Shit creek, to be exact.

But everything I’d said was actually true. Roman had asked me to go with him to California to check out operations on their new West Coast business holdings, and it was completely normal for an assistant to travel with his or her boss.

But the gnawing guilt in the pit of my stomach wasn’t.

I really needed to clean something.

And the fact that I hadn’t told Tyler about Roman admitting he had some sort of attraction to me definitely wasn’t normal.

“I thought his brother was in charge of the West Coast. Why does he suddenly need to fly over there to ‘check things out’?” he asked, putting air quotes around his last three words, signifying his disbelief in Roman’s motives for this last-minute trip.

“He’s frantic about his upcoming meeting with the board. I think he just wants to make sure, with his own eyes, that things are running smoothly, so when he meets with the board, there are no hiccups. You should see the poor man. He’s at that office all day, practically all night. I had to start ordering him meals because he was wasting away over this.”

He warily eyed me, those deep irises I’d fallen for gazing deep into mine for some sort of olive branch. He wanted to trust me, but I could tell it was killing him to give in to Roman’s demands.

“I need this job,” I said, my tone almost pleading.

I watched his features soften ever so slightly.

“Fine,” he sighed. “But keep that slimeball at a distance. I don’t trust him.”

“I will,” I assured him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Besides, he’s harmless.”

Famous last words…

Chapter Eleven

“Is that what you’re wearing?” I asked.

Cara nearly tumbled out of the elevator, looking frantic, as she toted a small suitcase behind her. Dressed in another pencil skirt and heels, she was all business today, right down to the tweed jacket that she had draped over her arm.

“What? Why?” she said in alarm before taking a look at me. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

I nodded, looking down at my casual denim and crisp white shirt.

“We’re traveling for ten hours,” I explained, leaning against her desk. I took another sip from my coffee. “I’m not spending it in a stiff suit and tie just so everyone around me knows I’m traveling for business.”

“Oh, well… I didn’t think of that,” she stated, straightening, as she stopped in front of me, clearly agitated. Her hair was windblown, and her cheeks were flushed from exertion.

“Tell me you took a cab to get here?” I said, annoyed that she hadn’t let me pick her up this morning.

She’d flat-out refused, saying she’d just meet me at the office, as usual. It seemed ridiculous and unnecessary.