Teasing Annie: The Temptation Saga: Book Two

by Hardt, Helen;

  He pursed his lips and strengthened his resolve. He was more determined than ever never to get involved with a deceptive female again. After last night, he had considered giving Annie another chance.

  Wasn’t going to happen.

  He’d just have to get over her.

  Funny, it sounded easy enough, but the thought of it ached in the marrow of his soul.

  Speak of the devil. Annie’s Beetle drove up the dirt road as Dallas and Chad were waving Doug and the young suspect off.

  “Hey, Dr. Annie,” Chad said, as she got of her car, “any news?”

  “Yeah. Just got the call. Your grasses are clean, like I suspected. But the grain tested positive for cyanide.”

  “Not a surprise. Doug just took in our suspect.”

  “Good. You found him already. How are the animals?”

  “They’re doing well, thanks to you,” Chad said.

  Dallas still hadn’t spoken to Annie. She looked beautiful in a slim denim skirt and a peasant blouse. The sun cast glints in the burgundy highlights of her hair. How he wished things could be different. She turned to him.

  “I need to talk to you,” she said.

  “What about?”

  “In private. Please.”

  “That’s my cue,” Chad said. “I’ve got plenty to do. See you all later.”

  “Can we go up to the house?” Annie asked.

  “Uh, sure.”

  “Good. I’ll drive. Hop in.”

  When they reached the house, Annie headed straight for the kitchen, pulling things from shelves as if she lived there. For a moment, Dallas let himself imagine she did, that this was her house, her kitchen, her home. She looked right in his kitchen. Warmth filled his heart, and he stiffened. He couldn’t let the image soften him.

  “How’s the headache?” she asked, filling a teakettle with water and placing it on a burner.

  “Hurts like a bitch.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” She pulled two teabags out of her handbag. “Lemongrass,” she said, “with some peppermint and linden flowers. The water’ll take a minute.”

  Dallas smiled. He loved the way Annie said “wooder” for water.

  “Annie, I should thank you. You know, for last night.”

  “No problem. I owed you one.”

  “No. You don’t owe me anything.”

  “Sure I do. That first night, remember? You stayed with me. Comforted me. I owed you the same.”

  “It was sweet of you.”

  “Look”—she fidgeted, her fingers shaking as she set a mug on the counter—“I really need to talk to you.”

  “What about?”

  “This is hard for me, Dallas.”

  “What is it? Are you in trouble?”

  “No. Of course not. Nothing like that. I just…” She cleared her throat. “I don’t like talking about my first marriage.”

  “You don’t need to.”

  “Yeah, I think I do.” Her voice wavered a little, cracking.

  “Your first marriage isn’t any of my business.”

  “I think it is. It’s keeping us apart.”

  “What?”

  “I know why you decided not to be with me.” Her face turned that adorable shade of pink. “You didn’t like that I stayed on the pill when my husband wanted kids. There’s a reason, Dallas.”

  “No.” He slammed his fist on the counter, worsening the throbbing in his head. “Damn it. I don’t want to hear it.”

  “What?”

  “Annie, I just spent the last four hours interrogating my men. Do you know what I found out? One of them was paid off, probably with my own money. Money I gave Chelsea for a settlement. The whole thing was orchestrated by an employee of Chelsea’s father’s. She was pissed off about something. Probably got a wild hair up her ass after finding us together.”

  “An employee. What does that have to do with Chelsea?”

  “He’s an old friend of hers. Obsessed with her or something.”

  “Is that any reason for us to be apart?”

  “Not the fact that she saw us. Or that some guy is obsessed with her. Of course not. But this morning’s whole debacle just reminded me what I had decided when I divorced Chelsea. I have another reason.”

  “Which is?”

  “I won’t get involved with another deceptive woman.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “But I’m not a deceptive woman. I’m as honest as they come.”

  “You deceived your first husband.”

  “But I had a reason! If you’ll just let me explain.”

  “No. It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done, and I won’t be with you, no matter how much I want it. I won’t go through that again. I learned a long time ago—”

  “Never to make the same mistake twice.” She finished for him, her voice low, robotic.

  “Yes. I never make the same mistake twice.”

  The teakettle whistled on the stove. The shrill singing pounded in Dallas’s head.

  “Let it steep for three minutes,” Annie said, picking up her handbag. “I’m leaving.”

  “I’m sorry, Annie.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “Annie—”

  “There’s nothing for me here,” she said.

  She walked out of his house. Out of his life.

  But she left the knife twisting in his gut. He wondered how long he would suffer before it eased its way out.

  * * *

  Fighting back tears, Annie drove to her apartment. She wasn’t even all the way unpacked yet, so packing up would be easy. She’d leave tomorrow. Maybe even tonight if she could get a flight. California. That would be a good place to start over. She could even visit Disneyland. The happiest place on earth.

  What a crock.

  Damn him! Why wouldn’t he listen to her? Cocky, stuffy son of a bitch. She’d been ready to pour out her guts to him, to expose herself emotionally to the man she loved. Stupid cowboy.

  Were there cowboys in California? No. Surfers and divers, but probably no cowboys. Change would be good. Hopefully she’d make it longer than two weeks there.

  Pulling into the alley behind the clinic, she turned off her engine and bowed her forehead against the steering wheel. She let the tears flow, cursing Dallas, cursing Colorado, cursing Logan Riggs. After fifteen minutes, she gulped down her last sob and headed up to her apartment.

  Oddly, the door was unlocked again. Had her mother returned? She walked in and gasped at the figure, shadowed in the afternoon sun, sitting on her couch.

  “Sweet Annie,” Logan Riggs said. “How the hell are you, you conniving bitch?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “What are you doing here? You’re in violation of the restraining order I have against you. Not to mention your parole, Riggs.”

  “Nothing can keep me from the woman I adore.” His words dripped with sarcasm. “I thought we could have a little chat.”

  “I can’t imagine what about.”

  “Well, let’s see. It’s seems to me, right around the time you had me arrested, your rich childless auntie died, leaving you a healthy little nest egg.”

  “My rich childless auntie was neither rich nor childless. My share was insubstantial.”

  “Be that as it may”—he stood, his large frame an imposing presence—“I want my half.”

  “Half? You mean you’re not demanding all of it?”

  His thin lips curled into a smirk. “I’ve always been fair with you, angel. You know you always got what you deserved with me.”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “Right, Riggs. Sorry to tell you, but the money’s gone.”

  “What do you mean it’s gone?”

  “Do you understand English? I said it’s gone. It wasn’t much, and I used it to move here and set up my clinic.”

  “Well, then, I’ll take whatever you have. Give me your pocketbook.”

  “Are you crazy?”

  “I said, give me your pocketbook, bitch.”
He advanced on her, grabbed her handbag, and pulled out her wallet. “Twenty-five dollars? I came all this way for twenty-five fucking dollars?”

  “Hardly worth going back to prison for, was it?”

  She didn’t see the sucker-punch coming.

  “Damn.” She rubbed her chin. She should have known better. The thud of pain always came a few seconds afterward. That had always surprised her. She thought she’d feel it right away, but it was always delayed. She licked her lips and tasted the metallic tang of blood.

  “We’ll just be taking a little trip to the ATM then,” Riggs said.

  “Small town. No ATM.”

  “Are you shittin’ me?”

  “No.”

  “The bank, then.”

  “There’s nothing there.”

  “What are you living on?”

  “My credit card, what do you think? I’ve been here two weeks, Riggs. I’ve done a good business, but my first bills won’t even go out until next month.”

  Riggs grabbed a fistful of her curls and forced her to the couch. “Then I’ll take my share out in trade, you stupid whore. I haven’t had a good fuck in months.” He ripped her blouse open. “You weren’t good for much, but damn, you were good for that.”

  * * *

  “You what?” Dusty demanded.

  “I told her I didn’t want to hear her reasons,” Dallas said. “It’s not important.”

  Dusty’s small hands clenched into fists. She and Zach had stopped by to check on the cattle, and after Dallas had explained everything, the subject of Dr. Annie had come up.

  “You are the most stubborn idiot on this planet,” Dusty said, seething. “You have no idea what you’ve done. Do you know what that woman has been through?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Dallas said calmly. “I never make the same mistake twice.”

  “Punch him,” Dusty said to Zach. “Whoop his ass good. He deserves it.”

  “Simmer down, darlin’,” Zach said. “God knows I’ve wanted to whoop his ass on many occasions, and I’ll be happy to oblige later, but first I need to know what the hell is going on.”

  “You’re as bad as he is. Neither one of you understands anything!” Dusty paced the floor, her rosy cheeks turning bright red. “You grew up here, in luxury, with enough money to buy whatever you wanted. Two loving parents, never any problems. Well, this isn’t the real world. The real world has pain, and fear, and sadness, and sickness, and things that just aren’t fair!”

  “Dusty—”

  “No, Zach. I won’t calm down. Your brother just let a woman walk out of his life because he’s a short-sighted, pompous moron who claims to be a gentleman. Well, Dallas, a gentleman would have listened to his lady. You’re a fool.”

  Dallas breathed steadily. His shattered heart ached in his chest, but he forced his voice to remain steady. “I had good reason for letting her go, Dusty.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “That’s not your concern.”

  “Damn it, Dallas. Do you love her?”

  He swallowed. Why lie? “Yes.”

  “Oh!” Dusty rammed her fisted hands into Dallas’s chest. “You make me so damn mad! You have no idea what she’s been through, why she made the decisions she made.”

  “And you do?”

  “Yes. She told me everything. She cried in my arms, the poor thing. And you tossed her out like garbage. I hope you spend the rest of your life alone, Dallas McCray. It’s better than you deserve.”

  “Dusty,” Zach said, pulling his wife away from his brother. “What did Annie tell you?”

  “I won’t break her confidence.”

  “You don’t have to tell me,” he said, “but don’t you think you should tell Dallas?”

  “No, I don’t. He doesn’t care, and I gave Annie my word.”

  “She tried to tell me this afternoon,” Dallas said. “I wouldn’t listen.”

  “You’re a fool.”

  “Maybe I am. Was it bad?”

  “Was it bad? You really haven’t got a clue, do you? Do you think every woman is like Chelsea? Deceptive and shallow?”

  “Damn it, Dusty, answer me. Was it bad?”

  “It was the worst, and I’ve got news for you. I would have done the same thing in her shoes. Maybe even worse, come to think of it.” Two tears streamed down Dusty’s crimson cheeks. “Sometimes life deals you a rotten hand, and you find yourself willing to do things you never thought you’d do to get out of it.” She sniffed and took the red bandana Zach offered her. “When I got sick, I remember thinking I’d do anything to be well. I mean anything. Deceptive. Illegal. I didn’t care. I would have sold my soul to the devil himself if it would have made me well again.” She wiped her eyes. “Neither of you will ever understand that because you’ve both had silver spoons in your mouths your whole lives!”

  “Her marriage was bad, huh?” Zach said.

  “Yes. Of course it was. I can tell you that much. It was worse than bad.”

  “Then why did she stay in it?”

  “Probably for the same reason Dallas stayed with Chelsea for ten years. She didn’t want to fail at what was supposed to be the most important relationship of her life.” She turned her angry eyes on Dallas. “You’re more alike than you think you are, you and Annie. You two were a match made in heaven, and you threw her away.”

  “God,” Dallas said, his stomach knotting. “He hurt her, didn’t he?”

  Dusty nodded. “I won’t say any more than that. I can’t believe this never occurred to you.”

  Visions of Annie’s beautiful body lying battered tormented Dallas’s mind. His body trembled and his stomach lurched. For a moment, he thought he was going to be sick. “I don’t understand how a man could hurt a woman. His wife. A cowboy wouldn’t. A gentleman wouldn’t.”

  “God, you two have been so sheltered!” Dusty ranted. “You make me sick! Not all men are gentlemen, Dallas. And I hate to break it to you, not all cowboys are either. You know this. You’re not stupid.”

  “She seems so together. So strong.” Dallas shook his head. “Like she hasn’t had any bad stuff in her life.” How could he have been so wrong?

  “What do you want her to do? Sit around wallowing in self-pity? Where would I be if I had done that?”

  “Damn,” Dallas said. “Damn.”

  “You should have let her explain. She’s not Chelsea, Dallas. She’s Annie. She’s sweet, and kind, and smart, and wonderful. She has so much to give, and she wanted to give it to you. And you sent her away.”

  “Shit.” Dallas plunked down in a chair and cupping his head in his hands. “What have I done?”

  “Sounds like you’ve fucked up, brother,” Zach said. “Royally. Course it’s not the first time.”

  “Can it, Zach, and help me figure out what to do.”

  “Damn, you are dense. Go after her, for God’s sake.”

  “Right. Go after her. I’ll go after her. Oh my God, what if she won’t have me?” The fear of it sank into his heart like a rusty blade.

  “I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t,” Dusty said, “after the way you’ve treated her.”

  “Neither would I,” Dallas admitted. “She’s got to listen to me. She’s just got to.” He picked up his cell phone and dialed her number. No response. “That’s odd,” he said. “She always picks up her cell. She never wants to miss a sick animal.”

  “The battery’s probably dead. Besides, you should see her in person,” Zach said. “Groveling is much more effective that way.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” Dallas whistled for Jet. “You’re coming with me, Buddy. She’s a sucker for you.” He gave his dog a pat on the head. “I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  * * *

  Riggs hadn’t raped her. He hadn’t been able to get an erection, thank God. Instead, he had beaten her. She drifted in and out of consciousness in the backseat of a moving car. Every muscle in her body ached, but at least she hadn’t had to have sex with him. He had punished he
r for it, but she’d rather have the pain than the humiliation of knowing he’d violated her sexually. Now, tied and gagged, she had no idea where she was going.

  He would kill her. Of that she was certain. The beating hadn’t been bad, come to think of it. She’d suffered much worse in the past. When she fought back. Today, she hadn’t had the strength or the desire to fight back. Funny. If she’d lain like a dead fish that last time, she probably wouldn’t have spent so much time in the hospital.

  Yes, he would kill her. He had violated his parole and he had battered her. He couldn’t afford to leave any witnesses alive. No one would look for her. Dallas had sent her away. No one would even know she was gone until the next person walked into the clinic with an animal. Even then, in a small town, people would think she had just closed up for a little while.

  There was really no hope.

  Her life would end, and no one would know.

  Or give a damn.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Annie wasn’t in the clinic, so Dallas walked to the back of the building and went up to her apartment. When she didn’t answer his knock, he tried the door, surprised to find it open. “Well, Buddy,” he said to Jet, “we’ll just go on in and wait for her. Maybe we can make her a pot of herb tea.”

  Dallas entered the apartment, Jet at his heels. He looked around. Nothing seemed amiss, but the knife in his gut told him something wasn’t right. He gazed over the living area, looking for something, anything, out of place.

  He found it. Her cell phone. It lay on the couch, partially buried underneath a cushion. Annie never went anywhere without her phone. He picked it up and looked around. There, thrown in a corner, was her handbag. Dallas dug through it. He found her wallet, but it contained no cash or credit cards.

  His bowels clenched as worry and fear poured into him. Something had happened to her. He quickly dialed Dusty.

  “Hello?”

  “Dusty, it’s Dallas. I’m at Annie’s. She’s not here, but her cell phone and purse are. I’m afraid something has happened to her. Please. I know you gave her your word, but I need to know anything she told you that might help me figure out where to find her.”