A Match Made In Texas (5 page)

"I don't want another wife." All eyes were focused on him. No one was even pretending not to listen.

"Why not?" Kelsey persisted.

"Your mother was the only woman I could ever love. Now, drop it, Kels. I'm sure the family doesn't want to hear any of this."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Tyler said.

"But, Dad--"

"Leave your daddy be." Ruth poured ice tea in tall glasses.

"I just want to know why--"

"Look, I don't want to discuss this anymore," Austin said, cutting her off. "Can we say the blessing and eat?"

"Yes, let's," Ruth said, taking her seat.

Kelsey flopped down in her chair and sniffed as she bowed her head.

Austin hated being so brusque with his daughter. Especially in front of the family. He could feel their disapproval and speculation on the subject at hand. He knew they all wondered why he hadn't married again.

He had good reasons for maintaining his single state. He couldn't help it if they didn't understand or approve. It was his life. If he wanted to live it alone, then that was his own damned business.

CHAPTER THREE

Theresa slid the key in the lock and let herself into the house. Back from her daily run, all she wanted to do now was soak in a hot bubble bath and eat a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast. Then she might curl up with a good book or clean a little. Or both. Later, she could work outside in the yard. The flowerbeds needed a good mulching and there were pansies to plant. Tomorrow was soon enough to grade the papers waiting on her desk.

Life was good. She had her Aunt Rachel to thank for leaving her the small, snug house in Salt Fork, Texas. Goodness, she missed her aunt. Memories of youthful summers spent in the sleepy little town would always remain close to her heart. Now, she had the opportunity to make new memories. To live a quieter kind of life than if she had stayed in Houston.

She discovered to her delight that the slower pace and simpler lifestyle exactly suited her. Theresa thought back to her first years as a teacher in the huge metropolitan city. She had been assigned to one of the inner-city schools. Located in one of the poorer neighborhoods, Theresa found she was scared and stressed out most of the time, unable to function in that kind of environment. It took someone stronger and tougher than she was to reach those kids. She remembered feeling like a total failure. Wild thoughts about giving up on teaching altogether rolled around in her brain.

Then, Aunt Rachel had died, leaving her the cozy little house in Salt Fork. Theresa's mother nearly had a conniption fit when she learned Theresa planned to move so far away. But since it proved to be in her daughter's best interest, she helped her pack and move.

Situated on the edge of town, the house was small and compact. Two bedrooms, one bath. A nice living and dining area, with an efficiency kitchen with all the amenities. A two-car garage with attached carport and a covered deck out back. The house was the last on the block and overlooked a hundred-acre field belonging to a farmer who lived a couple of miles from town.

Every morning, Theresa ran the "block" around that field. Waking up at five on school days, she made the run, enjoying the freedom and isolation. She felt perfectly safe. Nothing dangerous ever happened in Salt Fork. She still locked her doors, even though she knew she didn't have to. Old habits were hard to break. It was a far cry from how she was living only two years ago.

Lowering herself in the tub, Theresa sighed as the hot water covered her body, easing the tense muscles, relieving the aches and pains. She leaned back and closed her eyes, resting her head on the tile, giving herself up to the pleasures of the bath. Steam rose around her, and she felt a fine sheen of perspiration bead on her skin.

Yes, life was good. But it could be better. If a certain stubborn man would only look her way and acknowledge the attraction between them. If only he would do something. Anything.

How could Austin ignore the strong sexual pull? She knew she wasn't the only one feeling the sparks. She had seen the hunger in his eyes. Felt the hunger on his lips.

It had been several months since the Founder's Day Jubilee. Not only had they been bound together for that horrid race, earlier in the day Theresa had been manning the kissing booth. Being one of the few single ladies in town, she had been coerced into taking her turn in the booth. It hadn't been so bad. A dollar a kiss, and most of the men settled for a chaste peck. It was all in fun, the money going to a good cause.

About half way into her shift, Theresa noticed Kelsey McCade dragging her father toward the booth. Theresa's breath caught in her lungs and jittery butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

Austin looked extremely put out with his daughter. A frown marred his hard chiseled features. Dark eyebrows slashed downward over angry hazel eyes. His strong jaws clenched together and his sculpted lips were set in a grim line.

She watched as the tall cowboy--he looked like a cowboy anyway, dressed in a plaid western shirt and black Stetson--let Kelsey lead him up to the booth. He stopped in front of Theresa, on the other side of the narrow counter. Close enough to trigger an alarming response to his masculine body standing only a few feet away.

"Hi, Miss Rogers," Kelsey said, leaning on the counter.

"Hello, Kelsey. Are you having a fun summer?" Theresa forced her attention away from the silent brooding man standing so near. Maybe her former student only wanted to visit. Chat a minute. Maybe this had nothing to do with the jubilee and the kissing booth. She hoped so any way.

"It's okay," Kelsey said. "How about you? What have you been doing this summer?" The little girl hung over the counter and swung her legs back and forth.

"Mostly reading and relaxing. I went to visit my parents in Houston a couple of weeks ago." Theresa didn't know if she should speak to Austin or not. He just stood there, his face black as a storm cloud.

"I've been to Houston lots of times," Kelsey said. "To the Livestock Show and Rodeo." She hopped up onto the counter and plopped her butt down.

"It's a lot different than Salt Fork, isn't it?" Theresa said. "Have you read any books this summer?" Moving away from Austin, she stepped closer to Kelsey. She'd be damned if she let the man figure out how much he unnerved her. She was determined to carry on an intelligent conversation with one of her favorite pupils.

"Aw, Miss Rogers. You know I don't like to read that much."

"Have you tried the Harry Potter books? They're all about wizards and magic. I think you would really like them. I've read them all."

"
You've
read them?" Austin asked, surprise evident in his deep voice.

Ah, the man could speak. Theresa lifted her chin and turned toward Austin. "Yes, I've read them. They're not only for children, you know." Their eyes met, locked for a moment, and her stomach turned a somersault. After what seemed an eternity, he broke contact. Theresa swallowed hard. Damn, she was as bad as a teenager where Austin McCade was concerned.

"Hey, Miss Rogers. Have you sold many kisses today?" Kelsey asked.

Theresa tried to focus on the little girl. "I've sold a few. It's slow right now."

"We'll help you out. Dad can buy a couple of kisses."

"Oh, Kelsey, I don't think--" Theresa almost panicked at the thought.

"He doesn't mind. Do you, Dad?"

Theresa saw the startled look in Austin's eyes. Then his gaze lowered to her lips and her heart started beating double time.

"Kelsey--" Austin's voice sounded rough and harsh.

"What's wrong, Dad? A couple of kisses won't hurt anything. They don't have to be big screen, movie kisses, or anything like that."

Austin stared at his daughter. "And how would you know about those kind of kisses? I thought you weren't supposed to watch anything rated over PG?"

Kelsey hopped down and faced her father. She put her hands on her hips. "I'm not a little kid anymore, Dad. I've seen a couple of PG-13 movies at friend's houses. Anyway, are you going to kiss Miss Rogers, or not? And don't say you're not. That would be too rude."

"Aw, hell," he said, digging in his pocket. "One kiss." He slapped the bill on the counter.

Theresa tucked the dollar in her money apron, not knowing where to look. Finally, she raised her eyes to find him staring at her.

"Come on, Dad. Give her a kiss. We don't have all day."

Austin shook his head. "The kid's got a mouth on her."

Theresa smiled. "So I've noticed."

"It's getting worse, the older she gets."

"She'll outgrow it, hopefully."

"I doubt it." His eyes lingered on her lips.

"Quit stalling," Kelsey said in exasperation. "Are you going to kiss her or not?"

Theresa licked her lips, color flooding her cheeks as Austin's eyes flared with desire.

He placed his hands on the counter, bending toward her. Gently, he pressed a soft kiss against her mouth.

The touch was quick and fleeting. She stifled a groan as tingles of pleasure cascaded down her body. She forced herself to keep steady. It was over in a second, but the impact left her wanting more. Much more. How could those hard lips feel so soft? Look so grim, yet kiss so gently?

Austin stepped back.

Theresa thought he looked shaken by the encounter. Good, she didn't want to be the only one.

"Hey, what kind of kiss was that?" Kelsey asked. "You didn't do it right. Here try again." She put a dollar on the counter.

"No," Austin said.

The look in his eyes, the tone of his voice, stirred something inside of Theresa. There was pain mixed with hunger. The man was obviously suffering. He still had deep feelings for his dead wife that he tried to keep buried.

"But Dad--"

"Don't argue. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and hurried away from the booth.

Theresa picked up Kelsey's dollar and raised it toward them. "You forgot something!"

Austin stopped in mid-stride and turned around. The blatant hostility on his face made something shrivel inside Theresa. Those strong feelings were not so deeply buried after all, she thought.

"Keep it." He continued on his way, pulling Kelsey along with him . . .

Blinking back the memories, Theresa realized her bubble bath was no longer hot. The water had cooled considerably. Quickly, she washed her body, then her hair. Even after all this time, a feeling of dejection hovered in her stomach when she thought about the jubilee.

Climbing out of the bath, she toweled herself dry and slipped on a tank top and pair of gym shorts. She wrapped a towel around her hair, turban-style, then went in search of breakfast.

Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she rummaged in the fridge. Deciding on yogurt and toast, Theresa sat at the table, picked up the paper, and prepared to luxuriate in Saturday morning bliss. No school, no work, no deadlines. If she could keep her mind off Austin McCade, she would have it made.

A loud knock on the front door startled her. She usually didn't get much company. Didn't really know that many people in town. She was friends with a couple of the teachers at school. Maybe it was one of them. She wasn't dressed to receive visitors, but at least she was decent. Even with a towel on her head.

Peeking out the small window in the door, Theresa saw a familiar black Stetson and frowning face. She put a hand to her heart to try to still the sudden hammering.
What was Austin McCade doing on her front doorstep?

****

Austin knocked on the door again and waited impatiently. He didn't like the errand he had been sent on. Didn't know why he had consented to do it. His mother could have taken care of this. But no, Kelsey had insisted he do it.

The door opened and all thoughts of his daughter flew out of his brain. Theresa Rogers stood before him, obviously fresh from her bath. A damp towel covered most of her hair, with a few escaping tendrils framing her face. Her skin, pink and translucent, looked smooth as silk. Begged to be touched. And there was a lot skin showing. Begging.

She didn't have much on. Only a thin tank top and very skimpy, very tight shorts. Her legs were a mile long, ending with bare feet and painted nails. She wasn't wearing a bra, either. Austin could see the outline of her breasts, free from restraint, the nipples puckering against the fabric of her shirt.

His body hardened at the sight. He dragged his gaze upward and fastened on her lips. Suddenly, he remembered how he had kissed her, ever so briefly, barely a taste. How soft and supple her body had felt jammed against his during that blasted three-legged race. How good she had felt when he had caught her in his arms when she stumbled on the bus.

Theresa stood staring at him, her green eyes hesitant. "What can I do for you?"

Austin ignored his body's instinctive response to a pretty woman and reminded himself he was a gentleman. "Kelsey sent this over. She said you told her she could hand it in late." He thrust a sheaf of papers in her direction.