“I want to speak with the doctor.”
“What?” Seth growled. “You think I can’t handle my own health problems? I didn’t decide to talk about this because I wanted your opinion.”
“Then why did you tell me?” Matt shot back.
“Damned if I know. Guess I thought it was time—in case something goes wrong in surgery, or they can’t get all the cancer. Hell, Matt, I don’t know. Just seemed like the right thing to do.” Pushing from the truck, Seth turned toward the door. “Come on. You need to get to your meeting.”
“Wait, Pops.” Matt jogged up beside him, putting his hand on the doorframe to stop Seth from pulling it open. “You are having the surgery, right?”
“It’s scheduled for the end of the week, but I may call it off and go for more radiation.”
“Like hell. You’re going ahead with it and I’m staying here until we have the results.” Lifting his hands from the door, he opened it for Seth, then walked around to his own side. “Drop me off for the meeting. I’ll be staying at your house until I know what’s going on.”
******
Still shaken from the conversation, Matt finished a call with Gage, requesting at least a week off to take care of his grandfather, then walked through the double glass doors of MacLaren Enterprises, surprised to see Jace at the front.
“Hello, Matt. Glad you could make it.” Jace stood, extending his hand as he walked around the desk. “Did you have time to visit with Seth?”
“I did.” Matt started to say more, then clamped his mouth shut. He didn’t know whom his grandfather had confided in, so until they spoke again, he decided to keep it quiet.
“Heath and Rafe are waiting upstairs.”
He followed Jace, his thoughts on his grandfather, the surgery, and what he’d do if Seth didn’t make it. His chest tightened. More than anything, he wished he could still confide in Heath, ask for his advice. But he’d thrown that opportunity away when he’d broken up with Cassie.
Jace stopped at a closed door, pushing it open. “Go ahead.”
Stepping inside, he got his first look in a long time at Heath’s office. What he noticed first was the size. It was bigger, having large windows and more furniture, including a small conference table. It suited Heath.
“Matt, it’s good to see you. Hope you had some time to visit with Seth. Will you be staying with him tonight? I can offer you a bedroom at my place.”
“I’ll be staying with Pops, but thanks for the offer.” Matt’s brows furrowed at the invitation. The last time he saw Heath, they’d spoken only a few sentences. The tone of the welcome tonight didn’t compare.
“Have a seat. I know you must be tired, so we’ll get started. You’ve probably been wondering what had us sending the plane for you on such short notice.”
“Well, yes.” Matt didn’t try to hide his curiosity.
“It’s all right here.” Jace slid a folder across the table. “I’ll give you the short version. MacLaren is growing and we see no reason to rein it in. We’re studying ten acquisitions right now, expecting at least three to go through. To integrate the new acquisitions, we need experienced people.” He stopped, nodding at Rafe to continue.
“We’ve been developing a system for cross-training our key people. This will become even more important as we bring on new companies. If our expansion plans materialize, the pace will be quick, the learning curve steep. We foresee rotating assignments, up to six months in each group. Keep in mind, this has not been announced outside of senior management.” Rafe looked at Heath.
“Jace and I have always known we wanted you working at MacLaren. As you know, life got in the way, but we can now go ahead with an offer we hope you’ll find intriguing. Go ahead. Open the folder. We’ll step out and give you some time to absorb the information.”
The three filed out, leaving Matt dazed, staring after them, then at the folder on the table. His hands shook as he opened it and started reading. Finishing, he read it again, too stunned to sort through his thoughts. If their acquisition plans were successful, he’d be one of the key people in the rodeo stock division, managing other representatives. He assumed he’d be working closely with Cam, Mitch, and Kade, Rafe’s oldest son who’d been unknown to the family most of his life. Now Kade was thoroughly ensconced in their horse and cattle breeding business, also heading up their security group.
Matt sucked in a startled breath as he looked at the bottom line. The salary came to twice as much as he made now.
“Hope you’ve had enough time to read through it and come up with questions.”
Matt looked up as the three took their seats again, not sure how to start. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
“This comes as quite a shock. I didn’t even have this on my list of possible reasons you wanted to see me.” He pursed his lips, focusing his attention on Heath. “There must be several people you could approach about this opportunity. Why me?”
“Simple. Jace and I have known you all your life. We know your background, education, interests, and ethics. You’re a straight shooter, Matt, a quality we value. We know you won’t be afraid to give us unwelcome news, but you’re flexible enough to support whatever decision is made. You already know we are a loyal bunch. You’ll be paid well, but you’ll be expected to hit your goals like everyone else. And they will be high.”
“I would expect nothing less.” Leaning back, he crossed his arms, taking another look at the offer. “Gage and Double Ace have been good to me. I don’t know that I can leave at this point without waiting to train a replacement. And I’d like to see the partnership continue between MacLaren and Double Ace, as I believe it could be lucrative for everyone.”
“We can all agree on that,” Heath answered. “As far as the timing, we’d need you as soon as possible. Three weeks, if you can make that work. We’ll do whatever we can to smooth your departure with Gage. He’s a businessman. I believe he’ll understand.”
“Where would I be living?”
“Here, in Fire Mountain. We have one of the cabins available, but you’re welcome to live wherever you want.” Jace slid a photo of one of the cabins in front of Matt. They’d built several for company and family use, each with two bedrooms, one bath, full kitchen, small laundry, and views of the MacLaren ranch. “There would be travel.”
Matt chuckled. “I doubt it would be more than I’m doing now.” The lightness fled his voice when he thought about the most glaring issue. One that might well kill the entire deal. “We still have the biggest obstacle to discuss.”
“My daughter.” Heath stood, walking to the bar and taking down four glasses. Filling each with whiskey, he passed them around. “Right now, the people in this room, plus Cam, Mitch, Eric, and Kade, are the only ones who know of this offer.”
“And our executive assistant, Phyllis,” Rafe added.
Jace nodded, his mouth curving into a smile. “You’ll find she’s the one to go to if none of us are around. The woman keeps tabs on all of our lives and business dealings.”
“So Cassie knows nothing about this?” Matt picked up his glass and stood, walking to the window. “You know, she won’t like it. I’m not her favorite person.”
“My question to you is can you work with her? If not, we’ll understand and shred this offer right now. No hard feelings.” Heath joined him at the window, setting a hand on Matt’s shoulder. “We know none of this will be easy for either of you.”
Matt downed his drink, setting the empty glass on the bar a few feet away.
“Do I have time to think about it?”
“How much time?” Heath asked.
“I’ve decided to stay through the end of the week. Will Friday afternoon be all right?”
“Done. We’ll set a time to meet Friday.” Heath opened his computer to the calendar. “Say three o’clock?”
“I’ll be here.”
“Great. Here, take these.” Rafe held out a set of keys. “It’s a truck you can use while you�
��re in town. It’s parked in a visitor spot.”
Matt took the keys, shaking hands with each of them, then grabbed his hat and started for the door before turning back around. “No matter how this turns out, I want to thank you. It’s a generous offer.”
******
Cold Creek, Colorado
“I can’t imagine why Dad wanted to fly Matt in for a meeting. It must have something to do with the association with Double Ace.” Cassie hit the speaker button on her phone, setting it down next to her on the sofa as she picked up her glass of wine. Skye had called, asking if she knew any reason the executives would want to speak with Matt.
“That’s what Sean is guessing, but it makes no sense to me. I thought it was a done deal and all we had to do was work out the specifics.”
“Which is what we’ve been doing,” Cassie interjected.
“Exactly. Regardless, whatever is going on…” Skye’s voice trailed off for a few seconds. “Let me call you back. Sean’s calling me.”
Cassie walked into the kitchen, refilling her wine glass, and checking the dinner she had warming in the oven. Her mind worked over the various possibilities of why Matt had been called to Fire Mountain. It seemed too soon for senior management to rethink the relationship with Double Ace. The companies had agreed to give it a year, then review its success, deciding to either make adjustments or scuttle the deal. She didn’t think it had to do with Seth or Troy. If either had been in an accident or had a serious illness, someone would’ve called her. No matter what had transpired with Matt, the Garners were like an extended family and were treated as such.
From what Skye had said, the call came as a complete surprise to Matt, eliminating the possibility he’d called Heath for a meeting. Dishing enchiladas onto a plate, she picked up her glass and settled herself back on the sofa as the phone started to ring.
“Hey, it’s me,” Skye said. “Sean got a call from Dad saying Matt wouldn’t be flying back here until this weekend or early next week.”
“Did Rafe say why?” Cassie asked, setting her plate aside, her brows knitting into a frown.
“Sean asked what was going on. All Dad told him was it had to do with company business, which is strange because he doesn’t hold much back from us.”
“I don’t like it, but there’s not much I can do short of calling Cam and asking.”
“Dad told Sean neither Mitch nor Cam were involved in the meeting, so not to bother either one of them. The whole thing gets weirder by the minute. Well, I’m headed to bed. It’s been a long day.”
“What, no date tonight?” Cassie asked, knowing how much Skye hated dating.
“Cass, it’s almost ten o’clock and you know my feelings on dating,” Skye laughed. “Call me if you hear anything.”
“You do the same.” Cassie smiled as she hung up, then sobered, remembering the night she’d seen Matt in the bar.
Touching a finger to her lips, a shiver ran through her as she relived their kiss. It seemed natural, easy, and right, even though she knew it was all wrong. From now on, she wouldn’t let herself be alone with Matt. They’d complete their work using phone calls and email, spending as little time as possible together. There would be no reason for meals, drinks, or anything else. All she had to do was keep her guard up, stay professional, and remember their past.
No problem, she thought, then bit her lower lip, hoping she wasn’t deluding herself.
Chapter Eight
In a daze, Matt drove to his grandfather’s house, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on the folder holding the offer. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but it sure wasn’t an offer like the one they dangled in front of him.
He wanted to accept, making the most of the opportunity. The work he’d done at Double Ace had prepared him for the next step in his career, the money was beyond good, and he knew he’d get top level support from the MacLarens. Plus, it would keep him close to Fire Mountain, allow him to keep an eye on Seth, making certain he followed doctor’s orders and had someone around who would take care of him. He chuckled at the thought of his grandfather allowing anyone to fuss over him.
Matt felt certain Gage would understand. At some point, maybe he could even talk to Heath about making him an offer. He knew Gage would fit right in without a single misstep.
His hesitation came from what he guessed would be Cassie’s response. She’d see it as a betrayal—her father siding with him. She’d be wrong, but her stubborn streak and pride wouldn’t let her see the truth. In the meantime, he’d have to deal with her distrust and still do his job. Heath would expect nothing less.
Pulling to a stop in front of the house, he killed the engine. A sense of peace and rightness drifted over him at the thought of coming home after so many years. College had taken him away, then the rodeo circuit, followed by his job at Double Ace. It had been close to ten years since he’d lived here. He missed home and his grandfather more than he’d realized.
Grabbing the folder, he stepped out of the truck, walking the short distance to the front door, then turning in a slow circle. A cool breeze washed across his face as he gazed at the star-filled sky. Houston was a fine city with many great points, but it would never be Fire Mountain. This was home and he felt ready to return. Cassie would just need to figure out a way to live with it.
******
“The surgery went well. He’s in recovery now, but they’ll be taking him to a room within the hour. I’ll make certain someone notifies you.” The doctor wrote on the chart, then looked up. “He’ll need to take it easy for a few days, and I’ll want to see him in a week. Call my office and they’ll schedule it for you.” He shook Matt’s hand before exiting through the double doors leading to the surgery area.
“Good news, I gather?”
Matt turned to see Heath and his wife, Annie, walk up beside him. “He told you?”
“Let’s say I persuaded him to tell me while discussing one of the projects.”
“Heath does have ways of getting information,” Annie joked, engulfing Matt in a warm hug.
“I’ll buy us all coffee while we wait for him to get out of recovery.” Heath put a hand on the small of Annie’s back, guiding them to the cafeteria.
Choosing a table that looked out onto an enclosed patio, Matt stared outside, knowing he had to call his brother to let him know about the surgery. He’d honored their grandfather’s wishes to keep it quiet, but Matt saw no reason to keep Troy out of the loop any longer.
“Is there anything we can help you with, Matt?” Annie laid a hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “He’s welcome to stay at our house while he recovers.” Even though the split with Cassie had occurred several years before, she still saw him as another son, an extension of their family.
“Thanks, Annie, but I have it covered. If all goes well, he’ll be released Monday or Tuesday, then he’ll have to take it easy for two to three weeks. Keeping him from going back to work too early will be the hard part. Plus, he isn’t supposed to lift anything heavy for several weeks.”
“Do his supervisors know about the surgery?” Heath sipped his coffee, trying to formulate a plan to keep Seth inside the next few weeks rather than letting him follow his tendency to visit each job site daily.
“One does.” Matt squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Guess I should tell the others.”
“He’ll fight anyone trying to baby him,” Heath chuckled.
“It’s a lot better than him going around trying to do what he shouldn’t.” Matt’s phone vibrated in his pocket. “Looks like they’ve moved him to his room. I’d better go up.”
“We’d like to come with you if you’re okay with us being there.” Annie slid her hand into Heath’s as they stood to follow Matt.
“Fine with me. I can use the reinforcements.”
******
Cold Creek, Colorado
“Cassie, your firefighter is out in the lobby, talking to Cam.”
“He’s not my firefighter, Janie. We�
��ve been out a couple times. We’re friends and that’s it.”
“I thought you were interested in him.” Janie stepped into Cassie’s office, closing the door.
Twisting her mouth into a wry grin, she shrugged. “He’s a nice guy. But…”
“He just doesn’t do it for you?” Janie lowered herself into a chair, crossing her arms.
Cassie shook her head. “Not really.”
“You sure this doesn’t have to do with a certain rodeo rep from Houston?”
“No. Absolutely not. Matt is someone I work with and that’s all.” Cassie surged to her feet, adjusting the blinds, then paced toward a cabinet, fiddling with some files.
“You know, Cass, you’re like a sister to me. As such, I hope you will accept I’m saying this with love. Honey, you’re delusional. Any woman with any sense would see Kurt Dobson as a real catch. And I mean a screamer. The fact you’re willing to pass him off says a lot.”
“I’m delusional because one specific man doesn’t get me all hot and bothered?” Cassie snorted, crossing her arms and spearing Janie with an incredulous look. “Matt and I are over and there’s no going back. Besides, he has no interest in me. He’s carefree with no encumbrances, and loving it.”
“How do you know that?” Janie challenged, her brows creasing.
“He told me.” No encumbrances of any kind, he’d said without a trace of regret. “And Matt has no part in my decision to tell Kurt I’m not interested. I don’t want to lead him on or have him waste another dollar on dates.” Sitting down, she picked up her pen before tossing it back down. “I know,” she gasped, her brows rising. “Why don’t I set him up with you? Gosh, why didn’t I think of this before? You two would be great togeth—”
Jumping from her seat, Janie slammed both hands on Cassie’s desk. “Don’t even think about it.”
“And why not?”
“One, you’re dating him, and two, he has no interest in me.”
“How do you know if you’ve never actually met him?” Cassie countered, liking the idea more with each passing second.
No Getting Over You Page 7
