Ready For The Rancher. Zuri Day

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“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

      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

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