recover it…if you aren’t seen repeating the same mistake again.”
“What I feel for you is different—”
“I believe you, but they won’t.”
He sighed but didn’t argue.
She gripped his left hand. “But there’s another reason. One that I’d foolishly pushed aside.”
He pulled his arm off his glassy blue eyes. “What?”
“If my father thought you and I were lovers, he might kill you.”
“Helen said he’d just try to corrupt me.”
She shook her head. “He seems to read people pretty well. He would see right off you’re too honorable to dance to his orders. So he would kill you. The only way I can save your career, which you love, and save your life is for us to remain professional. But I have not back-stepped. My feelings for you are very intense. But for your safety, we need to keep our relationship platonic.”
He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. “Okay, first of all, I was cursing at God, not you. Secondly, thank you for insisting I listen to your rationale. You are right about my professional career. It’s hanging by a thread, and the mounds will either save or destroy it. And that is my responsibility. As to your father, I’ll trust your assessment. Helen may have told me what I wanted to hear so I’d be your rock once she’s gone.”
His last words worried Tess until his left hand gripped hers tightly. “I can’t be your rock if I’m dead, but alive, I will always be there for you as the best friend you’ve ever had.”
She didn’t tell him she’d never had a best friend unless her grams counted. It didn’t matter. She had one now.
Chapter 9
Steel returned to his own room and dressed for his first official day as forest manager. His first action was to call Tom. “How many people can I hire?”
“That depends. How soon can you get me a project plan?”
“Tom…”
“Sorry, Steel. The governor is personally interested in this project. No cutting corners.”
“So how soon can we get the required software?”
“My assistant obtained two heavy-duty laptops, had all software and encryption security installed, and I’ll be delivering them around noon today…if that suits you.”
“You just want to see those mounds,” he grumbled.
“I do. I need to protect my forest manager.”
“Tess isn’t—oh, you mean me.”
“Yes, and don’t make that slip with anyone else. I imagine you plan to let Tess care for the forests while you embark on an archeological dig.”
God, would he ever get a boss who didn’t want to stick his bloody nose into everything? “That’s exactly what I plan,” he replied.
“Well, before anyone else gets wind of that, you need to determine if those mounds will make or break your career.”
Steel reined in his anger. Tom was only looking out for him, just like Tess had been when she declared their relationship would have to remain platonic. “Sorry for getting snippy. You’re right. Until I determine the age of those mounds, I should be working this alone. But to date the mounds, I’ll require access to a lab competent in carbon dating.”
“I’ve got a friend who could probably slot you in at the University of Minnesota.”
Steel sighed in relief. He really didn’t want to ask his former colleges to get involved. He’d burned too many bridges there. “That would be great.”
“I’ll see you at noon. Any chance you’ll be at the cabin?”
“None whatsoever. But I’ll ask my assistant forest manager to bring you to my find.”
“She’s nicer, anyway. Steel, I know we’ve discussed this, but becoming romantically involved with Tess would be a catastrophe.”
“I agree. Tess and I plan to keep matters platonic.”
“And you seriously can do that?”
“Yeah, given more than my career could die if I don’t.”
The release of a long stream of air crossed over the line. “Great. Sorry I keep bringing this up. I was pretty sure there wouldn’t be a problem…just not a hundred percent.”
Did Tom think
“What I feel for you is different—”
“I believe you, but they won’t.”
He sighed but didn’t argue.
She gripped his left hand. “But there’s another reason. One that I’d foolishly pushed aside.”
He pulled his arm off his glassy blue eyes. “What?”
“If my father thought you and I were lovers, he might kill you.”
“Helen said he’d just try to corrupt me.”
She shook her head. “He seems to read people pretty well. He would see right off you’re too honorable to dance to his orders. So he would kill you. The only way I can save your career, which you love, and save your life is for us to remain professional. But I have not back-stepped. My feelings for you are very intense. But for your safety, we need to keep our relationship platonic.”
He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. “Okay, first of all, I was cursing at God, not you. Secondly, thank you for insisting I listen to your rationale. You are right about my professional career. It’s hanging by a thread, and the mounds will either save or destroy it. And that is my responsibility. As to your father, I’ll trust your assessment. Helen may have told me what I wanted to hear so I’d be your rock once she’s gone.”
His last words worried Tess until his left hand gripped hers tightly. “I can’t be your rock if I’m dead, but alive, I will always be there for you as the best friend you’ve ever had.”
She didn’t tell him she’d never had a best friend unless her grams counted. It didn’t matter. She had one now.
Chapter 9
Steel returned to his own room and dressed for his first official day as forest manager. His first action was to call Tom. “How many people can I hire?”
“That depends. How soon can you get me a project plan?”
“Tom…”
“Sorry, Steel. The governor is personally interested in this project. No cutting corners.”
“So how soon can we get the required software?”
“My assistant obtained two heavy-duty laptops, had all software and encryption security installed, and I’ll be delivering them around noon today…if that suits you.”
“You just want to see those mounds,” he grumbled.
“I do. I need to protect my forest manager.”
“Tess isn’t—oh, you mean me.”
“Yes, and don’t make that slip with anyone else. I imagine you plan to let Tess care for the forests while you embark on an archeological dig.”
God, would he ever get a boss who didn’t want to stick his bloody nose into everything? “That’s exactly what I plan,” he replied.
“Well, before anyone else gets wind of that, you need to determine if those mounds will make or break your career.”
Steel reined in his anger. Tom was only looking out for him, just like Tess had been when she declared their relationship would have to remain platonic. “Sorry for getting snippy. You’re right. Until I determine the age of those mounds, I should be working this alone. But to date the mounds, I’ll require access to a lab competent in carbon dating.”
“I’ve got a friend who could probably slot you in at the University of Minnesota.”
Steel sighed in relief. He really didn’t want to ask his former colleges to get involved. He’d burned too many bridges there. “That would be great.”
“I’ll see you at noon. Any chance you’ll be at the cabin?”
“None whatsoever. But I’ll ask my assistant forest manager to bring you to my find.”
“She’s nicer, anyway. Steel, I know we’ve discussed this, but becoming romantically involved with Tess would be a catastrophe.”
“I agree. Tess and I plan to keep matters platonic.”
“And you seriously can do that?”
“Yeah, given more than my career could die if I don’t.”
The release of a long stream of air crossed over the line. “Great. Sorry I keep bringing this up. I was pretty sure there wouldn’t be a problem…just not a hundred percent.”
Did Tom think
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