Halfway There by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

“I love this.”
    “See?” Ana Raquel’s expression turned smug. “Now imagine that in a very soft crustless bread at high tea. Delicious.”
    “You don’t get to have a trailer and a teahouse,” Dellina told her. “You have to pick.”
    “You mean it’s time to settle down?” Ana Raquel asked, then turned to Fayrene. “So who’s the guy I keep hearing about?”
    Fayrene speared a strawberry and did her best not to blush. “You’ve been back in town fifteen minutes. How do you know about any guy?”
    “I have sources. As long as it’s not Greg Clary.”
    Dellina rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Are you still obsessing about him?”
    “I don’t obsess. The man is annoying. He’s been annoying since the second grade.”
    “Ignore her,” Fayrene said, having listened to literally years of her sibling’s complaints about Greg. “She’s secretly in love with him, and one day when she’s mature enough, she’ll admit it.”
    “I totally agree,” Dellina said.
    Ana Raquel shook her head. “I’m can’t hear either of you.” She turned to her twin. “And don’t think I didn’t notice how you changed the subject when I asked about your guy.”
    “I didn’t mean to.” Fayrene thought about Ryan.
    “Oooh, did you see that?” Ana Raquel asked. “There was definite glowing.”
    “I saw it,” Dellina dug her fork into the turkey salad. “I thought you weren’t getting serious about anyone for years? You have a plan.”
    “We’re not serious, and I do have a plan. We’re just having fun. He’s not staying in town permanently, so nothing is going to happen.”
    Although when he kissed her, she felt a lot of potential.
    “It’s a fling,” she added. “Temporary and fun.”
    “Sounds dangerous to me,” Ana Raquel said. “What starts out as something simple can get complicated really quickly.”
    “She would know,” Dellina teased. “She’s been in a long-term relationship since the second grade.”
    Ana Raquel groaned. “I’m serious. I really, really don’t like Greg Clary.”
    “Uh-huh,” Fayrene told her. “Keep telling yourself that and maybe one day it will be true.”
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    “I’M IMPRESSED,” ETHAN said, studying the data they’d downloaded from the computer system linked to the wind turbines. “The data is consistent. There’s an average of a twenty percent increase in generating power without any increase in wind. You’re getting more electricity from the same wind.”
    Ryan nodded. “That was the goal.”
    His boss looked at him. “Okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t think it could be done.”
    Ryan grinned. “You didn’t think I was that good.”
    “I’d hoped, but you’re right. I lacked faith. Not anymore. If your designs are half as efficient as the tests show, this is a game changer.” Ethan checked the computer, then turned back to him. “I’d like you to stay on permanently. Is that an option?”
    Ryan didn’t try to conceal his surprise. “I didn’t think you wanted to take on research. It’s not cheap.”
    “I don’t have unlimited resources, but the company’s doing well and I have some wealthy investors.”
    Ryan wondered if Josh was one of them.
    “You’d have access to our customers’ facilities for testing. I’ve talked to most of them already, and they’re interested. Plus, we’d share a percentage on any licensing of patents.”
    That got Ryan’s attention. Generally when an employee developed technology while working for a company, the company owned the patent and any income derived from it. After all, developing the technology was the job description. If a product did well, there could be a bonus of some kind, but that was it. To be offered a percentage was significant. Over time, that could be real money. Assuming Ryan was able to come up with something they could market.
    “I’m intrigued,” Ryan admitted. “Give me a couple of days to think about it?”
    “Sure. Get back to me Monday. If you’re