by Linda Warren
“Don’t you remember?”
“Oh.” Her eyes held a faraway look and he knew she was remembering the awful evening. She sank onto the tumbled bed. “I have to see Mirry and go to Rachel’s House this afternoon.”
“Who’s Rachel?”
She glanced up. “It’s a shelter for abused women.”
“Abused animals. Abused women. Who are you?”
“What?”
“This is not the daughter Roscoe portrayed to me.”
Those dark eyes pinned him to the wall, like a target. “How did Daddy portray me?”
“I got the impression you were very vulnerable, a woman who needed protecting—a woman who sat in that big house reading fashion magazines and eating decadent chocolates or something.”
She flipped back her hair. “Is that how Daddy described me? Or is it how you see me?”
He held up his hands. “Let’s not argue. I’m just taken aback that you have a life that your father never mentioned.”
“Daddy tended to see me one way—as his helpless little girl. He tolerated my ‘fun activities’ as he called them.”
He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorjamb. “What do you do at the shelter?”
“Counseling, but mostly I listen. These women have been browbeaten by their husbands into thinking they’re worthless and deserve to be beaten.”
“And you need to see someone this afternoon?”
“Yes.” She stood. “And I need clothes.”
He glanced at his watch. “Rosa’s bringing you some at eight. If you call, you might catch her before she leaves.” He nodded toward the phone on the nightstand.
She twisted the jeans she still held in her hands. “Thank you for what you did yesterday. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t arrived.”
“Felix would have handled it.”
“I’m not sure. He wasn’t as calm as you were. He was really worried about me.”
“Don’t you think I was?”
Her eyes held his. “Were you?”
“More than I ever thought I would be.” He turned and went back to the kitchen. The emotional mushy stuff was hard this early in the morning. Hell, it wasn’t easy late at night, either. A couple of relationships had ended because of his hesitance to confess his undying love. He wanted Jessie to know he cared for her.
That was enough for now.
The business deal was getting personal.
CHAPTER EIGHT
JESSIE PLOPPED ONTO the bed, holding the jeans to her racing heart. He cared. And it hadn’t required any manipulation on her part. It had been a natural progression of them getting to know each other. Yesterday Cadde had saved her and Mirry and she’d always be grateful for that. He’d taken control. It was nice to have him worry about her—just like a husband would.
Cadde Hardin was a special man.
And jealous.
She knew Gavin cared for her in more than in a friendly way. She’d gone out with him a couple of times, but then stopped when it became clear his feelings were different from hers. They remained friends. Although she realized Gavin was waiting for her to end her sham of a marriage. That wasn’t happening. Not now.
It was strange how she never reacted to Gavin like she had to Cadde. From the moment she’d looked into his intense brown eyes, it seemed he’d literally reached in and snatched her heart. If her father hadn’t been so protective of her, they might have connected a long time ago.
Or maybe not. He might never care for her the way she wanted.
The sobering thought caused a needling sadness to settle in her.
Glancing at the bedside clock, she jumped up and grabbed the phone. It took her five minutes to assure Rosa she was okay. After hanging up, she went into the kitchen in the hospital gown. That was her limited wardrobe.
Cadde leaned against the counter, sipping a cup of coffee, his feet crossed at the ankles. He looked relaxed in jeans and a pressed white shirt. Her breath caught in her throat at his tall lean frame. Obviously, he was ready for work.
When he saw her, he straightened. “Would you like breakfast?”
Two plates were on the table. One had eggs, sausages and biscuits; the other had a pile of strawberries and blueberries and slices of cantaloupe that looked as if they’d been cut with a chain saw. Beside the fruit was a small carton of yogurt.
“Where did you get this?”
“I had my secretary bring it over.” Barbara was in her late fifties and happily married, so Jessie knew she didn’t have a problem with unrequited love in that area. She was almost positive Barbara hadn’t cut the cantaloupe, which meant Cadde had—for her. A warm feeling suffused her and it had nothing to do with the high temperature outside.
“Which is mine?” she asked, just to tease.
Pouring her a cup of coffee, he frowned. “Don’t you like fruit and yogurt?”
“Yes, but I’m hungry. We didn’t eat last night.” She bit her lip in thought. “We’ll share,” she decided, and reached for a plate in the cabinet. She felt a cool breeze to her back…and more. “Are you staring at my butt?”
“It’s kind of hard not to…with the gown open like that.”
Good grief. She gathered the back with one hand and carried the plate to the table. “These things are not made for privacy.”
“Mmm.” A smirk followed the sound.
She used a fork to scoop eggs, a sausage and biscuit onto her plate. Taking a seat, she jumped up again. “I forgot cream and sugar for my coffee.” She knew where the packets were because she’d eaten here many times with her father. She managed to hold her gown closed.
As she took a sip, she could feel his eyes on her. “After what you’ve been through, you’re very spry this morning. How’s the neck?”
“Kind of sore on the right, but I’m fine.” She dug into the eggs. “And I have a lot to do today.”
“Jessie, you were attacked by a dog. It’s okay to just rest.”
Again, she was almost positive Cadde never said things like that and she could tell she was right by the shocked look on his face.
He picked up his fork. “Remember you have to see your doctor.”
“I’ll work it in.” She munched on the fruit. “Oh, I don’t have a vehicle. What’s your schedule like?”
“I have several meetings.”
“Here at Shilah?”
“Yes,” he replied slowly, looking at her.
“Good, then I’ll take your truck.”
“What?” He almost spit coffee on the table. “No. No. I’ll share my breakfast, but I’m not sharing my truck.”
She made a face at him.
“Can you even drive a truck?”
“Yes, Cadde. We have one at the barn that I use all the time.” At the expression on his face, she relented, but not nicely. “Okay, I’ll get Rosa to chauffeur me.” She carried her plate to the sink.
The only sound was the clatter of the dishes.
“You can take the truck,” he said in a quiet tone.
She swung around. “Really?”
“Yes.” He stood and fished out the keys from his pocket. “Just be careful.”
“Thank you.” She reached up and kissed his smooth-shaven cheek, a fresh manly scent tempted her nostrils, her senses.
His hands went to her hair. He threaded his fingers through it, holding her head. Waves of dizzying pleasure made her feel weak and she stood on tiptoe to meet his kiss. His lips tasted hers briefly. Enticing. Inviting. Suddenly he drew back. She felt deprived, wanting more.
“Get some rest today. Now I have to go to work.” His hand lingered on her neck for a moment and then he strolled past her. “Don’t wreck my truck,” he called over his shoulder.
Jessie whirled around the kitchen, feeling free. Feeling euphoric. It was just him and her in an apartment, alone. Like a normal couple—in love. She paused in her happy dance. They weren’t a normal couple. She pushed back her long hair, her scalp tingling from his tou
ch. It may not be the real thing but it was something and she could live with that.
After covering the fruit with plastic wrap, she put it in the refrigerator. She quickly rinsed the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher. As the appliance clicked on, she heard a knock on the door. Rosa came in with a brown leather overnight case, a bag and her purse.
“Oh, Miss Jessie, just look at you.” Rosa gave her the once-over. “Why are you in that gown?”
Jessie hugged her. “It’s all I had to wear from the hospital.”
“Oh, your neck.” Rosa touched Jessie’s sore skin. “Go get in bed. I’ll take care of you and I brought breakfast.”
She held up her hands. “I’m fine, Rosa, and I’ve already eaten.”
“I’ll put these in the refrigerator then. I made some breakfast tacos.” Rosa walked into the kitchen and Jessie picked up the leather case.
“I have to shower and get dressed,” Jessie said. “I want to check on Mirry.”
“I’ll drive you.” Rosa hitched her purse high on her arm.
Jessie stopped in the hall doorway. “No, Rosa. I have Cadde’s truck.”
“Now, Miss Jessie, you’ve been through a terrifying ordeal and you don’t need to be driving.” Rosa shook her head. “It was awful, just awful, and we were lucky Mr. Cadde arrived when he did. The Dobermans attacked the one person they were trained to protect. We should have gotten rid of them long ago.”
Sadly, Jessie knew the truth of those words. She should have dealt with the dogs after her dad had died, but she kept putting it off. Now Mirry had to pay for her procrastination.
“I’m fine and hopefully Mirry will be, too.”
“I’m sorry. It all happened so quickly.”
“It’s okay,” Jessie assured her. “It was an accident. I just thought Mirry would never leave the house without me.”
“After you left to go to the barn, she was fussing around and started making those noises. I opened the door a crack and she shot out. The Dobermans were on her so fast I almost had a heart attack.”
“We don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“No.” Rosa waved a hand. “Get dressed and we’ll go see Mirry.”
Jessie sighed and walked farther into the room. “Rosa, I told you I have Cadde’s truck and I’m staying in Houston as long as Mirry is in the clinic.”
Rosa’s features became stern. “Miss Jessie, you need to come home.”
Jessie stood her ground. “I’m not seven years old anymore. I’m a grown woman and I can take care of myself.”
“I promised Mr. Roscoe.”
Her hand tightened on the leather handle. “Daddy is dead.” She took a breath because it always hurt to say the words. “Rosa, please let go. You and Felix have to allow me some freedom.”
“We worry so much.”
“I know and I appreciate all your concerns, but I have a husband now. My life is changing.” Jessie didn’t give Rosa time to argue. She turned toward the hallway. “Bye. I’ll call you later.”
She held her breath until she heard the door close. Sometimes it was hard being an adult. She had to hurt the people she loved, but if she didn’t, they’d cripple her emotionally.
In less than an hour she’d showered, brushed her hair and coiled it into a rope, clipping it behind her head. Dressing in white slacks and sandals, she slipped on a lime-green sleeveless blouse that gathered at the waist with a silver chain. By nine she was sitting in Cadde’s truck. It took a while to adjust the seat. He had it pushed far back to accommodate his long legs. Once she was comfortable, she started the engine. It burred to life.
Backing out of the CEO’s parking spot, she realized the truck was big. She’d never driven anything this huge, but she’d manage. First, she adjusted the mirrors so she could see traffic and then she donned her sunglasses. The August sun was blinding. A car honked and she became aware she was in the middle of the parking lot. She pressed the gas pedal and shot out for the ride of her life.
Luckily she made it to Gavin’s without anyone honking at her again. Her heart stopped when she saw Mirry. She was lying in a basket, covered in a multicolored cotton blanket inside a kennel. An IV was in her taped-up right paw and liquid dripped from a bag. Her swollen body had several long stitched-up wounds, as did her neck. Around her neck was a rubber ring that looked like a doughnut.
“She’s better,” Gavin told her. “I know it doesn’t look like it, but her pulse was very low last night. This morning it’s stronger.”
“Can I sit with her for a while?”
“Sure.” Gavin brought her a chair and she sat talking to the unconscious dog. It was hard to explain her attachment to Mirry. But Mirry needed someone and Jessie desperately needed someone, too.
“I’m sorry, Mirry. Gavin’s going to make you all better,” she was saying as Gavin walked in over an hour later. “She’s not waking up.”
“I have her heavily sedated. I don’t want her trying to move her neck.”
She reached for her purse on the floor and stood. Thank God Rosa had put her purse and phone in the case. She’d hate to drive that big truck without a license. “Thank you, Gavin. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
He glanced at his watch. “If you’ll wait thirty minutes, we can have lunch together.”
“I can’t.” She hated these conversations. “I’m scheduled at the women’s shelter and I have to see my doctor about my dog bites.”
His eyes lingered over her. “You look great.”
“Thank you,” she replied, wanting to slither away. She didn’t like hurting Gavin. “I was lucky Cadde arrived when he did. The dog didn’t have a chance to get a good grip on me before Cadde shot him.”
“The hero, huh?” Gavin said in a cold voice she’d never heard before, and she thought it was time to tell Gavin the truth.
“Cadde and I are trying to make our marriage work.”
“I figured that out last night. He’s a take-control type of guy…the kind women like.”
She wasn’t discussing Cadde with Gavin. She hugged Gavin briefly. “Thank you for everything.”
“Jessie,” he called as she walked toward the door.
She looked back.
“When he breaks your heart, I’ll be waiting.”
“Please don’t do that,” she said, and left feeling as low as pond scum. Why did no one ever listen to her? She’d told Gavin two years ago there was nothing romantic between them, but he always let his feelings show. She’d have to find another vet.
Putting Gavin out of her mind, she called her medical doctor and the receptionist said they could work her in at three. She stopped for a hamburger and ate it in the truck. A spot of mustard on the leather steering wheel caught her eye. Oh, no! As hard as she rubbed with a paper napkin, she couldn’t get the stain out completely. She licked the napkin and rubbed again. There still was a slight smudge. Maybe Cadde wouldn’t notice. Maybe men didn’t notice things like that. It was a truck, she told herself. Men in Texas equate their trucks with their identity. And Cadde’s had a smudge on his. He would notice.
She made her way to the women’s shelter, watching the traffic carefully. Fran let her in and they walked to her office. Fran didn’t say anything, just fiddled with papers on her desk.
“How did it go with Nina’s aunt?”
Fran grunted. “The woman has a three-bedroom house and was happy to offer Nina and the kids a home.”
“That’s…wait…was? What happened?”
Fran removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes in a tired way. “A caseworker from CPS talked with Nina yesterday as did the police. The worker also visited Vernon in jail. He was allowed to call Nina.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” Fran shoved her glasses back on. “CPS is working to keep the family intact. Vernon has agreed to counseling with Nina once a week and a CPS worker will drop by unexpectedly to check on things.”
“Nina agreed to this?”
“Oh, yeah. You know she�
��s always spouting what an excellent provider Vernon is, what a good person he is and how he gives her money for the kids. I think she has a file folder of excuses for Vernon.”
“I can’t believe it.” Jessie was flabbergasted. Nina had a chance at a new life and she’d turned it down.
“Once she talked to Vernon, any other resolution was over. I don’t understand it, but it’s CPS’s worry now.”
“Nina’s afraid of making it on her own without an education. She’s more afraid of that than Vernon hitting her and the kids. We know it’s an insane decision, but we’ll never convince her of that.”
“Let’s be positive. Counseling might help Vernon. He knows this is his last chance.”
Jessie heaved a sigh and got to her feet. “I’ll talk to Nina.”
“She doesn’t want to see you,” Fran said.
“Why?”
Fran shrugged. “She knows she’s making a bad choice, but she doesn’t want anyone to talk her out of it.”
“I’ve always just listened and tried to show her better options.”
“I know that and you know that. Nina’s feeling a little guilty right now. She’s returning to their apartment later this afternoon, but if she comes back, we’ll take her in and offer her shelter. That’s all we can do now.”
Jessie had a bad feeling about this. A habitual hitter wasn’t going to change, but she understood that CPS had to give them a chance to be a family. She just hoped they protected those kids.
Fran peered at her neck. “What happened to you?”
“I was mauled by a dog.”
“Oh, no! Are you okay?”
“Yes. My husband shot the animal before he could do any real damage.”
Fran leaned back in her chair. “How’s the marriage going?”
“Great.” Jessie didn’t want to talk about her personal life. “I have a couple hours to kill. Do you need any help?”
“Why don’t you go home and rest.”
“I can’t.” Jessie winced. “I have a doctor’s appointment at three.”
“Well, then.” Fran leaned forward. “I could use an extra pair of hands in this office.”