Love in the Vineyard (Tavonesi #7)(62)
Was it embarrassment she saw in the flickering light? Or just the weight of the truth he was about to tell? A sense of dread flooded her, pinning her in place.
“I promised Zoe I’d ride for her in a polo match in Santa Barbara.” He grinned, and her dread deepened. “I think you saw how much she likes to win.” He squeezed her hand. “And then I have to return to Rome for a long-planned memorial for my mother, a dedication for a library that was close to her heart.”
The gap yawned between them, widening as he spoke. It didn’t matter that his words were softly voiced, that his tone wasn’t arrogant. The matter-of-fact tone only made her feel the disparity more deeply. But the way he held her with his gaze made it impossible to look away. No matter what happened in her future, she would never forget the way Adrian looked at her. It made her feel treasured, even if she wasn’t the treasure he sought.
“But before I leave, I want you to know that I’ve put the reins of the new business in your hands.”
Her heart stuttered. What had he said? Maybe looking into his eyes had caused her to lose the thread of what he was saying.
“You what?”
“I’d planned to wait to tell you, but I can’t resist.”
The light dancing in his eyes and his happy smile felt wrong. All wrong.
“I made you the manager of the new native plant nursery. Anything you want or need to make it a success is at your disposal. Zoe and Coco can help you with artwork. And I’ve told Tammy you’re to have all the help you require, and for now I’ve assigned Enrique to work with you. Tammy says he’s great with plants,” he went on, almost without taking a breath. “I’m clearing the back greenhouse. We’ll build another before next season. And Alana has offered to house any starts that won’t fit in our greenhouse in hers.”
She stepped back from him. His words began to feel like prickles of ice against her skin. The cave that had seemed so magical, that had been the setting for the only experience of complete joy that she’d ever had, suddenly felt like a trap.
“The computer system is in,” he added. “And I think you’ll like the interface. Alana uses the same system and—oh yes, she also said she’ll help while I’m gone. I think she’s envious that—”
“Adrian, stop. I can’t possibly do what you’re imagining.”
“Don’t be nervous. I have great faith in you.”
“It’s not nerves!”
“This gives you a career path, something to call your own.”
Her fear broke into anger and embarrassment. She couldn’t do the job he’d assigned to her.
“You can’t just waltz into someone’s life and start rearranging it. Start dictating this and that like, like some oligarch.”
He flinched at her angry tone.
“That’s a harsh word, Natasha.”
“Okay, like some billionaire’s son.” Her tone was biting. Instantly she regretted her angry words. But shock made it impossible to corral the anger roiling through her. And under her shock and anger loomed the sinking feeling that he was paying her off for having sex with him. As if he felt guilty and this impulsive promotion was a salve for the eventual pain they both knew would come.
“Grandson,” he said, all trace of his smile gone from his face. “And, no, I wouldn’t dream of telling you how to run things. You can manage the new business however you see fit. But Tammy has her hands full, so you’ll have to do your own ordering at first, and your own record keeping, but Alana assures me the accounting system is excellent and easy to use.”
His tone was cool, calculating. Businesslike. As if he was trying to sell her on the position.
“I prefer to just continue as I am.” She struggled for a convincing tone. “I like what I’m doing now. You should hire someone with much more experience than me for this new project.”
He put his palms on her shoulders, but she twisted away. It was impossible to think when Adrian touched her.
“You’re perfect for this.” He let out a shuddering sigh that she wished hadn’t reached into her heart. “You have the passion, the vision. You love native plants.”
She couldn’t argue with that. And he hadn’t meant harm. Plus it was her fault he didn’t have the facts, didn’t know the nightmare he was spinning.
The horror of having to track figures—handle ordering, use a computer—took shape in her mind. And it was a nasty, scary shape.
Her throat tightened as despair rose to curl around her anger. She considered telling him about her dyslexia, but what would happen when his attentions shifted, when he came to his senses and reentered the world he’d been born into? When she wasn’t special to him and was the wrong person in a key job?
No matter what happened between her and Adrian, she had to think of Tyler, of his future. She needed her job. She had a new rent to pay. A college fund to save for. She’d just have to buck up and find a way to bumble through until she figured out her next step. Mary might help. Petey could advise her. Maybe Mary was right, maybe the tapes or the classes would work. She could look for another job in the meantime, and maybe she could—
“We need someone to get more of these plants into the world,” Adrian said, his smile returning and his tone becoming more animated as he spoke. “Did you know that the honeybees are disappearing? I mean, I know we don’t need the bees for our self-pollinating grapevines, but without plants for the bees and butterflies and other pollinators, we lose the integrity of the ecosystem. And even the diehard growers are beginning to recognize the benefits of having plants to draw in ladybugs and lacewings along with butterflies and bees—they provide the best sort of protection against insect pests.”