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I was almost embarrassed at showing off what had been my on-again, off-again home for the last two years to the three men who’d been tagged to determine whether the entire bucket of steel should be torn down. I’d never given it much thought, my dad calling this place his second home, but I could only imagine what other rigs looked like. Those considered state of the art.
Big changes were coming to the industry, but oil rigging was still a significant money maker for those who had the funds to keep up the rigs in the right manner.
Foxx flanked my side, staring at the upper deck. The other two men joined us. I didn’t need to see their faces to know how heavily they were scrutinizing what I knew had to be considered a tiny rig by today’s standards.
“Not bad,” Jack said almost in passing. I glanced in his direction, watching as he removed his sunglasses. “I will need to take a full look at the mechanics to give you a professional opinion.”
“Of course,” I told him. From what I’d read, Jack’s reputation was both good and bad, the man a genius when it came to fixing drilling lines and masts, drill pipes and monkey boards, all the essentials located on an offshore rig.
The helicopter took off from behind us, leaving me with the three rugged men and a small staff of fifteen who stood in a line at the other end of the top deck as if this was the O.K. Corral and they were waiting for the gunfight shootout to begin.
I walked toward them, not bothering to remove my sunglasses. Most had been with my father for at least ten years, fifteen of the best at keeping the rig afloat in my opinion. “Okay, guys. The three men you see behind me are experts in our industry in America. They are here to help me gain some additional knowledge on what we can do to extend the life of this rig. You are to extend them every courtesy. Understood?”
Cormac was considered the nightshift crew leader, a big burly man who would no doubt spar with Jack. I would be curious to see if he even made mention of the arm-wrestling event or not. What I was more than grateful for at this point was that he knew his shit cold, the mechanical aspect of his background keeping everything in the best shape possible. He took off his gloves, glaring from one man to the other but at least he stepped forward.
I could feel the heavy testosterone building even in the open air. Great. Why did I have a feeling this was going to be a two-day nightmare?
“Jack. This is Cormac. You might remember him from the other night at the pub. He’ll be the one to show you all the mechanics.” I glanced behind me at the larger-than-life man, noticing he had a slight furrow of snobbishness in his brow, as possessive as Foxx had seemed. I wanted to punch him in the gut, but I knew he was just protecting what he considered his territory.
And his woman.
I’d been around rugged and hard-edged men my entire life, but this was something else entirely. I rolled my eyes behind my shades, trying to keep from laughing. This was grown men comparing the size of their testicles in a rough man’s playground setting. It was ridiculous but also more amusing than I would have thought possible.
However, I had to sigh when both men pushed up their sleeves, walking within a few inches of each other. A small part of me wanted to see what they’d do, how far they’d go in the game, but I wasn’t in the mood for a fight. The situation was starting to get out of hand. I moved to the side, pushing my way between them.
“Act like men, not little boys. I’ve had my share of the latter as of late.” I threw Jack a look first, Cormac second, and I’ll be damned if Jack didn’t puff up even more. What was the dude’s problem? Was it me or just the situation? Or the fact Cormac had been touching me at all?
“She’s right,” Foxx snarled. “We work together. We have less than forty-eight hours to see what we’re dealing with for the future of the people you’ve worked with for years. I suggest all of us,” he said, turning his full attention to Jack, who continued to smirk like a true beast, “and I do mean all of us work together. That’s why we’re here. Yes?”
Jack huffed, finally taking a purposeful few steps away. When he very slowly turned his head in my direction, another rush of pure heat trickled into my system. The man had the most brooding, dark, and dangerous look of the three. He also wore his emotions on his sleeve and at this moment, I could read every line of his face. His wants. His needs.
And his plans.
I doubted I would be able to keep his hands off me.
In truth? I wasn’t certain I could stay away from the three of them as I’d hoped to do. They were far too enigmatic, the draw no longer just about extreme chemistry. I almost felt as if they were here for the long haul, ready to do what it took to make things work. To make things right.
“Fine. Why don’t you show them to their quarters, Mrs. Donnelly. Then I’ll show Jack all the mechanics he needs to see and can handle.” Cormac grinned, obviously having fun with the tension. He even folded his massive arms across his chest, keeping his powerful stance.
“And I want to go over more of the books but after I see the production room and lines,” Hudson said, acting as if he was bypassing the stench of testosterone. There was much more to the men under the surface than I’d anticipated.
Or given them credit for.
“Come on, I’ll take you to the main quarters. They’re nothing special.” I backed away, nodding to Cormac. He would come through for me. I knew he would. He had far too much respect for my father to continue acting like a child.
Hudson flanked my side first as I led them to the roughneck quarters. I could tell he had something on his mind.
“What is it? Just say it, Hudson.”
“I only wanted to say I’m sorry about your husband. I read about the accident after Foxx told us what happened. What a horrible thing to go through after the two of you suffering with his cancer diagnosis, your son never really getting to know his father.”
Maybe the tenderness in his voice provided the courage I needed to admit the truth about Finn’s death. Or maybe I felt I’d sullied my husband’s memory by allowing my longing to be adored once again to influence my behavior. But the words just suddenly were blurted out of my mouth.
“I loved my husband with all my heart. He killed himself that day so I would get the additional life insurance, which hasn’t been too forthcoming. He thought he was a hero when in truth, he was a coward leaving his wife and son with so much debt and so many questions. He had no idea how I suffered. How I can’t go back to the house we moved in as man and wife because there are too many ghosts waiting in the shadows. He doesn’t understand the tears I’ve shed or the horrors I’ve been through. The money he allowed us to keep doesn’t matter any longer. It’s long gone, replaced with a monstrosity of bills that will never be paid off. While the thought of selling my father’s rig had been as horrific as everything we’d been through before, now I was ready to dump the rust bucket. That’s what the three of you will figure out. There’s no oil. There’s no life left on the rig and Foxx was right in his assessment of the men my father has insisted stay on. Sure, I could cave and sell to Mr. Byrne like my father wants us to do, but I’m not certain I could look myself in the mirror knowing I’d torched the lives of the men who’d given a good portion of their lives to this unforgiving business. Sadly, there are no other choices. I might as well allow the bank to foreclose on the business. So, you three are off the hook.”
The coldness of my words confused me, but I honestly meant them. It was time I finally grew up and accepted the truth and what the future would hold.
I’d make that deal with Madden.
