“Is our relationship based solely on sex?” Her heart crumbled a little and her chest constricted waiting for his answer. “’Cause, cowboy, I think you could seriously break my heart.” She cupped his cheek. “I guess that’s not very sophisticated of me, to be so open about the extent of my feelings, but open is the only way I know how to be. Grandma used to say if it was worth thinkin’, it was worth sayin’.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “God bless Grandma. I love that about you. Your openness and honesty.”
Love? Did he say love? Surely, he didn’t mean it in the category in which her feelings were closeted.
His warm hand wrapped around her thigh, which only caused more fluttering low in her belly.
“My emotions for you run deep. So deep they damn near scare me.”
Heat from his hand penetrated though her jeans and traveled to her core.
“No. There’s more going on here than sex.” He kissed her again, short nibbles on her lips before he took the kiss deeper and curled the toes in her boots.
Chapter Fifteen
After the movie, Tyler told the girls they had an hour to check out the arcade before the van left for home. He ushered Lacy into a Starbucks for a quiet cup of coffee. “What did you think of the movie?”
She rolled her eyes. “I enjoyed the previews more.”
He was glad she agreed. “Have you ever seen so many pale looking guys in all your life? They need to be out on the range, working and riding horses.”
A warm smile spread, reaching her turquoise eyes. “Spoken like a true Texan.” Something caught her eye and her eyebrows furrowed as her smile evaporated. “Is that the girls coming back already? Olivia looks upset?”
On alert, he swiveled in his chair and watched his daughter. Olivia’s head was down, and she had her arms wrapped around her thin waist in a protective gesture. Cassidy kept shooting looks over her shoulder at whoever was behind them. Both were walking quickly as if to outrun someone. “You’re right. Something’s wrong.” He stood to get a better look at who had them upset.
He expected to see a pervert. Some dirty old man. All he saw were three giggling girls. Maybe whoever disturbed them wasn’t really following. His gaze swept to his little girl when she charged into the Starbucks sitting area.
“I’m ready to go. Now.” Her pointy chin jutted in a pugnacious manner.
He glanced back over his shoulder still seeing no man. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m ready to go. So’s Cassidy.”
Lacy turned her concerned gaze on Cassidy. “Who were the girls following you? They look about your age. Friends of yours?” Her voice deceptively calm as she questioned the girl.
Cassidy shot his daughter a look before she shook her head, her long brown hair swirling slightly with her movement. “No, they’re no friends of ours.”
Tyler looked over his shoulder in the direction from which they came. What the hell is going on?
Olivia’s little shoulders hunched further, almost as if she were folding in on herself. “Daddy, I’m tired. Can we please go?” She was starting to whine, a bad sign.
Lacy took charge of the situation, wrapping her arm around each of the girl’s shoulders. “I’m tired, too, Tyler. These girls nearly shopped me to death. I never thought it could happen, but it did.”
Olivia leaned her head against Lacy and burrowed herself into the strength of her embrace. An odd feeling of loss pervaded his heart. Usually his daughter turned to him when she was upset.
“Hey, whatever you girls want. I’m merely the chauffeur.”
On the way to Lacy’s house, whispers buzzed in the back seat like the drone of bees. The two girls had their heads together, gesturing as they spoke in hushed tones. Meanwhile, Lacy stared straight ahead, her lips pursed in that way she had. What was she thinking?
Finally, as if she’d come to some decision, she swiped a tear running on her cheek. “So be it,” she muttered.
Why the tears? He covered her hand. “You okay, Lacy?”
She nodded. “Just coming out of hiding.”
What did she mean by that?
Then she shifted in her seat to glance back at the girls. “Did your dad tell you what happened to me in college?”
Surprised she’d mention it to the girls, Tyler glanced in his rear view mirror. They’d separated as they shook their heads. Slowly, Lacy shared what she’d been through. As she progressed with her story, both extended hands to clasp Lacy’s, almost as if to offer comfort. Soon, all three were crying.
“You two are the second and third persons I’ve told about this. Your dad was the first, Olivia. I was too ashamed to tell my grandpa or my friends.”
His daughter’s big brown eyes were locked on Lacy’s. “Why did you decide to tell us?”
“Because I like you. I like you a lot. And when I saw your face back at the mall, I saw myself. Do you know that awful internet video is still bringing in viewers? The humiliation never ends, it seems.”
Olivia sat back and crossed her arms. “It’s not fair, is it?”
“No, my beauty, it’s not. Bullies come in all sizes and ages.”
“But you’re not heavy. You’re just extra fluffy.”
Tyler cut his gaze to his rearview mirror. “Now, was that nice?” Would her remark hurt Lacy’s feelings?
“It’s okay, Tyler. I know what she meant, and she meant it from her heart.” Lacy took his daughter’s hand and patted it. “Is someone bullying you? Either of you?” Her gaze swept from one girl to the other.
Why would she ask his little girl such a question? Where would she get an idea like that? Who would pick on his daughter? His heart dropped when a pained sob escaped from his angel.
“Tyler, pull the van over.” There was no mistaking the order in Lacy’s voice.
One quick glance in his rearview mirror, and he eased the vehicle along the side of the road. Lacy jumped out and opened the sliding door. Olivia leaned into her outstretched arms and sobbed while Lacy crawled in to embrace her.
He wanted to beat his fist against the steering wheel as his daughter keened a cry like a wounded animal. A rage, deep and violent, coiled in his stomach and snaked its way through every cell of his being. Who would hurt his little girl like this? Why? For God’s sake, why? And, why the hell was he just now hearing about this? When had his daughter started keeping secrets from him?
He unbuckled his seatbelt and shifted in his seat to watch Lacy comfort his child. A pang of isolation settled in his gut. For years, he and Olivia existed in a rather exclusive world. Granted, her BFF, as she called Cassidy, and his foreman Pete shifted in and out of their lives, but basically it was just him and her. When she had a problem, he was the person she came to, but not with this. It galled him that he’d been shut out of this part of his daughter’s life.
Still, there had been those nights she was sullen and withdrawn. He attributed it to seeing her mother or too much homework or a stage she was going through. He should have questioned her more, should have been more on top of things. Now his little girl had turned to someone else.
“Tyler, how far are we from your ranch? Could we take the girls home and have a talk?”
Paternal protectiveness reared its nasty head. By damn, if his daughter was going to talk to anyone, it would be him. “We’re closer to your place than mine. I’ll take you to the Double L. Olivia and I will talk among ourselves later.” He used the tone of voice his men knew well. The tone of voice that told one and all the subject was not open for discussion or negotiation.
Turquoise eyes narrowed on him for a few long seconds, making him feel like a first class heel.
“Very well.” Lacy closed the van’s sliding door and returned to her seat.
Cold silence filled the vehicle for the remainder of the ride to the Double L.
Tyler felt a portion of himself shrivel and wondered if it was his heart. Or his self-respect.
He shouldn’t have cut Lacy off the
way he did, but Olivia was his daughter. Not hers. Maybe the idea of dating again wasn’t such a good one. He hadn’t thought it all through. What good was bringing a woman into Olivia’s life for a short spell and allowing his daughter to get close to her? Then, if he was left high and dry again, his child would lose another female figure in her life. How unfair was that?
Damned unfair. And he wouldn’t do it to her. She’d been his sole responsibility even before Anna Beth finally moved out. Fatherhood was something he took very seriously.
Once they reached the ranch, Olivia finally spoke. “I thought we were taking Lacy out to dinner. Like a real family.”
Tyler winced at the disappointment in her voice. “Not tonight.” He got out of the van to open the back door so he could help Lacy retrieve her purchases.
She yanked them from his grasp. “Goodbye, Tyler.” Anger flared in her eyes. They’d gone from turquoise to stormy blue.
He reached to cup her elbow after he closed the back. “I’ll see you to the door.”
“No need.”
“A man always…”
She whirled on him. “Don’t hand me that ‘man’ nonsense. I’m good enough for you to take to bed a time or two, but I’m not good enough to help your daughter with a terrible situation. You arrogant, self-righteous Neanderthal. How are you going to help that darling girl when you haven’t got a clue?”
Temper flared so hard and fast, he could barely breathe. “Wait just a damn minute.” He didn’t like that she was ninety percent right. Nor did he like her ability to zing in on the real problem.
Lacy marched toward the back door, ignoring him.
In a few quick strides, he caught up with her. “I’m her father, dammit. She should bring her problems to me, not you.”
“Fine. Too bad you won’t be able to help her.”
He followed her up the steps to the back porch. “Just what the hell do you mean by that? I’ve always helped my daughter with whatever she needs.”
“Do you know what it’s like to be afraid? What it’s like to step into a room, a school, a shopping mall and be on the constant lookout for the kids who make your life a living hell? No, because you just intimidate people until you get the results you want.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
She turned to glare at him, her eyes darkened with anger. “What I know is you’ve allowed your male pride to keep Olivia from getting the help she needs.”
He scoffed. “Where? From you?”
In a split instant, she opened the door, stepped inside and slammed it in his face. The finality of the banging door jarred a few cracks in his temper. The click of the lock further fractured it. Slowly, common sense seeped in. He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. What the hell caused that explosion?
His confusion and anger over being excluded from something that hurt his daughter made him overreact. Frankly, all this teenage drama made him damned uncomfortable. Anger, he understood. Happiness, sure. Annoyance and determination, yes. But these explosive teenage emotions made his eye twitch. And why run and hide from people? Hell, just stand your ground.
There was a term some women liked to use—clueless male. Guess that would be me right about now. He had a feeling he just ruined a good thing, and hurt a very special lady in the bargain.
Well, hell.
When he turned to walk back to the van, his legs were nearly as heavy as his heart. How had such a great day morphed into this mess? He glanced at his vehicle and saw a heart-shaped face pressed against the glass, huge tears running down her cheeks.
Double hell.
Tomblike silence carried the van home to the Star-D. No sooner had he turned off the engine then both girls scampered out of the vehicle and into the house. Guess he’d get no help carrying in their many packages. Just as well. He wasn’t in the mood for chatter. Hadn’t one chatterbox just slammed the door in his face?
He carried an armful of bags into the house and down the hall to his daughter’s room. “Olivia, here’s your new stuff.”
“Take it back.”
“What?” Great, more teenaged drama.
“Take it all back to the mall. I don’t want any of it.”
By the sound of her voice, she was in full tantrum mode. Something he hadn’t dealt with in years.
“Now, Angel, you’re just being ridiculous. You love this stuff.” He rattled the bags.
The lock clicked on her door, and she yanked it open. “I love Lacy, too. But you made damn sure I won’t ever get to see her again. You acted like an ass, Daddy.”
“You watch your mouth, young lady.” He dropped the bags and made a step. “I’m your father and I won’t be talked to like that.”
“Fine.” She slammed the door in his face. The lock clicked, again.
Well, hell.
Chapter Sixteen
Lacy was in the middle of a major crying jag when her cell rang. She pulled it from her purse and noted it was Olivia. “Hello?”
“Lacy.” Sobs followed. “I’m sorry for the way he acted. Give him time. He’ll be sorry, too. I’ll see to it.”
“Oh, my beauty, you can’t control people. He’s hurt because you opened up to me and not him. You’re his whole life, you know.”
Hadn’t he said she would always come in second to his daughter? She didn’t realize the full meaning of that statement until today when he shattered her heart.
Still, she was proud of Tyler. He took his role as a father seriously. If only her own father had. She was pleased this thirteen-year-old would never know such rejection. Olivia had Tyler, a man who doted on her. Heck, he even drove a van for her soccer team. How many bull riders did that?
“I can’t talk to daddy about what’s going on in school. He just thinks I’m being weak or melodramatic.”
How many teenagers felt that way? Alone, scared, frantic. Hadn’t she felt that way herself? At least she was older. Had she gone through this as a thirteen-year-old like Olivia, no doubt she’d fallen apart.
She sat on the edge of her bed. “I’m always here for you. Night or day. I’ll keep my cell with me all the time. Call. You hear?”
“O…okay.”
“And cut your dad some slack. He’s never been through anything like this. He doesn’t know what it’s like. Just like we don’t know what it’s like to have our insides jarred apart while riding a bull.”
She ended the call and dropped her head back on the pillow, worrying about Olivia. She worried, too, about other kids who were victims of bullying, both in school and online. Slowly, an idea began to form.
Over the next two weeks, Lacy thought long and hard, planning and implementing strategy for her grand idea. As Grandma used to say, when life handed you lemons, you made lemonade. Lacy was making a large batch. Really, now that she thought about it, she should have done this before, instead of hiding. She should have stepped onto her Texan soapbox and raised holy hell.
Plans that turned to strategy became reality. Her methodical nature always helped her excel at whatever she set her mind to. She designed an interactive anti-bullying website and then advertised it on the Internet. The number of hits was both astounding and heartbreaking. The stories teens shared were tragic. There were so many affected by this senseless cruelty. Could she help in some small way? She had to try.
With every step she made, she wished she could share it with Tyler. Too bad they weren’t speaking. She’d texted him once and he’d ignored it. Fearing more rejection from yet another man, she stopped trying to contact him.
During the days, she kept busy with web-design work and her new project. At night she cried for Tyler, wishing he was prepared to allow her into Olivia’s life, too.
She developed a series of lectures to present to schools, and the first school she scheduled was Olivia’s.
The night before she planned to speak, she gathered her courage and called Tyler. He deserved to know what would happen tomorrow.
“Tyler, this is Lacy.” She twiste
d her sleep shirt between her fingers.
“Yes, I recognized the number.” He certainly sounded cold.
“How…how are you?”
“Do you care?”
She swiped at a falling tear. No way would she cave in. “I’m calling to tell you I’m speaking at Olivia’s school tomorrow at an afternoon assembly.”
“You’re what?” he bellowed. He was silent for a few beats as if he were processing what she said. “Why?”
“I’ve developed a website called TAB, Teenagers Against Bullies. I’m going to share some things with the students and encourage them to join. It’s a safe, online place for kids to share their experiences and—”
“Are you freakin’ kidding me? Are you going to name my daughter? Do you have any idea what that would do to her if the rest of the school found out? I won’t have it.”
“Do you know why she’s being teased? Has she told you?”
“I’m not going to talk to you about this. I’ll be at her school tomorrow, and if you mention her name, you’ll have to deal with me. Is that clear? I protect what’s mine.”
What part of her wasn’t tied up in knots was trembling with anger. How could she tell him she had no plans to divulge Olivia’s plight. He wouldn’t believe her anyhow. The man was clearly in protective-poppa-mode.
“So be it, Tyler. Good-bye.”
She set her cell on the stand beside the sofa. Her hands covered her eyes and she cried. Like a fool, she’d hoped once he heard her voice, he’d soften. She’d dreamed all day of various scenarios where they made up. Tyler’s attitude and tone of voice told her any chance of reconciliation was totally in her mind, certainly not in his.
Once more, that damn video had taken something from her—the only man she’d ever loved, and a very sweet teenager. After several minutes of sobbing, she reached for the box of tissues and slowly pulled on her cloak of inner strength, tired of being the victim.
Honky Tonk Hearts Volume 2 Page 34
