All Summer Long (Fool's Gold #9)(37)

Rafe had taken off on his delayed honeymoon about a week ago. Dante had driven in to take care of things in town while Rafe was gone.

“Settling in all right?” Clay asked as he collected a mug and moved to the always-full carafe.

“I brought one suitcase,” Dante told him. “Unpacking didn’t take long.”

“What about the rest of your stuff?”

“I’m waiting.”

“Refusing to pack in protest?”

Dante grinned. “Something like that.” He looked out the window. “I miss the bay.”

“It’s warmer here than in San Francisco.”

“It’s warmer in hell, too. Doesn’t mean I want to be there.”

“You could have told Rafe you wouldn’t agree to move the business.”

Dante nodded. “I know, but he was so damned happy. All in love and beaming. It was disconcerting.”

“Admitting to a moment of actual emotion?”

Dante turned and glared at him. “No. I’m a cold sonofabitch and don’t you forget it.”

Dante was about Clay’s height, with blond hair and dark blue eyes. He wore suits instead of jeans. Even now he had on a tie. Clay suspected it wouldn’t be long until the town worked its magic and Dante fit in just like everyone else.

Clay poured his coffee, then turned back to Dante. “I have a business question.”

“Need me to fly somewhere and file a brief? Because I’m happy to do it. New York? New York would be perfect.”

Clay grinned. “Sorry, no.” He thought about the résumés on his desk. “Rafe tell you about my Haycations idea?”

Dante nodded. “I did some research. There’s a growing market for that kind of travel. Families like the chance to reconnect with each other and a simpler time. They can drive instead of fly to get here, which people like. What’s the problem?”

“I need to hire a farm manager. I have plenty of theoretical learning, but not much in the way of practical experience. Based on that, I decided to get someone in for the first couple of years.”

“Smart,” Dante told him. “Hands-on education is best for a business like this.”

Clay nodded, then drew in a breath. “I can’t decide on the guy. I’m used to hiring a business manager or an accountant. This is different. I’ve narrowed it down to two guys.”

“What are they like?”

“Nate is close to forty, experienced. He’s worked on plenty of farms, has even helped one guy in Washington State start a vineyard. He knows how to get me where I want to go.”

“And the other guy?”

“Ty is younger and less experienced.” Clay hesitated. “I like Ty better. He seems more easygoing. But he’s never done what I want to do and while he grew up on a farm, he has a lot less experience on his own.”

“What does your gut say?”

“Ty,” Clay admitted. “But my gut could be wrong. Nate makes the most sense. I don’t know why I’m hesitating. He has good references. I checked them all and he gets positive reports from his previous employers.”

The decision was important and Clay didn’t want to make a mistake. He had something to prove. Ironically it wasn’t to his brothers or even the town. This time he had something to prove to himself.

Dante shrugged. “You’re going to have to pick one. If you make the wrong decision, you go back and correct it.”

“Is that what you do?”

Dante chuckled. “I don’t make mistakes. Didn’t Rafe tell you?”

“No. He forgot to mention that.”

“Sounds like him. Hogging all the glory.” Dante walked over and patted Clay on the shoulder. “Trust your instincts. They’re usually right.”

He walked out of the kitchen. Clay watched him go, then stared out the window. The guys he’d hired to clear the land would be done by the first part of next week. He needed to make a decision by then.

He went back upstairs and stared at the résumés. Even though his gut said to go with Ty, he knew he needed the experience Nate had to offer. He picked up his cell, then dialed Nate’s number.

* * *

DOMINIQUE STEPPED OUT of her car onto a very dusty driveway. She glanced down at her pale gray suede pumps and wondered if they would ever be the same.

“Beauty is a disposable asset,” she murmured as she closed the car door and looked around.

She’d never been on a ranch before and hadn’t known what to expect. There were horses in pens. She couldn’t see any cows, which was good. She wasn’t one who enjoyed the presence of cows. Up on the hill was a large open area with a—

She blinked, then stared. An elephant?

“Dominique?”

She turned and saw May Stryker standing on the porch of the house.

“Is that an elephant?” she asked, pointing.

“Yes. Priscilla. We also have sheep and llamas. I threatened my sons with a zebra a few months back, but I was only kidding. How nice to see you. Why don’t you come inside?”

Dominique gave the elephant one more backward glance before following the other woman into the house.

Yesterday, not knowing what else to do, she’d phoned May Stryker and asked if they could meet. She had no idea what to do about Chantal. Perhaps a woman with several children would have some suggestions.