Chapter Twelve

Susan wet her lips as Teddy crossed the room to the liquor cart.

“Everything that happens in this family, unfortunately, becomes everyone else’s business,” Sara continued. “That’s how it works. When you two burn out, then what? You never come home again? He stays away from family dinners because you’re there?”

Susan was getting ticked at their negative ramblings, not to mention the fact they felt they had to warn her about all that was going to happen if this went wrong.

What if it went right?

Teddy lifted a tumbler to his mouth and watched her. He knew damn well how uncomfortable she was talking about him with her sisters while he stood there, yet there he stood.

“I’m not going to talk about this anymore. I want to hear about what’s happening with Diane or Beth or anyone else but me,” she begged them.

Teddy’s gaze stayed on her as he set the glass down and moved across the room again. She grabbed the edge of the desk so he couldn’t spin her around. How was she supposed to focus on the conversation with him touching her?

He walked behind the chair and, within seconds, his fingers sifted through her hair, pushing it aside to uncover her neck. Then he began to nibble her skin.

A fire lit inside her and desire exploded; all she wanted was to get off the phone and turn around in his arms.

But Diane went on about the new job her firm had taken on, a huge interior design project for one of the most influential families in Paris.

Susan had no clue what she was talking about. Teddy’s hands, those magical, amazing hands that now knew every inch of her body, trailed slowly down the front of her open neckline. The buttons on her cotton blouse slipped open, and any amount of pushing him away simply resulted in his barely audible laugh in her ear. His mouth was hot and wet on her skin, and he dipped a long finger into her cleavage, caressed the V between her breasts. Desperately, she tried to listen to her sister’s words.

“Susan, remember when you were here last summer and we went out to dinner with that couple—Jacques and Marie?”

Teddy’s calloused fingers were rough on her skin as they explored and quickly discovered the clasp to her front-hooking bra. He snapped it open with a twist and her breasts tumbled free.

Susan drew a shaky breath. “Um, yes, well, vaguely.” She tried to sound normal, but feared her voice had come through breathless.

She pushed at Teddy’s hands without conviction. As soon as he lifted the weight of each breast into his palms, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning back in the chair to give him free access. She forced her eyes to stay open, but one glance down and she was mesmerized at the sight of his tanned hands covering her pointed nipples as he continued his tormenting.

Susan bit her lip, hard, and sent up a silent prayer that her sisters wouldn’t figure out what was going on. She’d never live it down!

“Anyway, they just had the most beautiful baby girl, they named her Gabrielle. Remember, after the role you had that we talked about that night at dinner?”

Susan had no clue what she was talking about. “Uh, yeah, yep, I remember. Gorgeous name. Nice couple.”

Teddy turned the chair, and she was powerless to stop him. His chocolate brown eyes bore into hers as he smiled wickedly and dropped to his knees in front of her. Her eyes widened at his intention, and she ineffectively tried to push him away. His head lowered to her breasts. Her hands lifted to sift into his hair as he kissed their swells and then lower. Her eyes rolled back and her head dropped to the back of the leather chair as Teddy’s lips closed around her swollen nipple. A moan escaped. She quickly clamped her lips together to stop any more sounds coming out.

“I have to admit I had really hoped for a girl with this last baby,” Sara admitted.

“The last baby? Do you mean that as in this is the last, or as in the last one you’ve had so far?” Diane teased.

Susan wet her lips, her hips twitched with longing. Teddy’s fingers were dancing up her bare leg and reached the hemline of her shorts all the while he suckled hard on her aching breast. She tugged at his head, trying to make him stop, but he refused to release her. Truth be told, she didn’t try too hard. It was surreal, hearing a normal conversation going on while she was being devoured in her father’s den. She was going to hell for this, there were no two ways around it.

Sara laughed. “I think three boys are enough for anyone. I told Buck that I thought three was just about right.”

“And what did he say?”

Susan heard her youngest sister, Beth, and was reminded for a moment how close to the main house she lived. Right now, she was over in her clinic, right across the yard.

Teddy unsnapped her shorts and drew the zipper down. He shifted position to feast on her other breast as his strong hand covered the one he’d recently devoured. Susan was going to lose her mind if something didn’t change soon. If he got his fingers in her pants, she’d be done.

“Stop,” she whispered, hoping it was low enough that it didn’t carry to the phone. She was aware that the mute button wasn’t pushed, and there was no way to shift to reach it. Besides, if she did, Teddy would take that as her acquisition to this foolish game. She had to get him to back off until she could finish the call.

“He said it was up to me.” Sara’s voice drifted through the phone line and sounded wistful. “Still, I can’t help but think I’d love to have a daughter.”

In the phone’s background, the sound of Flo making comments came through, but Susan barely paid attention. Teddy had lifted her hips easily and pulled off her shorts. Now she sat with her blouse open, her bra undone, clad only in her panties in the sacred chair her father, and now Cord, ran the entire ranch operation from. Yep, hell was definitely in her future. But as Teddy’s mouth began a slow descent from her breasts to her belly, all she could think was heaven was coming first.

As his mouth reached her inner thigh, she had to do something. Pulling up every bit of energy she could muster, she pushed at him. “Please, let me get off the call. I can’t do this.”

“What’s wrong? Susan? We can’t hear you?” Sara called.

“Just a sec.”

Thank God, Teddy recognized the desperation in her voice and released her. She dove for the mute button.

Pushing her hands though her hair, she stared down as he still knelt on the floor by the desk. “You have to stop. I can’t do this with them on the phone. And in my father’s office! I can’t do this here.”

Teddy reached out his hand to stroke her bared thigh. “Okay, if you insist. I guess I’ll just go start grilling the steaks.”

He pushed to his feet and started to walk to the door. Disappointment flooded her. “Wait!”

He glanced back and crooked that annoying eyebrow.

“I mean, you don’t have to go. I should be done here in a few minutes and then…” she let her voice trail off.

“Do you have any idea how incredibly hot you look sitting there like that?”

She smiled. “You look pretty hot yourself.” Her gaze roamed down his frame taking in the clean black T-shirt and well-worn jeans. Truth be told, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on his body, either.

On the phone, her sisters were distracted with talk of babies and sons and daughters. Thankfully, they seemed to have forgotten she’d slipped away.

Susan stood up and crossed the short distance to where Teddy stood. He didn’t touch her as she slid her hands up his chest. She arched her neck to look him in the eye. “I think the steaks can wait until later, don’t you?”

“You’ve got two minutes to get off that phone.” He grabbed her rear end in both hands and hauled her up hard against him, grinding his hips into her. “Or I won’t be responsible for what I do while they’re listening.”

Her knees went weak and she nodded. “It won’t even take me two minutes. Stay right here.”

She walked back to the phone, conscious that he watched her every movement. Settling on the corner of the desk, she leaned over to the phone and tapped the button to un mute he phone again. “Guys, I hate to do this, but Steve’s calling on my cell phone. Some issue with the play. I really gotta take this.”

“Okay, no problem. We’ll catch up with you next week. Love you.”

Diane’s soft voice over the phone line was sad, and Susan felt bad, but only for a second. Before the rest could even chime in their goodbyes, she ended her connection to the call. Brushing her hair back behind her ear, she turned her head. Teddy was right in front of her. Before she could open her mouth to speak, he pushed her back to the flat surface of the desk.

Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he grabbed her legs and spread them to step between. All she could think of as he covered her mouth with his own was that Cord was going to kill both of them if he ever found out about this.

Yanking at the material of his shirt, she tugged until it ripped from his body. Then Teddy followed through with the rest of her blouse and bra. Bare chest to bare chest, they embraced, and Susan found herself half out of her head with hunger.

Lifting her bare feet, she looped them around Teddy’s waist, settling them against his leather belt. He plundered her mouth, his tongue forcing hers to dance with him. He pulled her lower lip between his teeth and nipped lightly. Her hands slid over his powerful shoulders. Against his skin, her fingers curled into him as he rocked against her. She went instantly wet between her legs, aching for him.

Susan arched up, bucking her hips even harder against his jean-clad erection. “Teddy,” she hissed as his hand settled once more on her breast. “Get undressed.”

He shook his head.

She frowned. “Why not?”

“If we do that on this desk, Cord will kill us both.”

She grinned. “I thought you liked to live dangerously.” She squeezed him between her thighs.

Teddy moaned and stepped back. “You’re bad.”

He pulled her off the desk, lifted her up and into his arms. She had only a moment to thrill to the feel of being carried across the room before Teddy set her down on the soft leather couch. Impatiently, she watched as he shed his belt and opened the button fly of his jeans. Teddy’s gaze held hers as he shed the denim and moved to stand in front of her.

She reached out to cup his powerful erection in her hands. Teddy jerked, and she gazed up at him with a smile. Scooting to the edge of the sofa, she slid her hand around to press his backside until he was even closer. He pulsed in her palm. She slid her hands up and down before lowering her mouth to the moist tip.

A loud growl escaped him, and he bent to thread his fingers through her hair as she sucked on him. He murmured to her, but she had no clue what he was saying as she gave him pleasure. Her hands worked on him, her mouth tasted, and she kissed her way along the length of him.

“You better slow down, SusieQ. You’re making me lose my mind.”

Susan pulled him from her mouth and pressed a kiss to the side and then the soft sacs. “Is that a bad thing?”

He straightened and shook his head. “Nope, but I want to lose my mind with you, in you.” Grabbing the thick blanket that was folded on the end of the couch, he opened it up and dropped it to the floor. “Come here,” he commanded and pulled her down with him.

“This would be really romantic if we had a fire going.”

Teddy rose up on one elbow next to her. “We don’t have one going? Wow, I must be really losing my touch.”

She laughed. “Are you kidding? I thought you were going to make me come while I was on the phone.”

His hand slid down her belly and slipped beneath the elastic of the panties she still wore. “You can talk to your sisters anytime.” He leaned over her.

His mouth against her belly caused shivers to walk up her spine. “Mmmmm, yes, but that’s our special phone call to catch up with one another.” She bent her knees, drawing her legs up as his hands moved down.

“I promise I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered against her skin.

Within seconds, he’d bared her to his touch and his fingers parted her curls. Teddy’s breath was hot on her skin, and she closed her eyes as the intense heat coursed through her. His body pressed along the side of hers reminded her of last night all over again.

She turned her head and reached for him. As he ran his hand along the inside of her thigh and teased her by not touching her where she ached, she stroked his hip. Unsuccessfully, she tried to get her hands on him, wanting to torture him the way he was torturing her.

Teddy raised an eyebrow as if in unspoken question. She smiled her delight at what he was thinking.

Flipping to his back he pulled her on top of him upside down until their bellies met and her head was between his legs.

As he placed his mouth at the juncture between her thighs she took him in her mouth and suckled. Her head spun at the mutual sensation of pleasuring him while he was driving her out of her mind with his tongue and teeth. The more he kissed and licked and stroked her, the harder it was becoming to focus on what she wanted to do to him. The intense pleasure was so powerful she knew it would only be seconds before she’d come apart, unable to think straight. At least the growls from Teddy told her he was feeling the same.

Her legs clasped him tighter as need coiled inside her and the pressure built, Teddy increased his pace, lapping harder and refusing to give her any relief. Even when she shook and trembled and tore her mouth from his erection to cry out, he kept up his strokes until she tried to shift away from his mouth.

Coming back to earth, she tried unsuccessfully to take him in her mouth before Teddy picked her up and turned her until she straddled his lap. Without preamble, he settled her over him and thrust inside.

Still limp from her climax, she clung to his chest and rode him as he bucked up inside her. A million nerve endings, already primed and ready for more, began to dance again as he stroked hard and deep, driving into her almost in desperation. Perspiration broke out on his forehead as they reached the crest together.

Pleasure washed her away once more, but this time she was aware of Teddy completely and totally with her. When he collapsed back on the floor breathing hard, she flopped down, resting her head between the crook of his neck and his chest.

He chuckled under her. She raised her head to see what was so funny.

He reached up and stroked her hair back. “I was picturing Cord coming back for some paper or something while we were doing that. Can you imagine the lecture?”

Susan laughed and raised her hand to brush back her hair. “I don’t think Cord has ever brought a woman in here, do you?”

Teddy shifted until he was sitting up. “Nope. He never does. Hell, sometimes he’s so discreet we wonder if he ever gets any.”

“Well, I was glad you locked the door.” She touched his chest. “It got me so hot because I knew without a doubt what you planned to do to me.”

His eyes flashed and he reached out to lift her breast in his hand. He brushed his thumb across her nipple, hardening it once more. “Don’t say things like that to me or we’ll never get those steaks tonight.”

“Hmmm, well, I do like red meat.” She licked her lips, but, unable to carry off her sexy talk, she laughed.

“You want to talk dirty? Okay, baby, I definitely have some meat for you.” Teddy wiggled his eyebrows and loomed over her until she lay on her back on the floor.

She giggled again, unable to keep a serious face with him. His hands moved down her body, stroking lightly and slowly building a fire once more. Her thighs dropped open in a blatant invitation as his hands spread on her bare stomach. He lowered his mouth to kiss her breast.

He lifted his head. “So what was the big outcome of the sister conversation? It sounded like a bunch of blah blah blah to me.”

Susan moaned as he lowered his mouth to her nipple and suckled. She spread her hands across his back and caressed his muscular shoulders. “Hey, sometimes we do talk about important stuff. You’re lucky enough to have all your brothers here. We miss Diane.”

His head jerked up and his expression was serious. “I’m going to miss you when you go back to New York.”

Susan frowned and her heart thudded. That was a huge statement to come from Teddy; she wasn’t quite sure how to take it. “I don’t want to think about it. Not now. Not tonight.”

Taking charge, she arched toward him and pulled him, opening her legs and lifting her hips. She wanted him inside her once more, wanted to feel nothing but the intense pleasure they gave each other when they made love.

Their lovemaking this time was unhurried and the pleasure was dragged out as Susan tried to imprint on her memory the way it felt to be loved by Teddy. Right now, in this moment…

Hours later, as she lay spent in his arms, she said, “You know the entire family knows what we did last night?”

“Do you care?”

“No, it’s just they’re all worried about what it means…to the future.”

Teddy sat up on the blanket. The room had turned dark. With the curtains pulled on the window, the moon couldn’t light the room up. Susan had no idea what Teddy was thinking as he stood up and walked away. Within a few seconds, he’d flipped on the light on the end table, but left it on a low setting.

“The only ones who should be worried about the future are me and you. It’s no one else’s business.”

Susan wet her lips and stood. She wrapped the blanket around her body.

Teddy pulled his jeans on. “I think we’ll be okay, don’t you? I mean, I can’t imagine going back to the way we were, all mad at each other. I mean we’re mature adults. We can handle this.” She waved her hand toward the floor. “And whatever happens in the future, right?”

Teddy picked up his T-shirt and collected her clothes from across the room. He handed her the shorts and blouse but tossed her bra aside with a grin.

“SusieQ, my arms will always be ready to wrap around you. I know you have to go back to New York and I have to stay here to follow through with the kids, but...”

She frowned. “What do you mean? We’ll be like…friends with benefits? We’ll sleep together when it’s convenient for both of us?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know how to change reality. All I know is if you want me, I’m here, and I hope you feel the same.”

Susan didn’t like it, but what choice was there? He wasn’t going to move to New York and make a life with her. He couldn’t. Just like she couldn’t move here permanently; her career was there. Once the stalker was caught and she was back on stage, it could be months before she got home. Months before she was able to be with him again.

But that wasn’t tonight. Tonight was about them, and she wasn’t going to ruin it by thinking about the future. There’d be enough time for that when they had to actually say goodbye.

Forcing a smile, she slipped into her panties and shorts, then pulled on her blouse. Her bra she left off, knowing that’s what he wanted, but she was careful to pick it up and carry it out of the room.

“How about those steaks? Someone’s worked up my appetite.”

Teddy winked. “I’ll get the grill going to feed one appetite. If you’re lucky, I’ll feed your other appetite the rest of the night.”

****

Teddy stared at the woman curled next to him in bed. Her dark hair was mussed and her face was free of any makeup. In sleep, her features were relaxed and she looked as young as she did the day she left for the bright lights of New York.

Dawn slipped through the drapes in her bedroom. They’d worn each other out last night, but he couldn’t sleep any later. Although he’d been able to put aside his thoughts last night, the proverbial cold light of a new day brought their situation to startling reality. This was ludicrous. There was nothing good to come of this except heartbreak for both of them. In reality, more for him than for her.

Yesterday on the phone he’d overheard her tease about love conquering all, but he hadn’t fooled himself one bit to think she’d fallen for him, at least not like that. He knew she loved him, but then she also loved chocolate, red wine, sexy underwear, and a sale on high heels. She loved making love with him and spending time with him, but that wasn’t the kind of love he needed from her.

Still, he’d been honest when he said he’d be here whenever she found time to get away. Where else was he going to go? Problem was, he couldn’t imagine being with any other woman now. If that made him a wuss, then so be it. Until whatever they had going burned itself out, he was going to play the role of the guy back home to the starlet.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last long. Her career was skyrocketing, and he had no plans to go anywhere. She’d forget all about what happened between them in a few months. First there’d be the excuses of why she couldn’t get home, then the phone calls that wouldn’t be returned and then finally, she’d be gone. That would be it. These past few weeks would be a memory, and they’d both get on with their lives.

His gut clenched. What outcome did he want? Her to give up the stage, stay home, and become a mom to the three kids he hoped to adopt? He had no doubt she’d be a great mother, but it wasn’t what she wanted. In time, she’d long for the life she’d given up, and he didn’t ever want to be the guy who took that from her.

Teddy slid his hand along the curve of her hip under the covers. Despite everything, he was so proud of her. She’d left home for New York and accomplished everything she said she would. Then Hollywood called, and now she had an Oscar on the same shelf as her Emmy and Grammy. From coast to coast the world loved her; she certainly didn’t need to be tied down to a singing cowboy in Sweet Meadow, Texas, with three orphaned kids.

Susan shifted, her eyes fluttered open, and a smile lifted the corner of her lips. Teddy reached out to trace his thumb along them.

His father once told him he’d known he was in love with his mother when he wanted her to be happy far more than he cared if he was. Funny thing was, his mother had told him the same thing. He’d never understood it before. Now it was as clear as proverbial glass.

Susan wet her lips and stretched her back. “Is it morning already?”

He nodded. “Yeah, and I have to get to work.”

She flopped back on the pillow and gave him a long look. “What are you thinking about that has you so serious?”

“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know. I have another meeting with the adoption board today,” he added, in hopes she’d believe that to be real reason.

She cocked her eyebrow. “Want me to go with you?” At his look of concern, she put up her hand. “Never mind, don’t answer that. This situation between us doesn’t exactly endear you to them, does it?”

“I won’t lie to them if they ask me directly about our relationship.”

Susan swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I don’t know anyone who would have told them.”

She stood up and slipped into a silk robe from the foot of her bed, belting it before turning around. “I’ll go down and put coffee on. If you scoot out now, we might be able to avoid a confrontation with Flo or Cord.”

Teddy didn’t really care if he ran into his brother or anyone else, but he didn’t try to draw her back to bed, either. They’d made love off and on all night, and while it didn’t stop him wanting her again, he had to get his head in the game for today’s meeting. Whatever happened in the future, with her and with the adoption, was basically up to fate now. He was powerless in both.

****

Don’t let them know they have the upper hand, coursed through his brain as Teddy sat across from three of the Board members that afternoon. They looked so pompous, well, two of them did. The third one looked as if she wanted to know first hand if his reputation was as bad as the rumors she’d heard. He could read it in the hungry gaze of her eyes.

The woman across from him, not the one that was devouring him with her gaze, leaned forward across the conference table. “Mr. Weston, our Board recognizes and appreciates all the time and money your family has donated throughout the years.”

Uh-oh, this doesn’t sound good. Teddy lifted his chin. “My family has been supporting the Children’s Home since it opened in the late 1800s, Ms. Callahan.”

The older woman nodded. “Yes, it has, and we do appreciate all they’ve done for us.”

He noted she never mentioned what he’d done, even though every year his band put on a charity event that drew hundreds of people, not to mention money. He held his tongue.

“There are two issues at stake here.”

Teddy’s gaze swung to the man seated next to Ms. Callahan. Brad Peterson. He forced his face to remain neutral, but if there was ever a man in the world he would love to punch it would be this one. For many years Susan had dated Brad whenever she’d been home. The community theater that Brad owned and ran was one of her hobbies. He also knew they’d had some type of falling out, and while they were still civil, the relationship was frosty at best. Not surprising. Brad was a pompous ass who thought he was far more important to the town of Sweet Meadow than he was. As if the little town would shrivel and die without his contribution to the arts.

“What’s that?” he finally asked.

The woman who, up until now, had done nothing but stare at him suddenly spoke up. Thin lips curled into what he supposed was her attempt at a smile. “We are still, of course, trying to find some relatives in Mexico who would be able to take the children.”

Teddy crossed his arms. “We’ve been down that road. I told you, both parents had no family. Not here, and not in Mexico. Those kids are U.S. citizens. They need to stay in their country and have a life. The kind of life that I can give them.” He wouldn’t even let himself think about what could happen to them if they were shipped to some distant cousin in Mexico.

The younger woman nodded. “I know, but you have to see that, in our position, the ideal is that we find a blood relative.”

“A blood relative, who is going to feel the pressure of having more mouths to feed? A relative who will be annoyed, not happy, to take on the responsibility of raising three children? My family has the love and desire to give them the home they deserve, the kind of home their parents would have wanted them to have. Not to mention the financial means to give them the type of future they deserve.” He leaned forward, trying to remember all of Cord’s coaching about keeping control of his emotions and to keep the upper hand in the negotiations. His brother had offered to come, but he wanted to do this on his own. Now he regretted that decision as his temper began to bubble.

“We’re not speaking of your family, though, are we, Teddy?” Brad spoke again. “We’re talking about these children being raised by you. You’re not married, and you spend your weekends singing in a bar, among other things. Your reputation doesn’t exactly lend itself to that of a man ready to raise children. You’re nothing but a cowboy in expensive jeans.”

Teddy seethed and his jaw clenched with his effort to control his mouth. It wasn’t anything they hadn’t said before, but the other man’s contempt was evident and made him see red. “You’re stretching by calling me a cowboy, and we both know it. I’m a businessman. The Double B is the largest cattle enterprise in this country and several others. You might have forgotten, but I own part of that. My folks were killed when I was twelve years old; my older brothers finished raising Tyler and me, and we turned out pretty darn good. In addition, don’t forget we have Flo and Sam on the ranch—no one can argue the positive influence of those two. They dote on Buck and Sara’s kids.”

“Flo and Sam are both in their late sixties, aren’t they? Do you really think they need to take on the burden of raising three more kids?”

“I never said…” His voice rose, and he clamped his mouth shut.

Across the table, the younger woman darted her eyes to the others and then leaned toward him, her hand open as if to declare peace. “Mr. Weston, no one is trying to judge you. Please try to understand our position. We have to be absolutely certain that the home you are offering is a better alternative to what we can provide here if in fact no blood relatives can be found.”

Teddy stared back at her, tempted to use his charm to win her over, but he couldn’t dredge it up. In his mind, he could see the twins looking at him as if he’d hung the moon and Ramon, who finally trusted him enough to hug him.

“Those kids need someone in their life who loves them unconditionally. That someone is me.” He thumbed his chest and once more fought to control his voice as it deepened in disgust. “I will take them to church every week, they will be educated and provided for and raised in a stable environment with a parent who loves them. Two of my brothers are married and beginning families of their own—these kids will be raised with cousins and surrounded by positive influences. How can that not be better than an orphanage?”

“Mr. Weston, are you planning on marrying and settling down at some point? Because, to be perfectly honest, if there was some type of marriage in your future, it definitely would give us more to work with.” Mrs. Callahan glanced at Brad.

Peterson narrowed his gaze and pinned him with a hard look. “There’s been talk that you and Susan Sampson have hooked up. I have to assume she’s planning on moving back home and settling down with you. Otherwise, the very fact that you are still continuing with your wild ways while trying to adopt three innocent children…” His voice trailed off.

Before Teddy could scale the table and pound Peterson’s face in for his remarks, the conference room door opened. Mrs. Hill, the director who he figured was the only one on his side in all of this, walked in.

“I’m very sorry to interrupt.”

Teddy could see in her face that she’d been listening and had interrupted completely on purpose. He tossed her a grateful glance.

“Lunch has arrived, and it might be a good idea to end for today.”

As the Board stood up, Teddy did the same.

Mrs. Callahan picked up her folders. “Mr. Weston, we will continue to review the file and the multiple letters of reference that have come in supporting your cause. We don’t want this to drag on any longer than you do. We will put it to a final vote within thirty days and you’ll have your answer.”

She reached her hand across the table and he shook it.

“I can give these kids a life, Mrs. Callahan. I can’t believe the Board wouldn’t want that for them.”

She squeezed his hand. “The Board works hard to make sure all our children get the best future they can. We’ve been looking at this from all angles. I promise.”

Fortunately, Brad walked out of the room, and with a last small smile over her shoulder, the other woman followed the first two, leaving him alone with Mrs. Hill.

Teddy sank to the conference room chair once more and dragged his hand through his hair. “They’re going to deny the adoption.”

Mrs. Hill walked around the table, pulled the chair out next to him, and sat down. “You don’t know that.”

He nodded. “Yeah, well, Peterson will do everything he can to stop it.”

She tipped her head. “I know he exploded when he heard that you and Susan Sampson—”

Teddy snapped his gaze up to her. “Susan and I had a long standing feud; we finally worked through the situation and have come out as friends. She’ll return to New York as soon as she can, and I’ll remain here. What happened between two old friends has nothing to do with this adoption.” He shook his head. “I already plan to quit singing at the LoneStar most of the time. Like any other single parent, I’ll be at work while they’re in school during the day and home when they get home. If I can’t be, I have a whole family of backup support to help me out. The same way we help out Buck and Sara when they need it. Family helps family. That’s what I’m trying to give these kids, Mrs. Hill, a family. A real family again, the way their parents would have wanted.”

“We can’t just let every child that is orphaned go home with a family because they have a lot of money. You have to understand that. Our mission is to either raise the children ourselves or to find a loving, stable environment.”

“And I’m not stable, is that it? Just because I’m not married?”

“I wish I had the answers you want. All you can do at this point is wait for the decision and continue to, shall we say, keep a low profile.”

“If I were to get married...”

Mrs. Hill laughed and patted his hand. “Let’s not do something drastic. Keep the faith, Teddy. I’ll do everything I can at this end, you know that.”

“Thanks.” He nodded and pushed back his chair. “Can I see the kids today?”

She nodded. “Why don’t you grab a plate and eat with them?”

He caught her direct gaze again. “If I can’t adopt them, and they end up staying here, I fully intend to continue to visit them and help in any way I can to make their life better.”

Mrs. Hill stood up. “Good. They don’t need anyone else in their life dropping out suddenly…especially Ramon.”

“I wouldn’t do that to them.”

Two hours later, Teddy said goodbye to the kids and was climbing into his truck when a text from Susan came through.

The police caught the stalker!