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“Jade says your work has been exemplary.”
“Thank you.”
He scrubbed a hand over his chiseled chin and she realized that, for the first time since she’d met him, Adrian was uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
His eyes flew to her face and he stared at her for a long moment. She barely resisted the urge to squirm under that dark blue-eyed gaze that heated her blood.
“There are several Fox Vineyards partners who share your concerns about an international brand buying the winery.”
“Who?”
“The entire town of Fox Creek, for starters.” He drummed his fingers on the desk. “The mayor, the chamber of commerce, several other wineries in the area... They’re all afraid we’re going to try and turn the area into New York City.”
Everleigh suppressed a smile. “Not surprising. We like our small-town way of life.”
He frowned again, his jaw tightening. “Cabrera Wine is not going to change that.”
“But how do theyknowthat, Adrian?” She waved her hand around the office. “This place looks like a spread fromGQ. I told you before: Cabrera Wine is glamorous. Your brand represents luxury—jet-setting around the world in a private plane while sipping a hundred-dollar bottle of wine. Fox Vineyards is sipping a glass of rosé in your backyard while the sun sets. You have to understand why some people are nervous about this takeover.”
“Sale,” he ground out.
She rolled her eyes. “Sale, takeover, buyout—whatever you want to call it. Unless you allay their fears, you’re going to have problems.”
He sat back, irritation evident in the tense set of his shoulders. “So how do I fix it?” he asked finally.
She leaned back in her own chair, unable to contain a Cheshire cat’s grin from spreading across her face. “Are you, the great Adrian Cabrera, asking for my help?”
Judging by the darkening glower on his too-handsome face, he was doing precisely that.
“You have to say please, Adrian.”
His fingers curled around a pen, his grip so tight she half expected it to break in two.
“Por favor, señoríta.”
The words rippled over her skin and sent a delicious shiver down her spine. She swallowed hard, praying he hadn’t seen her visceral reaction to the seductive sound of his native language.
With a casual smile meant to conceal the dangerous effect he still wielded over her heart and body, she stood.
“Then let’s get started.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
EVERLEIGHSETHERPHONEdown with a relieved sigh and leaned back in her chair.
“Good work.”
She looked up as Adrian handed her a glass of water. “Thank you.”
Their fingers brushed and the electric spark that had become so familiar to her arced between them. By unspoken mutual agreement, they ignored it.
The office that had seemed so spacious three days ago had shrunk with every hour they’d spent together. She’d spent most of her time keeping her eyes on her screen and off his tan muscled arms when he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. But as the true depth of the situation for Cabrera Wine had been revealed—including a threat from the president of the Fox Creek Chamber of Commerce to withdraw support for Fox Vineyards—she’d become focused on the task at hand.
She took a long drink, the cool water soothing her throat. She’d been glued to her phone and her computer all weekend, soothing ruffled feathers, uttering reassurances... Over two dozen more invitations had been issued for the party. Hopefully meeting Adrian in person and hearing how Fox would continue would ensure a peaceful transition—not just for the winery but for the town, too.
A quick glance at the clock revealed that it was past eight o’clock. She’d adapted quickly to Granada time, but working nonstop had drained her.
