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“Everyone thought Charles and I were brothers. He’s my cousin.”
“You’re right, I didn’t know that. We became close rather quickly in high school but you were a senior when we met. It was only that one year.”
“Makes sense about Ryan,” Dennis replied. “That you never met her. She was several years behind us in school and I don’t think you ever came to my home.”
“That’s because you guys were always wanting to come over to mine!”
“Heck, yeah. Who wouldn’t? Swimming pools. Horses. A full basketball court. Dinners made to order from a personal chef. Going to your house was like going to Hollywood! I couldn’t believe people really lived like that. You’re one lucky dude.”
“I’ll admit to luck in being born a Breedlove. After that, everything was hard work.”
“I know all about hard work,” Dennis said.
“At the meatpacking plant, right?” Dennis nodded. “How does Ryan fit into your operation?”
Adam ignored Dennis’s knowing smile, one that suggested the sister had been brought along to help seal the deal. It was a good move and a smart one, but Adam figured Dennis didn’t have to know that.
“Like I said, she’s helped out here and there. But she doesn’t live in Bakersfield, hasn’t in a while. She went to school in San Diego and lived there after graduation. Until about three months ago when she moved here.”
“Why’d she move?”
Dennis shrugged. “She got a degree in some kind of natural medicine or something. I don’t know much about it. But I know she isn’t working anywhere yet. She probably needs a job.”
“And you think she’d be comfortable working on a ranch?”
Ryan returned to the table. “Talking about me?”
Adam stood but he was too late. Ryan had already pulled out her chair. He waited until she’d sat down before returning to his seat.
“Dennis thinks you’d be a good fit for my operation. He says your administrative skills are impressive.”
And if they are half as impressive as the view of your backside as you walked away from the table...
Adam shut down the inappropriate thought, gave himself a mental chastisement, forgave himself because his thought was the truth, then refocused his attention on Ryan.
“I handled a few items for him in the past, but that was a long time ago. I’m focused on developing my own business right now.”
“Which is?”
“Naturopathy,” Ryan said after a pause.
“What’s that?” Adam asked as he watched Ryan stiffen as though expecting a verbal blow. Dennis didn’t disappoint.
“A hobby,” Dennis said.
“My career,” Ryan countered, a cool breeze skittering over the previously warm and calm demeanor Adam had earlier observed.
“Lunch is served!” Zoe announced as she arrived at their table, moving a few items before expertly setting down a circular tray. “Both the pickles and onion strings are vegan,” she said to Ryan, having obviously spoken with the chef. “The barbecue sauce is also vegan but the buttermilk ranch contains dairy. Your entrées will be up in about ten minutes. Bon appétit!”
“These are cool,” Ryan said, using the tongs hooked to the bowl to pull out a wad of thinly cut and battered onion slices. “Onion strings, huh? I’ve had onion rings and a flowering onion but never ones quite like this.”
“That’s Miguel’s handiwork. He puts a unique spin on any dish he touches.”
“I like the beer balls,” Dennis said around the food he’d picked up with his fingers and plopped into his mouth. “That big old juicy burger will be even better. Good old cow meat,” he continued, smacking loudly and reaching for another meatball.
“Older brothers can be a pain in the butt,” he said to Ryan. “I know, I’ve got one, too.”
Ryan smiled. Adam immediately wanted to think of something else witty to make her smile again.
“Good to know someone else understands my pain.”
“He’s not all bad, though,” Adam continued. “Standing up to bullies is how I met your brother.”
“You mean he wasn’t one of them?”
Adam laughed. “Not that time.”
“What happened?” Ryan asked.
Adam and Dennis exchanged a look.
Adam thought back to the day as a freshman in high school where he had fought an admirable but losing battle against four students who’d ganged up against him—at first verbally, then physically. Dennis had come to Adam’s defense. The two had quickly regained the upper hand before school administrators rushed into the melee and broke up the fight. It was Adam’s last physical fight. That summer his muscles filled out and he grew six inches. Once his dyslexia was properly diagnosed, his popularity grew along with his confidence. But still, scars remained. There were traces of the disability that lingered to this day.
“Kids were always teasing me. One day, I found myself in a fight where I was outnumbered,” Adam said. “Your brother jumped in and helped me out. That’s how we became friends.”
“Interesting,” Ryan said, giving her brother a look that Adam couldn’t quite read.
“I always appreciated how you took up for me,” Adam finished. “Just like one of my brothers would, had they been there. It showed character, which is very important to me. That along with loyalty, honesty and respect are the principle virtues I look for in people I work with. Which is why I wanted to have lunch with you today, Dennis. You mentioned your sister working for me but actually the opening I’m trying to fill ASAP requires a different skill set. The person we’d hired to manage my processing facility was involved in a serious automobile accident. He’s alive, but his recovery isn’t going to allow for the type of rigor required for that position. Are you interested?”
Dennis sat back. “Wow, really, Adam? You’re offering me the job of managing your meat-processing operation?”
“I’m asking if you’re interested. We’d still need to go through the application process, but if everything from there is in order then yes, I’d feel good in you having that job.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it and yes, I’m very interested. I’ve always loved your family’s land. Working on it would be my pleasure.”
“I might come up to Bakersfield,” Adam said. “Get a look at your operation and see how it compares to ours.”
“Okay,” Dennis said, after a beat.
Adam found the hesitation odd but didn’t dwell on it. Now that he’d potentially solved a huge dilemma, a delay that would have put a serious wrench in their scheduled plant launch, he was ready to find out more about Ryan. Whether or not he ended up working with Dennis, he wanted to see more of her. Before parting ways he asked Dennis to send him a proposal, and asked Ryan for her number.
“Why?” Ryan asked, her expression suggesting she couldn’t think of a reason why he’d need to talk to her.
Adam smiled slightly, impressed. Most women were all too eager to give him their number. He was appreciative of one who hesitated. “To talk about food,” he replied, “and what types of vegetarian options might work with our current menu.”
She seemed relieved that his reason was work related. It wasn’t the only one, of course, but it was as good of an excuse as any.
Three (#uffc5c4d3-f589-550a-b865-0692651776ed)
Ryan hadn’t been surprised yesterday when Dennis ran off before she could confront him. He hadn’t returned her calls from last night or yesterday, either. Blindsiding her with a job she’d never heard of in front of the man wanting to hire him was pretty low, even for a brother known for sometimes being underhanded. But honestly, Ryan couldn’t be totally mad. Adam Breedlove was one hot man. She had no intention of working at Breedlove Ranch but she could put in a personal shift or two with the boss. She’d been in the city for three months without dating. One day after the other had been all work, no play. Dennis’s friend could prove a nice lightweight diversion. A little sin in Sin City every now and again.
The prospect of a rendezvous with the cowboy was totally titillating, but Ryan forced her mind back to where it belonged this Monday morning—on her practice, and building it up. After years of sharing “her hobby” as Dennis had called it with friends, classmates and coworkers, she’d gotten serious about her love for alternative healing and obtained a bachelor’s degree in naturopathy, specializing in plant medicine, biophysics, massage therapy and nutrition. She’d simultaneously pursued and received certificates in energetic healing and emotional frequency technique from the prestigious Institute of Higher Holistic Learning in La Jolla, California. From her childhood until her early-adult years as she came into her own, she’d sought to please others and be what they thought she should be. After learning of her passion, her parents had suggested traditional medicine, had thought she should pursue a nursing degree. But Ryan had finally followed her heart and become submerged in Eastern medicine and alternative forms of healing. Those three years of expedited learning were the best ones of her life. This was also when she’d met her ex, which had added some worst moments to those educational years.
While attending an expo during her senior year she’d met Brooklyn, a woman named for where she’d been born, who’d moved cross-country to Las Vegas, a place Ryan had doubted she’d ever return to live. But their long conversations on the alternative and holistic landscape evolved into others on working in complementary fields. Their shared interests and similar personalities led to them being best friends, the sister Ryan had always wanted. Brooklyn suggested they open a practice together. Ryan jumped at the chance to have her own business. That’s why she’d moved back to Las Vegas. Not the only one, but the one she felt most comfortable admitting. The other reasons were complicated, both hopeful and painful. There were secrets she hadn’t unearthed and couldn’t share...yet.
Ryan’s ringing landline startled her out of daydreaming. A blessed interruption, she inwardly noted, while crossing the airy living room of her Summerlin townhome. No doubt it was Brooklyn, calling to make sure Ryan was on schedule and that she’d make it to their appointment on time.
“Yes, I’m ready. Five minutes and I’m out the door.”
“Um, okay, but where are we going?”
Ryan’s heart raced. “Adam?”
He chuckled, a sound that sent goose bumps dancing over her skin.
“I hope it’s okay that Dennis gave me your home number. I tried your cell phone a couple times but didn’t hear back, and the question I have is time-sensitive so I called your brother.”
Halfway through his explanation, Ryan had begun searching for her cell. She’d checked the living room and master bedroom. Now she headed toward the garage.
“Ryan, are you there? If this is a bad time—”
“No, it isn’t,” Ryan said, while lying on her belly and searching her car’s back seat. “I’m looking for my cell phone that I now realize I haven’t heard ring all morning.”
“When is the last time you remember having it?”
“Definitely this morning before leaving the house. I tried calling Dennis in fact and...aw!”
“Whoa, are you okay?”
“Yes!” Ryan laughed. “I just remembered where it was.” She headed into her house and the bedroom. “I forgot I placed it in my yoga bag before going into the studio.”
She found the bag in her closet, opened it up and retrieved the phone. “Listen, Adam, if you’re calling about what Dennis is doing—”
“I’m not.”
“Oh.” Ryan glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time to head out for her meeting. But she had five minutes. She sat down. Adam’s voice was better than a massage. It made her feel all noodly, if that was even a word.
“What’s up?”
“Magic, if you’re into that sort of thing.”
If you’re doing the tricks, I very well could be. “What kind of magic?”
“What kind do you like?”
His voice had lowered just enough for Ryan to imagine a double entendre. If his bedroom moves were half as sexy as that raspy tenor...
“All kinds, I guess. I find fantasy entertaining. The ability to conjure another type of world within this one is an incredible skill.”
“I agree. Our hotel is hosting a private premiere that we feel is going to be very special. It is a show that blends illusion with dance, great music and scenes. Rather than separate tricks, an entire story is told. The guy is from Denmark. His name is Valdemar.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Few have, in America. At least not yet. And no one in the way he’ll be presented at CANN. The show is tomorrow night and I’d like very much for you to join me.”
“It sounds interesting. What time?” Ryan asked, as though it mattered. Mentally, she was already going through her closet for what to wear, but a girl couldn’t appear too hasty.
“The show starts at nine but I was hoping you’d also join me for dinner. I spoke with hotel management, who recommended a couple of our restaurants with stellar vegan and vegetarian choices.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Or presumptive.
“I wanted to be prepared, just in case you said yes.”
Ryan hesitated.
“I know it’s late notice. I wasn’t planning to go until, well, I caught a bit of the rehearsal and what I saw blew me away.”
“It sounds incredible, Adam. I’d love to join you.”
“May I pick you up around...six thirty?”
“Are you sure? I could meet you there.”
“No way. I’ll come to you. What’s your address?”
Ryan rattled off her address while gathering her tablet and a couple folders and placing them in a stylish hemp tote. She ended the call, exchanged house shoes for a pair of wooden throwback clogs that she adored, placed her clutch inside the tote and walked to the car with her cell phone in hand. There was one more call she needed to make.
As soon as her Bluetooth engaged, Ryan called Dennis, at the office this time. “I need to speak to my brother, Katy. I know he’s there so tell him to pick up or I’m coming over.”
“Um, Dennis isn’t here,” Katy said.
“You sound uncertain. Are you sure?”
“Let me check and call you back.”
“I’ve been waiting for callbacks, Katy. I hate to put you in the middle of this, but I really need to talk to Dennis, now.”
“I’ll find him for you and either he’ll call back or I will, promise.”
Ten minutes later, her phone rang.
“Hey, sis!”
“Don’t ‘sis’ me. You owe me an explanation regarding lunch this weekend. What was that about?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know full well what I mean. I never worked for you, have zero interest in being a secretary and am not looking for a job. Of course you don’t know this because you never asked me. We haven’t talked in weeks.”
