tone told her there was more of a story behind the words than he was letting out. She tried to read his face, but she saw no emotion before he turned away and climbed out of the vehicle. As she reached to open her door, he was there, his hand reaching for hers to help her out onto the dirt driveway.
A man came out of the brightly painted red barn with a large PF inside a circle, painted in black on the doors. A matching charm hung around his neck on a silver chain. The man’s smile lit his face. Where Estebe could be classified as broodingly handsome, his cousin was a lighter version, maybe not as handsome, but more open, friendlier.
“Estebe, my cousin. How are you?” Javier pulled Estebe into a bear hug that even Angie could tell felt fake but required.
“I am fine.” Estebe stepped back and turned toward Angie. “This is Angie Turner, owner and head chef of the County Seat. I told her you had the best produce in the area.”
“And you didn’t lie.” Javier turned toward Angie, holding out his hand. “But you didn’t tell me how breathtakingly beautiful your boss is. What, are you trying to keep her to yourself?”
Angie wondered how she should play this. She didn’t want Javier to have the wrong impression, but she also didn’t want to insult the man, especially if she wanted to forge a business relationship with him. She settled for a noncommittal response. “Thank you for inviting me over today. I’d love to see what you’re growing.”
Javier apparently took the hint, as he laughed and slapped Estebe on the back. “All business, then? We’ll talk more at the festival at the end of the month. You’ve been way too quiet lately.” He turned to Angie. “Follow me.”
As they walked toward the barn, Javier talked about the farm and its beginnings. He told her how he inherited it from his father, whose own father had built the area from a small acreage to the multiacre farm it was now. As they got closer, a young woman burst out of the house that sat next to the barn and called his name.
Anger turned Javier’s handsome face into something cruel and hard. For a second, Angie thought he was going to yell at the woman. Instead, she saw his face soften. “I’ve got business to deal with, Heather. Go back inside.”
Heather looked from Javier to Angie and then to Estebe and pulled the flimsy short robe she wore closer to her chest. She didn’t answer, just nodded and disappeared back into the house.
Javier went on with his story like he hadn’t even been interrupted. “Of course, now we pasture our sheep close to home, no open range for us anymore. One of the traditions I was more than happy to give up. Spending summer at the sheep camp was difficult for a young man.”
Estebe snorted. “You survived. Some boys would love to spend their summers out on the range, no one to tell them what to do. Being able to ride all day.”
“You were always in love with the romantic notion of our cultural heritage.” Javier turned away from his cousin and toward Angie. “The old stories do give me an excellent opening when I’m courting a new woman to my bed.”
The disgusted sound coming from Estebe made Angie’s lips curve. If anything, this visit had been a great font of information about her sous chef. “So, what’s in season now?”
“We’ve added a small watermelon to our fields this year. They are just starting to ripen, not like the traditional melon that will be ready in late August. And of course, we’re producing more Roma tomatoes than we have demand for. Those plants just keep on giving fruit. Maybe you would like to see what we have available this week?”
“That is why we came,” Estebe grumbled.
Javier just laughed, ignoring the tone, and opened the barn door. “Then come on in. We’re open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, but the community frowns on us selling on Sunday, so we stay closed.”
“And being closed lets you go drink on Saturday night without concern,” Estebe added, his tone low.
Angie wasn’t sure Javier had heard the comment until she saw his face turn to stone for a second, and his eyes narrow toward his cousin. Apparently, there was no love lost between the two men. Just what Angie didn’t need was to stumble into a family feud. She snapped a picture of the display stands, then went over to where the gleaming red tomatoes were set up. Picking one up, she smelled the sweetness before even taking a bite.
A vision of a fresh marinara sauce—or no, bruschetta with garlic butter on the toasted bread and the tomatoes and roasted peppers on top. She glanced around the rest of the vegetables and found the pepper section. Gleaming green and yellow peppers from jalapeños to sweet banana filled the section. She turned to Estebe and started listing what she wanted and in what quantity, her mind already on the recipes she’d add to Friday’s menu as a special, then depending on the new items’ reception with patrons, she would keep them on until the season changed up or she found something new to highlight.
She’d almost forgot about the hard feelings between the men as she made arrangements for Javier to deliver to the restaurant tomorrow morning and boxed up a small selection to take home and play with tonight. She’d have to bake some focaccia bread as soon as she got home, but she thought the dish would highlight the ingredients perfectly.
Angie was still lost in her head as they returned to the Hummer. She let Estebe open her door and then grabbed a notebook and started scribbling notes. As he pulled out of the driveway, he turned down the music. “You were happy with Javier’s selection, then?”
“Happy? I’m over the moon. It’s what I’ve been looking for, a small farm that focuses on specialty produce. I’m going to open one of the watermelons tonight and see if I can come up with a small salad for the weekend. After I get the bruschetta just right. If you have any ideas, let me know.”
Estebe smiled then. “I am glad you enjoyed your visit.”
He turned the music back up and left Angie to work in her notebook, lost in her thoughts about the perfect dish. When they arrived back at the restaurant, Estebe parked behind her car. “I can keep driving if you need more time to work.”
Angie glanced up from her notes, realizing they were outside the restaurant. A woman passing by on the sidewalk with a Yorkie paused to look at the car and its inhabitants. Angie waved at her and the woman hurried off. Weird. She tucked her notebook into her tote and turned to Estebe. “Thank you so much for the introduction to your cousin and his farm. I’m sure his produce will be a great addition to the menu.”
This time she didn’t wait for Estebe to open her door. She slid out and unlocked her own car by remote. Before she could grab the produce she’d brought back, Estebe was already standing at the back of her car with the box waiting for her to open the hatchback. He sat the box down in the car and closed the rear door. “Thank you for coming with me. Javier has been asking for an introduction for weeks. He believes he is the only produce farmer in the area.”
Angie smiled. “It’s good to have a business you want to support. I enjoyed our morning. Thank you for taking me there.”
“My cousin has many more responsibilities than just the farm. He should take life more seriously.” Estebe looked flustered with his announcement. He closed his eyes and took a breath. “I should be more charitable. I will see you tomorrow.”
Angie watched as he climbed back into his Hummer and drove slowly away. She realized she didn’t even know where he lived. She’d assumed Boise, but since his cousin was just on the outskirts of River Vista,
