Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) (18 page)

Automatically following the paved walkway to the office, she assured herself she could walk away from Alec. She'd just have to be careful in the future to stay out of his way.

Diedra bit her lip. Being around her was simply too dangerous for him.

This was the story of her life, wasn't it? Just when she thought what she wanted was attainable, something came along to pull the rug right out from under her.

In the morning, she'd call a cab or catch a ride from someone into Corpus Christi to collect her car. Maybe she wouldn't have to explain things to Alec. She could collect the few things she'd salvaged from the boat and be on her way. He'd be secretly relieved.

By now, Jeff and Meagan were probably well into Mexico and could be anywhere. There was no way they could chase after them in a foreign country.

And if there was word about them, Alec was in a better position than she was to do something about it. All those contacts giving him reports on where Jeff was would lead Alec to find him. Besides, if Meagan was okay, eventually she'd call or come home.

If Meagan wasn't okay, Diedra couldn't do much about it anyway. Too much time had passed, and she'd just jinx anything that could be done. She felt helpless and hopeless about everything.

She'd come so close to having it all that it hurt even worse to lose it. Maybe Alec would be relieved she was gone. She couldn't get around the fact that, whenever anything went wrong, the first place he looked was at her. His blaming her would be an issue with them forever. It was more than any two people could work through, no matter how much they both wanted to. And by now, she wasn't even sure he wanted to.

They'd always known they were wrong for each other. Unfortunately, neither of them had known how wrong. She'd take care of him and his cold and fever this evening. But she'd be out of there by dawn.

It was the only logical and sensible thing to do. The decision still made her ache in ways she'd never known were possible.

* * *

By the time Diedra returned, even Alec admitted to himself that he was ill. "What took you so long?"

"I stopped and got you some soup. There's a restaurant across the road." She held up a greasy bag. "I managed to find some aspirin, too, and it's not that far past the expiration date."

"Past the expiration date?" He felt another sneeze coming on. "Are you still trying to poison me?"

"It's perfectly safe. You might take three tablets instead of two, that's all." She offered him the bottle.

Reading the label, he was relieved to see it was only a few months out of date. He had to admit, this being-taken-care-of business wasn't too bad. Especially when the person tending him was Diedra. He still found it hard to believe, but he'd fallen completely under her spell. Joking with her, fighting with her, loving with her, had all become as natural as breathing.

Some people would insist it was impossible, because he didn't have a heart. But she'd proven them all wrong. She'd found his heart and she held it in her klutzy little hands.

He didn't care that she was an exquisite example of Murphy's Law gone haywire. He didn't care if she broke every appliance in his house. He'd buy new ones.

How could she ever be an embarrassment when he adored everything about her? Including the unique qualities that separated her from all other women, not to mention most of humanity. In the scheme of things, it made little difference other than to add an element of constant surprise to their relationship. He wasn't sure he would give up that element now, even if he had the choice. She was oh-so special and oh-so dear. Now that he was fessing up, he'd go all the way.

He loved her just as she was.

Diedra poured him a glass of water in the bathroom. As he took the pills, thoroughly enjoying being hovered over by his own ministering angel, she opened the paper sack and pulled out a cardboard container. After carefully removing the lid, she offered him the soup and a plastic spoon.

He popped a spoonful into his mouth. All he could taste was pepper. Very hot pepper. Tears came to his eyes. Swallowing, he grabbed the water glass and gulped down the remaining liquid. "That's not chicken soup!"

"Don't you like hot and sour soup?"

He gasped for air. "You are trying to poison me!"

"I am not," she exclaimed. "I always eat hot and sour soup when I'm sick."

Just then, the wall behind the bed thumped. And thumped. And thumped again. Unlike Diedra, the tenants in the adjoining motel room had the right idea about what to do when the only seating in a room was horizontal.

The wall hanging over the bed gave a sudden jolt. Was it going to fall on his head?

Alec leapt out of bed. He broke out in a cold sweat, but whether it was from the soup or from his cold, he couldn't say. The wall banging continued and if anything, seemed to grow stronger. By this time, Diedra was doubled over with laughter. With each thump, she howled harder.

"Be quiet," he demanded. "They'll hear you." All he wanted was a quiet place, some decent chicken soup and a bed to burrow into.

She caught her breath long enough to ask, "Who cares if they hear me? They don't care who hears them!" She giggled.

His fever seemed to soar and he moaned. "I think I'm going to be ill."

The thumping grew louder, stronger and faster. Diedra's eyes widened and she pointed to the bed. Alec couldn't believe it. The bed, his bed, the bed he'd wanted to crawl back into, was moving with each thrust from the avid couple next door. He ran for the bathroom.

Diedra followed closely behind him. "Are you all right? Do you need a cold wash cloth?"

"I'm fine. I'm going to take a shower. Hopefully by then, the frolics will have finished and I can get some rest."

When he emerged from the shower, all was quiet. Feeling much better, he dried off and slid back into his briefs. His sweat suit was still too damp to wear, especially since he wasn't feeling up to par. He thought longingly of the clothes he'd left in Diedra's washing machine. If he'd brought them, even if they were on the soapy side, he'd have something dry to change into now.

Leaving the bathroom, he found Diedra on her bed. "All quiet?"

She nodded. "Maybe they've gone to sleep?"

"I have a wicked idea. Let's return the favor."

She met his gaze. "You mean we should rock them?"

"Why not?" Alec grinned.

"You're feeling well enough?"

He leered and came closer, right up to the edge of the bed. "You did order bed rest, Dr. Palmer."

Before Diedra could answer, they heard the outer door of the adjacent room opening. Diedra rolled off the opposite side of the bed and rushed to the window.

"What are you doing?"

She grinned mischievously. "I've just got to see what they look like." Carefully twitching back a corner of the curtains, she peeked out. She dropped it back into place and began hopping up and down. "Oh, no! Oh, no!"

"What is it?"

She continued jumping like a Chihuahua in heat. Alec leaned over and looked out. What he saw made him tempted to hop as well. Jeff? His cousin was one of the rabbits next door? What the hell was he doing here?

He made a beeline for the door.

"Wait, Alec!"

He turned back.

"You're not dressed."

"Oh, hell." He darted to the bathroom to get his clothes. That was the moment the light fixture in the bathroom chose to go on the fritz. It sputtered into blackness. Undaunted, he put his pants on in the dark. They were wet, and incredibly cold, and he felt as though his lower half had turned into an ice cube.

He stalked toward the door. Diedra grabbed him by the arm. "Wait, Alec. What are you doing? Calm down and think a minute."

"I am calmb. I'm going to catch Jeff and you're stopping be. Let go."

Diedra shook his arm. "Alec, if Jeff left, that means Meagan is still in their room."

"Beagan?"

"Yes! We can go rescue her."

"Judging by the racket they Bade, Beagan doesn't need rescuing."

"Okay, so go knock on the door," replied Diedra. "If she doesn't answer, we can get the manager to unlock it for us."

It was a logical argument. Wasn't it? If Meagan was able to open the door, she would. It was just that any sensible statement coming from Diedra was suspect.

Nodding his agreement, he opened their door. When he stepped outside, a light, salty wind flapped his wet pants, but he ignored the discomfort. Diedra was right behind him, her hair lit up by the pink and gold rays from the waning sun.

He rapped on the room next door. "Oben this door."

Silence.

He pounded again. "Oben this door at once!"

Silence, other than a gull cawing in the distance.

"Oben the door, Beagan!" Feeling totally frustrated, he delivered a solid foot to the door. As if it were made of cardboard, it ripped off the hinges and gaped open.

A woman screamed.

Diedra ran past him into the room. "Beagan! I mean, Meagan!"

Alec couldn't believe it. For the first time he could remember since adolescence, he'd lost control of his temper. He'd knocked the damn door down!

He could hear Diedra speaking. "Oh, Meagan, I'm so glad we've found you. Are you okay?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" came the answering shriek.

The cold hand of fate twisted Alec's spine. He reluctantly stepped forward to look around the motel room. Meagan sat huddled in bed, with a yellowed sheet clutched to her chest. She didn't look like any kidnap victim he'd ever seen, not with that sated smile still on her face.

He turned, intending to go back to his bed. Meagan was obviously just fine and dandy and he'd gone through the chase from hell for no reason whatsoever. He sneezed.

"A.C.? Is that you?" asked Meagan.

Damn. Just when he'd thought he could get away. "Call be Alec."

Stepping around the remains of the door, he entered the motel room. What could he say? "Are you okay?"

Meagan didn't say a word. She looked at him. She looked at Diedra. She looked back at him. She raised her eyebrows.

So, he didn't look his best? It had been days since he'd shaved and he wore only wet sweat pants. That was no reason for the stare treatment. Well, if he had to be strictly factual, the little matter of knocking down her door might be a reason for it.

Diedra jumped into the breach. "Meagan, we thought you'd been kidnapped. You didn't answer any of our calls or texts."

Again, Meagan said nothing.

Alec knew his duty. "We've been chasing you all over hell and back. Did Jeff hurt you?"

Meagan opened her mouth to answer, then shut it. She narrowed her eyes. She crossed her arms, calling attention to the fact she was naked under that sheet.

Alec took a step back, feeling embarrassed.

Meagan looked him directly in the eye and held up her hand for silence, stopping him from further retreat.

She glanced down at the quilt covering her presumably naked body, then narrowed her eyes at him.

And he knew he was in deep trouble. Of course Jeff hadn't hurt her.

He was a coward. At this moment, he'd be proud to yell it. He straightened his spine, waiting for her pronouncement.

Diedra came over and stood beside him, letting him know she was in it with him.

Meagan cleared her throat and nailed them both with her glare. "So," she said at last, "are you two an item?"

Chapter 18

If it weren't for his fever, Alec would be having a good time. He'd been tucked into bed and fed nourishing chicken soup—without the ton of pepper—while Meagan, Jeff and Diedra knelt by the other bed eating General Tso's Chicken and Moo-Goo Gai-Pan.

As they laughed over stories of the rocking bed, Alec leaned back on his pillow. "You're really going to buy this blace?"

"You bet," answered Jeff.

Alec sat up to take a sip of water. The wall hanging over his head chose that very moment to fall, landing with a deep thunk on the pillow he'd just vacated.