The Cowboy's Way(27)
Heather continued reading for another minute or two before she closed the book, stood up and turned off the lamp on the dresser. She followed T.J. from the room and closed the door behind them.
When they entered the living room, T.J. turned and put his hands on her shoulders. “What’s wrong? And don’t tell me nothing. You weren’t this quiet when you were sick.”
“Let’s go into the kitchen,” she suggested. “We can talk in there without disturbing Seth.”
Nodding, he waited until they were both seated at the kitchen table before he asked, “What’s going on, Heather?”
He watched her take a deep breath before she looked him square in the eye. “After the road clears and you’re able to get back to your ranch, I’d rather you not come over here anymore.”
“Why? Was it because of that kiss this afternoon?” He had figured they would get around to discussing it sooner or later. But he had hoped that talking about it would lead to more kisses. If the determined expression on her pretty face was any indication, it didn’t appear it was headed that way.
“Yes and no,” she said slowly.
“Would you care to explain that?” Besides the kiss, he couldn’t think of anything else he’d done that could have upset her to this degree.
“I don’t want you to take offense to what I’m about to tell you,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “But I don’t want you around Seth anymore.”
Of all the grievances he might have expected her to have with him, not wanting him to interact with her son wasn’t among them.
“Why don’t you tell me how I’m supposed to take it?” he demanded, suddenly angry. “As far as I know, Seth and I have been getting along just fine. I’ve even made sure to watch my language around him because I didn’t want him picking up words you’d rather he didn’t learn.”
She nodded. “And I appreciate your vigilance on that.”
T.J. folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. “Then what’s the deal, Heather? Why am I good enough to look after him one minute, but not the next?”
“I’m trying to protect my son from becoming too attached to you,” she explained. “I don’t want to see him get hurt.”
T.J.’s anger hit the boiling point. Unfolding his arms, he sat forward and pointed his finger at her. “Let’s get one thing straight right here and now, Heather Wilson. I would never do or say anything to cause you or Seth any kind of harm—physically or emotionally. I’m not that kind of guy and I never will be.”
“I know you wouldn’t mean to,” she said, shaking her head. She looked vulnerable and upset. “But children hold nothing back. When they care for someone, they give their love and trust unconditionally because they don’t know any other way. They don’t realize that because someone is in their life now that the person might not always be there. I can see he likes you and he wants you around, but I’m afraid he’ll start to depend on you to be there for him. Then when you aren’t, when you get tired of us, he won’t understand.”
T.J. stared at her for several long moments. Seth wasn’t the only one she was trying to protect. She might not realize it, but Heather was afraid of being hurt emotionally, as well. Given all that she had lost, he could understand her caution. But he could tell by the stubborn set of her chin that she had her mind made up. Trying to convince her of the flaw in her reasoning at this point in time would be nothing more than wasted energy.
Even though he hated to give in, he said, “It’s your call.” He shrugged as he rose from the chair. He motioned toward the living room. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll watch the news and turn in. I assume it’s all right for me to stretch out on the couch?”
A shadow of disappointment briefly crossed her pretty face, verifying what he suspected. She was afraid she would start to count on him, to want him to be around. What she didn’t realize—and what he wasn’t going to point out—was that she had already started depending on him. She already wanted him to be a part of her and Seth’s lives. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been let down when T.J. hadn’t argued with her about her decision.
“I’m sorry about you having to sleep on the couch,” she said in apology, straightening her shoulders as she rose to her feet. “I closed off the upstairs to save on the heating bills, as well as wear and tear on a furnace that’s older than I am.”
“No problem,” he said, following her to the hall closet. When she handed him a pillow and blanket their hands brushed and a jolt of yearning ran straight up his arm to settle in the middle of his chest. He did his best to ignore it.