We drove in silence for another hour before Griffin's phone rang through the truck's speakers. "Rhodes."
"Griffin? It's Elise. I heard you were coming through Oakcrest Bay today."
"Aunt Elise," Griffin said, and I heard genuine warmth in his voice for the first time all morning. "How did you—never mind. I should know better than to ask how you know things."
A throaty laugh came through the speakers. "I have my sources. I was hoping you might stop by the office while you're in town. There are some contracts I'd like you to look at."
Griffin glanced at me. "I'm actually just dropping someone off. I wasn't planning to stick around."
"Nonsense. Bring your friend along. We'll make a day of it."
"She's starting a new job at Sparkling Oak," Griffin said. "I doubt she has time for—"
"Sparkling Oak?" Elise's voice sharpened with interest. "How fascinating. We do quite a bit of business with them. I insist you both come by."
Griffin met my eyes, a question in them. Part of me wanted to refuse, to stick to my plan of keeping things professional. But curiosity won out. What kind of business did Griffin's family have with Sparkling Oak?
"Okay," I said. "That sounds nice."
Rhodes Select Imports was housed in a sleek glass building overlooking the bay. The company name was etched in elegant script across the double doors, and the lobby beyond was all marble and understated luxury.
Griffin’s aunt was nothing like what I'd expected. Tall and elegant with silver hair swept into a perfect chignon, Elise Rhodes wore a tailored suit that probably cost more than my old car had been worth. But her smile was warm as she embraced Griffin, and her handshake was firm when he introduced us.
"Lila King," she said, studying me with intelligent hazel eyes. "What position will you be taking at Sparkling Oak?"
"Wine sales," I replied. "I start Monday with Madeline Foster."
"Madeline." Elise's smile turned knowing. "She's excellent, though she can be...exacting. You'll do well to impress her." She turned to Griffin. "And you didn't think to mention to this young lady that Rhodes Select is Sparkling Oak's primary distributor?"
I felt the blood drain from my face. Griffin's family business was Sparkling Oak's primary distributor? The man I'd just spent the night with had a direct business relationship with my new employer?
"What?" I whispered.
Griffin looked as stunned as I felt. "I had no idea. You never mentioned—"
"I suppose it is a rather a recent development," Elise said smoothly, patting her hair. "We signed the contract two months ago. Which means, Miss King, that you and my nephew may have opportunity to work quite closely together—should you choose."
The room felt like it was spinning. I'd always been so careful to keep my personal and professional lives separate, and now they were crashing together in the worst possible way.
"In fact," Elise continued, "Madeline called this morning about the buyer showcase next week. Apparently, she thinks having our distributor and her new sales associate present together will show potential clients how seamlessly we work together, effectively announcing our new partnership in the public forum. Griffin, perhaps you would like to co-lead the showcase along with Lila?"
"No," I said, the word bursting out of me. "That's not—I can't—"
"Lila," Griffin said quietly, but I was already backing toward the door.
"I need some air," I managed, before fleeing the office.
I made it to the parking lot before the tears started. Everything I'd worked for, everything I'd planned, was falling apart. How could I work with Griffin professionally when I could barely look at him without remembering how it felt to have his hands on my body? How could I maintain the professional distance I needed when just being in the same room with him made me want things I couldn't have?
"Lila, wait." Griffin's voice behind me was rough with emotion.
I didn't turn around. "Did you know?"
"I swear to God, I had no idea. Elise never tells me anything about the business."
"It doesn't matter." I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "This complicates everything."
"It doesn't have to."
