Freight Trained (23 page)

Abby's heart ached at the picture of loneliness he painted.

"And then I saw an angel.  I tried to stay away, I knew I would ruin her too, but I'm still that fucking selfish asshole so in the end, I didn't care so long as she was mine.  But the joke was on me, instead of me ruining her, she ruined me.  I'm still a selfish asshole, but she will always come first.  She's mine to protect, mine to cherish, mine to adore."

"Wh...," she cleared her throat and licked her suddenly dry lips.  "What are you trying to say?"

"I was freight trained."

"What?" she asked totally perplexed.

"It's a rodeo term.  It's when a cowboy gets run over by a bull traveling at top speed."

She shook her head.  "I still don't understand."

"You freight trained me, baby.  Trampled right over me, stealing my heart."  He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs softly caressing the apples of her cheeks.  "I love you, Little Mouse, claws and all."

"You love me?"

"I love you."

She felt something in her chest lift, and her heart soared at the thought of such a big, strong, beautiful man loving her.

He reached for her hands again.  "Now I need to clear up any crazy thoughts you've got floating around in your head because I don't like that shit there.  You throw the word hundreds around when referring to the number of women I've been with.  Granted, I haven't been a saint and with almost ten years on the circuit, baby, I won't lie, I did have my fair share.  But after I was hurt, after I bought the ranch, these past few years, I can count on one hand the number of times I've hooked up, and Darlin', never in my life have I ever said the words I love you to any woman.

"You, Abby, you're special.  I saw you and fell for you, and I fell hard."  He gave her hands a squeeze.  "Now do you finally understand where I'm coming from?"

Abby pulled her right hand out of Cole's tight grip and softly placed it against his cheek, leaning in to give him a soft kiss on the lips.  "Yeah, I get it now.  And Cole, I was freight trained too."

He closed his eyes before leaning his forehead against hers.  "That's really good to know."

Hearing the relief in his voice, Abby realized, Cole had been as uncertain about her as she'd been about him.  She may be his little mouse, but at that moment, she felt like a powerful lioness, and he did that, he made her feel strong.  Love was a powerful thing.

"So, lady, how's your first day going?"

Abby looked up from her desk and spied Maggie standing in her doorway.  The lunch bell had just rung a few minutes ago.  She gave her a smile.  "It's going good.  The kids are so well-behaved.  Oh, the substitute teacher horror stories I could tell you would make your toes curl."

Maggie laughed.  "Well, not to burst your happiness bubble, but the kids are usually on their best behavior the first week.  Even our most troublesome students."

Abby covered her ears.  "La la la, I don't hear you."

Maggie giggled again.  "Come on, I'll show you where the staff room is."

"Great.  Let me just lock my desk."  She had her purse in the bottom drawer and didn't want to schlep it around.  She grabbed some money out of her wallet before closing and locking the drawer.  "All set."

"Did you bring a lunch?" 

Abby glanced down and saw a bag in Maggie's hand.  "No, I didn't know I needed one.  Silly of me to assume.  All the schools I've worked at in the past had cafeterias."

"That's small town living for you.  No cafeteria in this school.  I'll share my lunch with you, and there's a vending machine in the lounge that sells junk food."  She gave Abby a fake pout.  "Darn, we'll have to supplement our meal with Oreos."

Abby held up her money, laughing.  "It'll be my treat."

"My ass says thank you," Maggie said, with a wink.

The staff lounge was a few doors down from the office next to the staff restrooms.  It was a smallish room but held all the essentials.  A couch sat against the far wall under the lone window, a counter with a small sink and a coffee maker with all the fixings for coffee was off to the left, and to the right was the vending machine housing more goodies than just Oreos.  Three people sat in mismatched chairs at a large, round table in the center of the room.

Maggie introduced her.  "Hey guys, this is Abby the new math teacher.  Abby, here we have, Gail, our art and music teacher."  She waved her hand to an attractive, older woman with short wavy hair who looked to be in her mid-fifties.  "And the hunky blond with all the muscles is Mike.  He teaches History."  Maggie cupped her hand to shield her mouth from the view of the table and whispered loud enough for the room to hear, "If you can believe that.  History, hello, boring.  All that gorgeousness, such a waste.  Bet he whispers the Gettysburg Address while having sex."

"Hey, I resent that," Mike shouted, with a laugh.  "It's always 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death'!"

"See, nerd.  Such a waste."

Abby giggled.  She liked Mike, he seemed funny.

"And last but not least, our esteemed colleague and our very own Bill Nye Science Guy, Chad."

"We've met."  He gave her a big smile.  "Hi, Abby."

They joined everyone at the table and after a few minutes of getting to know you chitchat, Chad said, "Hey, Abby, I was lucky enough to get tickets for Breaking Benjamin this weekend and seeing as you're new in town, thought you might like to go."

Abby raised her brows.  "You like rock?"

He gave her a frown.  "Yeah, why is that weird?"

Abby laughed.  "No, not at all.  I love Breaking Benjamin.  Just seems country is the music of choice around here."

Chad laughed with her.  "That's because it's the only radio stations we get around here.  That's why God invented the iPod."

Everyone at the table laughed.  "So what do you say, want to go?"

"That's very nice, but Cole and I are dating, and I don't think he would like that very much."  Boy, was that an understatement, Abby thought with a silent chuckle.

"Two friends can't go see a concert together?  What does he have you on a leash?"

Abby's spine straightened, taking offense to his words and his tone.  "No, it's called common courtesy.  I wouldn't like it if he went out with another woman, just friends or not, so I would never do that to him either."

Chad held up his hands in a placating manner.  "You're right.  My apologies."

She still didn't like his attitude, but let it go.  No sense causing unnecessary work drama. 

She was a little surprised when he entered her classroom a few hours later after school ended for the day.

"I come in peace." 

Abby sat at her desk and issued a small snort while rolling her eyes when she saw the white napkin he waved in his hand.  "Yeah, yeah, you're forgiven."

He exaggerated wiping sweat from his brow.  "Whew." 

He walked to one of the empty desks and sat on the table.  "I do want to apologize again for what I said earlier.  It was way out of line.  I think you're nice and thought it would be fun to hang out."  He shrugged.  "Thought we could be friends."

Abby wasn't sure what to say.  She was so bad at interacting with people.  Never having many friends and definitely not any that had been boys, she wasn't sure what the correct protocol was.  She did know it felt wrong.  His words and his actions didn't seem to mesh.  He said he wanted to be friends, yet seemed to get angry when she mentioned Cole.

She needed to say something.  He was watching her, waiting for a response.  "I'd like to be friends," she said cautiously, "but that's all we can be.  Like I said, I'm seeing Cole, so I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

He gave her a bright smile, stood, and walked to her desk.  "Just friends.  I get it."  He held out his hand.  "Shake on it?"

He seemed happy and not hurt in the least.  It had Abby wondering if she'd misread the whole situation.  Maybe he really did just want to be friends.  She took his hand.

"To friendship."  He said, with a bright smile. 

Abby smiled back.  "To friendship."

He strolled back to the student desk and sat down.  "Maybe I can score another ticket that way Cole can come, and you won't have to miss the concert."

Abby felt uncomfortable again.  With the way Cole reacted to Chad, she doubted that would go over real well.  "Um... I'm not sure if he likes Breaking Benjamin.  I'd have to ask him and let you know."

"Okay, but don't wait too long, or I might not be able to get an extra ticket.  Here," he stood and pulled something from his pocket.  "My phone number," he said, handing her a slip of paper.

Abby looked down at the folded piece of notebook paper before taking it from his hand, thinking it a little strange he had his number written and waiting in his pocket.  "Thanks, I'll let you know soon."

And that's when Cole walked in.  Abby saw him take in the scene, noticing the paper they both still held before turning threatening eyes Chad's direction.

Smarter this go-around, Chad took that as his cue to leave.  "Well, I'd better go check for any lingering students.  See you tomorrow, Abby."

Abby gave him a wave good-bye.

Cole walked around behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders, and leaning over to whisper in her ear.  "Why is it Chuck always seems to be hanging around your classroom?"

Abby rolled her eyes at the purposeful wrong use of Chad's name.  "We had words at lunch, and he was apologizing."

He stood up, pulling out her chair and spinning her to face him.  "What kind of words?"

Abby shrugged not wanting to make a big deal out of it.  "The kind he needed to apologize for."

"I know you're adorable but try not to be cute.  You know exactly what I meant."

Abby sighed seeing no way out of telling him.  "He invited me to a concert this weekend and when I explained I was seeing you, he said something not nice.  I put him in his place.  He stopped by here to apologize again, this time inviting you along."  Abby gave him a tentative smile, holding up the slip of paper.  "He gave me his phone number."

"First of all, you're not
seeing me
."  He took the paper from her fingers and opened it.  Chad's name and number stared back at him.  With a snort, he balled it up and tossed it in the trash.  "You're mine, and I'm yours.  Hell, if I didn't think it'd scare you away, I'd throw you in the car, take a drive up to Albuquerque, and put a ring on your finger."

Was he saying what she thought he was saying?  Those were some strong and frightening words, and Abby wasn't sure if she wanted to run screaming or throw herself at him.  He, himself, had admitted he'd never been in a relationship before.  How could he be so sure she was what he really wanted?  Not only wanted but wanted in a way that was permanent.  Overwhelmed, she blurted, "You've got to be joking!"

He pulled her from the chair and brought her body flush against his, burying his fingers in the back of her hair.  He fisted a large section, forcing her head back so he could look deep into her eyes.  "Told you once, I don't have a sense of humor."

She blinked up at him, noting the intensity of his expression.  God, he meant that.  He would marry her right now. 

"Second, that wasn't the full story.  What did he say to you?"

Abby was having a hard time concentrating on the conversation.  She was still stuck on the fact he wanted to marry her.  "Um...  What?"

He gave her a smirk.  "What else did he say to you?"

She licked her lips.  "He wanted to know if you had me on a leash."  She watched his jaw go tight.  "But I told you, I took care of it."

His lips were so close to hers, she knew he was about to kiss her, but he stopped at the last moment.  "No, let's go home.  If I start kissing you, I'll want more and although the thought of fucking you on your desk makes my cock harder than rock, I'll only ever fuck you in private.  You're mine, and that means all mine in every way.  So grab your shit, and let's go."

Abby shook her head.  "Why is my stuff always shit?"  She gave him a smirk to let him know she was trying to lighten the mood and didn't really expect an answer.  He gave her one anyway.  "Tell me the contents of your purse."

She had to think a moment.  "Let's see, my wallet, cell phone, brush and extra scrunchie, gum, miscellaneous papers, probably a butt-load of change at the bottom
–
"

He stopped her words with a raise of his hand.  "Like I said, shit."

Abby rolled her eyes but smiled on the inside.  It probably wouldn't go over well if she told him she thought he was cute.  She opened her bottom desk drawer to grab her purse but noticed a package sitting atop it.  Her hand stopped mid-reach, not wanting to touch it.  She hadn't had any gifts left for her all weekend, not since Friday the one left in Cole's driveway.  She'd been vastly relieved they'd stopped, and now it was starting again.

Cole noticed the box.  "Fuck."

Yeah, exactly, Abby thought as Cole whipped out his phone.  "I've been in my room all day.  The only time I left was at lunch, and the box hadn't been there then.  I checked my purse and locked my desk before I left the room."