Chapter One
“You need to go to New York and protect Susan,” Cord’s voice was firm.
Teddy’s head snapped back and his mouth hung open. Had his brother lost his mind? “I’d rather be dragged buck naked through cactus and fire ants on a hot July afternoon.”
What the hell was his brother thinking? Cord knew damn well he and Susan could barely stand to be in the same room together.
His oldest brother crossed his arms over his chest and gave him a look of determination. Teddy’s gut clenched and sweat broke out on his brow as panic rose. He was going to have to try a different tactic or he was going to be living with the last woman on earth he wanted to be shacked up with.
He wet his lips and leaned forward trying to look chagrined. “You know if I could I would, but...” He lowered his voice and rubbed his thumb across the desktop. “It’s the elevators.”
Cord scoffed. “You’re twenty-seven years old. You’re an ex-Marine who saw combat. I’m not buying that you are still afraid of elevators.” He stood up and walked around to the front of the desk and leaned back against the edge. “You and Susan need to get over this feud. It’s in the past. Do you even remember what it’s about?”
Teddy glared at his brother. “I damn sure do.”
Cord shook his head. “Grow up Teddy. It’s time you took on this responsibility.”
Teddy scoffed. “Responsibility? Come on, Cord. I served my country, isn’t that enough? Being shot at with enemy fire was a walk in the park compared to what you’re asking me to do.”
“There’s a stalker after her. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” Cord’s eyebrow rose.
Teddy shrugged. “Just make her keep her precious little Broadway sashaying ass here on the ranch until the cops catch the loon. It’s very simple.”
“She has a life and a career in New York. She has to be on stage. It’s her job.”
Teddy let his breath out in annoyance. “Maybe it’s time she got a new one.”
Cord ran his hands through his hair and Teddy watched his brother’s impatience with him grow. He wasn’t going to win the argument, but he wasn’t going down easy either. Cord had made up his mind that he had to protect Susan, and that was all there was to it. He could see it in his eyes.
He pushed his chair back and walked across the den to the large picture window. “I’d love to help you out, honest, but I’ve got this thing with the kids. I have to be here.”
Cord crossed the room. They were on equal footing height and size-wise. Their gazes locked and held. Built like two bulls, the ranch foreman, Sam, always said. Cord’s hand dropped heavily onto his shoulder, effectively breaking the standoff.
“I promise you, if anything comes up, if you have to get back here, I’ll send the plane and I’ll take care of the Susan situation myself. But this adoption process for those kids could take months. While you wait for your new family, your future, this family needs you.” His eyes bore into him.
“Come on, man, send someone else. Please. Susan and I can’t stand each other.”
“Who? Tyler and Beth are busy with her veterinarian practice and his position on the Circle S out in Abilene. How do you expect either one of them to go off to New York? Sara’s due with baby number three any day so no way is Buck leaving her side. There’s no one else.”
“What about you? Why can’t you go?” His brother ran the Double B but from what Teddy could see most of it was done behind the desk. That seemed pretty mobile to him. “You just need your laptop and Internet—I’m sure they have both in New York.”
“I’ve got commitments up to my eyeballs the next two months here in Texas. You’re the only one with nothing on your plate right now.”
“I’ve got stuff on my plate too. What about my gig at the Lonestar?”
“You’re grasping at straws, Teddy. You and I both know that’s not something set in stone. You show up, you play; you aren’t there, they use the jukebox.”
Teddy’s chest felt as if someone had their boot in the middle of it and he knew exactly who’s boot that was.
He was going to New York. He knew it and his brother knew it. The entire conversation was pointless. Their parents might not have lived long enough to raise them completely, but they’d instilled enough family values in their four sons to know that you take care of your own. Like it or not, even though she wasn’t a blood relation, Susan was theirs.
He grimaced. “There’s an event at the Children’s Home in three weeks. This better be wrapped up by then.”
“If it isn’t, I’ll make sure Susan knows she has to fly home with you. I’ll tell her whatever story you want me to unless you want to tell her the truth about the kids.”
Teddy shook his head. Only his brothers knew about his plans. If the adoption fell through for whatever reason, he didn’t want it all over the place that he was interested in being a father.
He pointed his finger in his brother’s face. “This is under duress. I want that to be clear. I have no interest in high-tailing it to New York just so that little pain in my ass can get on stage and perform.”
“I understand.”
He turned to leave but before he got to the door, Cord called to him.
“I know it goes without saying, but we have to take this threat seriously. I want you at her side every minute of the day and night.”
The images that note conjured didn’t make him feel any better about this mission. For some reason, no matter how much his mind and heart were hardened to Susan, his body betrayed him whenever she was around. He wanted her as much now as he did when they were teenagers. Time and her actions hadn’t managed to thwart his desire for the sexy singer.
“She’s going to love that.”
The End.
About the author…
Roni Adams' writing career began as a young girl writing stories about her family pets. When a friend of her family typed these stories up for her and put them in a three-ring binder, her life course was set. Roni has worked as a newspaper journalist, an administrative assistant, and other positions, but she has always known in her heart she was a writer.
Roni resides in a tiny hamlet in Upstate New York nestled along the Erie Canal. She's been married for 22 years to Scott. They have three sons, Ian, Brennan and CJ ages 12-19. They also share their home with an aging German Shepherd and three ornery cats. Escaping into the lives of her characters takes Roni's mind off the fact that her family is growing up way too fast.
She is an active member of RWA and the San Antonio Romance Authors. She is also one of the founding members of rosescoloredglasses dot com - a writers' community devoted to helping new writers grow and learn. Roni loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at roni [at] roniadams dot com. You may also visit her website at roniadams dot com.