A Match Made In Texas (10 page)

"Can't you take the day off tomorrow?" Ruth asked. "I'm sure they can call in a substitute for you."

"Oh, no!" Kelsey groaned. "Not a sub!"

Ruth frowned. "Kelsey, you don't want Miss Rogers to be hurting, do you? She should rest and keep off that foot."

Kelsey walked over to Theresa. "Well, if you're not able to go to school, I'll be glad to stay here and take care of you."

"That's very generous," Theresa said with a smile. "But I think we'd both better go to school tomorrow."

Kelsey flopped down in a chair. "How will you get to school tomorrow? Can you drive? You hurt your right foot."

Theresa hadn't really thought about it. All her thoughts had been centered on getting the swelling down and hobbling around the house. "I'll manage somehow. Don't worry."

"I'll drive Kelsey to school tomorrow," Ruth said. "We'll pick you up. Kelsey can help with your things. Then I'll pick both of you up after school."

"Oh, I couldn't impose on you like that."

"It's no imposition. I won't take no for an answer. Is seven-thirty okay with you?"

Theresa smiled. "That will be fine. Thanks." Austin's mother was extremely sweet. So was his daughter. But sweet wasn't how she would describe Austin. He was anything but. Except for that one moment, frozen now in her mind, when he had looked at her with such concern. She had seen anger, frustration and desire in his eyes before. But never concern. It came awfully close to caring.

"Come along, Kelsey," Ruth said. "I've got to get on home. You take care of yourself, Miss Rogers. Stay off that foot today and we'll see you in the morning."

Kelsey gave Theresa a hug. "Everything's going to be all right. You'll see."

"Kelsey!" Ruth called from the porch.

"Coming, Grams. Don't get up," she said to Theresa. "I'll shut the door behind me."

Theresa shook her head. Kelsey McCade was a natural born leader. And manipulator. She hoped the child could survive disappointment, because Theresa was certain whatever Kelsey was planning for her father and her teacher was doomed to failure.

****

At seven-thirty sharp, Theresa answered the knock on her door, expecting to see Ruth and Kelsey. Instead, her stomach tumbled all the way down to her injured foot. "What are
you
doing here? Where's Ruth?"

Austin stood on her doorstep. Again. And he didn't look too happy about it. Again.

"You're wasting that innocent act on me," he growled. "I don't know how you contrived it, but I'm the one taking you to school."

"I didn't contrive--"

"Don't bother denying it," he said. "Where are your books? We need to get going."

Theresa eyed him warily as he stepped into her living room. "Where's Kelsey?"

"I made her wait in the truck. I wanted to say my piece without innocent ears around."

He closed the door and walked over to stand directly in front of her. Too close. She could smell his aftershave. "I warned you about using Kelsey to get to me. I only have so much will power. I want to sleep with you, Theresa. And if you're so hot to trot, ready to lie down--"

"Stop it! How dare you say such things" Theresa reached out and pushed him away. One of the crutches slipped beneath her and she started to fall.

Austin automatically grabbed her. He held on to her with a vice-like grip. "Sex would be good between us," he said in her ear. "But that's all it would be. Sex. I used to think you needed more, but if you're going to such lengths to throw us together . . ."

Theresa jerked out of his arms. "Get out! I don't have to stand here and be insulted in my own house. Just get out!" She bent to pick up the fallen crutch. How could she have thought him caring and concerned?

"I'm taking you to school, remember? You have to go to work," he said between gritted teeth.

"I wouldn't let you take me to the corner store." She struck the floor with the crutch to emphasize her point.

"Not the drama queen again," Austin said with a frown. "Do you want to be late for class? You can't possibly drive with that foot."

Theresa adjusted the crutch beneath her arm. "What happened to your mother? I thought she was picking me up."

"Sure you did. Is this your satchel? Are you ready?" He lifted a large bag of books and opened the door.

"I just want you to know, I had nothing to do with any of this." She grabbed her purse and flung it over her shoulder, then gripped the crutches and walked past Austin.

"Right. Like I believe that." He shut the door behind them and followed her to the truck.

"Well, you can believe anything you want. I'm telling the truth." She hobbled down the walkway to where Kelsey waited with the truck door open.

"Good morning, Miss Rogers," Kelsey said with a bright smile. "Too bad Grams had a headache. But Dad doesn't mind taking us to school. He likes to help you. Don't you, Dad?"

"That's right, hotshot." He handed her the satchel. "Put Miss Roger's bag and crutches in the back while I help her get in the truck."

"Sure thing." Kelsey bounced away humming a happy tune.

Theresa looked into the hazel eyes regarding her with a mixture of anger and desire. A lump the size of an orange lodged in her windpipe. "You don't have to help me. I can climb in myself."

"I insist. I
like
to help you. Kelsey just said so, didn't she?" Hooking his arm under her knees, he lifted her. His hand brushed the inside of her thighs as he took his time letting go of her. He leaned his body toward her as she sat on the seat.

Theresa felt tantalizing shivers race up her leg in response to his intimate touch. She clenched her teeth, grabbed his wrist and pushed him away. "I don't think this is exactly what Kelsey had in mind when she wanted you to help me," she said softly. "Close . . . but she
is
only twelve after all."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing. Not a thing. We're going to be late if we don't hurry." She almost laughed at the confusion on his face.

Kelsey opened the driver's side door. "Everything okay in here?" She climbed in the back seat looking as satisfied as a cat with a bowl of cream.

Austin shot a suspicious glance at his daughter. His eyes narrowed as he looked back at Theresa. "We'll continue this discussion at a later date," he said under his breath.

"I don't think so."

Slamming the door, he strode around the front of the truck and climbed in. He kept his eyes on the road all the way to school.

Theresa tried to calm her thumping heart and respond to Kelsey's chatter. It seemed like Austin was becoming angrier with her each time they met--in direct proportion to his growing desire for her, as a matter of fact. If ever there were a tortured hero, Austin McCade certainly fit the bill.

Could she weather the storm when it finally broke? She stole a glance at Austin's stern profile. Yes, she would stay the course. See how it all turned out. Hopefully, she would survive the aftermath.

****

"
But Dad, you promised
," Kelsey cried.

"I did no such thing." Austin tightened one of the belts on the old tractor he was working on.

"Yes, you did. You made Uncle Dallas take me to the bonfire last night. And Grams took me to the game this afternoon. It's Homecoming Weekend. This is the first year I get to go to the dance. And you said you'd go. They need parents to chaperone."

Austin tossed the wrench aside and wiped his greasy hands on a towel. He looked at his daughter's face. So much like Deborah. Yet different. He inhaled a deep breath. This fathering business took a lot out of a man.

"All right, I'll take you," he said. "What time?"

"Eight o'clock. But Miss Rogers said to be there a little early. The sixth-graders are in charge of refreshments."

Glancing at his watch, Austin grimaced. "That doesn't give us much time. I need a shower and we'll have to grab a sandwich before we go."

"Great," Kelsey said. "I'll fix them while you clean up. We should make it just in time." She turned and skipped back to the house.

Austin put his tools away, then followed more slowly. Theresa would be at the dance. He wondered how her foot had healed. It had been over a week since she had hurt it. Since he'd seen her. He'd tried to keep busy and not think about her, about wanting her. Obviously, he hadn't been very successful, judging by his reaction when Kelsey mentioned her teacher just now.

His body had betrayed him, tightening and tensing up. He hadn't been this sexually frustrated in years. Not since before he and Deb had started dating. And after her death, he had felt nothing for months, even years. Only numbness. Desire and frustration became foreign to him.

Not anymore. Since he'd met Theresa, he'd been frustrated as hell. He didn't think anything would relieve him until he held her in his arms, took her to bed, pulled her beneath him and plunged deep inside of her warm willing body.

Austin stopped at the back door and rubbed the back of his neck. Man, he was in bad shape. Something was going to have to give. Theresa would be at the dance tonight. Maybe, just maybe, he would ask her to dance. At least, he could hold her in his arms. He didn't know if that would help or make things worse. At this point, he didn't really care.

CHAPTER SIX

Austin walked into the high-school gym at a quarter till eight. Kelsey bounded in front of him, leading the way. People were making last minute adjustments to the floral arrangements and ribbons, checking the cups, plates and napkins, and setting out cookies and chips.

Several people called out greetings as he made his way to the refreshment table where Kelsey had stationed herself. He hadn't been to a homecoming dance in ages. Nothing seemed to have changed very much. Same tables and chairs lining the walls, same overblown decorations. Different band, different kids, but otherwise the same.

Austin glanced around the cavernous room. Theresa was nowhere in sight. He ignored the disappointment twisting his gut. Yep, he was definitely in bad shape.

Kelsey was busy arranging cookies on a platter. "Don't just stand there, Dad. Miss Rogers is down the hall in the cafeteria making punch. I told Miss Patti you'd help carry the bowl."

"What?"

"You did come to help, didn't you?" Kelsey said, frowning up at him. "It's almost eight. The dance is going to start and we're not ready yet." She went back to her cookies.

Austin stared at his daughter for a long moment before stalking off down the hall. Kelsey was getting mighty bossy. He had been lax in a lot of areas and this was the result. He would have a long talk with her soon. Tell her what's what.

Opening the door to the cafeteria, he met Theresa pushing a metal cart. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Don't close that door," she said, not stopping but pushing ahead.

Austin held the door open, allowing her to pass through. "I came to help," he said, taking the opposite end of the cumbersome cart and maneuvering it down the hall.

"Of your own free will?" Theresa asked, catching his eye. "Wait, don't tell me. Kelsey sent you."

He nodded, wondering what it was about her that affected him so strongly.

"Do you always jump when your daughter gives an order?"

Austin stopped pulling the cart. It jolted to a stop, sloshing punch over the sides of the large bowl.

"Hey, watch it! I thought you were supposed to be helping." Theresa quickly mopped the spilled punch with a towel.

"I am helping," Austin said, clamping his jaws together. "And for your information, I don't jump for anyone. Not you, not Kelsey, not anyone." He jerked the cart forward, his heart racing. He didn't know whether he wanted to kiss Theresa until her lips were swollen or shake her like a rag doll. Both scenarios would give him immense satisfaction, one way or another. Maybe satisfaction was the wrong word. If he started kissing her, he would be far from satisfied. He would want more.
Need
more. Oh hell, don't go there. His wayward body was already betraying him. Again.

They were almost to the gym door when Theresa stopped pushing the cart. "Wait a minute," she said. "I want to thank you for letting me borrow the crutches. I couldn't have gotten along without them. I'll return them soon."

"Give them to Kelsey. She can bring them home."

"Right. Kelsey. It always comes back to Kelsey." She bit her lip.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked sharply. He wanted to nibble those lips. He gripped the steel bar of the cart more tightly.

"Nothing," she said. "I didn't see you at any of the other homecoming events, although I did see your brothers. How did she talk you into coming to the dance? "

Austin shrugged. Had she been looking for him? "Kelsey has her ways."