A Match Made In Texas (9 page)

Theresa stopped and faced him. "I wouldn't accept a ride from you if you were the last man on earth. You'll be accusing me of setting this whole thing up in order to get us together. No thank you. Go on. I'll catch a ride with someone else." She trudged on at a snail's pace.

"Goddamn it! Don't be so melodramatic. You sound like Kelsey. It's freezing out there. You're hurt. I know you didn't stage this. There's no way in hell you could know I was coming to town. I didn't know I was coming until twenty minutes ago. Now get in before I get out and forcible throw you in."

Theresa decided she didn't want to stand in the cold and argue. "All right, I guess I don't have much of a choice."

"Gee, thanks," Austin said, a grin threatening to ease the grimness of his mouth.

Ignoring the debilitating effect of his smile, she

climbed into the truck. But not without experiencing considerable pain.

"Ouch!" She bit her lip when she accidently lost her balance, putting all her weight on the sprained ankle.

Austin leaned over and grabbed her arm, helping her in the rest of the way. "How long were you walking on that foot? And why, in God's name, were you even out in this weather? It's near freezing."

His hand lingered on her arm. She could feel his warmth through the thick fleece of her sweatshirt. Theresa pulled away, folding her arms across her chest. "I jog everyday. Rain or shine." She kept her eyes straight ahead.

"How about snow?" Austin pulled the truck onto the highway and headed toward town.

"No, I draw the line at ice and snow. I don't want to risk falling down."

"Well, there wasn't any ice or snow today. How'd you sprain that ankle?"

She chanced a peek at the man sitting across from her. The leathered skin of his face sat well on him. Gave him a rugged, earthy look. His lips were sculpted, the nose straight and long. His golden hair looked silky soft. A familiar warmth began building in her stomach.

Austin turned his head slightly and caught her staring at him. The hazel eyes held hers for a heated moment, before he deliberately looked away and focused on the road.

Torn between the pain in her foot and the not-so-subtle undercurrents flowing between them, Theresa found it difficult to concentrate on the conversation.

"How did you hurt your ankle?" he asked again, gripping the steering wheel with tight fists.

"I stepped on a rock. My foot rolled and twisted." She looked out the window, watching the hundred-acre field go by. It didn't take long before her street came into sight.

"Turn right, just over that rise."

"I know where you live," he said. "I've been there, remember?"

The low timbre of his voice washed over Theresa's nerves, reminding her exactly what had happened the last time he came to her house.

Austin stopped the truck in the driveway. Before Theresa had time to unbuckle her seatbelt, he opened the passenger door and gently lifted her in his arms.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, looping her arms around his neck in reflex.

"You don't need to put any more weight on that foot. I'm going to make sure you take care of it properly."

He carried her up the sidewalk and paused at her front door.

"It's unlocked," she said, when he made no other move.

"Bend down and open it. My hands are full."

Theresa looked at Austin a moment, coloring when his eyes fell on her lips. A muscle in his jaw twitched as he clamped his teeth together.

"Go on. I won't drop you," he said, his voice ragged. His arms tightened around her as he tilted her forward.

Theresa caught the knob and pushed the door open. Her little house was warm and inviting after the harsh cold outside.

"You can put me on the couch," she said. "I'll manage from there. Thanks for--"

"I'm not going anywhere yet." He deposited her on the sofa and with a quick look around, headed for the small kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Theresa called.

He came back with two bags of frozen vegetables and a dishtowel. Sitting next to her, he removed her shoe and examined her swollen ankle. He whistled softly under his breath. "That doesn't look too good."

She nearly jumped out of her skin when he started probing for broken bones. His fingers on her ankle made her heart beat double-time. She almost forgot about her injured foot. Almost.

"Watch it," she said, gasping in pain.

"Sorry." He eased the pressure of his fingers. "It doesn't seem to be broken."

"I didn't think so," she said. "I'm all right. Really. I can take it from here. Thanks for bringing me home."

Austin ignored her. He lifted her leg and propped it up on pillows. Then he gently wrapped the towel around her ankle and balanced the frozen veggie bags on either side. Stepping back, he surveyed his handiwork.

Austin's masculine presence filled the room. Theresa tried not to think of the annihilating kiss they had shared over by her front door. She leaned her head back against the sofa. Austin's tender ministrations wreaked havoc with her emotions. Closing her eyes, she hoped the threatening tears would go unnoticed. Beneath the hard, bitter facade, a caring man had been revealed. Theresa found herself falling a little more in love with Austin each passing moment.

The couch cushions dipped as he sat beside her. She kept her eyes shut, not wanting him to see the tumult he caused, trying to protect herself against him. A warm finger on her cheek wiped a tear away.

"I know it must hurt like hell," he said, his voice low and intimate. "Where do you keep the aspirin?"

Opening her eyes, Theresa caught the concern in his eyes. She struggled to get up. Strong hands clamped around her shoulders and pushed her back against the cushions. "You're not going anywhere."

"You don't have to wait on me," she said. "I know you don't want me. Don't want to be around me. Thank you for all of your help. Now you can go. I can manage on my own."

Instead of releasing her, Austin began kneading the tight muscles in her shoulders, looking directly in her eyes. "Baby, if you knew how much I wanted you, you'd turn and run in the opposite direction."

"I'm not the one running." She forced herself not to look away. Inhaling deeply, his fresh clean scent permeated her being. Why couldn't he just hold her in his arms again?

He stopped kneading and leaned closer. "You
should
be running. I've told you I have nothing to give you except sex. You deserve more than that."

"I'm a big girl, Austin." She saw a muscle twitch near his mouth. His grip on her shoulders tightened. Theresa thought he might kiss her again. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation.

He pushed her away and stood up. "Where's the damn aspirin?"

Theresa gulped down the bitter disappointment. She'd wanted him to kiss her. Almost begged him to kiss her. "In the medicine cabinet in the bathroom."

He returned with a glass of water and two tablets. After she swallowed the aspirin, Austin adjusted the frozen bags around her ankle.

"I'm going now," he said, looking at her with a scowl. "I suggest you keep away from me in the future. If you don't, I might decide to give you what you think you want and damn the consequences. Like you said, you're a big girl." He slammed the door on his way out.

Theresa curled up on the couch, careful not to dislodge the cold packs. Austin McCade confused the hell out of her. One minute he was gentle and concerned, the next--mean and menacing. But he seemed to be relaxing his guard a little. He wanted her in the physical sense and he didn't like it. His desire for her was starting to threaten his control, his self-imposed emotional solitude.

For twelve years, Austin hadn't let anyone close to his heart. Theresa didn't really believe he would ever completely let her in. He might agree to a physical relationship, but he would keep his emotions under tight rein. That might be all he was able to give. Could she accept that? Would it be enough?

****

Austin banged his fist against the steering wheel as he drove away from Theresa's house. What the hell was the matter with him? Had he completely lost his mind?

Nothing had changed. Nothing should have changed. When he had seen Theresa limping along the road, all he could think was that he had to help her. As much as she exasperated and frustrated him, he had to stop and help.

When she refused his offer, something had snapped inside. Not only was he attracted to her, wanting her with an urgency that left him aching--he realized he cared what happened to her. He couldn't leave her on the side of the road.

It did no good to tell himself he wouldn't have left anyone to their fate on such a cold winter morning. He would have helped no matter who it was.

But would he have followed through like he had done with Theresa? Making sure they got in the house? Putting ice on the ankle? Giving her aspirin? He hoped he was a nice guy. But he would be kidding himself if he believed he would have taken such pains with anyone else except family.

And then he had almost kissed her. He had had to forcibly restrain himself. When he had sat beside her on the sofa, she had looked so vulnerable.
And beautiful.
He had wanted to kiss away her pain. Take care of her. Protect her.

He banged the steering wheel again. He couldn't risk his heart again. Wouldn't risk it again. He forced himself to remember the days following Deborah's death, allowing the grief and sorrow to flow through him, the gut-wrenching agony to settle in his veins. It fed his determination and resolve. It had given him strength all these years.

To carry on in the name of Deborah.

He had sworn to never let himself love another woman. Of course, no one had ever tempted him to veer from his chosen path before Theresa had come along.

But holy shit, he was tempted now. Everything about Theresa tempted him: Her soft husky voice, silky brown hair he wanted to run his fingers through, emerald green eyes that burned in his soul, full, sultry lips that tasted so sweet. He wanted to mold her slim body to his, caress every curve. Pull her beneath him and plunge into her woman's heat. Feel her long legs wrap around her. Hear her call his name when she climaxed.

Austin cursed the desire raging in his groin. Yes, she tempted him all right. He needed to stay away from her. Keep his distance. Desire could be wonderful and dangerous at the same time. Desire for Theresa Rogers was the dangerous kind. Austin was certain of that. Somehow, he had to fight the temptation.

****

"Do you think you'll be able to go to school tomorrow?" Kelsey asked, sitting at the table in Theresa's small kitchen, eating a steaming bowl of chicken and dumplings. "Hey Grams, these are great."

Theresa nodded. "Yes, Mrs. McCade. The dumplings are delicious. Thanks for bringing them over." She bit into one of the fat, fluffy dumplings.

Ruth McCade sat at the table and smiled. "Well, it's the least I could do for Kelsey's favorite teacher of all time. And Austin said you were hurt pretty badly. He dug an old pair of crutches out of the attic. My daughter, Tori, injured her knee in high school playing basketball. Y'all are about the same height, so you should be able to use them."

Theresa eyed the crutches leaning against the wall. "I've never had to use them before. I wonder if I can manage."

"After we finish eating, I'll help you," Kelsey said. "And I'll help you tomorrow at school, too. I'll carry your books and run errands for you."

"You're a sweetheart, Kelsey. I don't know how I'd get along without you." Theresa spooned another mouthful of dumplings, blowing before taking a bite.

Kelsey shrugged. "I like to help you, Miss Rogers. I'm always trying to find ways to help you out. We get along great, don't you think?"

"Yes, I do," Theresa said. "We always have. I missed you last year. I'm so glad you're in my class again. I'll miss you again when you move on to seventh grade. Let's not think about that. At least, we have the rest of the year together."

"Maybe you won't have to miss me," Kelsey said. "You never know what might happen."

"What in heavens name do you mean by that?" Ruth asked.

"Oh, nothing," Kelsey said with a shrug. She hopped up from her seat. "Do you want another glass of tea, Miss Rogers?"

"Yes, thank you. But you don't have to wait on me. I'm not exactly an invalid."

"Like I said, I love to help you out." Kelsey filled the tall glass, then set the pitcher on the counter. "Dad seemed really worried about you. He said if you were still in a lot of pain, we should make you go to the doctor. You're not in a lot of pain, are you?"

Theresa felt Ruth's attention on her, waiting for her answer. She was sure Austin's mother would do everything in her power to carry out her son's wishes. Or commands.

"No, I'm much better. I kept ice on the ankle and took pain relievers all day yesterday. The swelling has gone down. I can't put a lot of weight on it yet, so I appreciate the use of the crutches. I should be completely healed in a day or two."