Read Online Beef Stolen-Off by Liz Lipperman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Liz Lipperman
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it’s time for your medicine and your nap. Say good-bye to this pretty young lady.” Diego Morales pried his wife’s fingers from around Jordan’s hand a second time. “It was nice meeting you,” he said over his shoulder, wheeling his wife toward the door.
Once they were gone, Jordan glanced down at the business card Brenda Sue had given her.
T AYLOR’S W AGYU R ANCH— G ET R EADY TO T ASTE THE B EST B EEF IN THE C OUNTRY .
Jordan tucked the card in her pocket and headed back to her table, grateful Brenda Sue had agreed to talk to her.Hopefully, she could put the guilt behind her once and for all and get on with her normal boring life.
And then there was the free chicken salad, one of her favorites. Maybe she and Brenda Sue could become friends.
CHAPTER 6
As Jordan stepped into Dwayne Egan’s office, she had a flashback to the first time she’d been summoned there by the boss. Two months ago she’d been so sure she’d get her walking papers, she’d barely noticed the décor of his office. The entire left wall was now lined with pictures of the Texas Rangers baseball team, one even signed by Cliff Lee, the amazing pitcher who’d helped them win the pennant two years before. Apparently, her editor was as big a sports junkie as she was.
“Thank you.” She reached for the cup of coffee Jackie Frazier offered.
With a tilt of her dark curly hair, the Gilda Radner lookalike directed her to the chair across from Egan’s desk. After nodding to her boss, the secretary exited, leaving Jordan alone with him and wondering what he had up his sleeve now. The few times she’d been in this office, he’d always wanted something from her.
“Heard you made quite a hit with Lucas Santana at the funeral last week,” Egan began.
By now, Jordan had gotten used to seeing the man who resembled Joe Pesci behind the desk and hardly even noticed his ears, which connected to each side of his head at the oddest angle.
“I suppose,” she replied, wondering if Santana had followed up on his intentions to call Egan when she hadn’t shown up for dinner at the ranch on Sunday.
“I just got off the phone with him, and I can assure you that wasn’t me making small talk.”
Question answered.
“Whatever went down between the two of you left an impression.” He leaned back in the chair with his hands behind his head, studying her. “I assume Jackie told you we no longer need the article on the Cattlemen’s Ball.”
Jordan nodded.
“Lucas decided, given the circumstances, the less said about it the better. Do you agree?”
Again she nodded, bracing herself for what she was sure would come next. Even though she’d only dealt with her editor a few times since she’d been at the
Ranchero
Globe
, she recognized he was going somewhere with this conversation.
Somewhere she probably didn’t want to go.
“Instead, I’ll need you to spend some time at Santana Circle Ranch documenting the daily operation of a successful cattle ranch.”
“No,” she blurted.
“No?”
Jordan turned away from his intense stare. “The man makes me uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable like you’re afraid of him or like he gives you the willies when he’s in the same—”
“Oh, I’m not afraid of him.” Her strong denial brought back memories of facing off with her four brothers, and she nailed Egan with a defiant gaze. “I’m not some fragile female, you know. I can’t explain why. I just don’t like being around him.”
The editor leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands. “Are you aware Santana Circle Ranch makes up about a third of the advertising budget at the
Globe
?”
Here we go again.
She’d already heard this spiel when he talked her into going to the Cattlemen’s Ball in the first place.
“You made that perfectly clear the last time you summoned me to your office.” She tilted her head back as she glared, ready to give as good as she got.
Egan didn’t even flinch. “Then let me put it another way.
Once they were gone, Jordan glanced down at the business card Brenda Sue had given her.
T AYLOR’S W AGYU R ANCH— G ET R EADY TO T ASTE THE B EST B EEF IN THE C OUNTRY .
Jordan tucked the card in her pocket and headed back to her table, grateful Brenda Sue had agreed to talk to her.Hopefully, she could put the guilt behind her once and for all and get on with her normal boring life.
And then there was the free chicken salad, one of her favorites. Maybe she and Brenda Sue could become friends.
CHAPTER 6
As Jordan stepped into Dwayne Egan’s office, she had a flashback to the first time she’d been summoned there by the boss. Two months ago she’d been so sure she’d get her walking papers, she’d barely noticed the décor of his office. The entire left wall was now lined with pictures of the Texas Rangers baseball team, one even signed by Cliff Lee, the amazing pitcher who’d helped them win the pennant two years before. Apparently, her editor was as big a sports junkie as she was.
“Thank you.” She reached for the cup of coffee Jackie Frazier offered.
With a tilt of her dark curly hair, the Gilda Radner lookalike directed her to the chair across from Egan’s desk. After nodding to her boss, the secretary exited, leaving Jordan alone with him and wondering what he had up his sleeve now. The few times she’d been in this office, he’d always wanted something from her.
“Heard you made quite a hit with Lucas Santana at the funeral last week,” Egan began.
By now, Jordan had gotten used to seeing the man who resembled Joe Pesci behind the desk and hardly even noticed his ears, which connected to each side of his head at the oddest angle.
“I suppose,” she replied, wondering if Santana had followed up on his intentions to call Egan when she hadn’t shown up for dinner at the ranch on Sunday.
“I just got off the phone with him, and I can assure you that wasn’t me making small talk.”
Question answered.
“Whatever went down between the two of you left an impression.” He leaned back in the chair with his hands behind his head, studying her. “I assume Jackie told you we no longer need the article on the Cattlemen’s Ball.”
Jordan nodded.
“Lucas decided, given the circumstances, the less said about it the better. Do you agree?”
Again she nodded, bracing herself for what she was sure would come next. Even though she’d only dealt with her editor a few times since she’d been at the
Ranchero
Globe
, she recognized he was going somewhere with this conversation.
Somewhere she probably didn’t want to go.
“Instead, I’ll need you to spend some time at Santana Circle Ranch documenting the daily operation of a successful cattle ranch.”
“No,” she blurted.
“No?”
Jordan turned away from his intense stare. “The man makes me uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable like you’re afraid of him or like he gives you the willies when he’s in the same—”
“Oh, I’m not afraid of him.” Her strong denial brought back memories of facing off with her four brothers, and she nailed Egan with a defiant gaze. “I’m not some fragile female, you know. I can’t explain why. I just don’t like being around him.”
The editor leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands. “Are you aware Santana Circle Ranch makes up about a third of the advertising budget at the
Globe
?”
Here we go again.
She’d already heard this spiel when he talked her into going to the Cattlemen’s Ball in the first place.
“You made that perfectly clear the last time you summoned me to your office.” She tilted her head back as she glared, ready to give as good as she got.
Egan didn’t even flinch. “Then let me put it another way.
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