Taming the Texas Tycoon / One Night with the Wealthy Rancher. Brenda Jackson

you tell him that with additional refineries we could rotate operations so the loss of this one for a day wouldn’t impact oil prices?” Lance asked.

      “Yes, I did. I’m watching the markets as they open in Japan. I think we will see US crude prices jump.”

      “I know we will. With the economy being what it is, that’s the last thing we need right now.”

      “We can’t control the actions of investors,” Mitch said.

      “I am stopping by the hospital on my way home. I think it’d be a good idea for you to call the injured workers—I’ll send you a text with their names when I’m done.”

      “All right, that sounds good. Lexi and I are going to fly back to Houston together tomorrow.”

      “I haven’t had a chance to talk to her. She called me earlier. Will you let her know that until the mess at the refinery settles down, I can’t talk?”

      “Sure thing,” Mitch said.

      “Did you come up with any ideas for a gift yet?” Lance asked.

      “Not yet. I haven’t been thinking about your love life.”

      Lance hadn’t been, either. “This is business, Mitch. Remember, you told me that. We need the Cavanaugh connection. Today proves that.”

      Mitch didn’t add anything to that. And Lance had to guess that being a brilliant strategist meant his brother wasn’t surprised that his planning had worked to their advantage.

      “I forgot to mention that Kate gave her notice today.”

      “She did? Why?”

      “She thinks this will be a good time for her transition out of her job with us. She’s not being challenged enough or something like that.”

      “Maybe it is time she moved on.”

      “I’m trying to convince her to stay,” Lance said.

      “Why?”

      Lance didn’t know, but there was no way in hell he’d admit it. “She’s part of the Brody Oil and Gas family and we need her.”

      “Maybe she wants to be more.”

      “Like how?” Lance asked remembering Kate’s comment earlier.

      “Think about it,” Mitch said. “I’ve got to run. Don’t forget to send me the names of the injured men.”

      “I won’t. Ally got them interviews on the morning shows for tomorrow. She’s going to talk to the families and prep them on what to say.”

      “Good. I’ll advise the senator of this so maybe he can get a sound bite in, as well.”

      “This could have been a lot worse,” Lance said.

      “Why wasn’t it?” Mitch asked.

      “I think because of all the preparedness we worked on after the hurricane last fall. The guys really knew what to do and how to handle things.”

      Lance pulled into the hospital parking lot and chatted a few more minutes with his brother before hanging up. He didn’t like hospitals. Never had, to be honest. Maybe because he’d visited more than his share of emergency rooms as a child.

      His father had always been blunt in the parking lot. Telling him what to say when the doctors asked about how he’d broken his arm or his leg—bicycle accident; how he’d hurt his ribs or broken his fingers—skateboard accident. Never did he tell anyone the truth. And after a while, Lance realized even he kind of believed his dad’s stories.

      He rubbed his hand over the scars on the back of his left knuckles. Some days he felt damned old, older than his years. He knew he had to be careful with Lexi. Had to remember to keep the engagement and their eventual marriage manageable.

      Lance was always conscious that he’d inherited his father’s legendary temper. And as he sat in his truck looking at the modern hospital, he couldn’t help but remember the promise he’d made to himself when he was thirteen. The promise that he’d never bring a child of his to the emergency room, because he’d never have children.

      He wondered if that was going to be an issue for Lexi Cavanaugh. A part of him hoped it would be so he could end the engagement and get his life back to the way it had been.

      Kate was nervous as she got of out of her car the next morning. Last night the new clothes she’d purchased with Becca in Houston had seemed fun and daring but this morning when she’d put on the slim-fitting sundress and styled her new hair, she’d felt like an imposter.

      It had taken her three tries to get her contacts in but at last she had her look as close as possible to the way the stylist had done it last night.

      But she was nervous…and babbling, she thought. She always talked to herself but this morning her internal talk bordered on inane.

      It all boiled down to one thing. What if everyone saw her and laughed?

      Wasn’t that silly? She was a grown woman and shouldn’t care what anyone else thought but she was trying a new look—one that she was not certain of, despite Becca’s reassurances that she looked hot. Kate still felt like fat, frumpy Kate, trying to be someone she wasn’t.

      She walked into the lobby, and Stan the security guard looked up. “Good morning…”

      “Morning, Stan,” she said, feeling awkward as the older gentleman just kept staring at her.

      “You look nice today, Miss Thornton,” Stan said. “Real pretty.”

      “Thank you, Stan,” she said, the warmth of a blush on her cheeks.

      She scanned her ID card and went to the executive elevator. While she waited, she stared at her reflection in the polished, mirrored wall that surrounded the elevator bank.

      The hardest part about this makeover was that she simply didn’t recognize herself.

      “Excuse me, miss, but this elevator is for executive personnel only,” Lance said, coming up behind her.

      She turned around.

      “Kate?”

      She waited to see if he’d say anything else, but he didn’t. That hurt a little bit but it was okay. Last night she’d decided to stop trying to please Lance, something that she’d done without much thought for a long time.

      “I saw the workers on the Today show this morning. I thought they sounded good.”

      “Ally did a good job of prepping them. I’m glad they will all make a full recovery,” Lance said.

      The elevator car arrived and he waited for her to enter. She felt his eyes on her back as she moved in front of him. Was the skirt too short for the office?

      But when she turned and saw him staring at her legs, she realized that the dress was having its desired effect on him. He was finally seeing her as a woman. Kate felt…weird, actually.

      Lance’s attention was the one thing she’d craved and now she had it. But she wasn’t sure what to do with it.

      “How was your night?” she asked.

      “I spent most of it on the phone…something that would have been easier if my assistant had been here.”

      She pursed her lips. “Maybe your assistant decided it was time to get herself a life.”

      “Did you, Kate? Is that what this is all about?”

      She shook her head. “I’ve been ignoring myself for too long. I know my timing stunk last night but I had no idea there would be a fire at the main refinery.”

      “Who could have known? I don’t mind if you take an afternoon off. In fact, if it would convince you to stay then I think we could work out more time off in your schedule,” Lance said.