A Match Made In Texas (2 page)

Austin's fingers brushed hers as he reached for the note. An electric current jolted up his arm. He ignored it, just as he ignored the flash of awareness in the green eyes.

Looking at the note, he recognized Kelsey's large flowing handwriting and began to read. He frowned at the message. It was written to Amelia Jackson, one of Kelsey's best friends:

Dear Amelia,

I've put stage one of my plan into action.

I think it's working so far. She'll call

Dad soon, I'm sure of it. Keep wishing me luck.

Your friend,

Kelsey

Austin read the note twice, trying to make sense of his daughter's words. What the hell was Kelsey doing? He inhaled deeply. Once again, he wished for Deborah's presence. It wasn't easy raising a daughter alone. He couldn't begin to fathom a female's mind. Especially a twelve-year-old female.

Glancing up from the creased paper, he found Miss Rogers looking at him. Compassion and understanding glimmered in her eyes. Something else was there, too.

He stood abruptly. "I don't know what this means. I'll talk to Kelsey as soon as I get home. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I'll make sure she won't disrupt your class again." He crammed his Stetson on his head and made for the door.

Theresa Rogers shook her head as she watched the man practically bolt from her classroom. She started gathering her things to go home. Austin McCade was certainly an enigma. He had caught her eye when she first moved to Salt Fork two years ago. She had seen him at church, around town, and of course, at parent-teacher conferences. It hadn't taken long to learn his story. Not from him, naturally. He rarely talked to her. But there had been plenty of people to tell her all about him.

Sarah Sue at the cafe said Austin's heart completely shattered when his young wife died in childbirth. And because Theresa was new to town, Sarah Sue had thought she ought to warn her to steer clear of the handsome widower. True, there weren't a lot of available men in and around Salt Fork, Texas. But falling for Austin McCade was a sure fire way to disaster. He just plain wasn't going to marry again.

Theresa erased the chalkboard and straightened the desks, picking up stray pencils and bits of paper from the floor. She had a feeling Sarah Sue's warning had come too late. She was already headed for that sure-fire disaster.

Theresa was twenty-eight years old and had never been in love. School had kept her busy. She had focused all of her energy and attention on getting her teaching degree. And the hectic early years of her teaching career had kept her from even thinking about men, let alone getting involved with one.

What she felt for Austin McCade could only lead to love, she was sure of it. At least, on her part. She didn't know what he felt. Or maybe, she did. Maybe it was only lust on his part. She knew he wasn't totally immune to her, and he was making a good attempt at ignoring everything.

The sexual attraction between them was strong. She had felt its pull during their conference a few minutes ago. She'd felt it before. Every time she was near him, the sparks practically crackled and hissed.

Last summer at the Founder's Day Jubilee, Kelsey McCade had begged her to join her family for the track and field races. Her dad needed a partner, she had said. Theresa didn't want to disappoint her. Kelsey was one of her favorites. Also, she couldn't pass up the opportunity for closer contact with Austin. Maybe get to know him a little better.

Theresa would never forget the smoldering look he had thrown her way when she walked up to the group. His eyes had swept her body up and down, leaving her with a quivery feeling deep inside. Then he had pointedly ignored her.

Pasting a smile on her face, Theresa had tried to at least look like she was having fun, for Kelsey's benefit. Everything was going smoothly until the three-legged race. That was when she and Austin were strapped together, legs bound, bodies jammed tightly from waist to ankle. The heat between them was almost unbearable. Austin had held himself so stiffly; his muscles so tense, he felt like a long jagged rock rubbing her raw down the length of her body.

When she chanced a peek at his face, his dark hazel eyes locked onto hers. She almost recoiled from the animosity burning within them. Instinctively, she tried to pull back, but was prevented when a strong arm snapped around her waist. His fingers scorched her midriff, where he held her firmly to his side.

"You're not going anywhere," he growled, his breath hot in her ear. "You wanted this. You can damn well go through with it."

"
I
didn't want this," Theresa said, dismissing the delicious tremors of desire coursing through her body. "Your daughter asked me to be your partner. I didn't know we'd be tied together like this."

"Well, I don't like it any more than you do. But we'll get through this for Kelsey's sake."

He was still growling in her ear, his lips close to her skin. Theresa had always scoffed at the term "swoon", but at that moment, she came close to doing just that.

She felt trapped in the snug embrace of the large man who seemed menacing as well as unbelievably attractive. The heat and tingling sensation on the left side of her body made her giddy and light-headed; a heavy emptiness settled in the bottom of her stomach.

The race began and Theresa had a difficult time keeping up with Austin's long strides. He refused to slow down, to find a smooth rhythm. She stumbled several times. He cursed softly as he lifted her to her feet, his fingers biting into her soft flesh. By the time they crossed the finish line, she was almost in tears. Her body burned with longing. How humiliating to respond in such a wanton way, knowing he didn't feel the same way.

As soon as the cords were removed from their legs, Theresa quickly stepped away and stood next to Kelsey and the others. Glancing at Austin, her breath hitched in her throat. His eyes roved over her, stripping her, lingering on her heaving breasts. She saw the yearning there. The hunger. She also saw anger and resentment. He deliberately turned away . . .

A loud voice on the intercom in the hall roused Theresa from her musings. Stuffing her books in her bag, she turned off the lights and headed for the school office. She told herself she didn't need Austin McCade. She just wanted him. In the worst way. Except for some reason he wasn't interested. Even though he felt the attraction, he still wasn't interested. And what she could do about any of it, she hadn't a clue.

****

"But Dad, I'm not acting
that
bad," Kelsey said, sitting on the passenger side of Austin's diesel pickup truck. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, and she sat hunkered down in the seat.

Austin counted to ten, trying to rein in his temper. "I don't appreciate getting calls from your teacher telling me you're causing trouble."

"You went to
see
Miss Rogers?" she asked.

"Yes, and that's the point I'm trying to make. This isn't like you, Kels. You've never been in trouble before. Why are you starting now, all of a sudden?"

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Austin blinked back fatigue. Waking up at four in the morning made for a long day. The Diamondback Ranch was a big spread. Sixty-four hundred acres to be exact. His brother Dallas took care of the ranching side of the operation, while he was in charge of the cultivation of the land. He loved the work and challenge. The satisfaction of seeing acres and acres of fields planted and growing. Praying for rain. Harvesting the crops.

It took a lot out of a man. Not leaving much time for trouble like Kelsey was causing. He glanced at his daughter. He tried to be a good father, yet he had the sinking suspicion he was coming up short. Especially when things like this happened.

"So, what's really going on?" he asked.

Kelsey's eyes widened and she bit her lip. Austin thought she looked guilty. Guilty of what? Was there some deeper motive at the bottom of all this "innocent" misbehavior?

"What's up, Kels? Something bothering you? You know I'm here for you. Sure, I've been busy lately. I'm always busy, and it's going to get worse when it's time to pull cotton. But I'm always here for you."

"I know that," she said, sitting straighter, looking out the window. "What did you and Miss Rogers talk about? Didn't she look pretty in that dress she wore today?"

"I didn't notice," he lied. "Besides, what does it matter what she was wearing? We're talking about your behavior. She's worried about you, and so am I."

Austin shook his head. Miss Rogers had looked too darn pretty in that dress. For years, he hadn't noticed a woman like he was noticing Theresa Rogers. He'd he kept his occasional dealings with women on a strictly physical level. No commitments. No strings attached. Then Theresa Rogers had moved to town. Right away, Austin knew something was different about her. He felt strongly attracted to her. And he didn't like it. Didn't like it a bit.

"Dad? You're not listening to me. Hello? Earth calling dad." Kelsey waved a hand in front of his face.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"About the field trip. To Lubbock? To the museum? Miss Rogers wants some of the parents to go. So can you?" Kelsey looked at him expectantly. Hopefully.

This was one of those times he could either blow it off and get his mother to go, or he could be the good father and go himself. He exhaled a long breath. He knew what Deb would have wanted.

"I'll go on one condition," he said, thinking he could kill two birds with one stone. "Stop misbehaving at school. I won't tolerate it, Kels."

"Okay. I'll try to behave."

"I want better than try. And while we're on the subject, what about this?" He pulled the crumpled note from his pocket, handing it to his now silent daughter.

"I want to know what this is all about," he said. He thought her hands shook a little when she opened the note.

"Well?"

She shrugged. "It's just a project I'm working on."

"A project? What kind of project? And who is supposed to call me?"

"Look, Dad. I can't explain. You're going to have to trust me. I promise that it's nothing bad. In fact, it's a good thing." She smiled and put the note in her backpack.

He looked at his daughter, thinking she was growing up way too fast. Should he pursue this, or let it go? He told himself he would keep a closer eye on her. Wait and see.

"All right, I'll trust you on this. But no more passing notes. I mean it, Kels. Now, when is this field trip?"

"Next Thursday. We're taking the bus. You'll ride on the bus? Please, please, please?"

Austin laughed. "Sure, I'll ride on the bus." He reached over and ruffled the bangs off her forehead.

He loved Kelsey so much. She was his one link to Deborah.
Their child
. Conceived in love. She was the living, breathing symbol of his love for his wife.

He could never forget that love. Would never let himself forget it. No matter what temptations came his way. He owed that much to Deborah. He wouldn't let her down.

CHAPTER TWO

Damn it, he was late.
Austin hated being late. The yellow bus was already waiting in front of the school. He could see Kelsey and Miss Rogers talking near the bus door. Kelsey waved to him as he climbed out of the truck.

"Dad! Thank goodness. We thought we might have to leave without you. Two more minutes and we would have, too," she said, running to greet him.

She grabbed his hand and led him to the bus and Miss Rogers. Miss Rogers didn't look very glad to see him. In fact, she was frowning. He wondered if he had caused that frown or if it was something else. He pushed away the urge to ease her worries somehow. To make her smile. She had a killer smile.

"Sorry. I got held up at the ranch," Austin said. "Two of the tractors wouldn't start and one had a flat. Not a good way to start the morning."

"Miss Rogers said she might have to give you a tardy slip," Kelsey said with a giggle. "Come on, Dad. Let's get going." She climbed the steps of the bus and disappeared inside.

"A tardy slip?" Austin watched the teacher's cheeks stain with color. Theresa Rogers always seemed quiet and shy around him. She blushed a lot. He'd like to see that blush all over her curvy body.

"For being late," she said, clearing her throat. "It was a joke." She made a notation on her clipboard, then lifted her chin. "Shall we?"

"Ladies first." He waved his arm toward the door.

She threw him a strange look, then started to climb up the steps.

Austin was right behind her. Close enough to smell her feminine scent. A subtle blend, a hint of powder and strawberries, making him think of warm baths and damp skin. He could imagine her silky hair gathered on top of her head. A fluffy towel draped around her body.

"Damn," he whispered, realizing he was getting uncomfortably aroused. Definitely not a good condition for a school field trip.