Texas Fire

by Gerry Bartlett

  Rowdy waited her out, figuring there was more to the story. She glanced at him.

  She stroked Lucky’s fur. “I guess Daddy was desperate when he made that will. He knew he was dying. Heart trouble. And none of us had ever worked seriously at anything. Except for Cassidy, of course. And none of us knew about her before that day we heard the will read.” She turned to face him. “She seems like a hard worker. Daddy obviously felt bad that he wasn’t able to acknowledge her while he was alive.”

  “If he had, her life would have been a hell of a lot different.” Rowdy knew he’d never have ended up spending so many years dating Cassidy Calhoun. He would have figured she was as beyond his reach as this woman sitting a few feet away from him right now. But Conrad Calhoun had abided by a divorce decree that had terminated his parental rights and forbid him from contacting his first child. So Cass had been raised like Rowdy, in a tiny town with a single mother and a no-frills lifestyle.

  But she was one of the oil-rich Calhouns now, thanks to her father’s will. He didn’t doubt she’d successfully fulfill her year working at the job her father had picked for her. About five minutes after that will was read, Cass had found a man who also belonged in a rich man’s world. Damn, but it still stung that she’d found it so easy to move on from her high school sweetheart.

  “You’re looking awfully solemn over there. Still brooding about Cass? They haven’t set a wedding date yet.” Megan must have been reading his mind.

  “She can marry anyone she wants. I just hope the guy’s good enough for her.” Rowdy realized he was holding the steering wheel way too tight and eased off. “You know him. What do you think?”

  “Mason MacKenzie is a good guy. I grew up with him. And he’s crazy in love with Cass. If you’re worried about him breaking her heart, don’t.” Megan patted his hand. “He’ll treat her right. You can safely move on.”

  “Thanks for the permission.” Rowdy wanted to grind his teeth. He didn’t know how to feel. Relieved? Mad? Hurt? “Look, Cass and I loved each other. It’ll take me a while to figure out where to go from there.” Oh shit. He was hurt. That his lady had moved on so fast and never looked back. Had his voice betrayed him? Megan’s hand still rested on his. “I’m fine. Need to get laid, I guess.” He forced himself to give her a wolfish smile. “What do you think?”

  That got her hand back where it belonged quickly enough. And the pity out of her bright blue eyes.

  “I think I have no interest in being your rebound, if that’s what that look means.” She gently shoved Lucky into the backseat again. “You need to get your rocks off, check around the rigs where we’re going. You may have to pay for it, but at least you’ll get your problem handled.”

  “Women around the rigs? Yeah, there are plenty of them who are ready and willing. Not necessarily whores. Some of them live in the small towns that the oil boom changed.” Rowdy shuddered. “It’s a damn shame, but those gals can get desperate to move out of the middle of nowhere and they see the roughnecks as their ticket to ride.”

  “You’re kidding.” Megan shook her head. “I’d never depend on a man to take care of me.”

  “You’ve never had to, if we don’t count your father.” Rowdy tapped the radio on but all he got was static. Yeah, middle of nowhere. He turned it off again. “Sometimes that’s all a woman can see as her future. And the rigs pay good money.”

  “Can’t women work on them, too?” Now she had the light of a defender of women’s rights shining in her eyes.

  “It’s hard physical labor. I’m sure there are some who could handle it, but it really is a man’s world. You’ll see.” He realized they were coming into a small town, speed trap, and he slowed down. “I wouldn’t sleep with any of the women hanging around the rigs. That’s the bottom line.”

  “So I guess you’re stuck with your frustration, Rowdy.” She smiled like she was happy to watch him suffer.

  He kept his eyes on the road but couldn’t help remembering Megan’s really fine ass when he’d been working on her cactus wounds. “Guess it wouldn’t be a good idea for you and me to hook up anyway. You’d fall in love with me, and I’m sure not going to get seriously involved with a woman in the foreseeable future. Certainly not a Calhoun.”

  “I’d fall in love?” She angled to face him, wincing when she must have hit her sore hip. “You think I couldn’t just have an affair with you and not become emotionally involved?”

  “Women aren’t like men, Megan.” Rowdy laughed. “I’ve learned that much in thirty-two years. You would never be able just to relieve a little tension at the end of a long day and then let it go. You’d get all caught up in ‘feelings.’ Try to make it into a relationship. Admit it.”

  “I’ll admit no such thing. You want to have a no-strings affair? I wouldn’t mind it. I was dreading a year with nothing going on but this job looking at oil rigs. Even worse, pretending I knew what the hell I was doing. A fling with you would certainly add spice to things.” She said it like she was discussing what to have for lunch.

  Rowdy glanced at her, sure she was joking. “Not interested. I told you. It would be complicated. I’m your boss. Next thing I know, you’ll be yelling sexual harassment.”

  “Get real. I guess someone could make a case for it—you boss, me underling.” She reached down and unclipped her seat belt. “But I’m a Calhoun. A lawsuit against a worker for my company hurts me, too. Not going to happen.” She squared off to face him, a look on her face that made him uneasy.

  “What the hell are you doing? That’s not safe.” Rowdy had left the small town and was going eighty-five again, the speed limit. He always wore his seat belt—and not just because it was the law. Megan had a light in her eyes that spoke of challenge and mischief. All this talk of an affair and no strings was just that—talk. He wasn’t buying it for an instant.

  “Showing you the goods.” She pulled off her loose T-shirt and tossed it over her seat. It landed on Lucky, who barked and tugged at it, clearly thinking this was a game.

  “I’ve seen the goods. Not interested.” He tore his gaze back to the road. At least she wasn’t wearing that lacy black bra he’d picked out. He’d done it as a joke. Had she put on the thong anyway? No, he wasn’t going there. He couldn’t keep from glancing over again, though. Shit. She had on one of those stretchy bras. The kind women wore to the gym where he worked out when he was in town. A sports bra. It covered more but was almost as bad as the black lace. Because it clung. The bright pink clearly outlined the sharp points of her nipples straining against the knit. Yeah, it was cold in here, because he kept the air-conditioning on high. He reached to throttle it back.

  “Watch the road, Rowdy.” She mocked him after there was the telltale bumping sound that meant he’d wandered too close to the edge of the highway. “Thought you weren’t interested.”

  “Put your shirt back on.” He didn’t need to look again to know she had generous breasts that were high and firm. Her stomach tapered down to where those loose pants hung low. He’d noticed the edge of a colorful tattoo above the string that tied those pants. Red, white, and blue. Not the stars and stripes but the Lone Star. He didn’t figure her for a flag-waving type. He swallowed, his imagination waving a flag of its own. “Cover up.”

  “Can’t. Lucky’s sitting on my shirt.” She reached forward and adjusted the AC vent so it was aimed at him instead of at her. “You’re flushed. Feeling the heat?”

  “Yeah. It’s hot outside.” He was relieved to see a sign for the town where they’d pick up their truck and RV. “Fifteen miles to our stop. Quit showing off, Megan. I’m not having sex with you.”

  “That’s a relief.” She reached over and ran a fingertip down his arm to where he gripped the steering wheel so tight it was a wonder he didn’t crack the plastic. “Because, while I can have a simple affair, I’m pretty sure you’d get all tangled up in those ‘feelings’ you’re so worried about. Your history with my sister suggests you like relationships.” She leaned closer, her womanly smel
l pushed at Rowdy by that damn air conditioner.

  “Stop it. You trying to make me run us off the road? My history is none of your damn business. You and me? I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be the one who would make a big deal out of it.” He wanted to slap her hand away.

  “Please. This isn’t my first rodeo, Rowdy. I love ’em and leave ’em all the time.” She sighed and sat back. “I told you, I have a short attention span. With jobs, men, you name it. A month, two at the most, and I’m always ready to move on.”

  Damn him, Rowdy couldn’t keep from watching her chest rise and fall as she took another deep breath. “I don’t live that way. I was with Cassidy for over a decade.” Almost two, but he wasn’t going to admit that. It made him sound like he’d never . . . Well, shit. What did he care what this woman thought?

  “That’s nice.” She laughed softly. “Forget I mentioned it. I’m used to men who’ve been around. Clearly you would have no idea how to please me.” She patted his knee, then sat back, a sassy smile on her face. “Come on, boss. Admit it. You hate me. Hate everything about me. The last thing you want to do is to fuck me.”

  “Son of a—” Rowdy jerked the steering wheel and jammed his foot on the brakes. The rental car wasn’t going to like it, but it managed a squealing stop, rocking in place on the gravel shoulder. He unclipped his seat belt and turned to her, dragging Megan into his arms.

  “Maybe it’s the last thing I want to do, but damn it, right now it’s all I can think about.” He kissed her with an open mouth and all the hunger she’d been deliberately stirring in him.

  Chapter 5

  Megan kissed Rowdy back. He’d started it, but she wanted to finish it. He seemed angry, because she’d goaded him. Well, she’d give him something to think about. But then the way his mouth moved over hers became more than she’d bargained for, and she lost the point she’d been trying to make. Mistake. She finally shoved him away from her.

  “What the hell was that?” Megan sat back. Of course she knew the answer. She should feel satisfied. He’d lost control. Hadn’t that been her goal? Stupid. Since when were high school games part of her jam?

  “Shut up, Megan.” Rowdy clipped his seat belt and put the car in gear. A car hauler blasted its horn, warning him to watch what he was doing. “Now see what you did. I almost got us killed.” He looked both ways, then carefully eased them onto the highway.

  “What I did.” Megan fastened her own seat belt. “Yeah. Bad Megan. Taunting you until you couldn’t help yourself.” She grinned. “I’m not sleeping with you.”

  “And I’m not sleeping with you. Worst idea ever.” He kept his eyes on the road. “Grab your shirt and put it on. We’ve got to deal with the people in town about the car and RV. You need to look more presentable.”

  “Yeah, right. That’s the reason you want me covered up. Not that I’m a distraction or anything.” Megan stretched her arm between the seats and managed to snag her shirt. After a brief tug-of-war with Lucky, she got it and wiggled back into it. She was not going to think about that kiss, even though the cotton shirt brushing past her sensitive nipples made her sigh. And then there was the way she still tasted him—coffee and maple syrup mixed with warm male who knew his way around a kiss. Oh damn, but this seat was uncomfortable.

  A billboard whizzed past on the right side of the road. Gas station ahead. Business. Good idea. “Tell me more about these issues we’ll be dealing with at the rigs. We have to close more wells?”

  “Afraid so.” He looked as relieved as she felt at the subject change. Then he frowned. “We’ll be announcing layoffs. Towns like the one we’re coming into are being hurt by this shutdown. The oil money meant a lot to them and most of it has already dried up. Going back to the way they were before the boom can be painful. I’ve seen it happening around the state, and it’s not pretty.” Rowdy slowed the truck. “Speed trap. We’re almost there.”

  “Do we have to shut them down? The price of oil has been climbing lately.” Megan had downloaded an app before she’d left home that let her check the figures on her phone. “I know it’s not back to where it once was, but the price of crude isn’t at rock bottom anymore.”

  “This isn’t our call, Megan. I’ve got orders. We’re shutting down three wells. We stay until they’re contained. Then we go on to the next site.” Rowdy dug between the seats. “Look at this. It’s all right there.”

  Megan opened the folder, but it might as well have been written in Chinese. She had so much to learn it was overwhelming. She closed it and stuck it between the seats again. “I’ll study it later, when you can go over it with me. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do. You said you’re usually by yourself when you handle this job, so I guess I’ll just be in the way.”

  “Exactly.” He glanced at her. “So stand around, watch, and make sure no one knows you’re a Calhoun. The laid-off workers find out you’re part of that family, you’ll be on their shit list.”

  “I get it. I don’t want the credit or the blame for anything we do here.” Megan swallowed, thinking about all the bad news they’d be delivering. It was easy to say it was just a business decision, but people’s lives were going to be affected.

  “Trust me. It would be all blame.” Rowdy nodded at a sign advertising a used car lot as they crossed the city limits. “That’s where we’ll be picking up a rental truck and RV. Not sure what they have available, but at least this town is bigger than the one where we spent the night. They had nothing right for us there.” Rowdy slowed to a crawl when they hit a thirty-mile-per-hour zone. “If you ever take the truck, keep in mind these little towns are notorious for ticketing outsiders.”

  “Got it.” Megan had been through plenty of small Texas towns in her life, and this one looked pretty typical. They passed some fast-food restaurants, then came to an old-fashioned square with a charming vintage courthouse in the middle of it. The big stone building had been lovingly restored, and there was an antique store and café facing it. She also saw a few vacant shops with their windows boarded over. Seemed like hard times had already hit here. Too bad.

  “You told me we might face problems when you announce the layoffs. I bet tempers are short when you bring the bad news.” She turned to face him again.

  Rowdy stopped at the single red light. He rubbed his jaw and finally looked at her. “Yes, it’s hard. The roughnecks are cut loose without much notice, and finding another job in this economy will be tough. The superintendent will be given severance, and we usually can transfer him to another job. Not so sure about that this time.”

  “How hard? You ever have anyone come after you?” Megan jumped when a horn honked. “Uh, green light.”

  Rowdy hit the gas. “It’s just a lot of tough talk. Once I remind them I can fire any one of them for cause so that they’ll lose their unemployment benefits, things settle down pretty quick.”

  “That’s good. Unemployment. Is that a decent amount?” Megan sympathized with these unknown workers. She was beginning to see what it was like to need money and not have it. But she realized she’d never been desperate for a paycheck. Even now she could ask any one of a number of people for cash and they’d give it to her, no questions asked. Of course, she’d have to be awfully hard up before she’d go begging to her rich friends. She could imagine how they’d laugh behind her back.

  “Unemployment?” Rowdy shook his head. “It’s a fraction of what they’re used to making. So tempers flare when I bring the bad news. The roughnecks know it won’t cover the payments on their fancy-ass trucks and their other bills, too.” Rowdy glanced at the glove compartment. “It hasn’t happened yet, but I do like to be ready for trouble. That’s one reason I carry a gun, Megan.” He grinned. “And to protect myself from the occasional rattlesnake.”

  “Don’t remind me.” Megan shuddered. “What if the other man had a gun, too?” She popped open the glove compartment. Yes, he’d put it in there. Like she’d told Rowdy, she knew how to use a pistol and a rifle. She checked to see if this one was st
ill loaded. It was.

  “This is Texas. The other guy usually is armed. But we’re not about to get into a gunfight, Megan. I’d call the cops if I thought a hothead was about to get that crazy.” Rowdy shook his head. “Put that damn thing away.”

  “Maybe you should carry it. Won’t do you any good in a glove compartment.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I have the power of the company behind me. Tempers burn hot but cool down fast when I threaten jail time and no benefits at all.” He glanced at his phone. “The rental place with our RV and truck should be right up here.”

  “Thanks for scaring me half to death. We’ll be in isolated places. It took a long time for the police to respond after that tornado, remember? We were lucky it was Leroy, a nice guy, who stopped. We were on a highway that heads to the Mexican border. It could have been a drug runner who’d found us stranded on the side of the road, you know. Maybe I should have a gun, too.” Megan jumped when he stepped on the brake so hard the car bounced on its shocks.

  “Put a gun in your hands? No way in hell.” He glared at her. “I know you claim that you know how to use one, but what does that even mean?”

  “I’m an excellent shot. My daddy taught me and Mason when we were old enough to hold a gun.” Mention of Mason MacKenzie didn’t help her case. “I’m sure there’s a place in this town that will sell me a pistol. Put it on the company card, Rowdy. Necessary business expense. I can call my sister and clear it.”

  “Don’t get your sister involved in this.” He used his car key to lock the glove compartment. “One gun is enough. Drop the subject.”

  “Then drive. What are you waiting for?” Megan was sick of not having money. Damn it, being poor didn’t agree with her. She needed cash or to get hold of that company card. She eyed Rowdy’s fat leather wallet that he’d tossed on the console when he’d gotten into the driver’s seat. Typical male. He didn’t like to sit on it for any length of time. “Well?”