Something's Gotta Give (Tempered Steel Book 3)

by Adams, Maggie

  “Did not.”

  “Did too!”

  That was all it took. One minute the two combatants were shouting, the next fists were flying, legs kicking, and general mayhem ensued. Georgia made a vain attempt to reach them, but they were fast, deftly evading her outstretched arms as the other children began to cheer them on. She turned to reprimand the others, ordering them to quiet down, but it was a lost cause. The outcome of the game and the heat of the day had fired their blood, and tempers were too high to be contained.

  The moving mound of chaos was coming closer to the house. Georgia became quite desperate as she spied a figure on the front porch with Missy Dee. She couldn’t make out his features, but she knew it was one of the Coalson brothers. Their large bodies and handsome features were hard to miss, even at this distance. If Mac had come to inquire about infant services when Dixie had the baby, her daycare wasn’t at its shining moment right now.

  With a last look of disgust at the screaming crowd of youngsters, she decided to give up and let them fight it out. Then she’d bandage them up and deal out a punishment. She might even tell their parents.

  Trying to put as much distance from them as possible, she quickened her pace. In an attempt to keep from running down one of the children dancing around her, she twisted to the side and inadvertently stepped on the softball that was laying forgotten on the grass. Her balance teetered and she flailed her arms to steady herself, but to no avail. With a loud thud, and an even louder groan, she landed on her backside.

  She heard Missy Dee shout, and Georgia watched as she struggled to get out of her rocking chair to help her. She saw Mac hop over the rail and start running down the hill before Missy Dee could get up. She noticed the children had stopped fighting. They were staring down at her.

  Georgia wanted to cry, but she had a visitor, she was a mess, and the children were misbehaving badly. Now she had gone and done this. It couldn’t get any worse. There was no way Mac Coalson was going to let her watch his child. He might even try to have her shut down.

  “Falling at my feet already?”

  No! No! NO! Georgia prayed the ground would open up so she could sink into it. Not him! Please!

  “Can I offer you a lift?” Chance Coalson extended his hand to help her to her feet.

  Well, I stand corrected – things could get worse. In complete mortification, she held out her hand, keeping her eyes lowered so he couldn’t see her tears. Maybe if I pray real hard it won’t be him standing over me.

  Georgia slowly raised her eyes to the handsome dark haired man waiting patiently for her. Dammit! Not MacCoalson-Chance Coalson. What was it about this particular man that turned her extremely intelligent mind into mush with a single glance of those beautiful blue eyes?

  She lowered her glance to his mouth, taking in the still fire-chapped lips and slightly amused grin. Big mistake. Memories of the night of the fire raced through her mind as she looked at those lips. She thought of how those full, sexy lips had coaxed a response from her without any hesitation on her part. What had started as simple resuscitation had turned into the most carnal kiss she had ever received. She had felt devoured by him, even in his weakened condition. Goodness knows what he would do to her now. The Casanova of the County was almost fit as a fiddle and already weaving his magic.

  She closed her eyes once more in humiliation. He probably thinks you’re clumsy, or clutzy, or crazy. Greeaat!

  Georgia grasped his hand, noticing the warmth radiating from those long fingers. Hands made for loving a woman, gentle, yet strong. She could feel the still tender scars on his palms. He really was the stuff fantasies were made of, too bad she was grounded in reality. With a mental shake, she hauled herself to her feet.

  Almost.

  Pain shot up her leg from her left ankle and it buckled under her weight. She would’ve fallen again, but strong arms were around her immediately. She looked up and caught her breath. Chance’s face was just inches from hers. She felt his breath on her cheek and in an effort to avoid those mesmerizing blue eyes, she glanced down.

  “Steady there, Peaches.” He murmured with a grin at her blushing face. “They sure got your nickname right, darlin’. You remind me of a peach, from the tip of that flame-licked blonde hair, to your sweet soft complexion and the firm, luscious body, you are definitely peachy all over.” He winked at her. “Want me to carry you?”

  “No!” Georgia screeched in dismay and embarrassment as she wrestled out of his arms, only to cry in pain as her ankle refused to bear her weight.

  Chance grabbed at her again, genuine concern on his face. “You’re not kidding, are you? You’re really hurt.” He looked down at her ankle.

  Faking. He thought she was faking. How many women have chased after him with silly attempts to attract his attention? He assumed she was yet another one.

  She was suddenly furious. “No, I am not faking.” Her voice rose with each word until she was shouting in his ear. “Now are you going to help me to the house or are we just going to STAND HERE ALL DAY?!”

  My God! Was that her screaming like a banshee?

  Well, this was it then. Now she had really gone and done it, she chided herself as she stifled a groan of despair. This man with his gorgeous body and handsome face and wonderful family probably thought she was insane. She was beginning to question that herself. He made her feel so off-balance, she didn’t know if she was coming or going. She had really messed this one up. She didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of a date, much less a relationship, with this man. Not that I could ever be that brave…

  Georgia couldn’t muffle the tiny shriek as Chance gathered her up in his strong arms, which was no mean feat. She was a tall woman. She wasn’t terribly thin, either. Missy Dee called her wholesome. Georgia thought it had a nice ring to it. Nevertheless, as he lifted her higher, Chance stumbled a bit before he righted himself and marched up the hill and onto the front porch, the now silent children solemnly trailing behind him.

  Georgia was dumbstruck. She had assumed he would put his arm around her and help her amble up to the house. Never in a million years would she have believed how easily he had carried her. She tucked her head under his chin and held on for dear life.

  She inhaled his delicious scent. It was clean with the slight hint of soap and all male. His T shirt stretched across his broad chest. The tan shorts showed his muscular thighs. And his feet, well, even his large feet were sexy. What was that saying about the size of a man’s feet compared to his…?

  Being this close to Chance Coalson was potent stuff indeed. And this was as close as she knew she would ever get to this too-good-to-be-true man. She was determined to memorize every miniscule bit of this.

  Georgia noticed that he wasn’t even winded as he crested the hill and hopped up the steps of the front porch. He was just too perfect. He was the best thing that her heart had ever seen. She stared at his long black lashes so near her cheek. If she moved her face a teeny tiny bit closer, she could feel those incredible lashes on her skin. Did she dare take that step?

  She felt his fingers tighten a fraction below her breasts. Maybe if she shifted a little to the right…She closed her eyes. Oh, mercy, where were these thoughts coming from? It was just too dangerous to feel this way. He was the first man to make her notice herself as a woman, but his power over women was legendary in these parts. And that put him way off limits in her estimation. To trust a man like him with her heart was just asking for trouble. Hadn’t her mother told her repeatedly about men like him?

  “Dance with the devil and get burned every time,” she whispered to herself.

  “What did you say, darlin’?” Chance murmured in her ear. Georgia sighed.

  Chance felt Georgia’s breath along his bare throat. He knew what had caused the reaction, and he was thankful for it. He felt her softening toward him. He had enough experience with the opposite sex to know she was attracted to him. Before, when she been yelling at him, he thought he’d lost her without ever getting to sta
ke a claim. Now, he could feel her body leaning into his. It was enough to give him hope.

  At least now he knew she wanted him.

  That thought sent the blood pounding in his ears, and he was on the brink of sending the children on some false errand in the hopes of laying her down on the sofa and making sweet love to her, then and there. He could feel that warm skin through the thin shirt she wore, and he knew she didn’t have a bra on. So beautifully full, her breast lay against his chest. It would be so simple to slide his fingers a little closer and a bit higher. Perhaps she would arch back in his arms and he would… Oh, hell. What am I thinking? Chance pulled back, disgusted with himself and his lack of control. He was fantasizing about making love to an injured woman with fifteen youngsters still gathered around him.

  Chance turned away from her and her potent charms, and took stock of the house Georgia called a home. The pale yellow living room was the same as he remembered, large and open, with comfortable furniture and lots of pictures of the children, past and present, that came through the foster care and daycare. He glanced in the corner where the staircase began, remembering where Georgia had stood as a child when they had first met. His eyes then traveled to the left and the large archway that led to the kitchen and family rooms. He glimpsed the old apple tree through the large window in the back door, where he had led a weeping Georgia away from the mourning crowd, so she could grieve for a moment in private. Had he somehow known that the young girl trying to be so brave back then would one day come to mean so much to him?

  Chance noticed Missy Dee as she came bustling out of the kitchen with a small smile on her face as he sat by Georgia on the sofa. He gave her a wink and a nod.

  “Here you go, sugar.” She handed Georgia an ice pack.

  Georgia missed the grin on the old woman’s face. She was too busy giving herself a mental kick in the butt and a firm lecture on how silly it was to crave the feel of Chance’s hands on her. It was downright sickening the way her body betrayed her at his merest touch. That’s what came from obsessing about him for years. He had awakened a primitive need. It now vibrated throughout her body. The trembling she was now experiencing had nothing to do with her ankle. She was burning with pent up desire. The Casanova of the County was working his magic again. Dammit!

  Missy Dee propped up Georgia’s foot to ease off her tennis shoe. The ankle was swelling near the purplish bruise alongside her foot. “Definitely sprained, Peaches. Possibly broken,” Missy Dee declared. To confirm her diagnosis, she poked and prodded at the injury, making Georgia wince.

  “We’re going to have to get an X-ray, then ice packs for the swelling, hopefully not a cast. Ibuprofen should help with the pain. Looks like you’re off your feet for a few days, sweetie.” She patted Georgia’s shoulder affectionately. “That’s all right. Lord knows you could use the rest.”

  “I can’t stay in bed for a few days, Missy Dee. I’ve got this business to run. You’ll wear yourself out trying to do it all. And the parents, they depend on us. What are we going to do?” She wailed.

  Georgia was surprised to feel the tears well up. Normally, she was a very restrained person. She looked at Chance. It must be him. Since his near brush with death, she was a basket case. She glared at him. If he hadn’t stopped by, she would not have been anxious to get to the house. If she hadn’t been running, she wouldn’t have fallen. Yes, it was definitely all his fault.

  Chance saw the result of her injury as his golden opportunity and he grabbed it. It would be a while before the insurance company would allow the brothers to clean up the mess at the construction company. The doc insisted Chance take a few weeks off to recuperate, anyway. He would just take the advice he had given to his best friend, Angel, when she asked how to make his stubborn, older brother, Sam, notice her. He would hang around, show Georgia how nice it was to have a man around the place. He could be indispensable and charming. It couldn’t hurt. And it might make her fall in love with him.

  Besides, how hard could it really be to watch a bunch of kids?

  “Don’t worry, Peaches. I always come to the aid of damsels in distress. I’ll help Missy Dee out while you’re recovering, no problem. Doc says I’ve got to take it easy for a few days anyway.” Chance smiled his most confident, devastating smile. The children gathered around her returned his smile with gap toothed grins. Missy Dee laughed in delight and clapped her hands at his proclamation.

  Georgia watched that devilish grin spread across his face. “Oh, Lord. Help me now.”

  She buried her head in her hands and cried.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Chance sat on the front porch step of Georgia’s farm house, taking a much needed break. He reflected on his good mood from last night. He had bundled Georgia up into his truck and then to the hospital, keeping a running commentary on anything and everything to help ease her distress. With his typical arrogance, he promised her to be up and ready to go at first light. He had been. He couldn’t wait to get started on seducing the love of his life.

  He had walked with a spring in his step toward his mother’s kitchen from the “bunkhouse”, a structure on the property that had once held migrant workers, but the family had rehabbed into two apartments. If anyone thought it strange that grown men lived next to their parents, well, they hadn’t tasted his mother’s cooking.

  He sniffed the air as he got closer to the farmhouse. It smelled like she was baking a cake. Her cookbook was going to be a wonderful hit at the orchard store. He was sure of it. And he was smug in his belief that the next few days were going to be a piece of cake. He was going to seduce the girl of his dreams and win her heart. He had long ago figured out the way to Georgia’s heart was through those little ones she cared for, and he vowed to make himself as “kid friendly” as possible.

  He should’ve known what was coming when his mother, Ginny, had handed him a brown paper bag. He simply laughed when he saw what she had put inside. “Peanut butter and jelly? My favorite! Mom, you shouldn’t have.” He hugged her.

  “For energy, Chance. Believe me. You’re going to need it,” she told him solemnly. “And change those sandals and shirt. You’re not going on a date. T-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes are what’s called for, especially around Caleb Frazer and Tyler Johnson.”

  He looked down at his pressed plaid shirt and golf shorts. “Okay.”

  “And remember, patience and perseverance, that’s the key to success.”

  He had laughed at her and her advice at the time. But he wasn’t laughing now. She had been right. It wasn’t even noon, and he was exhausted. Reaching inside the crumpled bag, he searched for the sandwich.

  He was dirty and tired and ached from head to toe. Literally. One of Georgia’s little “angels” as she called them, had accidentally cracked him in the forehead with a ball bat. He had received a kick to his shins when he had tried to break up a fight between two redheaded twins. He was still amazed that two little girls could go at it like that. They were girls, for Pete’s sake. Weren’t they supposed to be quiet, sweet, everything nice?

  Chance reflected back to the conversation he had earlier at the kitchen table that morning with his mom. Then he recalled the smirks Missy Dee and Georgia had given him when he had shown up and commented on the beautiful day. Those looks should’ve alerted him to the conspiracy. Keeping the true natures of the little beasts’ secret so he wouldn’t run for the hills. Well, the cat was out of the bag, now. Still, he didn’t think his mom would’ve sold him out like that, would she?

  He munched on the sandwich and looked across the yard at the children playing in the field near Georgia’s home. Counting heads, he then turned to the youngsters gathered under the tree. The same tree he had sat under, holding Georgia’s hand, back when she was fourteen and her momma had passed. Now she sat there in a chaise lounge, with her bandaged foot propped up by two pillows. Georgia held everyone’s attention, reading a fairytale to her captive audience. Chance grimaced in self-disgust. How could she command such attention with an
injured foot when he was almost back to perfect health and totally unable to take control of fifteen small children?

  “And she looks so appealingly beautiful while doing it,” he mused as he watched her brush a strand of flame colored hair from her soft cheek. She glanced up and caught his gaze, blushing as she lowered her eyes.

  Chance wondered if she would always blush so prettily, even after they had been married for fifty years. He laughed silently at his thoughts. Words like love, marriage and commitment usually sent him running for the nearest door, but Georgia’s soft smile and loving care of these children made him think of church weddings and bouncing babies. He wanted to see her radiant with the joy of impending motherhood. And the man responsible for getting her in the family way would have to be him. It had to be. Anything else was unacceptable. Now, the “Casanova of the County” had gone and fallen hard for this beautiful woman. The gossips were going to have a field day.

  Chance sat up. The gossips! The whole town had been in on getting Mac and Dixie together. Georgia was on so many committees in this town, it was a wonder she ever got any sleep…and Angel needed a way to get in Sam’s face….Yes! Chance had an idea – a gloriously, genius idea on how to help both him and Angel. It’s was a damn shame Georgia couldn’t run around town with a swollen ankle. Angel was going to act on her behalf with the numerous committees Georgia was on. And since the Coalsons were on many of the same committees, the family would just make sure Sam had to attend. Angel would be everywhere Sam showed up! Sam would have to talk to her, hopefully settle their differences. Grinning evilly, he reached for his phone. Why Angel loved his stubborn ass brother was beyond him, but she did. Sam loved her, too. He was just being, well, stubborn. Chance wondered how stubborn Georgia was going to be.

  He’d only been working with Georgia for a day, but he had known her for years. She was the type of woman a man wanted to settle down with. Spirited, sexy, with a quiet dignity that was bone deep. These past few weeks since the fire, had only reaffirmed his feelings for her as a permanent ache that would not be assuaged until she was his, body and soul. He massaged his injured knee and wondered if he was going to live through the experience. He glanced at his love and knew it would be worth it.