Taming Theresa (12 page)

A few minutes later, he drove up to the rear
entrance of Paulding's Rest for the last errand on his list. He
strode down the familiar hallway into the dining area. Making
straight for the bar, he glanced around for Ralph. Catching the eye
of Fred, the bartender, leaning on the bar between the regulars and
a lone drinker on the end he called out, "Hey Fred, is Ralph
around? Need to see him for just a minute."

"Think he's in the kitchen, John. I'll go
tell him you're here."

"Thanks." As he waited, John noticed the
stranger staring at him. He didn't like the shifty eyed look from
the guy sipping his drink.

"John, what can I do for you?" Ralph was
there his bulk filling the space on the other side of the bar.

"Theresa and I went up to Blossom Creek and
picked up the wine for the wedding reception. Where do you want to
put it?" He turned and noticed the stranger eyeing him. The man
seemed to be taking an interest in their conversation. Who is that
guy?

"I left plenty of space in the store room
beside the kitchen. Know how to get in there?"

"Sure Ralph, I'll find it. Anything else you
want me to do? I've kind of become the official wedding errand
boy."

A rumbling chuckle came from the big man.
"I'm sure you're man enough to handle it."

"Thanks. I'll be glad when this is over.
After I bring in the wine, I'm coming in to get something to eat.
See you." As he strode toward the back of the tavern, he locked
eyes with the stranger at the bar. Why's he so interested in
me?

It took only ten minutes to stack the cases
of wine against the wall in Ralph's storeroom. Dusting off his
hands, he turned to leave when footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Finding himself face to face with the lone drinker, he stopped.
"What the hell do you want?"

The man stared for a moment, and then left
through the back door.

"Go figure," John muttered. I'll go move the
Explorer back to my lot and come back for a sandwich. Maybe some
onion rings. I'm starved."

John stepped outside and stopped. The man was
a few yards off with his back turned talking into his cell phone.
He could just make out what he was saying.

"Yeah, I think I got him hooked good."

There was a pause while he listened.

"Yeah, sure. I'll bet the inspector trick
will work. No problem."

He listened nodding his head.

"I'm about to offer him big money for the
place and let him take the bait. Then you set up the inspection.
Going to use the same guy you did last time?"

Another pause.

"Okay, sure. I think this place will work for
the other thing too. It's old, but there's lots of space to hide
the stuff. They got a back room they use for parties and crap like
that and another one upstairs too. No, I haven't forgotten about
the money. Don't worry. I know exactly where it is and I'll have it
in a couple of days."

What the hell is he talking about? John got
into his vehicle and backed out of the lot.

"What took you so long? We were beginning to
worry about you two." Vicky stood at the sink drying her hands
after washing vegetables for dinner.

Her cousin was gently kneading her swollen
ankle with her leg propped on a kitchen chair. "We were stuck out
at the winery because it was raining so hard. On the way back, the
bridge was under water, so John took a detour. At one point it was
coming down so hard he just stopped the car and we waited until it
stopped." Theresa blushed and looked away, remembering John's
kisses while the rain thundered on the roof above.

"I'm sorry you had to go to so much
trouble."

"No problem. It was great because George
Green invited us to stay for a private wine tasting. We couldn't
pass that up."

"Sounds like fun. We've been on the tour of
their winery and did a tasting at the B & B. That's where we
got the idea to use their wines for the wedding."

"Nice. You know John's pretty knowledgeable
about wine. I was impressed. He says he's more of a beer drinker,
but seems to appreciate and know good wine."

"Really." Vicky studied her cousin.

"You like the way the labels turned out?"
asked Theresa.

"Labels are awesome." Vicky twisted the
bottle of white wine on the counter beside her to admire the
picture. "So, you and John were stuck in the rain on some little
country lane in the middle of nowhere. Sounds like you two had time
to get acquainted," she teased with brows raised in question.

Theresa was silent for a full minute, then
murmured, "He kissed me. He actually asked first."

"Terry! Was he a good kisser?"

"Oh my god, the best! But I'm not
interested."

Vicky grinned at her. "I'm okay with
that."

"You know, in spite of his ability to be a
complete asshole, he's really a nice guy. I guess I can put up with
him long enough to get through the wedding."

Relieved, Vicky sighed. "That's good. I was
beginning to worry about you two not getting along. John is a nice
guy."

"I know, but I'm not interested in any new
guy now. No matter how nice."

Grinning impishly, she came and sat next to
Theresa. "I think I know him well enough to say he's definitely
attracted to you."

Theresa shook her head emphatically. "No way!
I'm done with men."

Vicky studied her cousin thoughtfully. "So
then. Did that kiss in the car during the rain storm feel like you
were through with men?"

Theresa blushed, but didn't answer.

Marsha descended the stairs gingerly and
rounded the hallway into the kitchen. "Are we talking about men
again?" she asked.

"Hey, Marsha. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks. The nap helped me get
through the afternoon without puking." She pulled out a vacant
chair and sat at the big kitchen table. "Do you have any more
saltines and ginger ale?"

"Sure. Jack picked up a supply from the Henry
Hudson this morning." She got up, went to the pantry, and opened
the refrigerator. "I was just saying, I think John's interested in
Terry. At least it looks that way to me," said Vicky.

Romeo and Juliette hopped up onto chairs and
sat, front paws stretched out before them, with heads erect. Their
little faces were alert, listening to the girl talk.

“
Then your cousin must be Miss Sarah
Teed,” said the big man.

Tamsin eyed him curiously. He leaned on his
musket, and stared with longing down the short lane leading to the
farmhouse. Behind him in the road were half a dozen militiamen
along with the two Van Wart brothers who looked so much alike that
she’d mistaken one for the other.

Isaac still bore the welt on his face where
she’d struck the impudent fool the day before. He threw a wary
glance her way, while his brother, Ethan, grinned pleasantly at
her. She shyly returned the young man’s smile. It was he, not
Isaac, who’d stopped her on the road just before the Tories had
stumbled into their trap.

She turned back to the big man to answer his
question. “Yes, Sarah is my cousin. My uncle has disappeared and
Sarah’s elder brother has gone over to the English against his own
kin and countrymen. She needs my help, so I have come with food as
her mother is doing poorly.”

“
That’s good of you,” he replied. “Pray
tell Sarah that John Paulding has returned. The British prisons in
New York were not strong enough to hold me for long. Her own
brother it was that captured me, but with the help of Providence, I
made my escape. Say to her as well, I will return to her
soon.”

Before she could thank him for escorting her
safely to the Teed Farm, he had rejoined his men. With long strides
and muskets on their shoulders, they were off down the road. Ethan
Van Wart, at the end of the file, turned to grin and wave at her
just before disappearing around a bend.

From: Love in Rebellion, by Tori Baxter.

"Will you stop? You're being a pain in my
butt and it's not helpful," complained Theresa. She was perched on
top of a stepladder stapling ivory satin panels on the walls of the
back room in preparation for the wedding reception.

“Your butt looks fine from down here,” said
John.

“Stop looking at my ass.”

“I can’t help it."

She stretched her arms over her head and
strained, pressing the staple gun into a fold of fabric until the
loud bang slammed another fastener into the wall. Every five or six
inches she pleated the long panel near the ceiling and fired the
staple gun again, so the fabric hung gracefully to the floor.

"Come on. Let me do it," said John.

"I've got to do this myself. You don't have a
clue."

John stood at the base of the ladder watching
Theresa lean over in tight jeans that hugged her firm rear and
thighs. Her pink sweater fit perfectly over full breasts that
quivered every time she pressed a staple into the wall. She sure
looked good. Not for the first time, his thoughts wandered back to
that moment, when he'd held her in his arms as the rain came down,
shielding them from the world. Had she enjoyed those kisses as much
as he had?

“Bang...bang...bang.”

"Hey Terry, how hard could it be?" Why can't
I get that amazing kiss out of my head? My heart was pounding as
fast and hard as the rain beating on the roof of the truck.

“Shut up and hand me another piece of
fabric.”

"Come on. You're just stapling that stuff to
the wall. I can see what you’re doing. I'll be careful and I can
climb up and down a whole lot faster than you can." He looked up at
the determined girl. "Doc would be pissed if he knew you were up on
a ladder balancing on one foot. Has anyone ever told you how
stubborn you are?"

"Never!" She ignored him, while working the
staple gun. "Bang...bang...bang....

They turned as the door opened and Joe poked
his head in waving a white napkin, "Is it safe to come in? Sounds
like a firing range in here."

"Cease fire Babe, it's only Joe."

Theresa looked pleased to see him. “Hi. How’s
Marsha feeling?”

“She’s doing real well. We went over to see
Doc this morning and he said the baby’s due May ninth.”

"Oh, that's so wonderful!" Theresa
enthused.

"Yeah! I was all set to try to convince
Marsha to marry me...and now we're having a baby. It's so
amazing."

"Do me a favor, Mr. Amazing. Help me talk
Terry into letting me be the one to climb that ladder."

"Hey, should she be up there with her bum
ankle?" asked Joe.

"No, but she won't listen to me. I offered to
hang the fabric for her, but she wants it done her way. She thinks
I'd mess it up."

"Hey, don't get me in the middle of this.”
Joe held his hands up. “Marsha sent me to ask if I can help. She
wanted to come, but Doc said she had to rest."

“There's so much to be done before Friday,
but I think John and I have got it covered. You take care of
Marsha," Theresa said sweetly.

"I could help in here. I have tools in my
truck," Joe offered.

John aimed a thumb at Theresa. “Watch out.
She's been a little cranky today. Don't tell her she can't do this.
You might get your lips stapled together.”

“You made your point,” said Joe laughing.

"Here." Theresa thrust the staple gun at
John. "Shut up and help me down."

"Now that's a great idea." Dropping the gun
on a table, John's hands slipped around her waist and he easily
lifted her off the ladder and into his arms. Pulling her close, he
lowered his mouth tenderly over hers and kissed her hungrily. She
struggled for a moment, resisting, and then wrapped her arms around
his neck and clung to him, moaning, and rubbing herself against
him, before he set her gently on the floor.

“Dude! Get a room!” said Joe, laughing.

Theresa swayed for a moment taking deep
breaths, before she gasped, "Can we just get on with this? I've got
to get this room finished today."

“You got it," said John. Moving to the table,
he took up a length of the fabric and climbed the ladder. "Hand me
that gun, will you, Joe? This way you won't have to keep hopping up
and down."

Theresa considered, studying the expanse of
wall yet to be covered, before relenting. "Okay. Thanks."

He began deftly attaching the decorative
fabric, extending his hand to Joe for the next length with a
triumphant grin.

Later the door opened, Ralph entered the room
and looked around at all she'd accomplished. "Looks like this room
cleans up pretty nice. I like what you've done with the place." His
massive head swiveled, taking in the fabric draped walls and new
window treatments. There was a small bar and dance floor on one
side of the room and she’d arranged several tables at the other
end. Hands on hips, he nodded his approval.

He got a smile from Theresa. "Thanks Mr.
Spangenberg."

Another figure materialized behind him in the
doorway. At the sight of her father, Theresa’s face softened and
she gave him a warm smile. Dominick came in and kissed his
daughter's cheek.

"Theresa, this looks wonderful. You really
have a talent for the decorating, Baby Doll.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

Dominick gestured at the room. "Is this going
to be enough space for the reception?”

"It's going to be a small wedding, Daddy,"
said Theresa. "Jack doesn't have much family and neither does
Vicky. At least on her mom's side. Mostly it will be their friends
here in town and our people. Vicky says her list is now up around
sixty."

"Good. Is there anything else you need me to
do?"

"No, we’re good. Thanks, Daddy."

Dominick smiled at them. “Come sit with me.
How about we have some coffee? We can relax for a minute,
okay?”

“Coffee sounds good, I am a little tired,”
she admitted.