Read Online Emmett by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online Page B

headache. They should have used one firm, not split their investments between two. I tried to tell them that, too. Ms. Marshal wouldn’t listen.”
    â€œ Mrs. Marshal ,” Logan corrected.
    â€œAre you sure? When would she find time for a husband and family?” Tom muttered. “That cosmetic company seems to keep her as occupied as investments keep me.”
    â€œShe and her husband are divorced,” Logan replied. “Or so I hear.”
    Tom didn’t say a word, but one eyebrow went up. “Am I surprised? How could a mere man compete with the power and prestige of owning one of the Fortune 500 companies?”
    â€œI’m sure there’s more to it than that,” Logan replied.
    Tom shrugged. “There usually is. Well, we’ll see what they want to do after we talk to them. If you want the account, you can have it with my blessing. Tell her that, would you?”
    Logan chuckled. “What have I ever done to you?”
    Tom shook his head. “See you.”
    Logan watched him leave with narrow, curious dark eyes. Tom was a real puzzle even to the people who knew him best. He had a feeling his friend and the lovely Mrs. Marshal were going to strike sparks off each other from the very beginning.
    He turned to Melody, who was sorting files. “Anything that can’t wait until tomorrow?” he mused.
    â€œWhy, no, sir,” she said with a mischievous smile. “In fact, I think I can now run the office all by myself,advise clients on the best investments, speak to civic organizations…”
    â€œI can call Emmett and tell him you miss having him and the kids at your apartment, and that you’d like him to come back,” he suggested.
    She stuck both arms up in the air over her head.
    He chuckled and left to pick up Kit at her office.
    Â 
    Emmett was wondering if his age was beginning to affect him. He was noticing things about his kids that had escaped him for months. They didn’t take regular baths. They didn’t have new clothes. They didn’t do their homework. They played really nasty jokes on people around the ranch.
    â€œYou haven’t noticed much, have you?” the housekeeper, Tally Ray, remarked dryly. “I’ve done my best, but as they keep reminding me, I don’t have any real authority to order them around.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that,” he began irritably.
    â€œWhy don’t you see about that? Because I’m retiring. Here’s my notice. I didn’t mind doing housework, but I draw the line at being a part-time mother to three kids. I want to enjoy my golden years, if you please.”
    â€œBut you’ve been here forever!” he protested.
    â€œAnd that’s why I’m leaving.” She patted him on the shoulder. “One week is all you get, by the way. I hope you can find somebody stupid enough to replace me.”
    Emmett felt the world coming down on his shoulders. Now what was he going to do?
    He phoned Tansy, supposedly to check on her progress, but really to get some much-needed advice.
    â€œYou’re playing with fire, you know,” Tansy told him. “Living on the edge is only for people with no real responsibilities. Those kids need you.”
    â€œSo does the ranch. How can I keep it without additional capital?”
    â€œGet a job that doesn’t have the risks of rodeo.”
    â€œWhere?” he asked belligerently.
    â€œTake down this number.”
    She gave it to him and he jotted it down with a pencil. “What is it?”
    â€œIt’s Ted Regan’s number,” she replied. “He still needs somebody to manage his ranch in Jacobsville while he’s in Europe. It won’t be a permanent job, but it would keep you going until you decide what else you’d like to do with your life.”
    â€œJacobsville.”
    â€œThat’s right. It’s a small town, but close enough to Houston that you could bring the