“Testing in a lab is expensive,” Tara said. “We’ve done it in the past, on our own oils, to ensure quality and compliance with COOC standards.”
Joe nodded. “Yes. It would cost a substantial amount. We need to make a decision about that, because we could spend a whole lot of money to learn there isn’t really any basis for a lawsuit. On the other hand, we have to think about what we would do if the testing did show some unethical practices.”
They all nodded. “That’s the big question,” Tyrone agreed.
Joe had carefully laid out all the pros and cons. He’d already consulted with both Marina and Derek separately and had taken their input into consideration.
“There is that old axiom that bad publicity is better than no publicity,” Marina said. “However, I don’t always subscribe to that.”
“But it wouldn’t necessarily be bad publicity about us,” Tara put in, earning a startled glance from Joe. Amusement ticked inside her. She’d been the one who’d instantly declared this was something they shouldn’t do and now she was considering the other side. Did he think she was so rigid she couldn’t see both sides of an argument? Well, actually…there might have been a time when, yeah, she had been that stubborn. God, what was happening to her?
“True,” Marina said. “It is, after all, Molina who is being accused of wrongdoing. However, we’d need to be prepared for the damage control their PR people would launch. Some of that could be an attack against us.”
“Oh.” Tara sat back in her chair.
“Even so,” Marina continued, “we can spin lots of things lots of ways. If our reasons for participating in the lawsuit are really about ethics, honesty and credibility, we can play up those things. This is a family business, with a long tradition of quality, blah blah blah.”
They continued to debate the issue for some time, Derek putting in his opinions and estimates about potential legal costs and issues, Marina focusing on the publicity, and Tara started to feel like they were spinning their wheels.
“We need to make a decision and come up with a plan,” Joe finally said.
“You’re the one who’s done the research,” Tara said. “What’s your recommendation?”
He met her gaze and she could see the warmth there for her. Again, softness expanded in her chest.
“I recommend we not participate in the lawsuit,” he finally said. “Here’s why.” He explained his reasons, why he felt the risks outweighed potential benefits. “And,” he finished, “Sotello is going ahead with or without us. If Molina is doing something wrong and they get caught, we reap the benefits anyway.”
“That almost sounds a bit unethical itself, to me,” Tara commented with a frown.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Sotello too is a competitor. We’re not their best friends. This is business.”
“Again, it comes down to spin,” Marina said. “If we handle it right with Sotello, we don’t necessarily piss them off.”
“I agree with Joe’s recommendation,” Tyrone said. “What’s our plan going forward?”
“I’ll talk to Sotello,” Joe said. “It was me he contacted and I said I’d get back to him. I’ll take him for lunch again or something. Marina, you and I can meet before then to talk about some strategy.” Marina nodded.
Joe followed Tara back to her office after the meeting, closing the door behind him.
“You okay with that?” he asked.
Chapter Sixteen
She turned and faced him. He’d taken control, directed the meeting, in fact had decided the outcome. Everyone had listened to him and deferred to him. And he was making sure she was okay with it.
Tears prickled the corners of her eyes. Oh dear God, what was that about? She should be pissed at him!
He was doing exactly what she didn’t want him to do. He was taking over. She’d wanted to show him she was the one in control, but she couldn’t deny he’d made her see both sides of the issue and—dammit—he was right. For the sake of the business, she couldn’t argue with him. She should have been pissed—but she wasn’t. She felt relieved—relieved that she had someone to share this problem with, that it hadn’t all fallen on her shoulders, and touched that he’d asked if she was okay with it.
“I could have handled that,” she said.
Joe’s dark eyebrows drew together. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “Of course you could have.”
She smiled at him and his face cleared.
“Thank you,” she said, and somehow she was in his arms and he was kissing the breath right out of her. His hands roamed her body, spreading fire over her. When he started lifting her skirt, she pulled away from him with a gasp.
“Joe. Not here.”
He gave her a wicked grin. “Why not?”
“Someone could come in…” He kissed the side of her neck. “Grandpa…Paige…stop.”
And at that moment a knock on the door had them leaping apart.
Her grandfather walked in with their visitors from Italy and his colleagues from the California Olive Oil Producers. Tara put a shaky hand to her hair. She’d met Ben Kibsey and Bob Moir before. They both grew olives up in Napa. They introduced her to Mario Deluca and Salvatore Alzieti from Italy.
Tara introduced them to Joe, a little flustered at being interrupted in the middle of a hot make-out session in her office. She smiled at their visitors. “Can I get anyone coffee?”
They declined the offer, as they were on their way back to their hotel.
“Your ranch is charming,” Salvatore said with a heavy accent. “Small, but charming.”
She smiled. “Yes, I’m sure it’s small compared to yours. How many acres do you have?”
They chatted until Paige announced that the limo was there to take them to the Biltmore, and Joe offered to show them out.
“So,” Tyrone said when he and Tara were alone, “how are things going with you and Joe?”
She turned to look at him. Did he know something was going on between them? Heat swept over her as she studied his bland expression.
“Things are going okay,” she admitted reluctantly. No way in hell was she going to admit she actually liked having Joe around. “But I still don’t get it, Grandpa. Why on earth would you rather have a stranger coming in and running the family business than me? I’ve been doing a good job.”
“You’re a woman.”
At one time that comment would have made her scream. Now she just sighed. He really needed to get with the times.
“You should be finding a husband. Having babies,” he said. “Now that Joe is here you should have more time for fun. Like the dinner tonight. Please don’t talk business the entire evening. Ben and Bob are bringing their wives.”
Great. She was expected to entertain the little ladies. Exactly the kind of evening she detested. Thank God Joe would be there.
She froze as she realized where her mind had just gone. She pressed a hand to her stomach. She did not need him.
Later, at home, she poured herself a glass of wine and filled a small crystal bowl with some spiced olives, then carried them up to her room to nibble on while she got ready for dinner.
It felt like an important event, but it was only a dinner for a few visitors she would never see again. So why was she taking so much trouble with her appearance? She didn’t even need to go down that path. She knew exactly why. Once again, she wanted to impress Joe.
He was intruding in her business, taking over things she should be doing, making her work on stupid damn business cases for things she knew instinctively were the right things to do. And yet, she couldn’t quite work up the anger she had when he’d first arrived.