Coach Grayson wore a fitted pink T-shirt and had tiny stud earrings in her earlobes. Athletic and yet still...professional. Right. That was the word he was going for.
Cash settled his long frame into the high school desk across from her and released a pent-up breath. Didn’t matter if the woman was the Gillespie County Fair queen. She was off-limits for him.
He removed his hat, scraping a hand through his hair and causing a cloud of dust to settle on his shoulders. Yep. Definitely should have showered.
“Sorry about that. I didn’t want to lose that thought for the first week’s lesson plan.” Coach Grayson set her pen down and looked up, gracing Cash with breath-stealing blue eyes framed by dark lashes and plenty of reasons to escape from the room right now. Like a heart-shaped face, with a chin that jutted out just enough to emphasize the smooth curve of her cheeks and the line of her lips.
Mercy. What was wrong with him? Had he never seen a woman before?
“No problem.” At his raspy voice, he cleared his throat and tried again. “You wanted to see me about Rachel?”
Coach Grayson’s eyebrows pulled together and she looked down at the front of her shirt—searching for words or embarrassed about her clothing, Cash wasn’t sure. He only knew the coach didn’t look anywhere near as messy in her volleyball gear as he did in grubby ranch clothes. In fact, she looked pretty cute.
Not that he should be looking.
Cash forced his concentration back to his sister instead of the surprising distraction in front of him. After all, he had a promise to keep and a girl who needed him to keep it.
The rest would have to wait.
* * *
So far, Olivia Grayson considered her escape from Colorado a success. In one weekend, she’d managed to move across the country, unpack her apartment, become friends with her new neighbors and fall in love.
If that last one happened to be with Jack and Janie Smith’s two-year-old son? All the better. Olivia had no intention of meeting a guy in the sleepy little town of Fredericksburg, Texas.
Which was why she absolutely did not care that a head-turning cowboy sat across from her while she wore a coffee-stained T-shirt boasting the lovely smell of a productive day in the gym.
Olivia hadn’t thought much of it when she’d pictured meeting Rachel Maddox’s father. But if the man in front of her was a parent to the seventeen-year-old blonde on her volleyball team, Olivia would swallow her tongue.
She kind of already had.
“You’re Warren Maddox?”
“Actually, I’m Cash.” He ran a hand through dark hazelnut hair speckled with a few sun-kissed golden highlights. “Warren’s my father’s name. Technically I’m Warren C. Maddox, but everyone’s called me Cash since I was a kid. Warren is probably listed as my legal name on the parent list. Sorry about that.”
Olivia waited for some further explanation, but it didn’t come. Huh. Maybe he’d had Rachel at a very young age. Or something.
Was it really her business?
“So, what’s my sister done this time?”
“Your sister?”
He nodded. “Suppose you wouldn’t know the story, being new and all. Rachel is my younger sister by ten years. Our parents died in a car crash a few years ago and I was old enough to take legal guardianship of her.”
That made a lot more sense. Except...what a horrible story. “I’m so sorry.” Olivia straightened the stack of papers on her desk, floundering for more appropriate words to express her sympathies. She quickly discarded everything that popped into her mind.
Cash raised a hand. “You don’t have to stop talking to me now or analyze everything you say before you say it.”
She smiled as his mesmerizing hazel eyes turned playful, the color reminding her of leaves changing in the fall.
“I can’t believe you thought I was old enough to be Rachel’s father, Coach Grayson. Now that’s just offensive.”
“I didn’t think that.”
Her gaze traveled from his T-shirt that sported evidence of a hard day’s work, down to his dusty jeans and brown leather boots. The way his legs covered the distance between his chair and her desk, he must be over six foot. Which meant he was taller than her...not that that mattered in the least.
He skimmed a hand over strong cheekbones. “I apologize for my appearance, but I had to come in the middle of ranch work to meet with you.”
Had he noticed her perusal? Heat rushed to her cheeks. Dust might permeate the man’s appearance, but he definitely didn’t need to apologize. He looked far too attractive for his disheveled state.
“I’m sorry for pulling you away from work.” She glanced down at her clothes. “And I just came from practice, so I completely understand.” Olivia swiped her mouth to check for the presence of any chocolate left from her after-practice snack. With the way she was acting, she’d probably find a bit of drool, too.
“It’s not a problem, Coach Grayson. Rachel always comes first.”
“Call me Olivia, please.” If Rachel came first...did that mean Cash wasn’t married? He had to be around her age. “Was that your wife that I spoke to on the phone to schedule our meeting?”
An amused grin slid across his face, making Olivia’s stomach bounce like one of the volleyballs she’d put away after practice.
“I ask Laura Lee to marry me all the time, but she always says no. Probably because she’s already married to my foreman, Frank.” His eyes danced. “Laura Lee helps out at the house. She’s really more of an aunt or a mother than a housekeeper. She works a few hours a week cleaning and making meals. Freezes a bunch at a time so we have something to eat. If Rachel or I were in charge of meals, it would only be fast food or frozen pizzas.”
Olivia let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Of relief? Did it really matter if he was married or not? She didn’t have plans to go anywhere near another man. Not after the mess she’d left behind in Colorado.
She glanced down, the papers on her desk bringing the reason for their meeting back into focus. “Now that I’ve figured out who you are, I guess we should talk about Rachel.” That came out sounding so professional she almost cheered.
Cash leaned back, linking fingers behind his neck and crossing one leg over the other. “I am curious what Rachel did to warrant a meeting this time. Usually it’s a few weeks into school before I get the first phone call.”
The girl sounded like a bit of trouble. Good thing Olivia had a soft spot for struggling teenage girls. Hoping Cash wouldn’t get too upset about what she had to say next, she leaned forward and softened her voice. “She didn’t do anything wrong. Yet.”
When Cash mirrored her smile, Olivia ignored the way her disobedient legs swam under the desk.
“I’ve been going over last year’s grades, and I’m concerned that if Rachel doesn’t make some changes this year she won’t be eligible to play due to her GPA. I don’t know if you realize this, but your sister’s very good.”
She paused, wondering how much to share with him. The man probably needed some encouragement if he had to deal with a teenage girl all on his own. “In two days of practice I can tell she’s the best player I’ve ever coached. And if you think I look too young for that to matter, you’re wrong. I have enough experience to know what I’m saying. She definitely has the potential to play in college and could easily earn a scholarship. I’d hate to see her lose out on that because of her GPA.”
A line cut through Cash’s forehead, and Olivia pressed her lips together. Had she pushed too far?
“I’m not sure what to do with that girl. Ever since our parents died she’s had trouble, but never to this degree. I try to talk to her, but she won’t open up to me. It seems her grades and behavior keep getting worse instead of better.”
“What about a tutor or someone to help her comple
te her class assignments during the school year? I looked up her test scores and I’m pretty sure from what I saw that she’s just not applying herself. The scores show she’s smart, which makes me think she doesn’t care enough to do the work her classes require.”
Cash let out an exhale that turned into a laugh as he shook his head. “That sounds like my sister.” His arms slid around the cowboy hat on the desk as he shifted forward.
Sensing openness, Olivia’s tense muscles relaxed. If only all parents were so receptive.
“Have any free time on your hands, Coach Grayson? Any chance you’d be interested in tutoring one of your new players?”
That was not what Olivia had expected to hear. A small part of her found the idea intriguing. In practice, she could see the hurt hiding behind Rachel’s eye rolls and teenage attitude. But Olivia didn’t need to get involved with this family. Not when the man across from her had a melt-her-resolve grin that could get her into serious trouble. Again.
“I...might be able to work something out.” She wanted to jump out of her chair, grab the words and stuff them back into her mouth. Why would she offer to help Rachel? She absolutely did not have the time. And she needed to stay far, far away from the magnetic Cash Maddox.
“I’d be happy to pay you for your time.”
Did he sense her reluctance? “I can’t accept payment for tutoring one of the students. It’s against the rules and I wouldn’t take it anyway.”
Olivia frowned. Quit making it sound like you’re still considering it. Open your mouth right now and tell him you can’t do it.
“Volleyball has games on Wednesday nights, right?” Cash barely waited for her nod before continuing. “How about Thursdays after practice you come out to the ranch and help Rachel? We’ll pay you by feeding you dinner. Don’t worry, I won’t make it myself. I’ll warm up whatever Laura Lee has in the freezer.”
Take back your semioffer and say no.
But...
What if digging up twenty-six years of roots in Colorado and roaring into this Texas town with a trail of dirt behind her wasn’t just about running away from her past? What if God had brought her here to help a young girl?
For such a time as this... The verse she’d read in Esther last night pounded through her head and Olivia sighed, resisting the urge to close her eyes or crawl under the desk to escape. “Guess I could swing that.”
“Great.” Cash’s eyebrows shot up as if her answer surprised him. Kind of like it had her. He extracted himself from the desk and she found out the truth to her theory. Definitely taller than her.
“I’ll see you the first week of school, then. I hope you know how much we appreciate this.” Cash returned the cowboy hat to his head, tipped the brim in her direction and exited the room, leaving Olivia wondering about the state of her decision-making skills.
What had she been thinking agreeing to help? Better yet, what was God thinking?
If anything, God should want to keep her far away from Cash Maddox. Five minutes with the man and Olivia already felt a tug of attraction—to Cash’s personality, not just his looks. But she would just have to bury any thoughts of him under her spinning tires. Moving to Texas was all about starting over and leaving the past behind...which meant no dating, no more mistakes.
She might have arrived in Fredericksburg with memories clinging to the trunk of her car and an empty ring finger stripped of all hope, but she refused to repeat the past here.
No looking back. It could be her Texas motto.
* * *
The open-air Jeep Wrangler jerked and dipped as Cash drove toward the new pasture site, hands rumbling on the steering wheel. His meeting with Coach Grayson— Olivia—had eaten enough time out of the afternoon that the guys most likely had the portable electric fences in place.
He shoved the stick shift into first gear, pulled on the parking brake and turned off the engine. Leaving the keys dangling in the ignition, he jumped out.
“How we doing?” Cash approached Frank, adjusting the brim of his hat to better shade against the sizzling mid-August sun.
“Just about ready to move them over.” Frank studied the grazing cattle, his face weathered from a lifetime of outdoor work. He’d been the foreman at the Circle M for as long as Cash could remember. Frank didn’t say much, but when he did, that usually meant it needed to be said. He had a wise, level head on his shoulders and had helped Cash keep the ranch running after Dad died. Frank knew more about ranching than twenty experienced ranch hands roped together.
A wet snout nosed his hand and Cash looked down into Cocoa’s happy face. “Ready to move some cattle, girl?” The Australian cattle dog gave a happy bark, head nodding in agreement. She was as much of an institution around the Circle M as Frank. Mouth painted in a permanent smile, Cocoa looked up at him as if to say, What are we waiting for? Cash laughed at the dog’s silly grin and leaned down to rub her head. Her eyes squinted shut as if she was enjoying a fancy massage, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. “Hang on a minute. We’re almost there.” At Cash’s words, Cocoa settled into the grass, laying her black head and contrasting white snout on her tan paws with a pout.
Cash headed for the water trough connected to wells by pipelines that spanned the ranch. While he waited for the trough to fill, he took off his hat and swiped his brow with the back of his arm. Frustration over Rachel’s grades boiled up as quickly as the afternoon heat. He knew she wasn’t applying herself—knew she had it in her to do better. But he didn’t know how to make her. Losing their parents had shaken her to the core. She’d struggled in the four years since their deaths, but lately her attitude and grades seemed even worse.
Blake Renner probably had something to do with that, though Cash had yet to convince his sister that the boy did not have her best interests at heart.
Frank took a wide stance next to Cash, the sun squinting off his larger-than-life belt buckle as Rants and Noble hopped in the ranch truck with a wave, heading back to the barn. The ancient vehicle boasted an impressive oil leak, but it still managed to function for any work that needed to be done on the ranch.
“Sorry I had to take off before we were done.”
“No problem. Rachel comes first.” Frank’s brow crinkled with concern. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” If he didn’t count his sister’s failing grades or the volleyball coach he should be avoiding who would be spending Thursday nights at the ranch. “Rach needs to get her grades up to stay on the team.”
A slow nod proved Frank had heard. “She’ll be all right. Reckon she’s had a tough time of it the last few years.”
That was an understatement that made Cash’s inadequacies as a guardian rear up.
“You’re doing the best you can.” Frank whacked Cash on the back. “Enough of that now. Let’s get the horses and move these cattle.”
Hours later, Cash strode from the barn in time to see Rachel’s Wrangler bumping into the yard with typical teenage flair, somehow landing in her parking spot. The vehicle abuse made him wince, though he’d be more concerned about her relaxed habits if he hadn’t taught her to drive himself.
Dinner would have to be sandwiches tonight. They’d worked too late for him to defrost anything. But at least his little sister had decided to show up. He had to look for the silver lining with her.
The sun touched the trees to the west, setting the green leaves aflame with gold and orange. Cash tipped his head back, stealing a moment of peace before the storm.
After a deep breath, he headed for Rachel, knowing he needed to tell her about Coach Grayson offering to tutor her. He almost laughed out loud. Offering might not be the right word. He’d sensed that Olivia had planned to say no. But then he’d pushed a little harder, hoping she’d give in. Was it for his sister’s benefit or his own? He didn’t want to think about the answer to that question.
> What would his parents have done in this situation? As usual, the thought left Cash feeling ill equipped. In the moment, asking Olivia to help had seemed like the best option. But now the thought of spending time around the coach gave him a bit of panic.
He squared his shoulders. He’d just have to keep any attraction he felt tucked away where no one could see it. Surely he could handle Thursday nights without going back on his promise.
Rachel hopped down from the Wrangler and reached back in to grab her bag. She turned, greeting him with a defiant toss of her ponytail, and he cringed. Like taming a wild mustang.
Somehow, he needed to get through to her. Make her understand that she’d get kicked off the team if her grades didn’t improve.
No matter the reason, he knew one thing for sure. She was not going to like it.
Copyright © 2015 by Jill Buteyn
ISBN-13: 9781460376041
Healing the Widower’s Heart
Copyright © 2015 by Susan Anne Mason
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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