Free Oil Patch Romance (Mail Order Bride Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton

wasted so much time,” she said.  “At least, that’s behind us now.”
     
    Fully dressed, he leaned down and kissed her.  “You taste so sweet,” he said.  “I’ll call you later.”
     
    “I do love you,” she said.
     
    “I know,” he said.
     
    * * *
     
    At home, Jonathon looked in the mirror.  He was furious with himself.  He did not like the man looking back at him.  “You are the most despicable person in the world.  What you did is unforgivable.  Your mother would be ashamed of you.”  No more ashamed than I am of myself, he thought.
     
    Oh God, the evaluation.  I’ve got to do something about the evaluation I wrote. She would be devastated if she knew about the it.  I have to stop it.  I’ll have to talk to Bill.  Maybe he can help me.
     
    Like Bill, Jonathon always arrived at the office early.  He was even earlier, this Monday.  When he saw Bill, he went to his office and knocked on the door.  “I’ve got to talk to you, Bill.  I’ve done something terrible and I need your help.  I’m desperate.”
     
    “Close the door and sit down.  What is this terrible thing you say you did?”
     
    “The evaluation I wrote for Laura was bad.  Really bad.  And untrue.”
     
    “What do you mean?  Why would you do such a thing?” Bill asked.
     
    “I wanted to work alone and saw this as a chance to get rid of her.”
     
    “I don’t believe this,” Bill said.
     
    “It’s true.  Can you get it stopped?  We’ve got to get it stopped.  We have to.  Bill, I’m in love with her.  You have to help me.”
     
    “Jonathon, I don’t want to help you.  I don’t want anything to do with you.  In fact, I’m probably going to recommend you be separated from the company.  Now get out of here and let me see if I can fix this mess you’ve created.”
     
    A contrite Jonathon walked slowly back to his office, just as Laura walked in.  “Good morning, Jonathon,” she said.  “I slept like the dead, last night.  What about you?”
     
    He mumbled an unintelligible response, and walked on into his office, followed by Laura.  “What’s wrong, Jonathon?  You look terrible.  Are you upset with me?” she asked, her voice betraying her concern.
     
    He sat there, his head in his hands.
     
    “Jonathon, you’re scaring me.  What’s wrong?  Talk to me, please, talk to me.”
     
    He raised his head, his eyes brimming with tears.  “Laura, three weeks ago, I wrote your probationary evaluation.  I said several things, none of them good.”
     
    “What kind of things,” she asked.
     
    “I said, you weren’t a good fit, and were not a team player.  I said you didn’t have the skills to work in this part of the business.  I recommended that you be reassigned to an administrative position in the home office.
     
    “At the time, I just wanted to work alone.  It was before I fell in love with you.  I just told Bill.  I pleaded with him to see if he can get it blocked.  He’s calling the home office now.
     
    “I know you must hate me, but no more than  I hate myself.  I hate what I have become, and then I took advantage of you last night.  I am a horrible person, Laura.  It would be best for me to go back to our farm.”
     
    “First of all, you didn’t take advantage of me last night.  I loved you and wanted to share my love with you. I had the idea you felt the same way about me. 
     
    “Now, you’re having a big pity party?  Feeling sorry for yourself after  stabbing me in the back.  Don’t you dare feel sorry for me,” she said.   “You have ruined something for me that was very special.  You have ruined our love for each other and our chance at a wonderful life.  I feel sorry for you, Jonathon.  You do whatever you have to do, but leave me out of it.  You have killed any respect I had for you.”  The tears streamed down her cheeks, as she left his office.
     
    Bill came to the door, opened it and walked in.  “My office.  Now,”