LITMIR.BIZ

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      Until then Adam didn’t realize he’d been staring. “I never knew you had a sister. I remember your brother Charles, but not her.”

      “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.

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