Texas OilMan's Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton Read Free Book Online

probation.  Bill Barnes came to Jonathon’s office and said, “Jonathon, it’s time for you to do Laura’s 90 day evaluation.  It needs to be done by Friday.
     
    Aware he was on the verge of becoming serious about her, he thought, I can’t let this go any further.  This is my chance to get rid of her. I’d better do it now before it goes any further ,  so he wrote a scathing report.
     
    Ignoring the fact she was the most competent person with whom he had ever worked, his report stated, “Miss Ingram is not a team player, all efforts are directed at self-aggrandizement.  She takes credit for other people’s work.  In my opinion, she doesn’t have the technical skills necessary to succeed in this field.  Her talents appear to be more suited to an office environment.”
     
    Rather than run it by Barnes, he submitted it directly to the corporate offices.  This is going to take several weeks to get approved, I have to make sure I keep her at a distance. I don’t want or need an office romance.  The evaluation went into the mail that same day.
     
    The next day, Barnes stopped by Jonathon’s office.  “Johnny, I’ve got to be in Houston for a few days.  I’ll need you to look after things for me.”
     
    “Sure thing, Bill.  I’ll take care of things.  By the way, I put Laura’s evaluation in the mail.”
     
    “I wanted to write something on it before it went out,” Barnes said.
     
    “Sorry, I didn’t realize it.  I should have given it to you.
     
    “No big deal, “ Barnes said.  “I’ll tell Rebecca you said hello.”
     
    “You’re going to see Becky?”
     
    “Yeah, we’re having dinner tomorrow night.  Is that a problem for you?”
     
    “No problem.  I’ve never known her to go out much, that’s all,” Johnny said.
     
    “I enjoyed her company while she was here and I’d like to see more of her.  I’d better go, I don’t want to miss the train.  Let me know if anything unexpected comes up.”
     
    “You got it.  Have a good trip.  I’ll keep everything humming here.”
     
    Friday afternoon, Beaumont office of Texas Fuel…
     
    Barnes stuck his head in Johnny’s office.  “Everything under control here?” he asked. 
     
    “As quiet as a church,” he said.  How was Houston?”
     
    “Big, noisy.  Every time I go there, they’ve thrown up a new building.  Rebecca sends her love, by the way.  We had dinner every night.  I like her.  I wish her firm would assign her to Beaumont full time.  Seeing her once a month is not often enough for me.”
     
    “Bill, remember, she’s my sister,” Johnny said.
     
    “Are you trying to tell me something?” he asked.
     
    “No just reminding you.  I don’t want her to get hurt.  I worry about her, being in Houston and all.  She’s not used to the ways of a big town.”
     
    “I don’t know about that.  She seemed to know her way around.  Besides, Austin is a big town too, and she was there four years.  In any event, she’s old enough to take care of herself.  She has nothing to worry about coming from me.”
     
    “Actually three years.  She finished college in three years,” Johnny said.
     
    * * *
     
    Standing outside Johnny’s office, Laura rapped on the door frame.  He looked up and motioned her to come in.  “What is it,” he asked irritably.  “I’m busy.”
     
    “Am I to continue working with Charles on his new project, or do I work with you?  Do I still take work directions from you or do I take them from Bill?  I’m sort of in limbo.  I don’t want to cause any more problems than already exist.”
     
    “You will continue to work with Chuck as long as you’re here, unless otherwise directed by Bill or by me.”
     
    “What do you mean by as long as I’m here?  I’m not going anywhere.  I was assigned here by the corporate office, just as I presume you were.”  She paused.  “Okay, you win, I’ll work with Chuck.  We make a good team, anyway.  I’ll not