The Oil Tycoon Rescue Page 5

  “I’m glad you didn’t hold your breath,” he said quietly, his brown eyes dancing as he watched her. Claudia couldn’t help but wince as she knew exactly what he was referring to.

  “You don’t have to rub it in that you were right,” she countered and then sighed heavily, “even if it was foolish of me to say that. I was mad at the moment that someone was coming in and telling me what to do suddenly. I don’t handle that very well.”

  “I just wanted everyone to be safe and I couldn’t do what needed to be done yet until it was clear.”

  Claudia winced as he mis-stepped accidently, pinching her toes in her shoe. He stopped immediately and started to drop his arms, looking terribly nervous. He hesitated and then put his arms back into place to continue dancing.

  Bravo, she thought. He’s nervous but not giving up.

  “Why’d you kiss me,” he whispered suddenly, his warm eyes searching hers. Claudia felt herself falling into that deep warm gaze, remembering how he’d looked at her on the platform after their kiss and feeling drawn to him once again.

  “I knew I had to,” she breathed honestly. She watched him swallow several times before nodding silently. He was the quiet type, apparently, as they just stood there gazing at each other like there was no one else in the room.

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “I’m glad I did too.”

  “I haven’t stopped thinking about it,” he confessed, watching her for a reaction. Claudia accidently stepped on his foot this time, causing him to smile.

  “I guess we are even now,” he teased.

  “We might be on a lot of things,” she replied. “I haven’t forgotten it either.”

  “Are you from here? From Dallas?” he amended.

  “My parents’ base of operations is here, yes. We have a home and several acres south of here. Where are you from?”

  “San Antonio.”

  “Oh…” she whispered, feeling dismayed. He lived several hours away. It would be a miracle – or emergency - if their paths ever crossed again. “You were required to come up for this event?”

  “No, I wanted to.”

  Claudia met his warm gaze once again and felt herself melting. He held his emotions in his eyes and apparently was interested in her, just as she was in him.

  “I’m glad you are here,” she replied, smiling and curling her gloved hand around his neck, easily, as if it belonged there. She ignored the fact that people were clapping as the music ended and they were still swaying like nothing had changed.

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  She watched as a smile touched his lips, and felt one blossom in her heart, as she nodded. She could not take her eyes off of him and was afraid that if she did, the spell would be broken. This was insanity to be so attracted to someone so quickly, so easily, but she’d done nothing to discourage it this spark between them. She only encouraged it by kissing him spontaneously.

  It was like throwing a match onto a pile of dynamite.

  She found herself staring at his smile, knowing just how those lips felt against hers and wishing for a moment of privacy so she could kiss him again. Instead, she was surrounded by the media, tons of people, and her own parents.

  “I want to dance with you several more times this evening,” he admitted, not looking away. “Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?”

  “Why don’t you join us instead, young man?”

  Claudia jumped nervously.

  Yanking her hands from where she held Tobin’s shoulder and neck, as if she’d done something improper, she saw her father standing beside them. The surprised look on her father’s face, and the questioning glance in his eyes, as he looked between her and Tobin. Her mother walked up behind him, frowning only seconds before her eyes showed a dawning recognition of what exactly was going on.

  “Yes, you must join us for dinner.”

  “Father, Mother, this is… Tobin Randall. He is the firefighter that helped stop the disaster on my rig,” Claudia introduced politely, stepping back. She didn’t know what to call him. A stranger? A friend? Boyfriend?

  Tobin straightened up, his back ramrod, and she found herself admiring his physique in the tailored uniform once again. He held himself tightly and nodded to her father.

  “I’d appreciate that sir,” he said politely. “I’d be happy to.”

  “Good. Then its settled and we can clarify a few things over dinner.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Claudia smothered a triumphant smile, knowing her father was testing him. His clipped words and the way he’d interrupted them, she knew he was trying to unsettle Tobin and keep him on his toes. He had a way of doing that during phone calls or meetings, to throw the other person off their game and get them to reveal something about themselves. Instead, Tobin wasn’t deterred. He wasn’t nervous about spending time with her family, nor meeting her father.

  That was a good sign.

  Tobin was a nervous wreck.

  He’d never felt so many emotions at once. Anxiety, dread, nervousness, hope, admiration, fear, and… well… affection…

  He’d seen Claudia the moment she’d walked into the room. It was like watching a fairytale come to life before his very eyes. She’d been beautiful on the rig in denim overalls and a baseball cap. Even talking trash with the other men, she’d glowed from an inner light that he couldn’t help but be attracted to like a moth to the flame but seeing her here now was spectacular.

  She was a goddess in his eyes and he felt so unworthy. The lights picked up little flecks of light on her gown and on her face where something was glittering softly. It wasn’t enough to be noticeable, but to him, he watched everything about her. The way she turned, the angle of her neck when she glanced up at the balloons on the ceiling, the sweep of her hair into a bun… she was incredible.

  He was out of his element, and yet couldn’t let this moment pass him by. The second her eyes met his, he felt himself being drawn helplessly across the room towards her. It was like there was some sort of unseen connection or unspoken bond between them. She was beautiful, smart, independent, and could have anyone or anything she ever wanted in this world… so why him?

  The questions and doubts faded away the moment she smiled up at him and he found her in his arms, dancing, before he even realized it. He barely remembered what he said to her, feeling so flummoxed and unable to pull his eyes off of her.

  He wanted to kiss her again.

  “Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?” he asked, feeling like a fool but unable to do or say anything else. Yes! He wanted to date her, to go out with her, to see her smile and look at him in that mysterious way that had him enchanted with the multifaceted woman before him.

  “Yes, you must join us for dinner.”

  Tobin froze.

  A man’s voice broke through his subconscious and he turned to see an older man standing there looking at him coolly. Ohhhh noooo, he thought, realizing that this must be Claudia’s father. He should have done things right like his father taught him, introducing himself properly to her father first. His father had always told him to be a proper gentleman when pursuing a young lady. He’d been a teenager then and never used any of the skills that he’d been taught in trying to woo a girl.

  Yet now he was standing there, face-to-face with Claudia’s father.

  A drop of sweat ran down his back.

  “Father, Mother, this is… Tobin Randall. He is the firefighter that helped stop the disaster on my rig,” he heard her voice explain politely and felt the urge to glance over to Claudia.

  Instead, he held the older man’s gaze. It was as if her father was silently testing him to see if he would back down or searching for something in his hidden in his expression.

  Tobin had nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of.

  He was nothing but a simple man and knew right away that if this was his daughter, no one would be good enough for her, so why would he be any different? Instead, he stood tall and prou
dly before him, as if to pass inspection before any instructor here at the Academy, giving a small nod of acknowledgement.

  “I’d appreciate that sir,” Tobin said politely. “I’d be happy to.”

  “Good. Then its settled and we can clarify a few things over dinner.”

  Clarify? Clarify what? he thought wildly.

  “Absolutely.”

  Tobin watched as Claudia’s mother was quickly tugged to the side by several reporters that were covering the event. This was amazing publicity for the Academy and he knew that this was a chance to really show off what this place could do for the community and industry. Claudia’s father, walked directly past him and cut in, taking his daughter into his arms and leading her onto the dance floor.

  Tobin almost grinned.

  He liked the man.

  Her father didn’t ask permission, he just did what he wanted, and it was a show of strength and possession for Tobin. No problem, he mused, that was her father… and he would be Claudia’s future.

  Dinner would be interesting and nerve-wracking.

  In the few moments that he’d met the family, he had them easily understood. Claudia was daddy’s little girl and her father would be very protective of her. He could understand that easily.

  He would be no different.

  He was certain that dinner would involve a cross-examination, an analysis of his childhood, and his plans for the future - all things he would be happy to discuss and share.

  This was crazy to feel so strongly about someone so quickly, but he felt helpless against the waves of need that she built in him, and fighting it just felt wrong somehow. He’d never met anyone so intriguing in his whole life, and already knew he would never tire of wanting to know more.

  Tobin watched them glide across the room effortlessly, realizing that they’d danced together more than once. She probably stood on his polished dress shoes in a nightgown as a little girl, learning to dance on her Daddy’s toes. He would never take that from either of them.

  Claudia looked over her shoulder towards him.

  He felt his heart explode in his chest at the shy smile on her face. He raised a hand in acknowledgement and returned her smile. Gosh, she had him wrapped around her finger and probably didn’t even realize it, he thought suddenly, realizing that Tobin might be just like the man before him, dancing with his daughter.

  His smile grew a little wider at the realization.

  He knew what he would want, and expect, if the roles were reversed. Tobin would be gracious and willing to give them this special time together. He would cut in shortly for another dance with the woman who’d captured his imagination and quite possibly his heart.

  Chapter 7

  Tobin had the chance to dance with Claudia only one more time before the event kicked off. He took a seat at one of the tables, rising to his feet when they asked the firefighters who’d participated in extinguishing the fire to stand. That day had haunted him for more than one reason.

  He’d never been so scared in his life.

  The fire had been out of control and the clock had been racing against them. Thankfully they were able to put it out quickly with the H25 chemicals. He remembered breathing hollowly in his mask, waiting for a chopper to pick them up, and watching the horizon as the winds were picking up. He wasn’t a structural engineer in any way, shape, or form… but he also wasn’t an idiot. The groaning of the structure was enough to make him want to be completely off of it when the high winds and waves began to increase further.

  Reaching down under the table, he ruffled Domino’s ears and the dog licked him affectionately. Tobin quickly sliced up several pieces of meat that he’d put on his plate and fed them to his friend as the Jenkins family spoke.

  “Tonight, I cannot express my gratitude and dedication at what you have done for us. Your quick deployment, experience, and dedication to what you do saved more than just a steel structure. You prevented a natural disaster, you saved our oceans and wildlife, you enabled Jenkins Oil to continue providing a service to our community… and you saved my most precious asset in the world: my daughter,” Daniel Jenkins said eloquently, looking directly at Tobin.

  He swallowed hard.

  “Jenkins Oil has always been around, providing futures for several men and women,” Claudia’s mother began, standing directly beside her husband at the microphone on the small stage. “We intend to do so for a long time coming as well, but as with any industry there is growth and development, not unlike the need for this facility. There was a need for more experience, more training, and a fresh outlook – just as this Academy brought in the best-of-the-best to shape and mold your futures.”

  The two adults looked at each other meaningfully, there in the spotlight, clasped their hands together, and took a step backwards… as Claudia walked forward to the microphone. You could hear the audible gasp in the room that matched the one in his heart.

  She was incredible.

  “That is why, at Jenkins Oil, not only are we grateful for your hard work and dedication that gave us aid when we most needed it – you gave us a chance at a future, and we are willing to return the favor towards the Academy to show our gratitude. Jenkins Oil is donating three million dollars towards any needed equipment, buildings, land…”

  Claudia grew quiet as her smile widened infinitely and the room exploded into applause. She was bombarded with flashes of cameras, and stood there taking it all in.

  Tobin immediately rose, his hands clapping loudly as he watched her. He was stunned at the amount of money being tossed about easily as if it was nothing. The donation was quite hefty and would do so much for growth of the state-of-the-art facility.

  She raised a hand slowly to continue her speech.

  “You risk your lives every day, providing a service to the community that is far beyond what we ever could do. You humble us, you help us, you make us strive to do more for our fellow neighbors and employees. As we want to provide a pathway to the future for this Academy… it forces us to reflect on our own futures.”

  Claudia’s father stepped forward once again. Her mother stood beside her, placing her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. Her father looked out across the expanse of the room, stopping when he got to Tobin once again.

  “I am proud to share with you, the future of Jenkins Oil, my daughter, Claudia Jenkins. She will be taking over as CEO upon my retirement. As this Academy requires new recruits, new and fresh outlooks, so does our own company. I am thrilled to have someone at the helm that I believe in, I trust; someone that knows the lifeblood of our company… and our people.”

  Tobin wasn’t sure if the roaring noise was coming from around him, or if it was in his ears and chest. He could barely breathe as he watched Claudia smile, wipe a few proud tears away, and pose for photos with her parents. Her father looked at him sternly, giving a slight nod that didn’t go unnoticed.

  The line in the sand had just been drawn.

  Claudia belonged to Jenkins Oil.

  Her father just upped the ante.

  It wasn’t going to be about being worthy enough to date his daughter anymore. Tobin had to be the right man to support the newest leader of a trillion-dollar corporation that held so many people’s incomes, futures, and lives in their hands.

  Tobin stepped outside for fresh air and to slow the nausea he felt churning in his gut. He would never be good enough for her. It was going to be an uphill battle, knowing he was just a firefighter and she was… well… stinkin’ rich. He wasn’t interested in her money, just making her happy.

  Yet, standing there on stage, she looked in her element.

  Alone.

  Untouchable.

  Happy.

  …And he was a complete fool to think he had a chance.

  Loosening his collar, Tobin watched as Domino ran about in the grass, looking for the perfect spot to take care of business. Closing his eyes, he turned his face upwards and listened to the din coming from the auditorium behind him. He took several deep breat
hs, trying to relax his nerves and keep from vomiting in the bushes like a sea-sick kid, but his whole world was reeling before him.

  He felt like an idiot.

  He thought for a moment that he’d found the person for him, that he could see his future slowly clearing away any cobwebs in the path. It looked bright and beautiful in his mind… and Daniel Jenkins slammed the door in his face, breaking the moment completely.

  It wasn’t out of spite.

  That was what hurt the most.

  He was quietly telling him that it was a heckuva leap Tobin was going to have to make to be the right guy for his daughter – and he was terrified he couldn’t do it. What could he even bring to the table after all of this?

  He was a firefighter that lived check to check. He risked his life daily. He couldn’t give any words of wisdom, no help with the oil field whatsoever, and couldn’t even discuss what investments or capital gains would benefit the company.

  He felt lost… and felt like a loser.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” he heard softly behind him.

  Startled, Tobin’s eyes shot open and he whirled around to see Claudia standing there. His heart hammered in his chest just looking at her in the fluorescent lamplights that drowned out the moonlight.

  “Shouldn’t you be inside taking photos?”

  “Actually, someone promised me several dances tonight and I’m short a few of them,” she countered, smiling. “I came to collect and when I didn’t see you inside, I’d hoped to find you outside. What’s your dog’s name, anyhow. I never thought to ask.”

  “Domino.”

  “Ah. That fits him.”

  “You followed me out here to ask about my dog’s name?”

  “And that dance,” she prompted, winking at him.

  Tobin stood there for a moment, unmoving.

  “I can go back inside,” Claudia said after a few minutes, pointing over her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to bother you or interrupt…”