Me Carter, You Jane

"He's a Texan." Jane rolled her eyes as she read the information Mr. Jerry Greene gave her. Mr. Greene snickered at her worried expression when she looked up from the paper at him.

"He has to get his affairs in order. He has an inheritance left to him by his grandfather, and it's quite a bit of money. His Uncle Henry, one of my old college friends, wanted the best, so I am giving him my best."

Henry Thorne had lost his wife, Savanah, a few months ago to cancer. Jerry had put these two together. People said that he had a sixth sense of matchmaking personalities and goals in couples. So Henry wanted him to help his nephew Carter find that woman he needed. Jerry knew Carter. The cowboy was a good man. Even though his heart broke for his aunt, Carter still needed someone. And Jerry was staring at her across his desk.

The air left Jane's lungs when she saw the staggering amount of money the Texan would inherit on his twenty-eighth birthday in three months. "Forty-two million dollars, Mr. Green. I have only been here for eight months. I'm fresh out of college. Don't you think one of the seasoned employees would be wiser?"

Jerry shook his head at her words. Jane did not want to leave Ohio. She was the only black woman ever employed at his firm, his favorite, perfect employee, and was already dead at twenty-three. She had her life already scripted and never deviated from that path. He had never seen her laugh or spend time with anyone other than her computer or phone. She had no life and seemed completely fine with her situation.

Jerry was not okay with it. He wanted more for this woman, and she deserved more. She had a hard life, losing her parents at the age of seventeen. Her family, namely her ex-grandmother, did not make her life comfortable. He only knew this because of the constant phone calls from this woman and the subsequent angry hang-up after some yelling. Jerry did not understand what strained their relationship, but he knew she needed to leave Ohio before the grandmother killed her.

"You are my best employee, Jane, and the only one I can send with Mr. Thorne. Besides, getting away for a while will do you good; Texas is beautiful."

Jerry watched the color drain from her face, which amazed him because he did not think that was possible. "Leave, Ohio,"

He knew she wanted to stay here because her parents were here, but this place was killing her. "Jane, you are a big girl now. You can handle it. I have faith in you."

Jerry raised his left wrist and looked at his watch. "He'll be here in fifteen minutes."

A sudden loud laugh and deep booming vocals filled the foray outside Jerry's office. Jane stared at the closed door as the heavy footsteps approached her boss's door. Jerry raised a grey eyebrow at the man's promptness.

"Or he could be here now," Martha opened the door, and a hulking, shoulder-length, blonde-haired Texan with a mouth full of white teeth, stubble, and smiling blue eyes walked into the office. The red-haired woman walking next to him stared at Jane with disgust. She had a look on her face that said; If you touch him, I will cut you, bitch.

Carter Thorne glanced at the scared woman in black beside Jerry. She was easy to look at, even with her hair in a neat bun. But, the woman looked stuck up and afraid and probably would not last ten minutes in Texas. But his Uncle Henry said that she was tough and intelligent. Carter would find out soon enough. He was going to be as cowboy as he could be. He wanted to see this woman's reaction to the stereotype of a Texan.

Jerry extended his hand for a handshake. "Mr. Thorne, we are so happy you made it safe and sound. We hope that you are enjoying your time here in Ohio."

Carter smiled and vigorously shook Jerry's hand. "Yes, sir, I am enjoying myself."

Jane expected more of an accent, but you had to listen very hard to catch the drawl in his words. He had often been in the northern states and lost some of his Texas twangs.

Jerry released Carter's hand and turned towards Jane. "This is Miss Jane Flowers, and she will handle all your accounting needs. She is my best and favorite employee, so do take care of her for me."

Jerry knew that she was staring at him. He could imagine the surprised expression on her face. She should have been paying attention to the cowboy sneaking up on her.

An uncustomary squeal filled Jerry's office as Carter swallowed Jane in his arms and effortlessly lifted her from the floor. She groaned as her breasts smashed into his hard chest. His grip trapped her arms against her sides. What was wrong with this man?

"Don't kill her," Jerry raised his hands, seeing the pain on Jane's face.

Carter instantly released her, and Jane's feet landed on the floor. Her hand went to the painful area on her chest. Carter realized he had injured her. Jane saw the concern on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Jane removed her hand from her chest.

Jane nodded. "I'm okay, Mr. Thorne."

"I'm sorry, I sometimes forget my strength, Miss Flowers. I'm so happy to see you. According to my Uncle Henry, he said I need you to get my affairs in order. You see, you can't trust anybody with money these days."

The redhead beside the Texan suddenly looked at him. Jane noticed Carter's sideways glance at his companion. She hoped they would not have a lover's spat in front of her. She just wanted to work without incident.

"I need you to come to my home and show me the errors of my ways for about two or three months, and then I'll see if city girls are useful." He said.

All Jane heard was the word two or three months. She said nothing as Jerry and Carter began talking again. Everything was a blur after he mentioned those two words. She was thinking of a few weeks, not months. Her life's plan was never to leave Ohio. She was starting to find out that one could not script life.

She wanted to go home and pack, but Carter said he was on a tight schedule and would care for all her needs. The Texan smiled down at her as they stood outside the Greene and Associates building. Jane managed a nod to his statement.

The woman beside him cleared her throat, but Carter ignored her. The redhead stared at Carter's tall, muscled figure, leaving them behind.

"My name is Trina Miller, and I am his girlfriend. Trust me; he is not always rude. Family problems can do that.

Jane did not want to know anything about his family. "It's quite alright, Miss Miller."

Trina snickered at her. "You know it's hot in Texas. I don't think that you will like it."

Jane raised an eyebrow at the woman's hate-filled eyes, looking her over. "We shall see," Jane replied. She walked away from the glare of the angry girlfriend and followed Carter to the car.

He annoyed her. The entire ride to the airport, Carter stared at her across the small aisle. Jane avoided eye contact because she did not want to talk to him. Discussing life struggles was not included in her services.

She wished he would speak with the woman he brought with him, but he said nothing to her and did not touch her. She said she was his girlfriend, but it did not look like he knew that.

Carter smirked at the city girl, trying to ignore him as he stared at her. She was Miss Prissy and would not last a day on his ranch. The high heels and dark clothing would all have to go away. She was uptight, rigid but delicate. By her stiff but shapely body, he could tell she wanted to stay at arm's length from him. He was okay with that; as long as she did what he paid her to do, he would leave her alone.

Trina tried to touch Carter's hand, but he just looked at her, and she pulled her hand away. Jane witnessed the scene between them, and her anxiety rose. They had a lover's spat, and she could not get out of the car while it was driving to the airport.

After about fifteen minutes of driving, they arrived at the airport. Carter got out and opened her door. He extended his hand to her. Jane cautiously placed her hand in his as Carter helped her out of the vehicle. He studied her hair with amazement once she stood before him. His late aunt Savannah always wore her hair like this. He had never seen that woman's hair free and in her face, and he never would.

"Don't you get headaches from your hair being so tight?" The black strands lay flat and behaved in a neat bun. Although the wind moved a few escaped wisps of hair, nothing else attempted to leave the bun.

Jane looked up at him. "No, Mr. Thorne, I do not. This style is very appropriate for my work."

Carter smiled down at her. "If you say so."

He released her hand and walked towards the plane, leaving the driver to help Trina exit the car.

Jane watched him walk away towards the tarmac where his plane sat. Trina stood beside her and glared at his back. "He is a complicated man."

"I am sure that he is."

Trina snickered and faced her. "We are just having a difficult time right now, but we will fix this."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you are talking about, and I am only here to fix his finances," she assured the irate woman.

Trina chuckled. "You are amusing, but I know your kind. So you do what he paid you and leave Carter to me."

Trina began walking towards the plane with a smirk on her face. This city girl would run home after one week.

"You can have him... if he wants you." Jane replied.

Her words stung the redhead as she walked away towards the plane. She had quick comebacks, and smart ones at that. This city girl would not cower under her glare like the others before her. Trina would have to work that much harder to get Carter back. She would do any and everything to be with him.

Jane did not know what possessed her to say those words to the snotty woman, but she was glad she did. She knew that if this woman were always around the house, her time in Texas would be the longest three months of her life. Jane looked up at the plane and saw Carter looking back at her as if she should have been right next to him on the plane. Jane sighed and began walking toward the tarmac, praying for a peaceful trip. Unfortunately, Carter Thorne would not make her time incident-free or enjoyable in Texas.