Page 74 of Hollywood

“Tex is gonna do great,” Ken said approvingly.

Matteo shook his hand once more. “I really appreciate you working with Redemption Road. A lot of our guys get hired on permanently at some point, so we’re always looking for more sources of employment. Let me know if you have other openings, or if you know of other businesses that might be interested.”

“I sure will,” Ken said. “If this works out like I think it will, I’ll happily sing your praises.”

Matteo said his goodbyes and went out the front door. Ken led me to the other bay, bursting with color: red tomatoes, purple onions and eggplants, green zucchini, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce.

“We supply all the organic produce for two local grocers,” Ken said. “And there’s Helena.” He raised his voice. “Helena! Hey! Helen—for goodness’ sake.” He waved a hand wildly in the air and she finally turned, pulling out earbuds.

“Girl is always listening to YouTube. Gen Z, am I right?”

“Well, technically I’m Gen Z, though I can say I feel like a different generation than the twenty-year-olds.”

At twenty-six I was on the upper end of the generation, age-wise.

Ken chuckled. “Ah hell, it all blurs together for an old coot like me.”

“Please, I bet you’re just a Millennial,” I teased.

He laughed. “I wish.”

Helena reached us. “So, this is the new guy?” She gave me a once-over, eyebrow rising. “Well, he’s got the big strapping country boy look down.”

“This is Tex,” Ken said. “He’ll be working with you for the last few hours of your shift.” He turned to me. “Helena will show you how to close out tonight, but in the future, she’ll leave at ten, and you’ll close up later.”

I nodded. “Sounds good.”

“Is that really your name?” Helena asked. “Are you from Texas or something?”

“It’s a nickname,” I said. “And yeah, I grew up in Texas until I was in middle school. When I moved here, I still had that Texas drawl, so I picked up the nickname. Since I hated my real one, I gladly took it.”

“So, what’s your real name?”

“If I have my way, you’ll never know.” I turned to Ken. “You’ll keep my secret, won’t you? I had to use the real name on the paperwork.”

“Sure, I will. Tex suits you,” he said. “Helena, why don’t you take over the tour? Tex needs to see the packaging facility and then do some work over in the other greenhouse bay. ButI’m running late for dinner at home, and you know how Caroline gets when I let my food get cold.”

“Sure, Uncle Ken.”

Once her uncle left, she led me down the rows, flinging out a hand.

“Fruits. Veggies. You get the drift. We pick them when they’re ready and package orders. Most of the time, though, we’re just here to make sure the hydroponics are working. Since you’re the new guy, you can do all the grunt work.”

Helena was clearly an all-star employee.

“I’m happy to do whatever needs doing,” I said.

“Good.” She narrowed her blue eyes at me. “Because when Uncle Ken isn’t here,I’myour boss. If I say jump, you ask how high. I don’t want any bullshit posturing because you think you’re a big man.”

I wasn’t sure that was strictly true, but I wasn’t about to argue on my first night on the job. Helena was a spitfire, that was for sure, but I doubted she cared enough to be any kind of real boss.

“Put me to work, boss,” I said. “I’m ready.”

She smiled, her whole expression shifting. “Well, that’s more like it. I think I might like having you here, big guy. Maybe if we get bored, we can find something fun to do together.”

The way her eyes scanned over my chest and arms, I got the feeling I knew what kind of fun she wanted. Helena was a pretty girl, somewhere in her early twenties, with delicate features. She had the farm girl build—strong, sturdy—but still feminine.

And if I wasn’t with Hollywood, I might even be interested—despite her terrible personality. But as she fluttered her eyelashes at me and made suggestive comments about the size of the cucumbers, the way my biceps bulged when I carried acrate of produce to the back for shipping, and how strong I must be, I was unmoved.