The Oil Tycoon Rescue Page 7

  She shook her head as the two men walked off talking. Tobin was on his own now and would have to stand his own ground with her father. Taking her roses, she breathed deeply of the perfume and headed towards the kitchen where her mother was waiting, Dominos nails clicking on the marble flooring.

  Tobin knew he was sweating nervously and was trying to focus on not throwing up on the stunning marble floors of the hallway as Claudia’s father led him to a room that he knew would probably contain more guns than what his Volkswagen was worth. Sure enough, as the man opened the office doorway, there was a massive vault along with several backlit cases along the wall.

  “This here was my grandfather’s twelve gauge that he bought out of a Sears catalog. I remember my father telling me about it as a boy and I was lucky enough to keep it and have it repaired so I can pass it down someday,” Daniel began, pointing at the massive black rifle that glistened against the paneling above the fireplace.

  “I have several favorites, all different sizes with different handles and scopes,” Daniel continued, spinning the vault door and taking out a pistol before checking the magazine. “I like guns for protection and sport. My wife and daughter have both been trained on the safety of how to use a firearm, as well. I take no chances with either of them, if you understand me. Now, sit down.”

  Tobin immediately sat, knowing that they were about to have a brutal heart-to-heart away from everyone else. Thankfully, Daniel put the gun back into the safe and closed it, spinning the bar once again. Daniel sat down opposite of him, behind the desk, and crossed his fingers over his chest.

  “I had you investigated.”

  “I understand.”

  “No questions? No concerns?”

  “No sir. I have nothing to hide.”

  “Only child of Jackson and Gloria Randall.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Grew up in San Antonio.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Those are quick easy things to look up but they don’t tell me who you are on the inside, do they?” he said in a measured voice, watching him.

  Tobin didn’t look away.

  “No sir, they don’t. Are you doing this to scare me? Because I will tell you it’s working. I know I’m not good enough for your daughter.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d be wondering what this fool was thinking sniffing after my daughter and I’d be half tempted to run him off.

  “So why shouldn’t I?”

  “Because I would want her to be happy.”

  “What are your intentions towards her, boy?”

  “My name is Tobin – and I would like your permission to get to know her better, Daniel,” Tobin said firmly, not looking away from Claudia’s father. They sat there quietly staring at each other for several moments.

  “You play poker, son?”

  “No sir.”

  “You have a good face for it,” Daniel admitted gruffly. “Now, they are going to be wondering if I’ve shot you or if you’ve run away. You’ve got my permission to date my daughter, and just for the record? You earned it the moment you told her in the parking lot that she could do my job if she put her mind to it.”

  He unfolded his hands and leaned forward to look him directly in the eye.

  “Claudia is fearless as long as she has someone strong behind her. I don’t know if you are that person or not – that is for her to decide – but you’ve got mettle and I like that. I will tell you this, that girl is my everything, so if you have any doubts or hesitation I will graciously cover your exit right now.”

  “I have no doubts – the only one I have is wondering if I am good enough for her and I already know that answer.”

  “No.”

  “Precisely.”

  “Yet you are still here.”

  “Yes sir. I like your daughter a lot.”

  “Where do you see yourself in a year from now? Five years from now?”

  “At her side,” Tobin answered truthfully.

  “How long have you known Claudia?”

  “Not long enough.”

  “That’s not what I asked you.”

  “But it’s the God’s honest truth.”

  “I’m going to ask you one more time – what are your intentions towards my daughter,” Daniel said softly, and there was a menacing tone in his voice that made Tobin shiver. This was a man that could command armies of employees loyal to him with a slight of his pen – and he was a no-one.

  “Sir. I intend to make her happy, I’m halfway head over heels for her, and someday I will have this meeting with you again and ask your permission to marry her.”

  “You don’t think you are getting ahead of yourself?”

  “I’ve never met anyone like Claudia,” he admitted, looking away for the first time. He folded his fingers together to stop the shaking and hoped he didn’t vomit right there on the carpet. He wasn’t sure what kind of material it was but the white carpeting with green scrollwork was certain to hold a stain, and he didn’t want his only presence to be remembered like that.

  “There’s something about her, something special, something magical,” he began, his voice shaking and growing stronger with conviction as he poured out everything in him.

  “I look at her and all of my thoughts are gone. I want to see her smile. I need to feel like she knows that I’ve got her back. I want to protect her heart because I want the chance to earn it someday. I look at her and know I’m not good enough – but the way she looks at me, makes me feel like I might be the man she needs.”

  Tobin grew quiet and could hear the faint ticking of the mantle clock.

  “I’ve seen her on the rig barking orders at men who were twice her size. I’ve seen her running into a fiery hell without looking back because she is duty bound – and I knew it was my job to save her world… not just the rig, but her life, and what is the very essence of Claudia.”

  He was butchering this and wouldn’t be surprised if he was asked to leave. It sounded insane to him. They’d barely known each other and had only met twice, but deep down inside, he knew he was going to marry that woman that had kissed him on the oil rig. The moment she’d crushed her oil-slick face to his in a stolen moment of desperation… he’d fallen hard.

  “I know that doesn’t make sense and know you are asking for more… but I can’t explain it. My intentions towards your daughter are to make her the very center of my world – if that is as a friend, a confident, a boyfriend, or a husband, only time will tell that… and no offense sir, but it’s in God’s hands – not yours.”

  Tobin finally looked up into Daniel’s eyes expecting to see anger or doubt, but instead, he saw respect and understanding. He sniffed and cleared his throat, getting to his feet and coming around the desk.

  “I knew Claudia’s mother for five days before I married her,” Daniel said gruffly, looking Tobin in the eyes. He saw a rare vulnerability exposed for a moment before it was shuttered away.

  “People said we were nuts and that it would never last… but I’ve had that feeling you are describing and forty-three years later, she still makes me weak at the knees. I’m here whenever you need to talk,” Daniel said, extending his hand to Tobin.

  He clasped the older man’s hand in his and felt him pat him on the back.

  “I like you, boy. You’ve got spunk.”

  “Tobin,” he corrected with a grin.

  “What kind of name is that anyhow?”

  “It was my grandmother’s maiden name.”

  Daniel shook his head, laughing.

  Tobin grinned.

  Claudia looked up to see the two men walking into the kitchen together, her father’s arm wrapped about his shoulder and talking with him as if they were old buddies. The burst of happiness was nearly strangling as she looked at her mother’s smiling face. If he’d won her father over, then the rest was simply up to her. Her father had chased more than one fellow away in the past who didn’t even bother to intro
duce themselves to her. When she’d asked Tobin if he was interested in Jenkins Oil or her – she meant it.

  They both started to rise out of their seats and her father stopped them.

  “Girls, you sit. We aren’t too proud to serve this up. Tobin?”

  “Nope. I’d be happy to.”

  Claudia and her mother looked at each other stunned. Her father had never spooned food into a plate in his life. Her mother had always done it for them or one of the kitchen help had prepared the plates. Her dad brought her a cup of coffee, or something to drink – but never really made their plates. Her father handed the empty plate to Tobin, who efficiently maneuvered the cutlet of chicken onto the plate, along with a heaping serving of scalloped potatoes, as if it was nothing. It might be normal to him, but it certainly wasn’t to them.

  It felt normal – and she liked it.

  After all four of the plates were prepared, they carried them to the table, two each at once. Tobin set the meal right in front of her, smiling softly, before taking a seat beside her. It was strangely wonderful and really felt like a family sitting down to dinner instead of her family and a stranger taking a meal.

  They said grace, linking all their hands under the table, and then broke to begin eating. Tobin held her hand for a while under the table, his thumb caressing her knuckles as he talked with her parents easily.

  Claudia began to chime in once some of the initial nervousness began to wear off. After dinner, they sat around the table, still talking and having a cup of coffee. It was just wonderful being able to relax and hold a conversation.

  Domino was sound asleep with a full tummy on the floor nearby. Occasionally his leg would twitch causing Tobin and Claudia to look at each other and smile. The dog was dreaming.

  “Melly, why don’t we go load up the movie? Do you want to join us?”

  “I thought I might take Domino out for a bit, if you don’t mind?” Tobin asked, looking a little unsure. “We can join you in a few or I can meet you there if you show me the way?”

  “Why don’t I take him to the side yard and we’ll meet you both there?”

  “Sounds good. Don’t be too long.”

  Claudia got up from her seat and the moment her chair scraped against the flooring, Domino’s head popped up sleepily.

  “C’mon boy, let’s go,” Tobin said softly. He held out his hand towards Claudia and she clasped it easily, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her. She led him down a small walkway past several closed doors to the library. She loved this room and had spent many an afternoon hidden away reading or playing Barbies on the floor under the tables or on the couch. She glanced up to see Tobin’s reaction to the massive library room, knowing it was quite impressive. There were two floors with rolling ladders and cases of books everywhere, back-lit to make the tomes glow.

  “Wow.”

  “Right? I used to play in this room when my father used it as an office. I spent many afternoons here trying to be quiet while he held meetings over the phone or worked through spreadsheets.”

  “My parents used to take me to the library every Sunday to pick out a book for the week and followed it up with an ice cream cone from McDonalds. I miss those days.”

  “Isn’t it funny the things you remember or that bring back a memory? I remember the musty smell of the books and lemon wax polish on the tables. Here, let’s go out this door and Domino can have his run of the yard.”

  Claudia opened the paned glass doorway and stepped out onto the stone patio. A motion detector light came on dimly to illuminate the area as Domino disappeared into the darkness.

  “The yard is fenced, so he’ll be fine.”

  “Claudia?”

  She turned and caught her breath at the look in his eyes. Gosh, what was it about him that made her senseless? She adored the way he gazed at her, making her feel like she was the only thing important in this world.

  “Tobin, I have a confession to make,” she whispered as he took a step towards her.

  “What’s that?”

  “I lied,” she breathed as his arms went around her waist, making her heart pound in her chest. “I think my favorite color is the warm chocolate shade of your eyes when you look at me like that.”

  His lips crushed against hers.

  Claudia felt her knees go weak as desire coursed through her. He held her tenderly, his lips softening up as he kissed her tenderly, silently coaxing for more. She could feel every breath he took, every muscle in his body, as he held her to him. She understood the feeling too. There was an inexplicable need to be closer, to touch more, to taste more. She could truthfully drink him in and never be satisfied with enough. He lit a fire in her that seemed to be silently waiting for him and the moment he touched her, it ignited.

  Her hand was touching his neck, craving the contact with his skin, and felt his thumb graze the short sleeve of her sweater, touching the sensitive skin on the back of her arm, giving her goosebumps.

  “I needed this,” he confessed, his breath ragged.

  “I’ve been waiting all evening for it.”

  “Me too.”

  “This is…” Claudia hesitated, staring up into his eyes, unsure what words to use to describe this chemistry between them. It was intense, deep, connecting, and heady.

  “Incredible?”

  “Yeah,” she smiled, biting her lip shyly. He gave a slight groan and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

  “I swear I love your lips,” he admitted. “I dream about what it’s like to kiss you and smell your perfume when I sleep.”

  “You should probably wash your sheets,” she teased.

  Tobin laughed.

  “If my sheets ever smell like you,” he said huskily, taking her hand and breathing deeply of her wrist where she’d dabbed her perfume just before kissing the tender skin. “I would never, ever, leave my bed.”

  “Is this insane?” she asked quietly, nodding in understanding of what he was saying. If her bedding smelled like pine, bergamot, and that faint scent of lemon that was just him – she understood. She would bury her face in the sheets unable to leave it either.

  “You know, it is… but I am growing to love our version of crazy,” he whispered tenderly, caressing her jaw with his thumb as he looked into her eyes.

  His warm gaze held hers and she saw the truth in his words. He was practically admitting that he was falling for her and no matter how strange or fast it all felt, he was on board with how things were going between them.

  This was their emotional rollercoaster ride..

  “I’m kind of growing to love our version of crazy too,” she admitted, unable to look away from him. She tenderly cupped his face, feeling the scruff of his chin and adoring the way he nuzzled her palm.

  “A story for the ages?”

  “Meeting you that day on the rig was a blessing.”

  “I feel the same,” he replied. “You literally knocked me onto my backside and never looked back.”

  “I’d do it again too.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  “Did you mind?”

  “Only at how short our kiss was,” he teased, tenderly. “I had to wait a whole three months for another taste of those sweet lips and to feel you against me.”

  “So, what now?”

  “I think we probably need to rejoin your parents before they interrupt us again and we need to think about maybe having coffee or doing something together for another date.”

  “Are you asking me out again, sir?” she asked playfully.

  “I’m going to monopolize every moment I can with you before I have to head back to San Antonio,” he told her, instantly dashing the intensity between them. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know you need to get back,” she answered, “but that doesn’t mean I won’t miss you terribly.”

  “We’ll figure this out, I promise,” he pledged.

  Chapter 9

  The next few days were a flurry of joy and full of unspoken promises. Tobin
was a perfect gentleman, polite to a fault, even to the paparazzi that seemed to be hounding them at every turn now. They went for coffee this morning to a small café downtown and she was surprised to see him push her towards the doorway quickly as they walked up.

  “Wait inside sweetheart,” he said.

  Claudia stepped inside the darkened glass building and watched from behind the blinds that gave additional privacy. She’d never been to this café and liked the deep warm tones of the walls, the old-fashioned Edison bulbs that flickered in the room, and the heavy aroma of freshly ground coffee.

  “Miss, would you like something?” the clerk said quietly, looking at her curiously.

  “Just a moment.”

  Claudia watched as Tobin stood there, his arms crossed over his chest and firmly planted between the reporters and the doorway to the café. He tapped his watch, smiled, and pointed down the street before turning back to walk towards the doorway. Stepping inside, he threw the deadbolt behind him.

  “Sir, that’s against fire code. You have to unlock the door.”

  “Can you give us ten minutes of privacy and hopefully they will all leave?”

  “Sure, if I can get a selfie with whoever is famous.”

  “Neither of us,” Claudia said quickly. “I think there is a mistake.”

  “Mistakes don’t get two news vans and fifteen reporters outside of my café,” the man countered with a smile as he dried a coffee mug with a towel before setting it down on a stack of cups on the shelf above a row of machines.

  “How many people do you normally serve in an hour?”

  “Maybe thirty? Why?”

  “How about you ring us up for thirty cups of coffee and if the fire marshal comes, we’ll handle the fine.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Tobin, we don’t have to do this,” Claudia whispered, tugging at his shirt.