2 Crushed Read Online Free PDF Page B

and
took a sip, dismissing him as soon as she'd laid eyes on him.
    Adam waited for Billie to scoot in
next to Handel before taking the remaining seat next to the Ice Queen. He
wondered if he'd come down with a case of freezer burn if he got too close. The
booth was narrow and his arm grazed hers as he settled in. She pulled back as
though he carried the plague, and slid closer toward the wall on her side.
    Handel and Billie didn't seem to
notice. They were too busy looking into each other's eyes as though they'd been
apart for months rather than mere hours. He glanced away and hoped the waiter
came quickly to take their orders.
    "So, you showed up yesterday
and Billie already put you to work, huh?" Handel said.
    "Something like that."
    Billie smiled. "Adam is a whiz
at numbers, he has an accounting degree, and he can even play a mean
guitar."
    He heard a distinct sigh of boredom
from the woman beside him. He turned toward her. "So what do you do,
Margaret?" he asked. "Besides, telling men exactly where to go when they stop and ask
directions?"
    Handel coughed and raised his glass
to his lips to cover a grin. Billie was turning a lovely shade of pink and
looked like she wanted to punch him in the arm again. Just like old times.
    Margaret set her glass down but
held his gaze. "Sometimes I help them on their way."
    Providentially, the waiter showed
up at that moment and encouraged everyone to order the special of the
day—the Herbie Burger. When the waiter left, Handel quickly picked up the
conversation.
    "How long are you planning to
stay, Adam? We should take you out on the town some night. It's always fun to listen
to the street musicians or attend a concert in the park."
    "That would be great, but I'm
not really sure what my plans are at this point."
    "What do you mean—you
don't know?" Billie said, "I thought you were..."
    "I changed my mind." He
shrugged. "San Francisco is calling my name. Thought I'd answer the call
and do a little walk-about."
    "Figures," Margaret said,
her voice like a jab to his ribs.
    Why did this woman's opinion of him
matter? He didn't know her from—Eve. When it came to men, Margaret Parker
was a cynical shrew. She thought all men were the same and he obviously just
confirmed her belief pattern.
    "Sorry to disappoint you, but
Billie is struggling with the winery and I'm afraid I’d be dead weight around
here. She needs someone with expertise at running a winery, not just a number
cruncher."
    "That's not true, Adam."
Billie said, leaning forward, her hands on the table. "You can help me in
many more ways than crunching numbers. You’re better at problem solving and
coming up with ideas. That's what I need right now. Someone with ideas for
change. Cause what we're doing is obviously not working. And don’t worry, I
have plenty of hard labor for you when the numbers run out."
    "I thought the Time in a Bottle brand was selling
well," Handel said, his gaze narrowed on Billie. He covered her hand with
his. "Has something else happened since we talked?"
    "No. Only the same old thing.
It took Adam pointing it out to me this morning that made me see I can't live
off of my uncle's wishful thinking, and neither can my employees. Making
Fredrickson’s profitable again may be a pipedream."
    "You've got to give it time.
It can take months, even years, to get your brand out there."
    "We don't have years. I'm not
sure we even have months. I haven't got enough savings to prop us up that
long."
    Handel put his arm around her
shoulders and pulled her close. "You know I'll help anyway I can."
    She nodded. "I know, but you
have your own practice to worry about. What I need is someone with winery
experience, fresh money-saving ideas, awesome management skills, winemaking
expertise, and a willingness to work for next to nothing."
    Margaret cleared her throat, “I
have…” she started, but the waiter brought their platters and she fell silent.
Adam glanced her way. She seemed nervous, unwrapping her flatware and