Millionaire Magnates. Brenda Jackson

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      “First thing. But this blaze is burning to beat the band.”

      “I’m in the middle of another emergency.”

      “There is a lot of damage. And I heard one of the investigators say they thought the cause of the fire wasn’t accidental.”

      Great. Just what he needed today. “See what else you can find out. I’ll give you a call in fifteen minutes or so.”

      “Okay, boss,” Frank said, hanging up.

      Lance rubbed the back of his neck, thinking that damage was the last thing they needed at the refineries. The hurricane they’d had last fall had already done enough damage to them.

      He needed Kate back in her chair, taking care of this mess. He’d have to call the press, the families and the insurance company. He glanced down at his phone and noticed that the line where she’d been holding was now off. She’d hung up.

      Just what he needed, he thought.

      Kate realized, as she was hanging on the phone waiting for Lance, that she’d spent too much of her time in that static role. Lance had gotten engaged. There was nothing he could say or do that was going to make staying on at Brody Oil and Gas okay.

      She hung up the call and kept on driving. Going home to her folks’place wasn’t the smartest idea. Her mom would just tell her that if she wore makeup and dressed nicer, she wouldn’t still be single. And honestly, who could deal with that?

      But she didn’t want to go to her town house and spend the night alone. She needed some good advice. She needed to be with her best friend, Becca Huntington. Becca would commiserate with her and tell her not to go back, not to listen to Lance… wouldn’t she?

      She called Becca at Sweet Nothings, the lingerie shop she owned in Somerset.

      “Sweet Nothings.”

      “Becca, it’s Kate.”

      “Hey, there. How’s things in the big city?” Becca asked.

      “Horrible.”

      “What? Why?”

      “Lance is engaged.”

      Becca didn’t say anything for a moment and Kate realized she probably seemed like a loser to her friend. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he was dating anyone.”

      “He wasn’t.”

      “Are you sure he’s engaged? Lance doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who’d do something that spontaneous.”

      He wasn’t spontaneous and he was careful not to be tied down by any of the women he got involved with. “Yes, he told me the news himself.”

      “Who is she?”

      “Lexi Cavanaugh.”

      “Senator Cavanaugh’s daughter?”

      “Yes.”

      “Is it politically motivated?” Becca asked.

      “I don’t know. And I don’t care. I quit my job.”

      “You did what?”

      “Was that crazy? I’m so confused, I don’t know what to do,” Kate admitted. She’d hoped that Lance would realize she was waiting there and fall for her.

      “It may have been a little crazy. I know you’ve had a bit of a crush on him,” Becca said.

      Kate took a deep breath. “It’s more than a crush. I’m in love with him.”

      It was the first time she’d said the words out loud, and she had to admit they felt good. Or they would have if Lance wasn’t engaged to another woman.”

      “Oh, Kate.”

      “He doesn’t even know I’m a woman.

      “Let’s fix that,” Becca said.

      “How?”

      “Come to the shop and we’ll give you a makeover.”

      “A makeover? I don’t think so. Remember the last time we tried.”

      Kate had felt so uncomfortable in the makeup and clothing that Becca had suggested, she’d ended up going straight home and taking it all off. She needed the comfort of her old clothing… or did she?

      “I just don’t know what to do,” she repeated.

      “Only you can figure that out. But if it were me, I’d change my hair and my clothes. Just start over and find a new love.”

      “I have to work for Lance for two more weeks.”

      “Why?”

      “I couldn’t just quit and walk out on him.”

      “All the better,” Becca said. “You can go back to work looking like a million bucks and then leave. It will be a chance to get back a little of your pride.”

      Would her pride feel any better if she came back to Brody Oil and Gas and Lance looked at her like a woman instead of his assistant?

      “I’m coming to your shop,” Kate said.

      “Good, we can talk once you get here. I’ll have the white wine chilled.”

      “Thanks, Becca.”

      “For what?”

      “Being here. Listening to me and not thinking I’m being silly.”

      “Why would I think you’re silly? I’ve been in love before and I know what it can do to you.”

      Kate swallowed, glad she had a friend like Becca to turn to. “I’ve never loved anyone before Lance.”

      “Not even in high school?”

      “I had a crush or two,” Kate admitted.

      They’d been friends for what seemed like forever and Becca had always been the sister she’d never had—the one person who accepted her the way she was. At home, her brothers teased her if she did anything girly and her mother was never satisfied with any of the choices that Kate made.

      “That was different. And don’t ask me why. I can’t explain it, but Lance Brody has always been different.”

      “I know he has. I’ve never heard you talk about one person as much as you do him.”

      “Am I annoying?”

      Becca laughed, and the familiar sound of it made Kate smile.

      “No, you aren’t annoying. Just in love. I’m sorry that he didn’t turn out to be the guy you hoped he would СКАЧАТЬ