On The Texas Border (8 page)

He picked up his hat. “It’s late. We’d better go.”

End of conversation. She knew better than to pressure him because Jonas was a man who didn’t back down under pressure.

The gentle breeze played with the swings. The creaking sound reminded Abby of her childhood. “How long since you were on a swing?”

He frowned at her. Before he could reply, she jumped up and ran to a swing. She sat on the seat,
gripped the chains and kicked off. Higher and higher she sailed—forward and back—faster and faster.

“Come on, Jonas,” she called, her voice brimming with laughter.

Jonas put his hat on his head and walked closer. Dusk had settled in, but it was a bright night and he could clearly see her. Her green eyes sparkled and her face was full of mischief. He felt himself being pulled toward her infectious voice, her fun-loving smile, and as much as he wanted to walk away, he found he couldn’t. Truth be known, he didn’t even want to. He wanted to experience everything that was her.
Okay, that’s enough,
he chastised himself.

“Jonas, catch me,” she cried playfully, and then she was flying through the air toward him.

In a split second, he raised his arms, but it was too late. She catapulted into him, knocking him to the ground. His hat flew off and he lay winded with Abby on top of him.

“You were supposed to catch me,” she laughed into his startled face.

“I tried, but you were too fast,” he managed to say, very aware of her soft body pressed into him. Her delicate perfume filled him and her feminine curves triggered other responses. Responses he was determined to ignore.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors about me? I’m a fast woman.”

“Abby, I don’t think…”

She moved against him, stopping him in mid-sentence. “Don’t think,” she warned and stared down at him. She wanted to be as close to him as possible, see the light in his eyes and that gorgeous grin on his lips. She’d had these feelings for weeks,
and tonight she was acting on them. She’d never done anything like this in her life—not even with Kyle—but she was going to make Jonas kiss her. He had to…willingly. She wasn’t leaving the park until he did.

Her face was a few inches from his, and her blond hair softly caressed his cheek. He breathed in her fragrant scent and knew he was lost. All he could feel was her body, her hair, her scent, and he ached to taste every inch of her. He’d been dreaming of it for weeks, and now…he couldn’t. He couldn’t take what she was offering because… Why? As she moved on him, all logic left him.

God, he wished she’d stop that. He had to think. He had to—

She gently kissed his cheek, and he tensed. It didn’t stop her. She touched his other cheek.

“Abby,” he groaned.

“Yes,” she whispered against his skin.

The soft titillating voice broke his control. His hands slipped beneath her hair to her face. He stroked her cheeks and pulled her gently to his lips. The kiss was slow and sensuous, igniting a flame in Abby that had been dormant for a long time. She moaned and opened her mouth, giving him full access. He took, tasted and gave with such exuberance that she lost herself in the moment. She’d known he would kiss like this…warm, tantalizing, with an earth-moving intensity. The night wrapped around them as the kiss went on.

Suddenly, he tore his lips from hers and scrambled to his feet. He grabbed his hat. “We’d better go.” His voice came out low and hoarse.

Abby sat on her backside, staring at him in stunned
muteness. Jonas walked to the picnic table and gathered the remaining trash. How could he kiss her so passionately and act as if it was nothing? He’d made her feel attractive and desirable for the first time in ages. And she’d needed that…

What was she doing? She was using him. She had tempted and cajoled him into kissing her without any thought as to how it would affect him. She wasn’t looking for a relationship or any kind of involvement. Her emotions were too bruised. She was attracted to Jonas and his rugged sensuality, but she was too old to be playing these teenage games. Jonas deserved better than that.

“I’m sorry,” she said, and stood slowly. “I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t normally do such things.”

“Forget it. It’s not important.” His voice was brisk and he didn’t look at her.

“I guess my mother’s right and I’m not myself.”

He looked directly at her. “Then, give up this crazy idea to avenge your father.”

Silence.

“I can’t,” she finally said. “I have to do it.”

“I just hope it’s something you won’t regret.”

Like kissing me,
he meant. She pushed that thought aside, and asked, “When can we go to Mexico?”

“I’ve got trucks coming in tomorrow, but the next day seems fine. The faster we get this over with the better.”

He sounded as if he couldn’t wait to be rid of her, and she didn’t like that. But she didn’t want to analyze her feelings. She had to put aside her attraction for Jonas. They were going to Mexico to find Delores. That was the important thing. Finding out the
truth about her father was her goal and nothing would divert her.

Her hand went to her tingling lips. Could she forget Jonas’s kiss? Sure, no problem, she told herself. She’d been kissed before.

But not like that.

T
HE DRIVE TO HER CAR
was silent, and she knew she had crossed a dangerous line with Jonas. She had jeopardized their relationship by her need to make him notice her. Those feelings were tied to her divorce. She recognized that. She’d been spouting that she didn’t need a man for so long that she’d come to believe it herself. But the truth was, she longed to feel attractive and desirable again. Kyle had destroyed a portion of her self-esteem, and she had a desire to recapture her self-confidence.

Jonas was so different from her. He had character and strength, and there was no way a woman could make him feel less than he was. He was secure in his masculinity. She had no right to tempt him, especially after he had made it clear how he felt about her. She probably should apologize again, but she had a feeling he didn’t want to hear it. Oh, what had she done? She’d made a bad situation worse.

She was glad when he pulled up beside her car. “The key is under the mat on the passenger side,” he said in a wooden voice.

Obviously he wanted to get away from her, but she couldn’t go until they were clear on one subject. “Just because your parents had problems doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“You don’t know everything about me,” he re
plied roughly. His elbow was on the door and one hand was on the steering wheel. That hand clenched over and over. He wasn’t in a good mood—that was obvious.

“Maybe I don’t,” she admitted in a low voice. “But I know you could have done anything you wanted with me back there in the park. That doesn’t say a lot about me, but it says a great deal about you.”

He didn’t say a word, and she knew he wouldn’t. Still, she couldn’t get out of the truck.

“Will I see you tomorrow?” Heavens, that sounded pathetic even to her own ears.

“I’ve a busy day ahead.”

She swallowed, her pride on the outer edge of nowhere. “We have to talk about Mexico. If you don’t want to go, I’ll understand.”

“When I get free, I’ll call.”

“Okay,” she said slowly, taking that to mean he was still going. She had no choice now but to get out. She opened the door and stepped onto the pavement. She glanced at him. “Thank you, Jonas.”

Damn, why did she have to say that? Her soft lilting voice was getting to him. Hell, everything about her was getting to him.

Just go, Abby. Go home to your safe, secure world and remember that heated kisses in the night don’t mean a thing. They don’t mean a damn thing.

W
HEN
J
ONAS HAD SEEN
her drive safely into her driveway, he headed for Mick’s. But he knew that wouldn’t ease the frustration she had created inside him. He turned the truck toward Brewster Farms.

He wasn’t the man for Abigail Duncan. She
needed a man in a three-piece suit who had an important office job with a salary to match. A man who didn’t have calluses on his hands and who knew what fork to use at the dinner table. She didn’t need someone to mess up her life…she had enough to handle. And so did he.

They were attracted to each other—definitely. He couldn’t deny that, but he sure as hell could do something about it. He’d stay away from her. Fast on that thought was one he couldn’t escape. The trip to Mexico. Dammit and damn Brewster for getting him involved. Maybe he could think more clearly tomorrow when his senses weren’t so affected by her scent, her touch. Tomorrow things would be different. He’d be in a different frame of mind.

He went to his apartment above the warehouse, took a cold shower and plopped down on the sofa in front of the big screen TV. He turned the volume up loud, blocking out any thoughts of Abby.

W
HEN
A
BBY ENTERED
the kitchen of her mother’s house the lights were on, and she knew her mother was waiting for her.

Gail rushed through from the living room. “Abby, sweetheart, you’re back,” she said and hugged her tightly. Abby returned the hug.

“I love you. You’re my baby,” Gail murmured with tears in her voice. “I would never want anyone to hit or to hurt you, and I know you tried hard to make your marriage work. Please don’t think otherwise.”

Abby moved toward the table and sat down. “I’m sorry I lost my temper,” she said. “But I did try to
save my marriage. I put up with more than you’ll ever know.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Gail kissed the top of her head.

“There’s nothing to salvage from my marriage, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop talking to June.”

“I’ll tell her not to call again,” Gail said and took a seat. “I never liked the woman, anyway.”

“Then, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“No,” Gail agreed. “How about some tea?”

“Sure,” Abby answered absently, wondering where Jonas had gone after leaving her. Her mom said he hung out at Mick’s Tavern. Did he take advantage of the services offered by the girls who worked there? She didn’t like the feeling that came over her at the thought. She was becoming too fixated on Jonas and his life.

Her mother placed a glass of iced tea in front of Abby. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second to block out the image of Jonas’s rigidly masculine face, then took a quick swallow. Cool—soothing, just what she needed.

“Have you been with Jonas all this time?” Gail asked as she took a seat.

“Yes.” Abby looked directly at her.

“Abby—”

“Don’t start, Mom,” she cut in. “I’m old enough to make my own decisions about Jonas.”

“Yes, you are, sweetheart, but your emotions are so battered, I’m afraid you’ll do something you’ll regret.”

Abby took another sip. “I won’t regret doing anything with Jonas.” As she said the words, she realized that they were true. She didn’t know a lot about Jonas, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

“Abby!” her mother said in shock, but Abby didn’t respond. Instead she asked a question.

“Did you know Jonas’s parents?”

“Oh my, yes. He was a mean drunk and she was a— Well, she had Jonas when she was sixteen and she wasn’t ready to be a mother. She left him with anyone who would keep him and went running around trying to have a good time. When her husband would find her, he’d beat her and take her back home. Finally one night he beat her to death. Those poor kids were caught in the middle.”

“It’s so sad. I don’t understand why the authorities didn’t do something.”

“This is Hope, Texas, sweetheart,” her mother reminded her. “Nothing gets done here. They couldn’t even keep Jonas in foster care.”

No, he’d lived a heart-wrenching existence on the street. He shouldn’t have had to live like that.

She shook her head. “How did Jonas start working for Mr. Brewster?”

Gail shrugged. “I’m not sure. That was when your grandmother was ill and I was away helping take care of her. I asked Abe about it, but he said only that Brewster had hired the Parker boy and was treating him like a slave. He never said anything else. Of course, your father wasn’t one to ask questions or listen to gossip.”

“I didn’t get that from him, did I?”

“No, you’ve always loved to ask questions. I think you get it from Sybil.”

“Oh, please, don’t tell me I’m like Aunt Sybil.”

Gail smiled and patted her hand. “Genes are something you can’t deny, sweetheart.”

The words had a chilling effect on Abby. Jonas
believed the same thing. His father was bad so therefore he was, too. But that wasn’t true. She went to bed with that thought in her head. There had to be a way to convince him otherwise. The idea rattled her. Jonas was taking precedent over avenging her father.

She grabbed her pillow and held it close. Tomorrow she’d concentrate on Mr. Brewster and Delores Alvarez, but tonight she’d think about Jonas.

T
HE NEXT MORNING
she called Holly and told her that Jonas was going with her to Mexico. Holly thought it was great. Abby didn’t mention the incident in the park. That was too personal to share just yet. She then called her editor and explained that she couldn’t return any earlier than planned.

Later, she went to the sheriff’s office to see if he’d found out anything about her car or the file room door. He hadn’t. Neither had he gotten around to questioning Edna, Jules or Darby. Abby got the feeling he wasn’t going to do a thing. Evidently she did not rank as a top priority. So much for the law in Hope, Texas.

Afterward she drove to the hospital to see Mr. Brewster. She found him sitting up in bed looking much better. He was still on oxygen, and machines were monitoring his heart, but he appeared to be his normal cranky self.

“Abigail, come in, come in,” he said when he saw her.

She walked closer to his bedside. “You seem better.”

“I ain’t dead yet. Disappointed a lot of people. But it’s just a matter of time—even I know that.”

Abby wasn’t sure. Mr. Brewster was the type of
person who stared death in the eye and laughed. He seemed immune to pain and suffering; nothing touched him, not even the thought of dying. Well, maybe that wasn’t true. He didn’t want to die until he saw his daughter. That had to mean he had a heart in his body somewhere.

“Jonas told me what happened,” he said. “Are you all right?”

That concern in his voice startled her, then angered her. “No, I’m not all right,” she said heatedly. “It was awful being locked in that suffocating room, not to mention having my tires maliciously slashed. This is getting dangerous, but you can put an end to it right now.”

He frowned. “How can I do that?”

“By telling me about my father and forgetting about your daughter. She hasn’t wanted to see you in thirty years and she probably doesn’t want to see you now.”

He gave a gruff laugh. “That won’t work, Abigail. We have a deal.”

She didn’t have a ready response. She wanted to walk out the door and keep going, but her feet wouldn’t move. A force stronger than her kept her rooted to the spot. She would keep her word even though she was beginning to have doubts.

“Someone got nervous,” Mr. Brewster was saying. “Thought their inheritance was in jeopardy. But I can do whatever the hell I please with my money. I’ll make that very clear to everyone, so you don’t have to worry.”

“But I am worried,” she told him. “I hope you’re not using me for some sadistic reason of your own.”

“Ah.” He brushed away the thought with a wave of his hand. “You’ve been listening to Jonas.”

“Is he right?”

“No, he’s not right,” he bellowed. “Jonas thinks he knows me, but he doesn’t.”

“He probably knows you better than anyone.”

“Yeah, we’ve been together a long time.”

Silence.

Abby was stunned. Was that actually emotion for Jonas she’d heard in his voice? It couldn’t be. They were sworn enemies. That was one of the first things she’d learned when she’d come here. She had to dig deeper.

“You said you owned Jonas—”

“It’s a long story, Abigail, and it doesn’t concern you.”

That’s what Jonas had said, and she was getting tired of hearing it. She wanted answers.

“Oh, I think it does,” she informed him. “Suddenly I’m in the center of your life—somewhere I don’t want to be—so everything about you concerns me.”

“If you’re that curious, get Jonas to tell you.”

“I will.”

“Good luck. Getting anything out of Jonas is like pulling teeth.”

“Have you ever tried a little care and kindness?”

He lifted a shaggy eyebrow. “No, never entered my mind.”

“How did you get him to change his mind about going to Mexico?”

“Just turned the screws a little.”

“That means you have something on him, and it doesn’t bother you to use it when it suits you.”

He nodded. “When you get to be my age, you use everything at your disposal.”

She stepped closer to the bed. “So what do you have on him?”

“Abigail,” he grunted. “Don’t try to trick me. I’m a master at it.”

She’d just bet he was. A master at deception and deceit, too. People were pawns to him. Knowing that, why couldn’t she make herself walk out the door?

He broke into her thoughts. “I gave Jonas tomorrow and the next day off. So get this done quickly. I can’t afford to give him any more time than that.”

Abby’s eyes narrowed. “Doesn’t Jonas have any free time?”

“Whenever I say he can.”

“And he accepts that?”

“Hell, no. Jonas never accepts anything graciously. He gets mad and leaves every now and then, but he always comes back. I can count on it.”

“You sound very sure.”

“Yep, I am, so don’t be putting silly notions in his head.”

“Like what?’

“Like, well, you know. Just don’t do it. Jonas belongs here.”

She was taken aback. There was that note in his voice again—a note that said he cared, which was ludicrous because Mr. Brewster didn’t care about anyone.

“Why are you still standing there?” he barked. “Go find my daughter before my ticker gives out.”

“I will,” she replied calmly. “But you understand I can only do so much. If she doesn’t want to see you, I can’t force her.”

“The deal is, Abigail, you talk to Delores and tell her what I said. Whatever happens after that, I will accept.”

“Fine, then, we’re in agreement. I’ll see you in a few days, hopefully with your daughter.” She turned toward the door.

“Oh, you’ll find her. I have no doubt about that.”

She swung around. “Why are you so sure?”

“Money, Abigail. It will be the deciding factor.”

Abby frowned. “You want me to offer her money?”

“Of course not, but money to Delores is like sugar to a fly. It will draw her back, and I will get my wish.”

“You’re a cruel old man.”

He nodded. “So I’ve been told.”

Abby walked out of the room feeling again as if someone were pulling her strings. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn’t see Edna Kline until Edna called her name.

“Just a minute, missy, I want to talk to you.” Edna practically bounced after her. The big hat on her head wobbled with her agitated movements. When she reached Abby, she grabbed her by the arm and pushed her into a waiting room. “I warned you to stay away from Simon.”

Abby pulled her arm free. “I think you did more than warn me.”