The Heiress's Secret Romance. Martha Kennerson
for his current level of ability. The recommendation and change took effect long before there was a change in leadership.
“Damn,” Kathleen replied, after reading the last note in his file. She called her boss.
“Kathleen, what’s up?” Simpson answered.
“I found something.”
“What?” She could hear the anxiousness in his voice.
“It’s not against the Kingsleys, but Mr. Silva.”
“Tell me.”
After going over everything she’d found out so far, she read the final note in the file. “‘Mr. Silva is a valued employee who we should do everything we can to try to help according to the Kingsley Family Stay Whole policy.’”
“What the hell is the Kingsley Family Stay Whole policy?” he asked.
“Apparently anyone who’s been here for more than five years is eligible to receive any form of help they may need in the event of a crisis, to stay whole.”
“What?”
“I just heard about it. The Kingsleys believe in taking care of their employees. There’s even something for those who’ve been here for fewer than five years,” she added.
“Maybe we can get a job there after we’re both fired. It’s time to come home, Kathleen.”
“Not yet. You need to bring Mr. Silva in for a follow-up conversation.”
Kathleen was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Confusion and anger that she might have let herself get played and pleasure that it appeared the Kingsleys were actually what she was finding them to be: good people with a great company.
“I’m already ahead of you, but there’s nothing to find,” Simpson insisted.
“You may be right, but I have to be sure. Besides, I have to finish the training and system updates. That way I can leave, and no one will ever know the real reason for my visit.”
“Fine, but make it fast,” he said before hanging up on her.
Kathleen had a feeling that Simpson was right, but for reasons she didn’t want to explore she just knew she had to stay a little longer...for Morgan.
The pledge that Morgan made to keep his distance proved to be harder than he thought. He spent the next two weeks doing everything he could to avoid spending any time alone with Kathleen. Whenever she came near him with questions, concerns or comments his brain seem to shut down, allowing his hormones to take control. After turning down several recent offers for female companionship, putting himself through grueling workouts in his home gym and riding his horses until he started to smell like one himself, Morgan spent the entire weekend wondering what Kathleen was doing. She never wore rings, so he figured she wasn’t married, but it seemed impossible for a woman like that to be single. The question and idea had made him nuts all weekend.
Morgan had a history of dating beautiful and compliant women, but none of them affected him like Kathleen. Her beauty aside, it was her passion for her work, the compassion he’d seen her show his team, but most of all, the way she challenged him when she believed she was right about something that attracted him.
It was another Monday afternoon when Morgan sat at a table in the cafeteria across from where Kathleen was sitting talking to several of his employees. However, this time she seemed to be focusing her attention on Troy, one of his senior welders. The way she threw her head back when she laughed at whatever he was saying to her grated at him and he had no idea why.
“I’m surprised Kathleen hasn’t filed charges against you,” Adrian said before biting into his chicken.
“What?” Morgan frowned and he looked over at his friend.
Adrian wiped his mouth with his napkin and said, “The way you’re attacking her with those glares.”
Morgan turned his head and pushed his plate forward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. Just ask Kathleen out already,” Adrian suggested.
“Don’t be ridiculous. First, Kathleen works here. Second, she may be married or at least have a man. And third, I’m not—”
“Don’t say you’re not interested because I know better.”
“Do you now?”
“We’ve been friends for over ten years, and I know when someone’s piqued your interest. Considering all the hard labor you’ve put in these last couple weeks, I’d say Kathleen has more than done that.”
What she’s doing is driving me crazy. “Like I said, she works here—”
“She’s working here. She doesn’t work here, and as far as her being married or having a man, she isn’t, and she doesn’t.”
Morgan could feel his anger on the rise, and he didn’t understand why. Had Adrian asked Kathleen out? Did she turn him down? Had he already gone out with her? Those questions were racing through his mind and driving him crazy. “How the hell do you know that?”
Adrian must have sensed the change in Morgan’s demeanor. “Chill, man, I heard one of the welding guys asked her out.”
“Who?” Morgan hadn’t realized that he’d fisted his hands on the table.
Adrian shrugged and took another bite of his food. “I’m not sure, but I think it might be one of the guys she’s sitting next to. I don’t know if she said yes.”
I’m going to fire his ass. Wait, where the hell did that come from? He used the palm of his right hand to rub against his temple.
Adrian turned toward his friend. “Look, man, just ask the woman out. You know you want to. Didn’t you say she seemed interested when you first met?”
“Yeah, when she thought she was talking to you. Ever since she found out who I was, Kathleen’s been tense and standoffish.”
“Probably because you’ve been quiet and brooding.” Adrian wiped his face and took a drink of his soda.
“Quiet and brooding?”
“Yeah, that’s what the women around here call you,” Adrian explained with a half smile.
“Do they now?”
“Yes. You haven’t even attended one of Kathleen’s classes,” Adrian noted.
“I don’t need to,” he defended.
“She might appreciate the gesture, and you’d be surprised how cool it is.”
Morgan’s eyebrows rose. “Would I?”
“Hell, perhaps Kathleen would like a man who can make her laugh like that.” Adrian directed Morgan’s attention to the area were Kathleen now stood talking to Troy and two additional women. They were all laughing and standing near the exit, and Kathleen had her hand resting on Troy’s arm.
“Perhaps we should both get back to work. Those containers aren’t going to clean themselves.”
Morgan stood, threw his trash out and headed for the exit away from where Kathleen stood. Morgan knew Adrian was right, he couldn’t stop thinking about her, but he also knew he had to get his foreign and inconvenient feelings for Kathleen under control before he did anything. It was time to talk to one of his brothers, and he knew the perfect one too.
* * *
Kathleen had been keeping an eye on Morgan from the moment he walked into the cafeteria. Their encounters over the last couple of weeks were very professional, although she found herself having more inappropriate thoughts and dreams about the