Marry in Haste

“I have experience,” Jay snapped. “It’s different than yours, so you discount it.”

The brothers locked gazes. Without blinking, Parker opened another file folder and pushed it toward Jay. “Ian Douglass is a good man with twenty-three years’ experience in remote drilling locations.”

“I’ll consider him. Thanks for the tip.”

“It’s not a tip. I hired him this morning.”

“Then you can un-hire him this afternoon.”

Abby held her breath and as discreetly as possible, tried to evaporate from the room.

“Abby, show everyone in here when they arrive.”

“Yes, Mr. Laird.”

He regarded her without expression, but Jay winked and Abby quickly turned away before Parker could see her smile.

CHAPTER THREE

AS THE men and women arrived for the meeting, Abby showed them in.

Both Laird brothers greeted them. Jay was a flirt and a backslapper with a contagious laugh and none of the intensity that surrounded his brother.

Jay made her smile.

Parker made her nervous.

He expected perfection and she was determined to give it to him. The pressure of wondering when she was going to make a mistake, as she surely would, was wearing on her.

“Here you go, Mr. Danvers.” She handed coffee to a man wearing a bolo string tie held by a clip with a diamond cut in the shape of Texas.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” he boomed. “How’s school?”

“I took my final exam last Thursday.”

“Got your grade yet?”

She shook her head.

“You let me know, now, y’hear?”

Abby smiled. Diamond Don Danvers was a character. He loved playing the quintessential Texas oilman where all the younger women were his “sweethearts” and all the younger men his “boys.” A wildcatter from way back, he’d earned the right to his showmanship. Everybody knew Diamond Don—he made sure of it. Abby had a soft spot for him because he’d stopped and introduced himself the first time he’d noticed her sitting at her desk by the elevator. It didn’t matter to him that she was just a secretary, and it didn’t matter to him that Parker and his entourage had hiked down the hall. Diamond Don took the extra minute to learn who she was and ever after asked her about school.

Carrying his coffee, Diamond Don approached Parker and Abby shook her head, thinking that there couldn’t be two individuals more different in temperament.

Except maybe Parker and his brother.

She hovered around the credenza waiting to see if she should refresh the coffee before the meeting got under way.

“Shall we get started?” Parker asked, though the way he spoke, no one interpreted it as a question.

Recognizing her signal to leave, Abby started for the door. Since Parker taped the meeting, he didn’t need her to take notes, but she would remain in Valerie’s office in case he buzzed her for anything.

“Good God Almighty, Parker.” Diamond Don’s voice cut through the murmurs of people getting settled around the table. “What have you done to your coffee, son?”

Abby froze.

Diamond Don took another swallow and grimaced.

It was then that Abby noticed the full mugs sitting in front of everyone.

“Tastes fine to me,” Jay announced, and swallowed, though he blinked rapidly and avoided her eyes.

Abby’s palms iced as she looked toward Parker.

Staring into his mug, he twirled the liquid around the edges.

“It’s a new bean I’m trying.” Parker addressed the group. “Indonesian Green Volcano. I’m thinking of investing in the farm where it’s grown.”

“Green Volcano.” Diamond Don shook his head. “Tastes like volcanic ash, all right.” He set his cup aside. “I’d give this one a pass, son.”

Fervent murmurs accompanied Diamond Don’s pronouncement.

“Make a note not to order that brand anymore, would you, Abby?” Parker glanced at her before turning his attention to the agenda. “And have Barbara or Nancy make us some more coffee.”

Abby nodded and escaped.

Back in her office, she shut the door and leaned against it, her eyes closed while she unwound for a few moments. Inhaling, she noticed that she could smell Valerie’s perfume. The scent had permeated the office reminding Abby as nothing else that she was only a temporary Executive Assistant.

Abby didn’t want to be reminded that she was only temporary. Someday she wouldn’t be temporary. Crossing to her desk, she made a note about the coffee, asked Nancy to make more, then made another note to spray Valerie’s office with nice refreshing pine scent.

Slipping off her pumps, Abby buried her toes in the carpet pile. During the next hour and a half, her telephone was blessedly silent. Either Nancy or Barbara handled all the calls that came in. Abby sorted through all of one box and was making headway on the second when her intercom buzzed.

“Yes, Mr. Laird?”

“Abby, it looks like we’ll be eating lunch here.” Parker’s voice was as composed as ever, though this development just shot his schedule all to pieces.

“I’ll order sandwiches,” she said.

“That’ll be fine.”

Abby stood and stretched her arms over her head. It had been a long morning and she knew she was in for a lengthy afternoon.

Picking up the telephone, she reached for Valerie’s Rolodex. The huge round card file wasn’t in its customary spot. No wonder there had been so much room on the desk. Abby looked on the window ledge, then by the computer, behind the monitor, on the file cabinets, in the file cabinets and in the desk drawer before giving up.

“Do either of you have Valerie’s Rolodex?” Abby asked Barbara and Nancy from the doorway.

Both women looked up from their computers and shook their heads.