by Zuri Day
“No, I’m fine. I need to get downtown and handle a few things myself.” Luke craned his neck before his eyes settled on the petite older woman sitting at a desk at the end of the hall. “That your full-time secretary?”
“Olivia? Secretary, teacher, mother figure, boss. I’ve known her my whole life. Her husband, Clarence, passed at about the same time I started building this place. I thought taking care of things around here would give her something else to focus on besides how lonely life was without him.”
“You’re a good man, Adam,” Dennis said.
“I try.” When he saw Luke still standing beside them, he looked over to where one of the workers was cleaning a stall. “Hey, Bobby. Do me a favor and escort our visitor to the gate.”
Dennis mumbled a goodbye and followed Adam toward the meeting room. Luke walked outside with the worker, clearly dismissed.
“Hope you don’t mind that I showed Luke around,” Dennis said as they settled into chairs in the meeting room with a large window through which cows could be seen grazing at their leisure.
“For someone who says he’s fine at his present job, he seems eager to try out a new one.”
“That’s probably my fault,” Dennis said. “I’ve bragged about this operation since day one. He’s seen all of the positive write-ups about the company. Heck, everybody has seen them. He knows what a fun town Vegas can be. Housing prices beat those in California hands down. There’s no state tax. Lots of beautiful women. Luke’s a bit of a hardhead but overall a good dude.”
“Would Ryan agree with you?” Adam paid close attention to Dennis’s reaction, saw a flash of annoyance before Dennis schooled his features.
“Probably not,” Dennis said with a bit of a chuckle. “Luke used to tease Ryan. She didn’t like it. Too sensitive. He used to flirt with her, even though it was clear she didn’t like bad boys, which is what she considered him back then.”
“Was he?”
Dennis shrugged. “He got into a little trouble, a run-in or two with the law. But that was a long time ago, Adam. Like me, Luke’s changed. We’ve all grown up.”
Dennis’s frank answer was unexpected and basically lined up with what Ryan had alluded to when he’d asked her about Luke.
“One more thing. You resigned in Bakersfield before I hired you. Why?”
“It was foolhardy, I know. But I was beginning to have problems with one of the owners, issues about safety, and pay. I should have told you, Adam, but I wanted the job and knew I could do it.”
“You’re proving that and yes, resigning is something you should have disclosed. Thanks for being honest.” Adam stood, satisfied that he’d made the right choice. “I have to go to a meeting.”
He headed home, where Ryan would meet him for a trip to BBs and a sampling of the new vegetarian options. Later that night, despite their resolve, they spent a leisurely hour sampling each other.
Fourteen
The Christmas season was Ryan’s favorite time of the year. She loved everything about the holiday—crisp winter weather, colorful decorations, shopping, singing, everyone filled with cheer. As she headed to Bakersfield, her thoughts were on Joe, her adoptive dad. The dialysis wasn’t working. He needed a kidney transplant. The immediate family was being tested, along with Joe’s brother and nephew. Because being a blood relative wasn’t a mandatory requirement when seeking a potential donor, Ryan would be tested, too. Joe had always treated her the same as he treated Dennis. Like his very own child. For him to live, she’d give up her kidney in a heartbeat.
Holiday traffic was heavy. Ryan arrived at her parents’ just after dark. Christmas lights outlined the house. The same artificial tree with white lights and gold bulbs that had graced the living room for at least the past decade could be seen through the window. Ryan pulled her luggage from the trunk and reached into the back seat for her Christmas gifts. As she started up the walk the door opened. Her mother came out, not quite smiling, but with a look that came close.
“Hi, Ryan.”
“Hey, Mom. Merry Christmas!”
“Not for another few hours. Do you need help?”
Ida met her halfway and took the shopping bag filled with presents. At Thanksgiving dinner, Ryan had told Ida what happened with her birth mother and didn’t miss the irony that her falling-out with Phyllis had further thawed Ida’s demeanor. She stepped inside, stopped, inhaled and was transported to her preteen years. The smell of mulled tea blended with that of the crispy sugar cookies. During the twelve days of Christmas and Kwanzaa the cookie jar would be kept full, guaranteed. When she turned the corner, took in the familiar tree with the kente-clothed angel topper, the dining room centerpiece she’d helped pick out, and other decorations she used to help hang with family and some of the neighborhood friends, Ryan was surprised to feel love swell up inside. It had been a while since she’d felt this way but tonight, it felt good to be home.
Ryan greeted her father, then made a beeline for the cookie jar. “Where’s Dennis? I thought he’d be here by now.”
“Oh, he’s here. So is April.”
“April? Where’s Ginny, the girl from Thanksgiving?”
Ida shrugged. “Turned out to be a turkey, I guess.”
Ryan laughed out loud, both shocked and delighted at Ida’s joke. She didn’t make them often.
April had lived next door with her parents and siblings when the Washingtons moved there. She was a cute girl, on the thick side, with expressive eyes and a hearty laugh. Dennis always denied they were in a relationship, but Ryan had seen him tiptoe across the backyard more than once. He’d gone into the service and when he came back April was married. But Ida had never been convinced that the two stopped hooking up.
“Divorced and back home with two kids. She was real happy to see your brother.” Ida stopped and looked over her reading glasses with an expression that conveyed “you know what I mean.”
The neighbors came over. One of her dad’s good friends and former postal coworkers stopped by with another type of cheer, a brown liquor in a blue pouch that made the men jolly, and after mixing theirs with cola had the women’s spirits bright, too. When a random scrolling through the channels revealed a harried Jimmy Stewart feeling trapped in his life, the room settled into watching the black-and-white classic. Perfect entertainment and a feel-good finish. Even with the challenges ahead, it felt like a wonderful life!
Ryan went to bed when the movie ended. She woke up hours later to a dark room, a quiet house, a mouth filled with cotton and a vow to never drink strong liquor again. She headed downstairs for a glass of water, added a smaller glass of juice and a bag of chips to the mix, and tiptoed back upstairs.
Passing Dennis’s room, she heard voices. Ryan’s eyes widened. April? No! Ryan hurried to her room, deposited her midnight kitchen run and tiptoed back ever so quietly to her brother’s door. What was happening in Dennis’s room was none of her business. But Ryan couldn’t resist. Cupping her hand, she placed it against the door with her ear firm against it. She heard Dennis’s voice first.
“The money is rolling in like water, man, two hundred and fifty a pound.”
Ryan thought her brother could use a brushup on his pillow talk but maybe April was a meat lover. Could be sexy.
“I’m telling you, man. We could get in on that.”
Not April’s voice...at all.
“I just started working there, dude. I’m not trying to risk my job like that.”
“It wouldn’t be a risk. You’re in charge! I’ve got the substitute.”
Dennis was talking on his cell phone, with Luke’s voice coming through the speaker loud and clear. The conversation was making her stomach roil again.
“You said it yourself—there are thousands of pounds. You think with all that shipping going on they’ll catch a few swapped-out steaks here and there? Going all over the world?”
“I don’t know, man.”
“Even if we run it for just a few months, now, while business is booming, we could do at least twenty or thirty apiece. I have a connection in LA who can probably unload every ounce we get. He caters for the A-list crowd. We could get top dollar. And you could finally pay back what you’ve been owing me for years.”
Ryan slowly backed away from the door and returned to her room. She tried to tell herself she hadn’t heard correctly. Dennis and Adam were friends in high school. Simply being connected to a powerful family like that opened wide the door of possibilities. Her brother wouldn’t be stupid enough to steal from Adam and get that door slammed in his face, and possibly another one clanked shut, one with bars and concrete and neighbors called inmates. Ryan slipped back into bed and pulled the covers over her head, not wanting to believe what she’d heard. Tomorrow would be soon enough to question her brother and learn the last ten minutes had been a dream.
The next morning, Ryan woke up early. She wanted to speak with Dennis while their parents were still sleeping. She didn’t want an argument. But she wanted and would get the answers to explain what she heard last night. She knocked lightly, then checked the knob. The door was unlocked.
“Denny,” she whispered, approaching his bed. She gently shook his shoulder. “Hey, wake up. It’s important.”
“What the heck time is it?” Dennis asked, his eyes squinting in Ryan’s direction. “What’s going on? Is it Dad?”
“No, Dad’s fine.” Ryan sat on the bed. “I want to ask you about something that I heard but I don’t want to argue, okay?”
“If you think the question might start an argument, then maybe you’d better not ask it.”
“I have to, but I don’t want us to start yelling again and wake up Dad.”
Dennis was wide-awake now. His eyes were hard as he glared at her. “What, you heard me talking to Luke about a new enterprise?”
Ryan hadn’t expected Dennis to admit they’d had a conversation. Maybe what she thought she heard was a big misunderstanding.
“Yes, and it sounded as though you were going to swap out the more expensive meat that Adam raises for a lesser quality and make a huge profit.”
“And?”
“Are you kidding me?” Ryan screeched, forgetting about the need to keep her voice low. “You’ve got a great thing going at Breedlove Beef. Why ruin a great job with someone like Adam to make a quick, illegal buck with Luke?”
“Exactly.” Dennis laughed as his head flopped back on the pillow. “You know Luke is always scheming. We were running the numbers, talking what-ifs. I think Adam could have paid me more. He’s definitely got the money. But I like working at the estate. Plus, I’m not going to steal from my sister’s boyfriend. So stop worrying, girl. Luke’s just talking. And I’m just humoring him by going along.”
It was a civil exchange, pleasant even. Ryan made herself comfortable on the bed, chatting with Dennis for almost an hour. She admitted how much she liked Adam, but denied being ready to become his missus as Dennis suggested. They talked about being back in Las Vegas, both admitting it being better the second time around. But mostly they talked about Joe, and finding a kidney. Ryan enjoyed spending the evening with her brother and hoped the camaraderie would continue. Returning to Vegas she thought about Adam, the sexual attraction and deepening feelings, and admitted that however uncomfortable and inconvenient, she hoped their spending time together would continue, too.
Fifteen
The year was winding down and, after today, so too would Adam’s workload. The first shipments of Wagyu had been delivered. Business owners were thrilled, customers were satisfied, positive product reviews continued, and orders were brisk. That’s why he was still in the office well after the sun had gone down, and after putting in almost a full day at CANN International. His body felt every hour he’d worked, and every long day for the past two months. That’s why with operations running smoothly, he was taking a week off. The barn would see him next year.
Even being tired, Adam bypassed his truck parked in the lot and began walking the short distance to his house. After being cooped up in offices for most of the day, the cool night air was refreshing and there wasn’t anything quite so beautiful as a midnight-blue Nevada sky.
Tapping his Bluetooth earphone, he pulled out his phone and called Ryan.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey.”
“How is the woman with the healing hands?”
“Would you stop with that?” she asked him.
But he heard the smile in her voice. “I’m only saying what’s true. And check this out. I’m booking my appointment soon and when I do, I get a discount.”
“You will?”
“Absolutely. I told Mom and my assistant, Olivia, about Integrative Healing. If they haven’t already, both will be calling soon. They’ve also promised to spread the word.”
“Wow, Adam, thank you! The best marketing for services is word of mouth, so I really appreciate you telling others about the business. You’ll absolutely get a discount.”
“Any news on your dad, and finding a donor?”
“Not yet, but it might be me. My blood type and Dad’s is the same.”
While a fairly common procedure with relatively low risks, removing a kidney was still major surgery. Ryan would be left with only one. What if somehow it was damaged? Would she then be in search of a donor? Knowing how Ryan felt about her father, Adam didn’t voice his concerns. If Nicholas needed anything donated, the brothers would be in line to help him get well.
“Two more tests are needed to see if I’m a true candidate.”
“You almost sound excited.”
“I’m hopeful. So far, no one else has been a match. His name has already been placed on the donor list, but the wait through that avenue can be anywhere from six months to a year. I’m not sure Dad... We want him to get the transplant as soon as possible.”
Adam heard what sounded like the beep of doors unlocked with a car fob. “Where are you?”
“Just leaving the office.”
“This late?” Said even while remembering he’d just left, too.
“Yeah. I had a walk-in right as we were about to close up, then did some paperwork. Plus I’m still catching up from all the time spent helping to take care of Dad.”
“Are you headed home?”
“Yes.”
“Want some company?”
A slight pause and then, “Sure.”
“I’m on my way.” Adam spun on his boot and headed back to his pickup. He was suddenly not tired at all.
Just outside of Breedlove’s city limits, his phone rang.
“Hey, Miguel, what’s up?”
“Hey, boss. I’m not sure. Are you in town where you can come by real quick?”
“I’m just outside of town on my way to Vegas. What’s going on?”
“I just opened a package of beef marked Wagyu instead of Black Angus. I’m not an expert on the new beef, but it didn’t look like either of the stock we raise. Didn’t cook up like it, either.”
Adam let out a long, slow breath. How could this mix-up happen, especially since the restaurant wasn’t serving Wagyu? Minutes into the weeklong vacation he’d planned, it was the last thing he wanted to hear. But quality was where Breedlove Beef hung its hat. There was no way he could leave errors to chance. So he checked the mirrors, made a U-turn and headed to BBs.
He pulled into the parking lot a short time later. Since it was the holidays and many were out of town, the restaurant wasn’t as crowded as usual. He pulled out a key and entered through the side door, then headed straight to the kitchen, where he found Miguel sweating over a grill full of meat.
“Hey, boss.”
“Miguel.” Adam stepped closer to the grill, examining its contents. “Where’s the meat you called about?”
“Hang on a sec. I put it up so it wouldn’t get mixed up with these orders.”
Adam watched as Miguel worked the grill like a maestro, delivering to-order doneness from rare to well in choices from burgers to steaks. To be admired, even in Adam’s state of chagrin. After finishing the orders, Miguel pulled the towel from around his neck and wiped his face. He turned to the other stainless steel counter and uncovered a patty on a saucer.
“This is the burger from the package,” he said, handing it to Adam, before continuing to the fridge.
Adam eyed the burger, smelled it, then broke off a piece to taste.
Miguel walked back to where Adam stood. “This is the package.”
It wasn’t discernible to Adam’s eye, but one whiff and his suspicions were as heightened as Miguel’s were, and one bite was all he needed to drop the saucer back onto the counter. That wasn’t Breedlove anything, Wagyu or otherwise. He opened the packet to inspect the raw meat, then the packaging itself, which was definitely from his facility.
“Do me a favor. Put this back in the fridge, but when you leave tonight, take it with you, okay? I don’t want any chance for that to be served, but we need to keep it so I can find out its origins and how it ended up with our label.”
“Because it isn’t Black Angus, either, huh?”
Adam shook his head.
“I wonder what it is?”
Adam placed the Stetson he’d removed when entering back on his head. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. On second thought, hand me that package. I’ve got to figure out where this meat came from and how it was mislabeled. Have the wrong customer get a lower-quality product than was ordered, one who takes their complaint to the media, and our reputation could be damaged. It’s too early in the game for us to take that chance.”
Back in his truck, Adam called Ryan. “Sorry, baby, change in plans.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Probably, but I got a call regarding something at the plant and need to head back there. I probably should have Dennis meet me there, too. Call you later?”