King's Treasure (Oil Kings Book 3) by Marie Johnston (great novels .TXT) 📗

unique position where I could actually make a difference. Being around the Kings the last several days had shown me that they were passionate about what they did. They weren’t motivated by money, but by doing the best job possible—and they happened to make loads of money while doing it.

I’d have access to the top in the business. I could make a bigger impact. I’d have to talk to Xander first, yet my gut said this was a good thing. So different from the pity job Chief had offered me.

“I need to think about it and I have to talk to Xander.” And convince him not to leave.

“Of course. Let me know by the end of the month.”

A deadline. My lips quirked. He was serious and if I declined, or took too long to decide, he’d move on. I respected him more. It made the job offer real.

The door opened and Kendall crept out with a suitcase, wincing as it whacked against the door. “Sorry, did I interrupt? I just wanted to load these, but we don’t have to leave, if you wanna . . .”

Gentry rose and crossed the porch to take the bag, only reminding me of how Xander jumped to do the same thing. Xander credited his mother with a lot, but he’d picked up a few things from his dad. “I think perhaps if we take off now, this young lady’s wait might not be as long.” He turned with a sympathetic but friendly smile. “It was nice seeing you again, Savvy.”

“I hope we can do it again soon,” Kendall said, giving me a hug. “You two are always welcome in Billings.”

Gentry’s expression was probably the same as mine—doubtful that I could ever get Xander to go there and just visit. But it sounded nice.

They loaded up and drove off. Dawson came out to check on me and wandered back inside. The sun sank below the horizon. Anxiety and loss crept up my spine.

How he processed his feelings was up to him, but I’d been left behind, worried and blaming myself. Had he thought of that? Was this what his family went through? Or had they resigned themselves to his long-term disappearances? I’d been through it once. Tonight was no picnic. I worried about him, but this was his home. He knew the horse and the land.

I didn’t agree with Xander. I didn’t think we should leave and I didn’t want to. But as plans clicked into place with my determination, leaving was exactly what was going to happen.

Xander

“Hey,” I drawled. Savvy’s face was drawn and she hugged her arms around herself. Guilt clawed at my throat. I’d needed space. I’d needed time to think. I’d needed to get away from Dad and his opinions. I’d thought Savvy would understand, but tendrils of unease curled through my gut. I tried to keep it light. “It’s getting chilly out.”

“Maybe if you’d come home earlier, I wouldn’t have waited out here so long.”

Shit. This was worse than I’d thought. I stopped at the base of the porch steps. “You didn’t have to wait outside. I was coming back.”

Following the guilt came worry. I’d left her before and hadn’t gone back for her. Could I blame her for being paranoid even if I’d only taken off on a horse?

I propped my hands on my hips but stayed where I was. I was steeped in horse sweat and it wasn’t until Fool’s Gold and I had been riding for two hours that I’d realized how therapeutic it was. I’d missed it. “I knew you were here, where it was safe. I just needed time, Savvy.”

“You’ve been gone for hours—after announcing that you want to leave the country.”

“I’m sorry.”

“People worry about you, Xander. When you take off and go radio silent for months, they worry.”

We weren’t just talking about today anymore. “I know what I’m doing. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“It’s not just me.” Her foot rocked the swing, an agitated move that made it appear like she was at leisure, enjoying the night, but there was nothing relaxed about her. “Did you even try to talk to your dad after he confronted you?”

“Yes.”

She stopped swinging and studied me, waiting.

I had nothing else to say, but her expression said I’d better come up with something. “Of course I did. That’s why I left.”

“So when we get into an argument, are you going to take off too?” She left the “again” unsaid, but it rang through the night like a dinner bell.

I took the porch steps two at a time and kneeled next to her. “You know I need my space. Dad doesn’t give me space.”

“You haven’t seen him for months. You didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.” She tilted her head and her expression went neutral. “He offered me a job.”

“After I left, he offered you a position at King Oil?” Aiden and Kendall worked for the company. Grams was still involved.

She rolled her lips in and worked her jaw before she said, “Maybe he thinks I’m a good choice for the position.”

“I know you’re good at your job, Savvy.” I hadn’t meant to insult her. Several members of my family worked with the company. It just hadn’t occurred to me that Dad would headhunt my wife.

She glanced down at her hands, twisting her fingers together. “He was confident that I’d be good for the position.”

Dad had been ready to work with a consulting company earlier. Hadn’t he done that yet? “Did he make one up for you?”

Her brows popped. Wrong thing to say—but totally what Dad would do.

She rose and stuffed her hands into the front pocket of her pink hoodie. “All our time together has been about me proving what I could do. Everyone thought I wasn’t strong enough, I wasn’t worldly enough, I was too sheltered, too spoiled, too inexperienced to live my own life and decide for myself. I even had to prove myself to you. I can’t go through a marriage where we’re not