Chapter Eleven

A wave of panic swept her body as her gaze flew to Teddy’s face.

He kept his attention firmly on Cord. “I don’t have the code to the gate. Apparently you changed it, again.”

“It’s Flo’s birthday.”

Teddy’s hand was fisted at his side and his jaw clenched. Susan swallowed and stared, willing him to look at her. He couldn’t really be thinking that last night was an act, could he? She knew he took what he’d just overheard wrong, but at the same time, it was kind of true. She’d never walk away from her career for any man.

But Teddy’s not just any other man.

She was afraid the little voice in her head was right. Over the past few days it was more than apparent that if he ever asked her to give up her career and stay with him…well, her answer wasn’t clear even to her. The thought of a lifetime sleeping in his arms and waking up to his kisses might just be enough to make her throw every award she’d ever won right out the window.

Teddy left without looking at her. She tossed aside the pillow and raced toward the door.

“Let him go.”

Cord’s hand on her upper arm halted her progress.

“We need to call the detective. You can deal with whatever that was about later.”

She glared up at Teddy’s brother. In his eyes she could see that he knew. Of course he knew; Cord knew everything that happened on and off the ranch. Why did she and Teddy think they were being so secretive?

With a clipped nod, she pulled her arm free and walked back into the room and sat in the chair in front of Cord’s desk. She’d forgotten what it was like to live at home and have her business be everyone’s common knowledge.

“Yes, we need to call him,” she finally said. “I have to get back to New York. I’ve had about enough of this nonsense.”

Cord walked around to the other side of his desk and picked up his phone. Susan’s heart raced. She shouldn’t have let him stop her from following Teddy, but then, maybe he was right. Once Teddy thought about it, he’d realize how insane his thinking was. Did he honestly think she was acting last night? Not to mention this morning and all the times in between. Still…

Then again, what about him? Had she been just another night to Teddy? It certainly was common knowledge that the great Teddy Weston had no qualms about making love and walking away. This tension between the two of them had been building for years. Was it simply inevitable that it eventually had to explode? And now that it had, was that it?

Teddy said he wasn’t mad at her anymore. Maybe last night was simply the culmination of their peace treaty. Maybe she was reading way more into this than she should. Maybe all this was more casual than she’d thought.

Susan tossed her hair behind her shoulder as Cord dialed the phone.

Either way, she would have to wait until she saw Teddy again, now, to even know how to act. She winced. Bad choice of words.

“I’m going to put you on speaker phone.” Cord pushed a button on the phone. “How’s that, Detective Wallis?”

“Fine. Hello, Ms. Sampson.”

“Hello, Detective.” She leaned forward and rested her elbow on Cord’s desk. “Can you give us an update on what’s been happening on the case? I mean, I can’t stay here much longer. The producers of the show have been very understanding, but I really need to get back to work.”

“I think you made the right choice in heading out to Texas when you did. We’ve been able to get some more information on this guy and it’s not good.”

Susan glanced at Cord as she spoke to the detective. “You know who he is?” Her heart raced with excitement. Maybe this nightmare was ending and she could get back to real life. “Did you arrest him?”

“No, we can’t arrest him. He hasn’t done anything, at least nothing we can pin on him. But we know who he is and we’ve got surveillance on him. His name is David Burns. Is that name familiar to you at all?”

Susan met Cord’s gaze and frowned. David Burns? The name didn’t even sound remotely familiar. “No, not at all. Nothing is coming to mind.”

“Yeah, apparently he did some crew work for you a while back.”

“Detective, I have no control over the crew who work with me. My manager usually handles all that, and I doubt even Steve would know this guy. There’s so many of them when we’re doing a show.”

“That’s pretty much what your manager said. Seems this Burns worked for you for a few months and apparently had to be let go due to his harassing some of the other employees. Probably holding a grudge or something against you and some of the others.”

“Okay, so why can’t we pin some harassment charge on him and get him dealt with.” Cord shifted in his chair. “He sounds like he’s a loose cannon.”

“Yeah, now that we know who he is and what his motive is, why can’t you make it stop?” Susan crossed her arms over her chest. It was stupid that this guy had to do something serious to someone—like her—before the police would do something.

“Ms. Sampson, I assure you, we are doing everything we can to find a way to pin charges on him, but they have to be charges that will stick or he’ll be out and back to his stalking again. We do have an idea that I’d like to run past you.”

Cord spoke. “As long as it doesn’t involve Susan, we’re open to anything.”

“We have a female detective who’s pretty close to your stature and looks. I think she might just pass in the dark for you. We were thinking of trying to lure him into trying something.”

Susan’s eyes widened. “That sounds dangerous. I don’t want anyone getting hurt for me.”

“There’s always some level of danger, of course, but she’s a trained professional.”

She started to argue again, but Cord held his hand up and shook his head.

“When can we make that happen?” He spoke to the speaker phone.

She bit her lip but didn’t say anything more. To be honest, she felt guilty because of how excited she was that maybe, finally, they could catch this psychopath and her life could return to normal.

A rush of memories from last night flowed over her, making her stomach dip and her heart skip a beat. That would all be done, once the stalker was behind bars. She’d go back to her life and Teddy would stay here.

“We’ll wait to hear back from you.” Cord pushed the button to end the call and sat back in his chair. “Finally.”

Restless, Susan stood. “Why couldn’t they have done something like this months ago?”

“I’m sure they have their reasons. Plus, I think maybe Steve has been putting some pressure on the them; maybe that’s why the sudden decoy plan.”

Knowing Steve, she had no doubt he’d been on the phone with the police, regularly pushing for resolution. It wasn’t just her reputation on the line if she didn’t get back on stage soon.

“I guess that’s it, then.” She turned to leave.

“Should I ask about you and Teddy?”

Heat washed up her body and into her face; she didn’t turn back around. “It’s nothing to worry about.” She tried to laugh, but it came out sounding pretty pathetic. “You know me and Teddy, we’re always at each other’s throats, nothing new.”

“I don’t want you alone—if you need to go off the ranch, I’ll take you.”

Susan tossed up a hand and risked turning around. “Obviously the stalker is in New York. Didn’t you hear him?”

Cord’s face showed he wasn’t budging on the matter of a bodyguard.

She sighed. “Never mind, I’m going to stay in my room and run lines most of this morning, and then I’m having lunch with Charli at her house. If I decide to go in to the theater after that, I’ll let you know.”

Cord had already turned back to his computer. “Sounds good.”

As she walked out to the hall she heard him typing away, each click grating on her tight nerves.

****

Teddy headed into the barn with his horse at his heels. Automatically, he went through the motions of hanging up the saddle, wiping down his horse, and giving him fresh water and grain. Susan’s horse, Sundance, poked her head out of a doorway and nudged his shoulder as he put Romeo in his stall. He pushed her back, but gave her the grains she wanted as well. “You’re as big a pain in my ass as she is, you know that?”

The large Palomino dipped her head into her bucket and ignored him.

“Yeah, if that ain’t the truth.”

Last night was the result of what they’d both wanted, and now that it was done, was she going to pretend nothing ever happened and go back to life as it was?

All afternoon he pushed himself, hoping he could escape the images from the pool house by working his body hard. But over and over, like one of her movies showing on cable, his memory replayed every touch, every sound, every word she’d said.

Lifting his hat, he raked a hand through his sweaty hair. Susan hadn’t been acting last night, he knew that, but he also knew that, as good as it was between them, it was only a break from her real life. Her real life in New York, on the stage, in front of the camera, and in the recording studio. She’d accomplished exactly what she said she would when she left at eighteen. Back then, instead of wishing her the best and hoping she’d succeed, he’d laughed at her. When she’d slipped that shady record producer his tape and he’d found out, it was a good excuse to turn his back on her the way she’d turned hers on him by leaving.

But distance and years hadn’t changed anything. There was unfinished business between them. Last night hadn’t changed that or made it any better; it had simply added another complication.

He’d known this would be the outcome. He wasn’t fooling himself. When Cord insisted he travel to New York to protect her, he knew what would happen. There was no way he was going to enter her world and come away the same man. There was no way they were going to be thrown together day and night, with the longtime sparks still between them, and not have a fire start.

The fact that this complication was the very last thing he needed didn’t help his mood.

Teddy put his hat back on and let his breath out on a low, exhausted sigh. Being in love with Susan Sampson was the absolute last thing he could deal with. Not only would it significantly risk his chances at the adoption, but he’d come out a broken-hearted fool. Meanwhile, Susan would simply pack her bags once more and go back to her life in New York. The best thing he could do was play it cool. Pretend she was no different than any other woman he’d slept with. Enjoy the moment, and be ready to move on.

Walking out of the barn, he spotted Susan coming toward him from Grant and Charli’s house. Cringing, he could only imagine how he smelled.

Meanwhile, she couldn’t look better. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, hair up in a ponytail, she looked the way she did at sixteen; fresh, young, and delectable.

When she reached his side, a waft of lemony scent teased his nose. Susan smiled, and his heart instantly thudded and his senses went on full alert.

“Hey.” She tipped her head, stuffed her hands in her back pockets and rocked back on the heels of her scuffed boots.

“What’s up?” He glanced toward the house as if in a hurry, but really it was to avoid looking into those huge blue eyes.

“Cord and I talked to the detective. They’re working on a decoy sting operation.”

Teddy looked back at her in time to see her pull her full bottom lip into her mouth. He clenched his jaw. “When are they going to do that?”

She shrugged. “They didn’t say, but I’m hoping sometime in the next few days.”

He nodded. “Good.” He glanced down at himself. “I stink. I’m going to hit the shower.”

Susan opened her mouth and lifted her hand, but then seemed to change her mind and didn’t say anything.

He stepped a few paces back. “I’ll see you around.”

“Are you going to the LoneStar tonight?”

“No. Why?”

“Just wondering what you were doing, that’s all.”

The disappointment in her eyes broke his reserve, and all thoughts of playing everything cool raced away. He took the two steps back until he was in front of her. “Actually, I was thinking of asking you if you wanted to go get some dinner, maybe order a movie on cable or something.”

Her eyes sparkled as if he’d given her the world. Only because of how he smelled did he resist pulling her into his arms and kissing her hard.

“No one will be around the house tonight. I heard Cord tell Flo he had a Cattleman’s meeting.”

Teddy nodded. “That’s why I’m not playing the LoneStar tonight—they’ll be there for hours. He told me not to go so I’d be here with you.”

Susan wet her lips. “I think it would be easier for you to play bodyguard if we didn’t go out. Don’t you?”

“I could toss some steaks on the grill...” His imagination already played out the sequel to last night’s movie.

“What time?”

Grabbing his cell phone, Teddy pushed a button to reveal the time. “I’ll meet you at your place in an hour.”

“Okay. We’ve got a ‘sisterly’ conference call with Diane any minute now, so I’ll be in the den.”

With an exaggerated shudder, he stepped back. “Uh-oh, nothing worse than you four on one phone call.” He grinned. “I’ll see you later.”

“Teddy?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

His erection sprang up hard and fast behind his jeans. Not daring to do more than nod, he escaped.

Susan walked back toward the house, hoping she looked cool and collected on the outside, because her insides had caught fire with the images going on in her head. Teddy had been dirty, sweaty, and smelly, and all she’d wanted was to push him to the ground and climb all over him. It had taken all her willpower not to roll around in the grass with him, peeling his clothes from his body with her mouth and hands. When he mentioned taking a shower, she’d longed to join him and scrub him clean with her soapy hands.

She pressed her hands to her flaming cheeks. God, she was in so much trouble! How the hell was she going to walk away from him when she had to go back to New York? It was odd that he wasn’t angry about her comment this morning. Then again, did she really think he was dumb enough to think that last night didn’t mean anything to her? He couldn’t possibly believe she was so casual that she did what they did last night all the time, did he?

Stepping into the kitchen, she winced at the sight of Flo. The housekeeper could always tell what they were up to, and she was not in the mood for a lecture.

But Flo seemed preoccupied and not interested in reading her mind. The housekeeper set a large dish in the refrigerator with barely a glance in her direction. “Cord has a meeting tonight. Sammy and I are going to have dinner with Buck and Sara before going home. What’s your plans?”

Susan picked up an apple from the bowl on the table. “Don’t you mean who’s babysitting me?”

“Yep, that’s what I mean, smart-mouth.” Flo put her hand on her plump hips and stared.

Susan swallowed before responding. “Teddy is coming over and we’re going to have some steaks on the grill and watch movies.”

She was shocked when Flo didn’t comment on her plans but simply nodded.

“I’ll put a salad together and scrub some potatoes. All you’ll have to do is put the potatoes in the oven for an hour.”

“I can cook.”

The housekeeper glanced down her figure. “I’ll believe it when I see it. But I do know Teddy can grill, so he can handle the steaks.”

She reached into the refrigerator again, and Susan watched as she pulled two packages of meat from inside.

“There’s a couple steaks already thawed right here. I’ll season them up and they’ll be ready to cook.” The housekeeper opened the freezer and pulled out a plastic container. “And there’s some cheesecake slices in here. Let them thaw and they’ll be fine for dessert.”

Susan opened her mouth, but Flo shook her head.

“No—do not thaw them in the microwave, Miss Impatient. Let them sit out, and they’ll be fine by the time you need them.” She glanced at the clock over the stove. “You best get in there and talk with your sisters. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Flo.” Susan grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator as the housekeeper headed to the door.

“Susan?”

She frowned and looked back at the other woman. “Yes?”

“Don’t let him make a fool out of you.”

She ducked her head, her face heating. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her cheeks still burned when she slipped behind the desk in the den. Setting her bottle of water down, she pushed the speaker button and dialed Diane’s apartment in Paris.

“Hello?”

Her oldest sister’s voice came over the line as clear as if she was sitting in the next room. Susan smiled at the soft tone. “Hey, how are you?”

“Fine, and you? I heard you were back home again. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. You know Cord, overprotective, overcautious, and all that.”

“Well, for once I’m in complete agreement with him. I think you should stay on the ranch until they catch that bastard.”

“We’ll see—hang on, let me connect Sara and Beth.” Within a short time, her other sisters were on the line. She sat back and listened to them greet each other.

“How’s the baby? The pictures were wonderful. All that hair!” Diane gushed.

“He’s great. And yeah, I have no clue where that hair came from—the other two weren’t like that.” The pride in Sara’s voice was evident. “When are you coming home to see him?”

Susan sat up straighter, recognizing the annoyance in Sara’s voice. It was a point of contention with the family that Diane had only been home a few times since her move to Paris and marriage to Henri. The family didn’t approve of the Frenchman, but she’d gone over to visit Diane twice now. Both times Henri had been very hospitable and didn’t seem at all the monster everyone back home thought he was. Still, she couldn’t help but agree with her sisters that the marriage didn’t seem quite right.

“I’ll do what I can to get home for the holidays this year.” Diane’s words were still soft-spoken, but having shared an apartment with her older sister for several years in New York City, Susan heard the underlying annoyance in her tone.

“Beth, tell Di what’s going on with you.”

“No, I think we need to talk about your situation,” her youngest sister argued.

Frankly, she was tired of talking about it but hoped if she gave them some new information, they’d move on to another topic. “Well, the detective this morning said they know who he is. His name is David Burns.”

“Do you know him?” Diane asked.

“Apparently he worked on my crew at some point and got fired.”

“You fired him?” Sara sounded amused, as if she couldn’t picture Susan firing anyone.

Susan picked up from the desk a picture of their folks and twisted her mouth. “No, I had nothing to do with it; at least I don’t think I did. Steve told the police that this guy was fired for harassing some of the other members of the crew.”

“So now that they know who he is and why he’s stalking you, they can arrest him, right?” Beth asked.

“Nope, he still hasn’t done anything to anyone. They are going to set up a decoy and try to lure him into attacking her.” Susan shuddered as she said the words out loud.

“I can’t believe Steve isn’t having a fit, with you gone this long from rehearsals,” Diane commented.

Susan rolled her eyes, thankful no one could see her. Her oldest sister never had much time for her manager, but rather than defend Steve, who really had been pretty patient through all this, she tried for a different tactic.

“I’ve been able to practice some with Brad, and I’ve run through lines with Teddy a time or two.”

“Teddy?”

Beth laughed into the phone. “Yeah, it’s a regular signed peace treaty between the two of them.”

“Really? I never thought that would happen.”

Susan could hear the surprise in Diane’s voice and could easily picture one perfectly sculpted blonde eyebrow lift.

“Yes, well, we all have to grow up sometime, even Teddy.”

“Apparently not, since Flo says that mature adults don’t sneak around and fool around in the pool house.” Sara’s snort came loud and clear across the phone line.

Susan dropped her head to her hands. How the heck did she think no one knew what they’d been doing last night? There was no privacy in this family. Lifting her chin, she glared at the phone. “I swear to God, this is why I live in New York.”

“Did you really think news this big wouldn’t get around like wildfire?” Beth laughed.

“Sammy always said all that hot-headed anger was just a cover up for passion,” Sara chimed in.

Susan took a long drink of water before commenting. “Can we talk about something else? Please?”

“Not a chance. What could possibly be more exciting than you and Teddy getting hot in the hot tub?” Sara pushed.

She made a mental note—no more free babysitting.

“Sues, we’re all happy that the rift has mended, so to speak, but do you really think this can go anywhere? What happens when you two break up?” Diane asked.

Why did everyone assume they’d break up? Susan frowned. They would, of course, but it bugged her that everyone assumed they’d never be able to stick it out.

“Why do we have to end? Beth and Tyler had a long-distance romance for years, and it worked out okay.”

“Are you serious? Don’t you remember what happened with us?”

Susan pictured her youngest sister sitting in her veterinarian office across the yard.

“Okay, bad example, but give me some credit. Just because I have a life in New York and Teddy has to stay here doesn’t mean we can’t make this work. People do crazy things for love.” She slammed her hand over her mouth. Had she honestly just said that out loud? Had she just said she loved Teddy? To her family and, subsequently, the entire world? Oh, God.

A noise drew her gaze up to find Teddy lounging in the doorway. Arms crossed over his chest, he had a goofy expression on his face. She averted her gaze, bit her lip and reached out to hit the mute button on the phone.

“How, um, how long have you been standing there?” she asked, chancing a look back at him.

His eyebrow raised and his mouth twisted into a half smile. “Hmm, long enough, I think.” Teddy pushed away from the doorjamb and started toward her.

Her eyes widened at the look of hunger in his. As he walked around the desk, she stayed where she was. In the background, she heard her sisters talking, they didn’t seem to notice she’d dropped out of the conversation, but it wouldn’t last long.

Teddy’s hands reached for the large leather chair and spun it until she faced him. With his hands planted on both arm rests on either side of her, he lowered his head and took her mouth in a kiss that sent her blood racing to every pleasure point in her body.

With no thought of resisting, she reached up, arched into him, and slid her hands into his thick hair, pushing his hat off. He tasted like minty toothpaste and his fresh scent told her he’d just showered. Obviously, he’d been cleaning up for her, and it thrilled her to know he might have planned just this.

“Susan? Look, we’re sorry to tease you. We’re happy that Teddy offered an olive branch and you latched on, but we can’t help worry this is going to make the family dynamics worse, not better,” Beth commented.

Teddy slid his mouth to her ear. “I love it when you latch onto my olive branch.”

Susan chuckled even as shivers raced through her. She pushed at him, but he wouldn’t budge so she indulged in one more moment of pure ecstasy with his kiss before shoving him away harder. “I have to get back to them or they’ll never leave me alone.”

Teddy straightened and disappointment coursed through her. She frowned as he stepped away from the desk.

“Susan? Did you hang up?” Diane asked.

Susan watched Teddy walk to the door, struggling between following him and the phone call. She jabbed the button to un mute the phone. “No, I’m here. I was getting a bottle of water. Look, guys, stop worrying about all this. Honestly, it’s no one’s business but ours.”

She watched Teddy reach the door to the den, but when she thought he’d leave, she heard the lock click. Then he turned to leer at her.

Oh, God.