to sign a partnership agreement without checking his public profile. And the press didn’t care about privacy.
“I apologize,” he said, his jaw tight. “This is an occupational hazard.”
“It’s done. Can’t erase it.” She waved at her phone, now gone dark. “But this isn’t encouraging for a vintner already struggling to prove she’s up to the task.”
“We’ll talk to Shelley and work out a plan to focus future coverage on your experience, enthusiasm, and skills.”
“A thousand words won’t erase that image from the public mind. Right now, all across the valley, folks are scanning that article and wondering if I got the position because I slept with you.”
“It’s not true.” His nostrils flared. “You know why I hired you.”
“Muck has a way of sticking.” She stared up through the boughs of the eucalyptus tree to the sky, the scudding clouds. “And, honestly, Garrick…that picture doesn’t lie.”
She was right: They were lovers, and that wasn’t going to change, if he had any say in it. Right now, he wanted to pull her into his arms, tell her everything would work out, but she seemed remote, untouchable. The air chilled as a cloud passed across the sun.
“So,” she said, drawing herself up. “You’re going to New York tomorrow?”
He frowned. “How did you know?”
“You left your suitcase by the front door.”
He’d forgotten about that. He’d packed it in frustration after he’d realized he had to be physically present at a board meeting of one of Kane Enterprises’ other subsidiaries. He didn’t want to leave Amanda for something that should have been able to be resolved remotely, but one of the board members was stirring things up, and he needed to be there to calm troubled waters.
“I’ll be back in a few days,” he said. “Shelley will return here with me to prepare for the launch party.”
“Right.” She swallowed, brows twitching together. “The launch party.”
“Shelley will set up an interview or two for you. She’ll make sure the interviewer knows what he or she is dealing with when it comes to portraying the brilliant vintner I partnered with.”
“I should get back to the winery.” She grabbed the bottle and her glass. “I still have some readings to finish.”
He stood up, but she’d already stepped by him. He reached for her arm but missed by inches.
“Amanda.”
She stopped in the sunlight, out of his reach, her eyes full of shadows.
“Don’t let the bastards get to you,” he said. “We’ll handle this together.”
She nodded and turned away; her shoulders stiff as she headed toward the cabin. He stepped into her wake, into the hot sun, and then stilled the urge to chase her down, to convince her. What was troubling her, exactly? Was it the picture, or their relationship, or both? He would do whatever she wanted. When he cast his mind forward to where this partnership might be going, he knew it wasn’t just sex. This was arelationship. The logistics wouldn’t be easy. He hadn’t planned to stay in California past the launch party, with work always demanding his presence in New York. But he wanted to stay with her for a while.
Maybe for more than a while.
He sucked in a breath and then pulled his phone from his pocket. With a few taps the news article came up, and the picture of the two of them filled his screen. His vision warped as he took in the expression on his face and realized why it unnerved him, why it rang bells in his head.
He’d seen that look before. On Dylan’s face as he gazed at Casey. On Logan’s face as he glanced at Jenny.
Damn.
Was he in love?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ican’t be in love with him.
Standing in the dim chill of the silent cave, Amanda stared at the picture of Garrick holding her in his arms, dancing. Over the past hours, since Maggie had texted the link to her, she’d enlarged the shot to better see her expression, his expression, their expressions together. She still couldn’t quite believe what was written on their faces, in every line of their bodies, in the smile on her lips, secret, joyful, knowing.
