Free A Match Made In Texas by Anne Marie Novark Page B

dishtowel. Sitting next to her, he removed her shoe and examined her swollen ankle. He whistled softly under his breath. "That doesn't look too good."
     
    She nearly jumped out of her skin when he started probing for broken bones. His fingers on her ankle made her heart beat double-time. She almost forgot about her injured foot. Almost.
     
    "Watch it," she said, gasping in pain.
     
    "Sorry." He eased the pressure of his fingers. "It doesn't seem to be broken."
     
    "I didn't think so," she said. "I'm all right. Really. I can take it from here. Thanks for bringing me home."
     
    Austin ignored her. He lifted her leg and propped it up on pillows. Then he gently wrapped the towel around her ankle and balanced the frozen veggie bags on either side. Stepping back, he surveyed his handiwork.
     
    Austin's masculine presence filled the room. Theresa tried not to think of the annihilating kiss they had shared over by her front door. She leaned her head back against the sofa. Austin's tender ministrations wreaked havoc with her emotions. Closing her eyes, she hoped the threatening tears would go unnoticed. Beneath the hard, bitter facade, a caring man had been revealed. Theresa found herself falling a little more in love with Austin each passing moment.
     
    The couch cushions dipped as he sat beside her. She kept her eyes shut, not wanting him to see the tumult he caused, trying to protect herself against him. A warm finger on her cheek wiped a tear away.
     
    "I know it must hurt like hell," he said, his voice low and intimate. "Where do you keep the aspirin?"
     
    Opening her eyes, Theresa caught the concern in his eyes. She struggled to get up. Strong hands clamped around her shoulders and pushed her back against the cushions. "You're not going anywhere."
     
    "You don't have to wait on me," she said. "I know you don't want me. Don't want to be around me. Thank you for all of your help. Now you can go. I can manage on my own."
     
    Instead of releasing her, Austin began kneading the tight muscles in her shoulders, looking directly in her eyes. "Baby, if you knew how much I wanted you, you'd turn and run in the opposite direction."
     
    "I'm not the one running." She forced herself not to look away. Inhaling deeply, his fresh clean scent permeated her being. Why couldn't he just hold her in his arms again?
     
    He stopped kneading and leaned closer. "You should be running. I've told you I have nothing to give you except sex. You deserve more than that."
     
    "I'm a big girl, Austin." She saw a muscle twitch near his mouth. His grip on her shoulders tightened. Theresa thought he might kiss her again. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation.
     
    He pushed her away and stood up. "Where's the damn aspirin?"
     
    Theresa gulped down the bitter disappointment. She'd wanted him to kiss her. Almost begged him to kiss her. "In the medicine cabinet in the bathroom."
     
    He returned with a glass of water and two tablets. After she swallowed the aspirin, Austin adjusted the frozen bags around her ankle.
     
    "I'm going now," he said, looking at her with a scowl. "I suggest you keep away from me in the future. If you don't, I might decide to give you what you think you want and damn the consequences. Like you said, you're a big girl." He slammed the door on his way out.
     
    Theresa curled up on the couch, careful not to dislodge the cold packs. Austin McCade confused the hell out of her. One minute he was gentle and concerned, the next--mean and menacing. But he seemed to be relaxing his guard a little. He wanted her in the physical sense and he didn't like it. His desire for her was starting to threaten his control, his self-imposed emotional solitude.
     
    For twelve years, Austin hadn't let anyone close to his heart. Theresa didn't really believe he would ever completely let her in. He might agree to a physical relationship, but he would keep his emotions under tight rein. That might be all he was able to give. Could she accept that?