****
Tyler was tired of feminine drama. He got out of his truck and slammed the door, prepared to enter Olivia’s middle school. Last night when he hung up from talking to Lacy, Olivia was standing in the hallway listening, arms crossed over her chest and brown eyes shooting daggers. Yeah, he was tired of that, too. Tired of her surly attitude and treating him as if he were some kind of ogre.
“You’re coming to my school tomorrow? Why? To hurt Lacy some more?”
“So, you know about this speech of hers?” Had she been in touch with Lacy while he’d been craving the sound of her voice? The past two weeks had been pure hell with his thoughts fluctuating from writing off his feelings for the woman he loved to begging her to give him another chance.
“Yes, I know. We text every evening, and email. She asked my opinion on several points. I’ve been a great asset to her. What she’s doing is a very noble thing.” Having revealed that, Olivia had flounced back to her room and slammed the door.
Tyler opened the door to the school’s office and stepped inside to register as a guest. The office manager, the mother of one of the girls on Olivia’s soccer team, smiled and instructed him to have a seat while she contacted a faculty member with whom he could attend the assembly. As he waited, his stomach cramped. What would Lacy’s speech do to his daughter? Surely she wouldn’t mention names of kids being bullied.
A smiling young man approached. “Mr. Desmond?” He extended his hand. “Brandon Cole.”
Twenty minutes later, he stood with Brandon, one of the Phys. Ed. Teachers, at the back of the auditorium while students filed in. Laughter, shoving, teasing created a sense of controlled bedlam.
“We’re glad to have Miss LaRoche speak today. I’m one of the teachers on the anti-bullying committee.”
He looked at the young, muscular teacher, his head shaved and tanned. “The school’s got a committee on this kind of thing?”
Brandon nodded and took a swig of water from his bottle. “Big problem in schools today.”
“Why don’t you just squelch it? Send the offenders to detention or something.”
The teacher reached out to signal a kid who was pushing another. The kid responded with an offensive finger. “Kids don’t scare anymore. They control us. We don’t control them. If we try to discipline, parents accuse us of picking on their child.”
Tyler ran his hand across the back of his neck. What the heck was happening in these schools? In his day, if he’d given the finger to a teacher, he’d been grabbed and hauled to the principal’s office. Then once he got home, his pappy would have tanned his hide for being disrespectful.
Brandon leaned toward him. “Don’t think her speech is going to do any good, but we can use her visit to show the State we’re trying to control the problem.” He smirked. “Wait ’til you see her. She’s something. Met her just before you got here.”
Tyler narrowed his eyes. Exactly what the hell did he mean by that remark? Lights flicked on and off twice, and an older man stepped to the podium. After several minutes, he was able to quiet the students. Don’t these kids know anything about respect?
“That’s our principal, Dan Akers. Kids hate him. Let’s move closer so I can get a better look at Lacy.” Brandon motioned for him to follow. “She’s not wearing a ring. Might ask her out.”
Well, hell.
Once the principal was through with his introductions, Lacy stepped from behind the curtain. An intense pain wrapped its frigid fingers around Tyler’s lungs and squeezed. His vision narrowed to a pinpoint on her. Her gaze darted over the crowd of students. Was she nervous? God, she looked fabulous in her black dress with a wide red belt. He groaned. Hell, she’d worn those red ankle-strap stilettos.
Brandon, who stood a good six-inches shorter than he, elbowed him. “Isn’t she something? Look at those legs. Bet she’d be a knockout if she lost twenty pounds.”
He couldn’t reply. How could a man talk when desperation and jealousy had a stranglehold on his voice box? He thought of slamming the twerp against the wall and taking a punch at him, but seeing as how this was an anti-bullying program, now might not be the time. “You’re talking about someone very special. Show her some respect.”
The teacher stared at him and swallowed. “You dating her?”
There was no way he’d tell Brandon he’d messed things up with Lacy. That he’d allowed his male pride to rear its ugly head and destroy his chances with her. He merely returned the stare and nodded.
Lacy took the microphone off its stand and walked to the middle of the stage. “I’m here to tell you a story, a very personal story. And I’m going to tell you straight off, it’s not going to be easy for me to share.” She chuckled for a few seconds. “I might need your help to get through this.”
Very slowly, and at times emotionally, she shared what happened to her in college. She had a way of talking, of using her hands to help display emotion and of drawing and holding the students’ attention. She held nothing back. When she stopped talking about the harassment on campus and turned her back on the audience, her shoulders shook. Tyler nearly lost his composure. He wanted to go to her and carry her away.
She turned and wiped her eyes. “Well, folks, so much for the make-up job.” There was polite and sympathetic laughter from the students.
Step by step she laid out her plan of confronting bullies, of creating a league of solidarity against the strength of a few bullies. Of positive ways to handle various situations.
She’d evidently done her research. Her ideas held merit.
“Bullies come in all ages, in either sex and in various sizes. My roommate was slender, attractive and intelligent. But her actions and attitudes made her a bully. Do bullies only exist in colleges?” Lacy stopped talking and looked out at the silent crowd.
“You’re smart. You know bullies are everywhere. I’m betting a few are here in this school. You know who I mean. Kids who like to get in your face and yell insults and threats.” She shrugged. “It makes them feel bigger or stronger than they really are.” She stepped closer to the edge of the stage. “Are there kids who laugh behind your back? Kids who take a sick pleasure in making fun of you?”
She told them about her website. She asked them to check it out. “It’s time we take a stand against the bullies. To take away some of their power. And in doing so, make us feel good about ourselves again. See, I’ve been hiding on my family’s ranch, afraid if I went out in society, people who saw the video would recognize me. It’s been two years since I left college, and my old roommate still has power over me. How lame is that? Recently, someone very dear to me told me she’d been bullied, too.”
Tyler tensed. Would she mention Olivia’s name?
“Her experience made me rethink mine. Surely, there has to be a way to turn a negative into a positive. Perhaps if I share my pain, I can help you cope with yours. Maybe you’ll feel strong enough to take a stand. I did and I’m stronger for it. When someone gets in your face and yells, take a stand.”
Olivia and Cassidy, plus two other girls, stood. Heads in the auditorium turned toward them. Pride warred with Tyler’s protectiveness. Pride won and a slow smile spread as his chest expanded. Yes, his daughter would be the type to take a stand. Good for you, Angel.
“When someone insults you for being overweight, take a stand.”
Three overweight girls and one heavy boy stood.
“When someone takes a picture of you in the lockers or the showers to show his or her friends, take a stand.”
To Tyler’s surprise, six students stood.
“When you can’t take the bullying anymore, take a stand with others who have been through it, too.”
More students stood.
“Bullying is wrong. Bullying must be stopped. Stop it now.” Lacy raised her hand, displaying the peace sign. “Stop it now.”
The brave kids standing started chanting and waving their two-fingered solidarity gesture. “Stop it now. Stop it now.”
“Wo
w, isn’t she something?” The tone of Brandon’s voice was tinged with admiration.
“Yes, she is.” And if I let her get away, I’m an idiot.
Once the chanting quieted down, Lacy spoke again. “I’m going to be here until the end of school. I’ll be up on stage, if you want to talk to me. I’ll be happy to hear what you have to say. To the rest of you, thanks for listening. To those of you who bully, it’s time to grow up and learn other ways of communicating. Thank you, everyone.”
Most of the kids filed out of the auditorium, but several dozen kids scrambled to get up on stage. They surrounded Lacy, and he could see from where he stood, they responded to her sunrise smile and caring nature. She was charming them just as she’d charmed him. Too bad he’d been such a damn jackass about everything.
Chapter Seventeen
The parking lot was nearly empty when Lacy finally left the school. There’d been so many students to talk to, so many stories to hear. Could she make a difference? She was finding out, in some cases, just hearing them out and allowing them to unload was a help.
A teacher by the name of Brandon Cole cornered her, asking her many questions about her plans for the TAB program. He knew some teachers in Dallas who might be interested and gave her their names and email addresses. To her surprise, he also asked her out for dinner tonight. Although his attention should have flattered her, the thought of moving beyond Tyler nearly did her in. But the strength she’d gained from the assembly had her accepting.
She was almost to her car when the roses caught her eye. Six orange roses and three white tulips were propped against her windshield, held in place by the wiper blade. Because she had a sneaking suspicion who placed the flowers there, she glanced around the parking area. Perhaps Tyler was watching to gauge her reaction.
He came to hear her speak, standing along the side of the auditorium, strong and silent like a live oak, his arms folded in defiance over his broad chest. For the strangest reason, seeing him gave her unexpected comfort, even if he was upset about her speaking. And she fully expected him to come up to her after the program and tear her apart. But he hadn’t. One minute he was there; the next he was gone. For a few foolish minutes, she’d even hoped he’d offer some words of praise for her program.
When she reached out to remove the flowers from the wiper’s grasp, she saw a blue envelope. She leaned against her car and opened the card. On the front was a picture of a horse’s behind. “Know who this is?” the card read. She snorted and opened it. “It’s a picture of me. I’m sorry for the way I acted.” Well, he knew how to pick out a card; she’d give him that. Her eyes started to tear up when she read what he wrote.
While it takes courage to sit astride a bull, that’s nothing compared to the courage you displayed today. I was so proud of you I didn’t know what to do, especially since I’d treated you so badly. Oh, the florist said giving white tulips signifies the giver wishes for forgiveness and a fresh start. I’d like to see you. There’s a park two blocks over on Madison. Would you meet me there? Please?
Tyler.
She removed the flowers and swiped a hand over falling tears. He thought she was brave. He was proud of her. He wanted forgiveness. She held the blooms to her nose and inhaled. Wasn’t that what she wanted, too?
Tyler was leaning against his truck when she pulled into the empty parking space next to his. One booted foot rested against his door and his Stetson sat low over his eyes. She wiped damp hands over her skirt and took a deep breath. He moved slowly in that loose-jointed way he had and opened her door. A tanned hand reached in to help her out.
When she stood, her gaze locked on his serious face. He did want to make up, right?
He placed one hand at her waist as he closed her door. Then he backed her against her car. Their thighs touched, and her insides bomb dived and melted. His hands held her face, and he stared at her for a few beats.
“You were amazing and I was an ass.”
Tyler never did mince words.
She pursed her lips. “True. But you were a handsome ass. Arrogant, overbearing, overprotective, but handsome. Olivia’s lucky to have you.”
“God, I love you,” he groaned before he captured her lips.
It was a kiss of hunger. A frantic kiss that spoke volumes and devastated her tenuous hold on her emotions. When he finally pulled back, she was crying.
“No, Sugar. No more tears.” Gentle kisses feathered over her eyes and cheeks. “I’m sorry. Will you give me another chance? Will you give us a chance?”
She shook her head. “You’ve caught me at a weak moment. Speaking to those kids was more emotionally draining than I expected. I thought I heard you say you love me.”
“I do. Haven’t I told you that already?”
“Not to my recollection.” If this man for whom she’d carried a crush for all these years had told her he loved her, she’d damn sure remember. Sometimes men were downright clueless.
Tyler pointed to a bench between some pines and gnarled oaks, their leaves turned golden for fall. “Will you sit with me for a little? Let me hold your hand and talk?”
On one hand, there was nothing she wanted more than to talk things out. To see if there was anything they could salvage from their relationship. But she had a date tonight to get ready for. Life’s timing sucked.
“I’d like to talk, really I would.” She patted his chest. “There’s a lot that needs aired out. Like how you hurt me with your rejection.”
“As I recall, you were the one who slammed the kitchen door in my face.”
Oh, this was going to take a long time. Their issues could never be resolved in a short talk. “Yes, I did. After you shut me out of Olivia’s life. I get that she’s your daughter, but I could have a place in her life, too.”
“Point taken.” He leaned in and kissed her quick and hard as if that were all it was going to take to smooth things over.
“You rejected me.”
Tyler shook his head.
“I sent you texts, and you never responded. When I called to tell you about today, you were downright surly.”
His dark eyebrows rose.
“I read a book once. Can’t recall the title or the author, but she—and I’m sure the author was a woman, ’cause men have no clue about feelings. She wrote that people treat you the way you demand to be treated.” She pulled her shoulders back and speared him with a glare. “Well, I demand to be treated with respect and kindness. I won’t be rejected one minute and romanced the next. You’re not the only single man in these parts, Tyler Desmond...and I’ve got a date for tonight,” she added to prove her point.
He looked as though he’d been hit. “A date?”
She wanted to bite her tongue. Why did she tell him that? To make him jealous? To hurt him the way he’d hurt her? Well, words were one-way instruments, weren’t they? Once spoken, they could never be taken back.
“Yes, one of the teachers at the school asked me out.”
A muscle bunched in his jaw. “Brandon Cole?”
She nodded. “He said he stood with you during the assembly, and you told him we were dating. Why would you tell him that when we haven’t spoken in two weeks?”
“I told you I wanted an exclusive relationship.” Evidently, he wasn’t going to answer her question, if he’d even heard it. No doubt his mind was snagged on her having a date.
“Tell me, were we still in a relationship when you ignored me for two weeks? When you ignored my texts? No phone calls, no texts, no emails? And were we still in a relationship when you barked at me last night when I called? ’Cause that’s not the kind of relationship I want, Tyler Desmond. If you can’t treat me right all of the time, then forget I exist. You know, you can be a bit of a bully, too.”
She turned to open her car door and he stepped closer and put a hand on either side of her shoulders, fencing her in. “Bully? You dare call me a bully?”
He leaned over her, invading her space. His lime-based cologne prompted memories of their night
together. The heat from his body warmed her back. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him lean down.
“Was I a bully when I made love to you?” His voice was an intimate whisper. “Didn’t I show you tenderness?” He kissed her neck, and a shiver ran pell-mell through her. “Didn’t I see to your needs?” He leaned to kiss the other side of her neck.
She was weakening, but she could not give in. Not until she had time to think. “I want more than sex. I want more than sizzle. I want a home and family. How can we have that, Tyler, when you don’t want to share your daughter with me? Am I not good enough for Olivia? For you? Now, back away and let me go.”
When he stepped back, she felt the loss of his heat. She had to admit being in his arms for that mind-numbing kiss was wonderful. Yet, she couldn’t allow one fantastic kiss to alter the memory of his rejection. She got in her car, clicked the seat belt and started the motor. When she backed her old car out of the parking space, she left more than an oil spot; she left her heart and soul.
****
“What did you think of Lacy’s speech today?” Olivia slid a slice of pizza on her plate.
He’d been too numb with his dose of rejection to cook, so he resorted to their old standby. “I thought she was great.”
Her food stilled halfway to her mouth. “Really?”
He nodded. “I had no idea the problem of bullying was so prevalent. She’s doing a valuable service. I’m proud of her. It took guts to do what she did today.” She’d had a hard enough time telling him about the video. He’d held her close and listened to her bare her soul. Today she’d gathered her courage and spoken to strangers.
“Are you going to try to patch things up with her?” Olivia pushed her glasses up on her nose. “Or will you get jealous again every time we talk?” She shrugged. “Kind of silly, if you ask me. I tell Cassidy everything and you never get your boxers in a twist over that.”
“Watch yourself, young lady. Let’s keep things respectful.” He wouldn’t stand for his teenager talking to him like that.
Honky Tonk Hearts Volume 2 Page 35