Natural Born Trouble Read Free

can’t suggest to your dad that he allow you to watch out for her for me.”
    â€œYou’re going to talk to our dad?” Zachary asked, wide-eyed.
    â€œOf course. I can’t send the kitten home with you without his permission. If you’d like me to, I’ll call him right now.”
    â€œAt work?” Joshua asked, then shook his head. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. He’s not in a very good mood when he’s at work.”
    â€œBesides I don’t think he’d like it very much if he knew Paolina brought us into town,” Zachary added.
    â€œPaolina?”
    â€œShe’s our new housekeeper,” Joshua explained.
    â€œYeah, and she’s stayed a whole two weeks, longer than any of the others.”
    â€œI see.” Dani hid a smile at the telling remarks. “You let me worry about your dad. I think he’ll understand that this was a crisis. Do you know the number?” She picked up a nearby portable phone.
    â€œSure,” Zachary said and recited it.
    The familiar number had her pausing. “Your dad’s in the oil business?”
    â€œHow’d you know that?” Joshua asked.
    â€œI know someone who works there,” she said carefully, not mentioning that the someone was her stepfather, nor that he owned the company. “What’s your dad’s name?”
    â€œDuke Jenkins.”
    Ah, Dani thought, so these boys belonged to the mysterious Duke Jenkins, whose reputation in the field had been legendary. She’d overheard Jordan talking about how badly he hated the thought of losing him on exploration, but what an asset he would be anywhere in the company.
    She’d also heard that the man was chafing at being chained to a desk. She suspected these two had something to do with his decision to take a safer assignment. Or perhaps his wife had demanded it. Then, again, hadn’t she heard he was a widower? Or was he divorced? Either would explain why he and not their mother was making the decisions about their pets and why this new housekeeper was so important.
    She hit speed dial for the company headquarters a few blocks away. Originally the company had been in Houston, but her mother had persuaded Jordan to relocate years ago. When the operator answered, Dani greeted her, then asked for Duke Jenkins.
    â€œDon’t tell me you’ve staked him out already,” the young woman said with an audible sigh of regret.
    â€œActually, I’m calling on a business matter,” Dani reassured her.
    â€œWell, you’re out of luck, hon. He’s in with Jordan and last time I checked the rafters were about to blow straight off the building. I wouldn’t buzz in there for the president of the U.S.A.”
    Donna Kelso was not easily intimidated, nor was Jordan the kind of man who tolerated muchinsubordination. Dani could only imagine just how explosive the meeting going on in her stepfather’s office was. If Duke Jenkins was foolish enough to take Jordan on, he was either a very brave man or he operated on pure arrogance. If Jordan hadn’t fired him in the first five minutes, then Duke Jenkins was a very valuable company asset. Dani knew better than to get caught in the middle.
    â€œNever mind,” she said hurriedly. “I’ll catch up with him later. Thanks, Donna.”
    â€œYou bet. You want me to leave him a message, say in a day or two when things cool down?”
    â€œNo, thanks.”
    She hung up and turned to see two very disappointed faces.
    â€œI guess we don’t get a kitten, huh?” Zachary asked.
    â€œNot right away,” she said. “But I will talk to your dad. I promise.”
    â€œWhen?” Joshua asked. “Tonight? He’s always home by suppertime. You could come over. That would be best. Dad would never yell at a lady in person. He says it’s not proper to hit girls and yell at them and stuff.”
    Dani wasn’t at all sure she