Unexpected Love (White Oak-Mafia #2) (24 page)

She looked down at the platform and cursed.

“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.

“Nothing, other than I’m an idiot,” she said.

“Not in my eyes,” he muttered in return.

She smiled at him. Jack was okay.

“Let’s just move these loose timbers to the side so if we need a helicopter to land, it will have a place.”

“Wasn’t one supposed to arrive with our stuff today?” Jack asked.

Tess huffed and stared up at the sky. “Yes, but there’s evidently a glitch with their service.” Since there was nothing she could do about Drenner just now, she focused on Jack and the problem at hand. “We need to walk up the trail without ruining it. So watch where I step and try to do the same. As much as possible we want to use rocks and healthy grass lumps to walk on.”

She was glad she’d sent Luke to the hospital because carrying him up the trail would have done some serious damage. When they reached where Frank and Sonny were stationed, both men were rubbing their arms as they watched Steel descend from the third zip-line.

Tess saw no way this would end other than Steel crashing hard against a tree. She headed up the hill in a full-out run. When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around Steel’s waist. His momentum downhill caused her to slam backward onto the ground, knocking the wind out of her. But she’d managed to slow Steel enough he could bring himself to a halt.

A minute later, Steel was lifting her up. “Bloody hell! Tess, are you okay?”

She righted herself with his help. “I feared you’d smack into a tree,” she whispered.

He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “So did I. Thanks for the slowdown.”

“I advised him against it,” Dan stated as he stomped through the woods and met up with them. “The angle’s too steep.”

Tess nodded. “I didn’t mean for you two to go down it. It was just for bringing the lumber up the hill.”

Dan rubbed his arm. “Yeah, well it was a bitch going up, too.”

Tess approached and rubbed Dan’s arm. “Should I kiss it and make it feel better?”

He grinned. “Later when I get this shirt off, a kiss would be nice.”

She sensed anger behind her and expected it to be Steel, but oddly the glares radiated from Jack and Frank.
What was that about?

“It’s very early for you to quit working,” Tess observed.

“Nothing more to do until you build the shed and we bring the equipment over,” Steel snapped. “We’ll catch up tomorrow.”

The frustration in his voice was loud and clear, and she understood. Neither of them accomplished their objectives today.

Getting home exhausted them all. Everyone bee-lined for the showers. Tess remained in the living room, intending to call Mr. Drenner, only the phone rang before she had a chance.

“Tess, this is Tom. Did someone get hurt today?”

Man, did bad news travel fast.

Tess ran her hand through her hair. “I sent the guy to the hospital. He said his ribs and head hurt.”

“Sent him how?”

“I had Sam take him by helicopter. The guy was at the marsh platform. It was easier, safer, and faster to call for the helicopter than carry him uphill to the house and then drive him down a barely passable road. Why?”

“I just got reamed by the governor for wasting taxpayers’ money.”

“Not sure how he got that idea. For one thing, I intend to pay Sam myself, but honestly, I don’t think the bill will be big enough to justify a governor’s attention. And finally, taxpayers aren’t paying any costs on this park, so even had I not planned to pay it myself—”

“Did this accident happen on the job?”

“Yes, but—”

“No ‘buts’. The bill will be paid by the trust fund created to cover employee expenses. Can you tell me what happened?”

She sighed heavily and explained first why she had put up zip-lines and then what happened.

That earned her a long lecture on the necessity of safety precautions. “If this guy sues, it could cost Steel his job.”

“Why? This was my decision!”

“For one, Steel is responsible for anything that goes on, and two, you can’t be fired, so the guilt will land somewhere else.”

“That’s—” She stopped before “bullshit” came out of her mouth.

“Which of the guys got hurt?”

“Luke.”

A heavy sigh blew through the phone. “Well, you’ve probably scraped by, but you have to start thinking like an adult. Did Steel know about this zip-line?”

“Tom, we’ve had a really hard day, and tempers are probably short right now, so maybe you can hold this discussion until tomorrow. I know I’m about to lose it, and honestly I don’t think Steel will do better. We did an amazing amount of work today despite difficult terrain.”

“Great. What?”

She knew better than to go down that road. He’d just respond, ‘Big deal if they moved enough lumber to build a shed at the mound site. There was no shed planned. Why were they off schedule so early?

Such a response would cause her to say something she’d regret. “I need to get off the phone. Please wait to call back until tomorrow.” She hung up before he could respond and then picked it back up before he could redial.

She called Sam. “Any luck?” she asked when he answered.

“The young man has a mild concussion and can be released. Would you like me to pick him up for you?”

She’d love to say yes, but she didn’t dare. “Sam, any idea how the governor would know you took Luke to the hospital? He called my boss yelling about wasting the taxpayers’ money.”

“Shit,” Sam cursed. “I’ve no proof, but my money is on Drenner. He’s bad mouthing you everywhere he can. I remember someone saying he had connections with the current governor. And to that, I want to apologize for anything my wife said to you. She’s been convinced by Dina Drenner that you are the reason I’m nearly bankrupt.”

“Am I?” Tess asked softly.

“Hell no! You and Helen are the only reason I didn’t go bankrupt eight years ago. The problem is Nancy. Never met a bauble she didn’t have to have.”

“So Dina Drenner—that’s a horrible name—did she tell your wife she and her husband have it in for me?”

“No, that’s just my opinion. However, this change in the Drenners is recent.”

Probably since her grams died. Grams would have skinned the man alive with an angry lecture had he done this to her.

“Well, I’ll try to find out what Drenner is pissed about from this side. If you hear anything of use, let me know. Oh, and Sam, make sure you bill me.”

“You sure? If there’s no bill, the governor will have nothing to complain about.”

“He still won’t. I plan to pay it myself.”

“All right, I’ll send you a bill.”

That was too easy.

“Cost plus profit,” she said.

He hung up.

Damn it! She was pretty sure that was his way of saying “no” on the profit.

Strong hands gripped her shoulder as a familiar body leaned in. “Problem?” Steel asked.

“Mr. Drenner is trashing my name and riling everyone up.”

“Is he nuts?”

She turned around and leaned against his chest. “Maybe…or maybe my father is behind this. My father can scare people into doing stuff.”

“I’ll take over comforting Tess while you start cooking,” Dan said and pulled her out of Steel’s arms and led her to the couch.

“That was rude,” she grumbled. He pulled her affectionately into his arms and whispered in her ear. “Just trying to keep our friend alive. Frank was watching you two from the hall.”

She sighed and hugged him. “I forgive you.”

He kissed her temple and playfully patted her forehead.

“Not a puppy,” she growled.

A pleasant chuckle rumbled from his chest. “I do love your sense of humor.”

She almost told him she was being serious, but then noticed Frank enter the room, staring at them. After giving Dan a lethal glare, he stormed to the kitchen. A moment later, she could hear him speaking softly to Steel. All she could make out was “double standard”, and after that Steel slammed a skillet down, silencing Frank. He wisely left Steel and sat down in Grams’ chair.

She sat up and moved away from Dan, or tried to, but he scooted over so Sonny and Jack could sit.

Tess spoke up so everyone could hear. “I got a report on Luke. He has a minor concussion and should be released. Frank, could you let him know he should stay overnight in a hotel. I’ll pay for it.”

Frank pulled out his phone. “How much would it cost to have the helicopter pick him up and bring him back here?”

“Probably no more than the hotel stay, but I got in trouble for using a helicopter rescue without getting permission first. I could justify my actions today, but I’ll drive down and get Luke tomorrow.”

“Tom called you out for getting Luke medical care?” Steel demanded from the kitchen.

“Someone complained to the governor,” she explained. “I asked Tom to talk to you tomorrow.”

“Like hell! Who here can cook steaks?”

Jack rose and took over cooking while Steel stormed to his room.

Tess leaned on Dan’s chest. “This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.”

Frank took Jack’s seat beside Tess and patted her leg. “I’ve found Tom to be a very reasonable man. Can you explain exactly what has happened?”

She told them her lack of a zip-line brake and possibly Mr. Drenner were the crux of the problem.

“Drenner. Is he the guy who has our luggage?”

“Round about. Kyle is the one who lied to you, but Drenner is in charge. He was the one I expected to fire Kyle if any of your stuff was missing. However, turns out he’s been trashing me, saying I use their service but never pay for it.”

“Does he send you a bill?” Dan asked.

“No. Grams always donated two hundred thousand a year to them, and when we’d call and ask them to rescue someone on our road…usually from the bear, they’d come right out. To be honest, I thought them really great guys until Grams died. Then some kids tried to set fire to the forest, and their leader turned out to be Kyle’s brother. Then my father—”

“They don’t need to know about that,” Dan whispered in her ear.

“Well, Kyle proved to be less than reliable, and then he pulled that nonsense with you guys. I expected Drenner would fire him, but evidently I’ve become the bad guy in this.”

She leaned in and whispered to Dan, “Could you find out if my father has gotten to Drenner?”

He stroked her hair and pressed his lips to her temple.

Frank frowned. “Tess, I’m pretty sure the water is hot by now.”

She smiled. “Is that a nice way of saying I’m dirty and stink?”

Frank scratched his chin. “I know better than to answer that question. Ask Dan. He’s closer.”

“You’re a mite ripe,” Dan admitted. All the guys chuckled.

Tess pushed off the couch and ruffled Sonny’s hair as she passed. “Not funny.”

***

When Tess returned twenty minutes later, clean, wet-haired, and wearing sweats, she entered a room of sullen men. Steel had taken back his cooking responsibilities with angry determination.

She worried he held her responsible for this stupid fiasco. If he did, she couldn’t blame him. She entered the kitchen and checked out his cooking as she whispered, “Are you mad at me?”

He placed a grilled chicken breast on a plate, clearly remembering she didn’t eat red meat, and pointed her to the counter. “No. You are the one person I’m not angry with. According to Frank, Sonny, and Jack, you were very clear in your instructions and that the zip-line was dangerous and lacked a brake.”

Frank sat down beside her. “I called Luke. He’ll stay at the Motel 8 and pay for it himself.”

“No, I said—”

“I know you wanted to pay for it, but Luke adamantly refused. He takes complete responsibility for hurting himself.” Frank looked at Steel. “He’s going to call Tom and tell him the same.”

Steel gripped the edge of the counter. “Clear it through me before you have people going straight to Tom.”

“Will do. But just so you know, I didn’t tell him to call Tom. He just said he was going to. He’s Tom’s godson.”

“This couldn’t be more botched if we’d purposely thrown a spanner in the works,” Steel muttered as he stormed out of the kitchen and headed back to his room.

Tess rescued the steaks on the grill and passed all but the nicest one out to the boys. That one she carried to Steel’s room. She knocked, but no one replied so she entered.

“I said go away,” he growled. He laid sprawled over the bed.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you. I brought you a steak in case you just wanted to eat in peace.”

He sat up and patted the bed next to him. She kicked the door closed and brought him his plate.

“Any chance you remembered—”

She pulled napkin-wrapped silverware from her pants pocket.

He smiled. “Now at least I know why you were so upset. Tom had promised to shield me from all the political nonsense, so I’m guessing his job is on the line as well.”