Read Online Ring of Truth by Ciji Ware - Free Book Online

for my blog?”
    â€œAbsolutely, but can you make that eight-thirty?” Ren countered and then grimaced. “I know that’s ridiculously early, but I’ve got to be on tap for my staff getting ready for that big busload of your fellow writers due to arrive sometime before noon. That way, we can walk the groves and see the vegetable garden and the lavender fields, and then sit down in my office with some coffee to talk before things get too hectic.”
    â€œPerfect!” she exclaimed, and he was exhilarated to see by the color staining her cheeks, evidence that she was clearly excited at the prospect of visiting the ranch.
    â€œAnd if you have a tight deadline tomorrow,” he ventured, “while we wait for the other food writers to arrive—or after they depart—you can use my computer, if you want or need to. I’ll be busy being the genial host.”
    He was determined to offer the woman every courtesy to smooth the way for a possible mention in her influential blog. If she used his office, he thought with a sudden sense of pleasure that raised his flagging spirits, she’d hang around the ranch a little longer and that would be great on its own merits.
    Ren struggled to bring his thoughts back to the business at hand. A relieved expression lit up her lovely features.
    â€œBorrowing your computer would be a huge help,” she said.  “I’ve just been assigned an extra blog post every Saturday, so I’ll definitely take you up on your offer after everyone leaves, if I may.”
    â€œIt’ll be all yours,” he said with a laugh. “By then I’ll be on cleanup duty.”
    It seemed like some sort of miracle that this amazingly talented star of the food world wanted to tour his family’s domestic olive oil operation and taste Jeremy’s wonderful food made from ingredients grown within steps of their commercial kitchen.
    Finally, he thought, the Montisi Olive Ranch and its manager might be getting a few breaks, as a spreadsheet flashed through his mind with some discouraging profit-and-loss totals at the bottom.
    ***
    For Kerry’s part, Renato Montisi would have been amazed to know what was whirling in her head as the clerk assembled the bottles of olive oil on the desk and began to wrap each one for transport to her friends and relatives on the East Coast.
    Her mind was filled with a sense of what she could only describe as unbridled euphoria. Thanks to this astounding meet-up, not only would she get to interview the personable producer of a wonderful artisanal product, she’d also meet a raft of fellow food writers in person, instead of merely online. Even better, she already knew she’d get at least three or four blog posts out of seeing the olive groves, the bottling facility, and dining with nationally known culinary critics. Maybe she could even recruit some of them to do what she did, but in their own cities?
    Relief swept over her at the thought that in one fell swoop, she could make her first week’s crushing deadlines and suggest some viable names with whom to launch the LifestyleXer/CookChic brand in ten major markets, as she was contractually obligated.
    Â And it had all happened on her first day in California! She glanced at her right hand. Surely the Claddagh ring couldn’t take credit for everything ?
    Tony broke into her jumble of thoughts.
    Â â€œYou can borrow my car tomorrow,” he offered, almost worshipfully, his attention glued—not on her—but on the bottles of olive oil that Amphora Nueva’s proprietor had already decanted and had handed to him, corks firmly in place.
    â€œThanks,” Kerry replied, turning to offer her new friend her heartfelt appreciation. “That’s very sweet of you, but I’ll just lease a rental.” To Ren Montisi she added, “This is so nice of you to make time for me, given all that you have to do tomorrow. I’m really