Free Sweet Texas Fire by Nicole Flockton Page A

taking in the levels of contaminates in the soil, her mind had been on the prospect of finding another job. Where, she didn’t know. She needed to make a plan. But she really didn’t want to. She wanted to stay here. She liked working for Gold Star and she enjoyed Houston.
    “What’s up, Meredith?”
    “Gage Cooper is here to see you. I don’t have him listed for an appointment.”
    Of course, Gage would just turn up without an appointment.
    “That’s fine. I need a break from this report anyway. Send him in.”
    “Okay.”
    Charlotte closed the report and placed it in her in-tray. She put her pen in the penholder. The door opened and Gage filled her doorway, dressed casually in blue jeans, white button-down shirt with a cowboy hat on his head and, even though she couldn’t see his feet, she would bet a month’s salary he had on cowboy boots.
    He looked like he would be as comfortable on the back of a horse as he no doubt was in the oil field.
    “Good morning, Gage. What are—” She stopped when a flash of black landed on her desk. “And Oil Slick, too. What you both doing here?”
    “Damn cat refuses to be left by herself in the condo. If I don’t want to come home to a shredded pillow or couch, she has to come with me.”
    The image of big, strong Gage walking into his office with a cat on a lead was a sight she needed to see. “Do you take her to all your meetings? I’m sure that must go over well.”
    He moved into the room and closed the door before he took a seat. “No, I don’t. She usually stays in the office with my assistant. Trailing a cat on a lead doesn’t help my image as a tough-nosed businessman.”
    “So you don’t need to make that impression with me?” She patted the cat, who started purring before she curled up in the middle of her desk.
    “Red, you know when it comes to our business relationship, you are the one who is tough-nosed. Not me.”
    Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t know whether I’ve just been complimented or insulted.”
    “Definitely complimented.”
    “Really? That surprises me.”
    “While I may not agree with everything you say, or rather, suggest, I appreciate someone who is passionate about their job. And you are very passionate.”
    Again, she wasn’t entirely sure what to make of that comment. It seemed genuine, and he was right. She was passionate about her job. When her father had a year-long assignment in Brazil, she’d been fascinated by the rainforests and jungle. Her love for maintaining the integrity of the environment became her goal in life. So while she appreciated that mining for any sort of mineral was necessary, there were ways it could be done without compromising the environment.
    Unfortunately, for so many years Gage and his ilk had only concerned themselves with getting the oil out of the ground and not with taking care of the land. Of course they disliked her when she came along and held them accountable for their actions.
    “Well, thank you. So, to what do I owe this surprise visit from you and Oil Slick?”
    As if a shutter had been pulled down over a window, blocking out the bright sunshine, Gage’s temperament went from light to dark. She sat a little straighter.
    “I’ve been thinking about our get-together last weekend.”
    “What about it?”
    “It’s to do with the land.”
    Bloody hell, not the land again. Why did he need to talk about it continually? The wheels were in motion for him to obtain the land in just over a year. The way time flew, it would be here before he knew it.
    “I don’t think we have much more to talk about, do we? You’re getting what you want.”
    “I know, but I feel I need to be honest with you about the real reasons I want the land.”
    Huh? What did he mean, the “real reasons”?
    “Gage, you’ve made it more than clear. Jack promised he would leave it to you when he died. For reasons unknown to anyone, Jack changed his will and left it to me. What more is there to know?”
    “You