CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

REAGAN

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, Mr. Gonzalez."

I shook his hand, rough and weathered from years of work. His handshake felt firm and confident but I could still sense tremors of nervousness rising off him. 

That didn't phase me, though. It was perfectly normal to be nervous for a job interview. 

"It's no problem, Mr. Sells. I appreciate you seeing me right away."

Julian Gonzalez flashed a friendly smile and took the seat across from my desk. I studied everything about him in careful detail, from the suit he chose to wear to the way he folded his hands in his lap. I had a good feeling about him and my instincts were usually, no, always, correct. But I still had to make sure he was the right fit.

He was in his early forties with crow's feet around his eyes when he smiled. The suit he wore was at least two sizes too big on his lean frame and he twitched and pulled at it uncomfortably, which told me how rarely he wore it. 

It wouldn't do to make him come all the way out to San Francisco for a quick office interview, so we sat in a space I rented in downtown Cloverville.

When I came back here this morning, my chest squeezed with longing as if I was finally returning home. And soon it would be home. 

If she let me.

Despite the simple, bare surroundings, Mr. Gonzalez looked a bit intimidated and out of his element, especially when sitting across from me. 

"So you have over twenty years of farm management experience?" I asked, skimming over his resume in front of me. 

"That's correct, sir," he answered with a nervous smile. "I've worked with livestock and crop farms as well."

"How about organic produce?" 

"Yes, definitely." He seemed to relax a little. "The last farm I managed in Fresno was a smaller scale organic produce operation." 

"Why did you leave?"

 "Well--"

"And you don't have to lie. 'Because it's fucking Fresno' is a perfectly acceptable answer." 

He laughed for the first time and nodded. 

"That may have had something to do with it. I definitely wanted to pursue better opportunities." 

I smiled to myself as I looked further over his resume. I really liked this guy and knew Pepper would too, if she didn't point her shotgun at me for doing this in the first place.

"And you're bilingual?" 

"Almost tri-lingual, actually," he said with a relaxed smirk. "While I've been job searching, I've also been practicing my Portuguese." 

"Well, I like everything I'm seeing here so far, Julian." I leaned back in my seat. "Do you have any questions for me?" 

"Yes, if you don't mind." His nervousness returned slightly. "In the past, I've always been interviewed directly at the farm and been able to walk through it. Never so... formally, like this, I guess." 

"You're wondering what the hell you're doing here." I completed the thought for him and he nodded.

"We'll definitely walk you through the farm," I assured him, my heart leaping slightly at the thought of stepping foot on Pepper's land again. "But as my secretary mentioned on the phone, your employment contract will be through my company. Sage Farm won't be hiring you directly, I will." 

"I see," he said cautiously. "May I ask what would the difference be?" 

"Through my company, you'll be paid an extremely competitive salary that is locked in, no matter if the farm has a poor harvest season or not," I explained. "You'll also have health care and retirement benefits, paid vacation time, and stock options. When you'll need to hire extra hands, you'll have access to our HR department as well."

Julian's mouth dropped open and the color from his face drained as if he would faint. But he gripped the armrests of the chair and stayed upright. 

"You're serious?" he breathed.

"Absolutely," I replied. 

"But... why?" He blinked in disbelief. "No one gives farmers those kinds of benefits." 

"Because I believe in investing in my employees," I said. "And you're one of the most experienced farm managers in the state." I paused for half a second. "And because the owner of Sage Farm, who would be your direct supervisor, is someone very dear to me." 

"Mr. Sells, I don't know what to say." Julian quickly reeled in his excitement as he smoothed his hands over his pants. "I would still like to see the farm before I make my decision." 

My heartbeat accelerated as I stood to my feet. 

"Well let's take a drive, shall we? If you'll wait in the lobby, I'll call the owner and let her know we're coming." 

"Yes, of course!" 

Julian practically skipped out the door as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called Pepper's number. 

It rang once. Twice. 

My pulse sped up with every ring. I hadn't attempted to call her in a few days and didn't expect her to pick up. But I'd be heading over there whether she answered or not. 

I'd make my case, the one solution I came up with that had any prayer's chance of working. And only she could tell me if it was the right move. 

If she would have me again. 

My office building in San Francisco? An earthquake could render it to rubble for all I cared. My helicopter? My boats? My cars? Fuck them all. 

She was the only thing I wanted anymore.

"Hello?" 

"Pepper," I said, startled at her voice in my ear. My heart pumped harder, sending blood straight to my dick at the memory of the last time I heard her voice.

"Hi, Reagan," she said, sounding uneasy. 

"Hey," I answered, my throat suddenly dry and lost for words. "How are you?" 

"I'm okay, I think. How are you?"

"Surprised that you answered," I confessed. 

"I'm surprised you called again," she replied. 

"Well, it didn't seem like you wanted to talk to me for a while. Thought I'd leave you alone before trying again." 

She paused on the line and I could picture her tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I was wondering if I should call you, honestly," she said. "I--" 

The line scratched with some kind of static interference, making my heart go into overdrive as it drowned out her last words. 

"Sorry, Pepper. I didn't catch that. Say again?"

I sounded desperate. I didn't care. I was desperate. 

"I miss you."

My chest felt like it opened up and allowed my heart to soar. An unstoppable grin spread on my face. 

"I miss you too," I replied. 

I suddenly remembered Julian, probably wondering what the hell was taking so long. This reconnection didn't necessarily mean anything yet. The solution still needed to be carried out.

"Hey, I'm in town," I told her. "Could I come over in a bit? There's someone I want you to meet."

"Oh, okay. Sure." 

She sounded disappointed. Was she hoping I'd come alone? Or that I was still conveniently far away? 

"I'm on my way. See you soon."

I ended the call and practically sprinted out my office door, moving right past Julian who waited patiently on the lobby couch. 

"Let's go!" I said, making a beeline for the garage and my Bentley SUV, Julien hot on my heels. His eyes widened as he carefully slid into the passenger seat.

"I've never even seen one of these cars in real life before," he muttered, looking around the interior in amazement. 

"You want it?" I asked.

His head snapped toward me.

"You've got to be joking." 

I shrugged as I drove out of the lot. 

"Maybe just a little."