by Lea Hart
“So that’s how you operate in civilian life too?”
“Mostly. If I know how to solve a problem, then I do. Without a lot of discussion.” He moved his hand up and down her back in a soothing motion. “In certain things, I will always act decisively, and I don’t think you’re going to like it until you trust me. Trust takes time, so I figure we have some bumpy spots ahead of us.”
“I just have to accept it?”
“Pretty much. What you see is what you get, and I don’t want to sell you a false bill of goods. If I think you’re in danger, I’m not going to debate the best possible course of action.”
“Let’s roll this theory into real life, and against all odds we decide to have a relationship. How do we figure it out?
“First off, it’s not against all odds. We are in a relationship, and we’re going to make it work. Ivy, all I care about is your happiness, and I’m hoping you care about mine. If we do that, then everything’s going to work out. I have a ton of faith that we’re going to make the most of the love story that we’ve been given.”
“Boom.” She rested her head against his chest. “That was my heart exploding with hope that what you’re saying is possible.”
“It’s not just possible. It’s almost guaranteed. We are both hard workers, and if we put half the effort into us that we put into our careers, we’re going to be freaking amazing.”
The only thing she could do was kiss him, because her emotions were too close to the surface. The thing he was describing was what she wanted most in the world. Someone to love and someone to count on. The fact that it might actually be possible scared the crap out of her and made her want to run screaming from the room. Maybe that’s what happened when you were presented with the very thing you dreamed about.
***
Ivy stood in the kitchen of her father’s McMansion and dug through the cabinets. It was well-stocked, and all the appliances and pans looked new. Maybe he never spent much time here. It was strange being in his home and thinking about what kind of life he had. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been inside of one his houses with him. It must’ve been the house in Fort Worth, and that was close to ten years ago. They always seemed to see one another in restaurants. Neutral ground. Shaking off the gloomy thoughts that started to invade her mind, she dug out the griddle. Pancakes would be perfect for the large crowd. They had seven people staying here, and Ken was expected at some point this morning to discuss securing the wells.
Grace walked in with a smile and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Morning, girl.”
“Have I thanked you enough for agreeing to come down here and help me out with this mess?” Ivy asked as she pulled out a bowl.
“A thousand times,” Grace replied as she sipped her coffee. “I’m happy to run human resources for you until you decide what to do. Ever since I got laid off from the school district, it’s been hard to find anything. The fact that you’re paying me an obscene amount of money is a blessing.”
“I’m paying you slightly above the national average for a person in a similar position.” She glanced over and noticed that Grace wasn’t paying attention and staring out the window. Turning around, she saw Mac working with his dog. The dreamy smile on her friend’s face told her what was occupying her mind. A studly SEAL had her drooling. “See anything you like?”
Grace’s face flushed. She slid her eyes away and drank her coffee. “I think he’s so handsome, and he’s one of the nicest men I’ve met in ages. We sat up and talked last night for a long time.” Straightening her top, she frowned. “He’d never be interested in me. I should just get over it and not embarrass myself.”
“Hogwash!” Ivy said loudly. She looked over at Mac again and couldn’t see exactly what Grace was talking about. But she figured that’s how attraction worked. The things she knew for sure were that Mac was a good man, he seemed kind and, if she wasn’t mistaken, he was a little taken with her friend. Maybe she could play Cupid and help the two of them along. “I saw the way he looked at you last night. He practically knocked Rick over so he could sit with you at dinner.”
Flapping her hands, Grace dismissed the idea. “No way.”
“Yes way.” Sliding her hands on her hips, Ivy grinned. “Go on out there and ask him if he likes pancakes.”
Fluffing her russet curls, Grace slid off the chair. “All right. But you’ll see that he isn’t the slightest bit interested. He could have any woman he wants.”
“I’m looking at the one he was making googly eyes at when he thought she wasn’t looking.” Laughing, Ivy shoved a coffee cup at Grace. “Take him a cup of coffee while you’re at it.”
“Fine. I’m only proving you wrong.”
Ivy watched her friend pour coffee into the mug and straighten her shorts before walking out onto the patio. When she crossed the threshold, Mac’s face lit up like he was a damn Christmas tree. “Operation Love Boat can commence immediately,” Ivy said to herself.
Ryan walked in, slid his hands around her waist, and startled her. “You scared me,” she said.
He leaned his head on top of hers and looked out at the patio. “Who were you talking to?”
“Myself. I’m going to play Cupid between Grace and Mac. She has a little crush on him, so I’m going to help them along.”
Ryan laughed and hugged her closer. “Yesterday in the helo, Mac said that he couldn’t ever imagine making an idiot out of himself over a woman. This could be his chance. Rick predicted it, and it seems he was right.”
“Any time you make a big prediction, God answers with one of his own,” Ivy said, as she studied the couple. “Grace thinks he’s the most handsome man she’s ever seen.”
“That’s what you want from the woman in your life,” Ryan responded.
“It’s not the thing I like best about you. Sure, you’re super handsome, but I like your mind and heart more.”
He lifted her up, set her on the counter, and held her face in his hands. “Tell me more.”
Kissing him, she laughed. “I like what you do behind closed doors too.” She felt her face heat and tried to look away.
He tipped his head against hers. “Honey, we’ve only gotten started. Give us some time to get our rhythm down and we’re going to light the house on fire.”
“We have enough fire in our lives. Let’s not add more.”
Rick strolled in and let out a loud whistle. “Cordell, are you accosting the chef?”
“As often as I can,” he responded and smacked his lips against Ivy’s. After he was done, he lifted her off the counter and pulled down her shirt. “Give us a little time and we’ll have some pancakes ready.”
“Coffee is ready,” Ivy said and tried to pretend that she wasn’t embarrassed. “How did you sleep, Rick?”
“Fine, darlin’. Any night that I don’t sleep on the ground is a good one.”
“How long have you been retired?”
“I’ve been off the Teams for three years. I was medically retired after an op went south. I returned to the family ranch and have been working there ever since.”
“Thank you for helping us out with all of this. Colin and I were not prepared to inherit the company and have no experience in the energy business. I can handle the operations and finance part of it, but the rest is all new to me.”
Rick filled his cup of coffee and nodded. “Do you want to learn it?”
“No. I like working for SAI. I go to work and feel like I’m helping make a difference. The work that the company does saves people’s lives. I worked for Harke Security before I came to SAI, and I knew it was the type of business that I wanted to be involved with.”
“We’ve got to fix it so she and Colin can put it up for sale,” Ryan added as he took the bowl of pancake batter from Ivy.
“Makes sense,” Rick responded. “I have an uncle in the oil business, and he lives and breathes it. It’s the only thing he ever wanted to do. I imagine that if it isn’t in your blood then it’s best to sell the
company and move on.”
“Colin and I never had a relationship with our daddy, so the fact that he left it to us is a double-edged sword.”
“Money doesn’t replace love, no matter what,” he responded. “Something tells me that you two aren’t the only ones mad at your daddy. Those fires we saw yesterday were about as serious as it can get. I haven’t seen anything like it since the beginning of the war in Iraq. Nothing says ‘fuck you’ like lighting an oil well on fire.” He took a sip of coffee and then blushed. “Sorry about the language. I spend too much time around cows and surly old cowboys.”
“Don’t you worry about it. I work with retired spec ops guys. Nothing offends me.” She hip-bumped Ryan, pulled out the drawer with the pans, and grabbed a couple. “If you want to make it up to me, come fry up the bacon.”
He hopped off the stool and saluted her. “I like you, Ivy. My friend Ryan got lucky with you.” He punched his friend in the arm as he grabbed the packages of bacon from Ivy.
“I might be the lucky one,” she said as she moved to the other counter and started cutting up fruit. What Ryan had said earlier made her hopeful. All she had to do was not freak out and screw it up.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sunday Afternoon
Ryan watched Ivy sit at the dining room table with Phoebe, Grace, and Colin. They were going through the reports that Phoebe’s computer had been spitting out and separating the information by department. Ryan had made a trip earlier to Best Buy and bought a couple of printers and laptops so that they could work more efficiently. It was a stopgap until Phoebe could redesign the system and network at Bellows Energy. She was going to mirror what they had at the SAI offices. Lucky had spearheaded the design, and it rivaled what the CIA and Homeland Security had. Bellows Energy was going to run as securely and efficiently as SAI when they were done. It made him think that there were a ton of companies in Texas that could benefit from their services. Who knew? Maybe SAI Texas would be a future location.
The doorbell sounded and pulled him out of his thoughts. He got up from the couch and checked his watch. It must be Ken and the guys from Butchko Security. Surprisingly, they had made time in their schedule and flew from Houston to meet with them. Opening the door, he greeted the group and welcomed them into the house. “Thanks for taking time to come out on a Sunday,” Ryan said as the men filed in. “Come on in,” he called, “Honey, the guys are here.”
The group walked in, and Ken started making introductions. Mac muted the game on TV and gave his dog a command as everyone gathered around.
Ken shook Ivy’s hand and then Colin’s and introduced the two men from the security company. “This is George and Devin. They are the principals of the company, and they are up to speed on the challenges we’re facing.”
“Let’s get you something to drink, and then we can sit in the family room and you can tell us your proposal,” Ivy said. “Drinks are set up in the bar, and Ryan can help you out.”
Ryan got everyone organized with a drink, and they found seats in the massive room. Bill Bellows must’ve entertained here, because they could’ve fit in ten more people.
Ivy stood and started off the meeting. “First off, Colin and I would like to thank you for making time on the weekend. Our wells are burning, but from what I heard this morning, the fires are under control. Apparently Daddy pissed off more than his family when he was alive, and Colin and I inheriting the company probably exacerbated the problem. It’s our impression that Ken has had his hands tied since he took the job, and his many ideas were never taken into consideration. We’re starting at ground zero in terms of security. Ryan, Mac, and Rick could secure the wells, but that doesn’t leave us with a long-term plan. So that’s what we need today. Colin and I would like to hear the overview, but we don’t have the expertise to make an informed decision, so we’re leaving it up to Ryan, Ken, Mac, and Rick. We trust their decision.”
Ryan watched the group of men and measured their reaction. If he didn’t see respect, then they were not the company that they needed to work with. He watched George stand and nod his head. “We appreciate the opportunity. We’re familiar with SAI and have a ton of respect for the company. The fact that you’ve called us lets us know that we’re on the right track. Devin and I are retired Rangers, and we spent a lot years in the sandbox seeing oil wells being blown up. When we came home, we realized that there were a whole lot of folks who could use our experience.”
Colin looked at the group and smiled. “That’s what we need. Tell us what you’re thinking.”
Ryan nodded to Ken, sat back, and listened to the proposal. These were the right men to bring in. Once they had revamped the security protocol, he, Mac, and Rick would have fun testing it. The fact that Ivy had handed it over to him let him know that she had understood what he’d said this morning. If they worked together, then they were going to be fine. It was going to be a huge adjustment for her, because she had no experience trusting a man to follow through on his word. It was going to take a while for her to have faith in him. As long as he knew it and remained patient, then it would work out. Hell, there wasn’t another choice. This was it.
***
Four hours later, Ryan walked into the dining room and saw Ivy with her head bent over a stack of papers with Phoebe and Grace. They were color-coding the packets and had some kind of system going. Colin sat at the other end of the table with his nose buried in the computer. “Honey, we’re done. The Butchko guys and Ken are ready to leave.”
Her eyes flew up, and she took a moment to focus on him. “Oh…all right. Come on, Colin, let’s go say goodbye.”
A loud grunt sounded as Colin lifted his eyes. “My brain is fried.” He stood, stretched, and kissed the top of Phoebe’s head as he followed his sister out of the room.
Ivy and Colin shook everyone’s hand and agreed to meet the day after tomorrow. Ken hung back and waited until George and Devin left. “So, what do you think?” Ivy asked.
“I like them, and they have the ability to put a solid plan in place,” Ken said. “They can implement it quickly and we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
“All right. Let’s talk more tomorrow. We have a big day ahead of us with the company meeting, and we’re going to need you rested and ready for whatever happens,” Ivy said.
“Sounds good,” Ken said. “My wife Allena promised me my favorite dinner tonight, and I don’t want to be late.”
“Not if you plan on living a long and happy life,” Ryan said. He shook Ken’s hand and walked him out.
“What do you think of the plan they proposed?” Ivy asked Rick and Mac as they moved into the kitchen.
“They have the basics down. We gave them some suggestions and they were open to them,” Mac answered. “It’s a big change from what the company has done in the past.”
“Which is what the company needs. Each well is a ten-million-dollar investment with a multimillion-dollar payout. They should be treated that way,” Rick said as he sat down.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me,” Ivy said as she pulled a tray of steaks out of the massive fridge. “I feel like there’s a missing puzzle piece. Once I have that, everything that is happening will make sense. It all has to be connected. The person who took a shot at me, the fire that was set at Daddy’s Austin house, the sabotage at the wells, and now the fires.” Pulling out a pitcher, she started to make margaritas. “I think one person is at the center of this, and I can’t wait to find out who it is.”
“I bet it’s two people,” Rick said. “Two people who think they’re working together but have opposite agendas.”
“I hate mysteries,” she replied. Ryan walked back into the kitchen and studied the group. “Anyone want to take a run before dinner?”
“I’ll go,” Mac said. “Rocko needs to get out and let off some steam.”
Colin came in and stood next to his sister. “I need to get out of the house and get some exercise. I report in a week and a half; I can’t show up out of shape.
I haven’t spent this much time inside since I was twelve.”
“Come on,” Ryan said. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll stay and keep an eye on the house,” Rick answered. “I spend most of my time outside, so this is a welcome change. The only time I’m sitting at home is when I’m on a horse. Plus, I need to show Ivy how to make a proper margarita. The girl is about to screw these up.”
“I’m trying to keep my temper because you have come down here and helped us out. But I’m struggling because you have insulted my ability to mix a drink. The only answer is to have a contest. A blind taste test. Winner gets bragging rights.”
Rick stuck out his hand and shook. “Game on, Ivy. I’ll grab the box of tissues so you can wipe your tears.”
“I’ll make sure to pass you one when I’m declared the victor.” Leaning back, she looked for Phoebe and Grace. “Girls, come in here and help us decide who makes the best margaritas.”
Colin looked at Ryan and Mac. “I feel like we shouldn’t miss this.”
“Go on,” Ivy said. “We’ll have plenty for when you get back.”
Rick looked at his friends and shooed them out of the kitchen. “Get. We have margaritas to make. Ryan, I hope you don’t get pissy when I make your girl cry.”
“I’m not worried about Ivy. It’s you, brother. That girl has a competitive streak a mile wide. I have a feeling it’s you who’s gonna cry.”
“I come from a long line of competitive women. Nothing makes me happier than putting my money where my mouth is. Let’s put a little wager on this just to make it interesting,” Ivy said, as she swung her hips around in a crazy version of a victory dance. “Come on, Rick, how much are you willing to bet?”
Rick leaned back on his heels and rubbed his chin. “I enjoy a little wager every now and again. Money doesn’t mean much to either one of us. We both have plenty. I say the winner has to spend a day doing the other’s job without complaining. Think you can last a day on a horse checking cattle?”