Promise Her (14 page)

As if he could leave her alone with only a kid watching over her. Was she out of her mind?

He was still angry with Anna, which was confusing. He thought a lot of her. Enjoyed her company. They laughed a lot, liked many of the same things. Yet he almost didn’t open the door when he saw her there. Had he been too casual about their relationship? Was she getting serious when he wasn’t? He wasn’t serious about any of the women he dated. They knew it. At least he thought they did. Barging in here today gave him a different perspective.

He couldn’t remember what had attracted him in the first place. Anna was smart and beautiful, but Houston was filled with smart and beautiful women.

He’d call and break it off for good. He didn’t want her here again for any reason.

At times, he thought there had to be a major flaw in his make-up. He’d find himself attracted to a woman one day then, as if a switch in his mind flipped, realize the next she’d been a mistake.

His gaze slid to Lisa. Her attention was on the cup of tea in front of her, not on him. She wasn’t like any of the women he dated.

He admired the way she held herself upright when she had to be in pain—admired the way she looked out for Patty, assuring the girl everything was fine when it wasn’t. She was a different Lisa from the kid she was in college. Plus, she had more guts than any woman he knew. Instead of staying in bed and being pampered as she should, she was up and ready to get to work—ready to find out who did this to her and why. Even ready to find Tempest’s killer.

“Can I get you anything?”

She looked up, but not quite at him. “Patty took care of me.”

He turned to Patty. “Did she eat enough?”

“Enough for now,” Patty answered, putting the last dish away. “You might check later to see if she wants more.”

“You’re very mature for a thirteen-year-old.”

Patty smiled. “I take care of my brothers and the house. I know about some things.”

“I’m sure you do,” he agreed.

Lisa got to her feet. “Patty, would you help me get ready for bed?”

Douglas’ brows shot up.

“I know it’s early, but I’d like to rest.”

“That’s what you need.” True, but that meant he wouldn’t get another chance to help her change clothes.

He caught the sideways glance Lisa gave him. Surely, she couldn’t read his mind. When he’d helped her into her top, his hand had accidentally brushed against her breast. A simple touch that made him hot all over. He flushed at the memory.

Other women had made him hot. Definitely. But none had lingered in his mind. It worried him more than a little when he couldn’t shake Lisa’s image.

He’d never had the chance to talk with Donovan either.

He pulled out the banana pudding. Comfort food.

He had to go into work tomorrow. He was scheduled to be in court at ten, and needed to go over some papers before then.

The doorbell pealed again.

“What now?” If it was another of his women friends, they wouldn’t get past the door.

He jerked the door open. Mike and Owen stood there, Stetsons in hand. “Can we see Lisa, Douglas? We won’t stay long. We just want to make sure she’s okay.”

“Don’t you guys have a rodeo to attend?”

“Afternoon performance is over, so I’m off,” Owen said.

“I pulled my back last night. I’m off tonight, too,” Mike offered.

“Sure. C’mon in.” Why not? Everyone else had been in and out all day. He hadn’t had a moment alone with Lisa since last night—and wondered why he wanted alone time so badly.

“Step into the den while I check and see if she’s decent.”

What he wanted to do was take Patty’s place and help Lisa get dressed. His body ached with disappointment.

He knocked on the door. Patty opened it. “Are you finished?

“Why?”

“Patty,” he leaned against the door jam, shut his eyes. “Just answer the question.”

“Give us another five minutes.”

“Tell Lisa her buddies from the rodeo are here to see her.” He turned around and left. How did anyone put up with a thirteen-year-old woman child? Patty was exasperating. Maybe it was just him. He wasn’t used to being around a kid.

In the time it took Douglas to get the visitors a glass of iced tea, Patty was in the den. “Lisa’s ready to see you now.” Then she ran to the two cowboys and gave them a hug.

Mature woman meets little girl.

Douglas hid a smile.

He’d never understand women. It was his guess they started at a very young age to confuse men. Patty was being well trained by Lisa.

When they trooped out of the room, Douglas went to his office. He really did have work to do.

The phone rang just as he opened his office door.

An hour later, a soft knock interrupted Douglas’ thoughts. “Come in.”

Patty stuck her head in. “Mike and Owen are going to take me home. I called Mom and she said it was okay.”

He laid the folder he’d been studying on his desk and followed her out. “Thanks for your help, Patty. You’re really quite good at this.”

“Lisa said you’re not. Used to it, I mean. So if you want me to come over and do the laundry or dishes or even cook, will you let me know?”

“Do I have your phone number?”

She went to the refrigerator, wrote her number on the calendar. With an impish smile she said, “Don’t forget.”

Mike and Owen waited at the door.

“Will you keep in touch? We want to know when our Cowgirl is ready to ride again,” Mike said.

“Hope you don’t mind if we call you on occasion,” Owen added.

“Not in the least.” They started out. “By the way, did either of you find out anything about the blonde we saw with Harold?”

“Don’t know a thing about her. But she’s there every day.”

The cowboys looked at one another.

“I think she has her eyes set on him. He’s quite a catch now.”

“Interesting.” Douglas nodded.

“How many times did Lisa ask about Sugarplum?”

The guys grinned. “Several. We assured her Sugarplum was back at the stable and being well taken care of.”

Douglas chuckled. “She thinks a lot of that horse.”

“Bye.” Patty started to wave, changed her mind and gave Douglas a hug instead. “Take good care of Lisa, you hear?”

“Yes ma’am.” He chuckled as he watched her follow the cowboys to the truck, turn and wave. He could see how Lisa got so involved with Patty.

If he didn’t watch out, she’d grab his heart too.

****

Lisa didn’t want to admit how tired she was, and managed only a few stretches before she had to stop. She breathed a silent prayer of thanks Patty had been here today. She’d helped Lisa into a pair of red silk pajamas. The top buttoned down the front, which made it easier to get on and off. She undid the buttons at her breast, but refastened them when she saw the bruises. At least the wide legs draped nicely around her bandages and slid easily along the raw spots instead of rubbing.

Better yet, Douglas didn’t have to help her.

Not that she didn’t want to feel his hands on her. Not that at all. But it was miserable to have his warm breath on her bare skin knowing he felt nothing, while he sent her into spasms of desire. Little sister. That’s all she was to him.

And what was with that Anna person?

Didn’t she have any pride?
Won’t catch me chasing a man. Not even Douglas Callahan.

Douglas stuck his head in the door. “How you doing?”

“Good.”

“You look real pretty sitting in that chair in those red pj’s. Sure I can’t get you anything?”

“I’m fine, thanks.” She looked at the clock. Late enough. With all the company she was tired. “I think I’ll call it a day and go to bed.” She stood, held herself as straight as she could and walked to the bed. He was there before she was, pulling back the covers, helping her in.

Darn him. It seemed that the phone had rung all day. Why couldn’t she get it through her thick head Douglas wasn’t the settling down kind? He’d played the field so long why would he want to do any different?

One thing was for sure. If the two of them did get together it would be serious. She’d make sure of it.

But could Douglas Callahan even
be
serious about one woman?

He smiled at her as he tucked her in. “Do you need another Tylenol?”

“Probably wouldn’t hurt.”

He shook two from the bottle, held them to her mouth.

“I can do it, Douglas. I’m not an invalid.”

“Didn’t say you were.”

“Then stop treating me like one.”

“Okay,” he held up his hands. “Consider it done.”

She looked at him, at the forlorn look on his face. He was doing all he could. And she’d snapped at him. How ungrateful was that?

“I’m sorry, Douglas. I’m just tired. And frustrated. You’ve been wonderful.”

All of the Callahans were wonderful. Some more than others, she had to admit, but every one of them had their good points. She couldn’t make it without them.

“I have my orders, remember?”

He said it with a grin, like it was a joke. Maybe it was to him, but not for her. A sharp pang of regret stabbed through Lisa’s heart. He was stuck with her because she was family and no other reason.

The sooner she understood that, the better. “Good night, Douglas.”

“Will you call me if you want or need anything?”

She nodded.

He bent over, kissed her on the forehead.

At the door, he looked back at her before leaving it open a bit.

Swiping at her forehead, she rubbed the kiss away.

What she couldn’t rub away was how angry it made her.

She wanted more.

The minute she could walk without half her body aching like a son-of-a-gun, she was out of here.

Chapter Thirteen

Lisa awoke to a ringing phone, kitchen sounds and the smell of coffee. Not at all like her apartment. There, if there were any sounds or smells she was the one who made them. But the phone ringing grated on her nerves. Probably another woman.

She wanted to take the phone and pitch it out the door. She wanted Douglas for herself.

For a moment she let her mind drift to a vision of the two of them being together. This lovely room, with its high ceilings and wide windows was theirs. They would eat breakfast, look into each other’s eyes and express their love.

Douglas knocked, opened the door a little wider. “Can I help with anything?”

“I can handle it.”

“Good. Breakfast when you’re ready.”

She struggled out of bed. In the bathroom, she examined herself.
I don’t look any better than I did yesterday.
However, she felt somewhat better and stretched until her aches demanded she stop.

When she took off her bandages, her stomach curled at the mottled and scraped skin. Biting her lips to keep from crying out with pain, she endured a quick shower.

What was she thinking? She couldn’t re-wrap her arm or her leg. She toweled off, patted the scrapes gently. Maybe she would do without bandages today.

She put on a soft shirt that buttoned down the front and a pair of flannel sweats. She’d tough it out and see how it went. No way would she ask Douglas to tend to her wounds.

She might not be able to stop the way his touch made her feel, but she sure as hell could stop him from touching her.

Going into the kitchen, she felt better.

Douglas was dressed in black dress pants, pale blue shirt, and tie. His jacket, briefcase, and Stetson were on the table. He looked wonderful. He wasn’t the only lawyer in Houston who wore boots and a Stetson, but he was the best-looking one by far. And those piercing green eyes didn’t hurt one bit.

“How do you feel?”

“Better every day, Douglas. At this rate, you won’t have to put up with me much longer.” She gave him a big grin so he wouldn’t know how much it hurt to say the words.

Ignoring her comment, he looked at his watch. “Max said Evan would be here by eight-thirty. It’s nine now.”

“I’m fine. Just go.”

“Not in this lifetime.”

“You can’t be late. Not if you’re due in court.”

The doorbell rang, forestalling further argument.

****

“Evan Drury,” the tall man with marine-cut blond hair said. He stuck out his hand; Douglas took it. The grasp was bone crunching.

The guy was younger than Douglas expected and built like a weight lifter.

“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a bitch.”

“Show me your ID.”

Evan laughed, but handed over his driver’s license and a note from Max. “Max told me you’d be extra careful. Guess I can’t blame you.”

Douglas led him into the kitchen. “This is Lisa Kane. I have to get to court. Just make sure you don’t let anyone in Lisa doesn’t know. “

“Gotcha.”

“Lisa. Are you sure you’ll be okay with this guy?”

“Go to work, Douglas.”

He had to leave. Now. But he didn’t want to. He wanted to stay; wanted to make sure she wasn’t hurt again. Or worse.

Going to Lisa, he bent to whisper in her ear. “You have my cell number, if anything goes on here that shouldn’t or if you need anything, call.”

“I will, Douglas. Don’t worry about me. Go win your case.”

“Right.”

He wrote his cell number on the calendar, turned to Evan. “Call if anything suspicious occurs.”

“Gotcha.”

Douglas frowned at the confident guy standing in his kitchen with a grin on his face. But it wasn’t the grin, it was the pecs showing beneath the tight T-shirt that made him grimace. The guy was testosterone in motion.

Grabbing his briefcase and Stetson, he hurried to his SUV. He was going to be late. Judge Cantrell frowned on tardiness and no excuse mattered.

****

When he left, Lisa let out a sigh of relief.

For the next few hours she wouldn’t have to pretend.

Evan sat across from her in the breakfast nook. “I have orders to do anything you ask.” He smiled. “Within reason. So what can I do for you?”

“Refill my cup,” she said.

Evan was quite dashing. With his athletic build, she’d bet he could defend her against anyone. She wondered where he kept his gun. If she knew Max, Evan had one somewhere.

“I haven’t met you before. Have you known Max long?”

“A while. I met him at the academy.”