Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Cammie gasped. “That’s awful. There was nothing like that when I was there.”
“The management change occurred after you left. I spoke with their president today. His answer was that my residents were too touchy,” she finished with a growl.
Fernsby harrumphed and muttered, “A disgustingly poor excuse for bad behavior.”
“That’s what I said when I fired him.” She sighed heavily. “I’ve found a group who can manage the catering for a couple of weeks. But I need to find someone longer term ASAP. The problem is that I’ve tried every name in the book.”
“Tell us who you’ve talked to,” Dane said.
She pulled the list from her purse and laid it on the table. Every single caterer had been crossed off.
Dane shook his head gently. “What about Ransom Yates?”
Ava jumped on that immediately. “Why would you bring him up? He doesn’t do retirement homes. He’s a superstar chef,” she said, using air quotes. “This is more like cafeteria work. He does resorts and cruise ships and big galas and five-star restaurants and TV shows.”
But did she really know what he did these days? She’d been so careful never to look him up on the internet. Except for seeing his TV commercials or his face on the sides of buses and his cookbooks in bookstores, she’d avoided finding out anything more about him.
But her brothers were still friends with Ransom through various functions they attended. Dane still used him at his resorts. In fact, Ransom had catered Gideon’s New Year’s Eve gala at Dane’s Napa resort. Ava had made sure not to run into him.
But the food had been pretty darned amazing.
Dane shrugged. “Who knows, he might do it—at least for a while, until you find someone permanent. There’s no harm in asking.”
She would rather cut off a limb.
She’d met Ransom Yates more than fifteen years ago, when she’d taken care of his grandmother at the convalescent home where she’d worked after leaving university. Her parents had left behind massive debts. There’d been no money to finish college, not even enough for the basic needs of her younger siblings. So she and Dane had gone to work. But that first job was exactly why she’d chosen eldercare, why she’d pursued a degree in healthcare and senior living management. Because she’d wanted to provide homes and staff that gave older adults the respect they deserved.
Ransom had come often to see his grandmother. Then he’d started coming to see Ava.
Of course the family didn’t know about it. They didn’t know how it had ended either.
Dane pushed. “No, for you—for family—he’ll do it.”
She was still shaking her head.
Clay chimed in. “Come on, you’re being ridiculous.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “You’ve got a big need. Sure, your residents aren’t rich people in fancy resorts, but in fact, their needs are even more important. He’ll do it. I know he will.”
The only one who knew anything about her past with Ransom was Gabby. Thankfully, her sister kept quiet, and Ava shot her a look, speaking her gratitude with her eyes.
“Look,” Dane said, “you have the right to ask. Just as he has the right to say no. But you at least need to talk to him.”
She felt Fernsby staring her down, before he said in his usual spot-on way, “Lochlan, Cammie’s uncle and one of your very special residents, would have told you that calling Mr. Yates was an absolute must.”
Cammie gave a nod of agreement.
Defeat loomed over Ava like a wave.
The only way she could get out of calling Ransom for help was if she told her brothers—and Fernsby—about their relationship. And she absolutely would not do that. Ever.
Ransom Yates had completely bombarded her all day. First, he’d popped into her head when she was thinking about her catering issues. Then he’d cropped up on the bus. And now, her family was throwing him at her.
Three times in one day? Really?
And yet, she had no choice. Hadn’t she told Naomi they needed to think outside the box? Well, Ransom was definitely outside the box. Pandora’s box.
Finally, she had to say, “All right. Who’s got his number?”
All three of her brothers whipped out their phones and started scrolling through their contacts.
She was stuck.
* * *
Fernsby felt the need to dance a jig. He’d experienced that same need quite often over the last few months. But due to his legendary restraint, he only jigged in the privacy of his own quarters.
Well, well, well. If he didn’t know better, he’d think Ava Harrington had a secret. And of course, Fernsby always knew better. Ransom Yates. What was going on there? The idea intrigued him.
Handsome, fit, mature, and well established in a brilliant career as a celebrity chef, the man was eminently suited for Ava. Her success wouldn’t intimidate him, as it did so many lesser men who couldn’t appreciate her fine qualities, her intelligence, assurance, business acumen, and compassion. Many men simply couldn’t handle a self-made female billionaire, as if billion-dollar corporations were the purview of only men.