Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) (7 page)

Reaching the street, Diedra saw Meagan just ahead, stalking down the sidewalk with Alec beside her.

Jeff's car crawled along on the street beside them. "Just get in the car, honey," he pleaded. "I can explain everything."

Diedra sprinted to catch up. But Jeff had endured enough. He slammed his car into park and jumped from it to confront Meagan on foot.

"Just listen, Meagan. I love you."

"I'm not going to listen to any more of your lies." Meagan stuck her hands over her ears.

Diedra watched in disbelief. She'd never seen her sister act so childishly. Maybe it was hormones?

Jeff's face went red. The veins stood out in his neck. "That does it, Meagan. I can't tolerate the idea of you being with another man."

Before either Diedra or Alec could react, Jeff swept Meagan up in his arms and tossed her into his car. Then he jumped back in and tore off, tires burning rubber.

Diedra grabbed Alec. "Oh, heavens! He's going to hurt her. He's so furious, I just know he will."

"Of course he won't." But Alec didn't sound any more sure than she was.

"I have to save her. He doesn't know about her condition." Diedra let go of him and made a run for her car, luckily parked only a few spaces ahead.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm following them. Get out of my way before I lose him." She grabbed her cell phone from her handbag and dialed Meagan's number.

"You're overreacting. They need to talk."

"Of course they need to talk, but Jeff doesn't know that he could hurt her." Meagan's voice mail answered. Diedra disconnected the call, unlocked her car and jumped in.

"What condition does Meagan have?" Alec prevented her from closing the door by leaning into the car. "What are you talking about? Jeff would never hurt Meagan."

She didn't have time to chat. Alec had to get out of her way. Hoping he'd get the message, she started the engine. "He could hurt her without realizing it. Meagan is pregnant."

"And Jeff doesn't know?" When Diedra nodded, the muscle in Alec's jaw twitched. "So that's why it was so important to you that they get back together. Scoot over, I'm driving."

Were all Sparks men jerks? Did they think they could give orders and everyone would obey? "I will not!"

"There's no way I'm going to ride with you driving. The last time I did, I nearly missed Jeff's wedding. When I did get there, I had to go through the ceremony covered in grease and oil. This time I'm not going to miss his funeral once you get your hands on him. Get over."

Why did he have to bring up the past? At the time, she'd done everything she could, short of giving him a pound of her flesh, to apologize and atone for the sin of being a jinx. "Take your own car."

"My car's at the office."

"Then you'll have to take your chances. Hop in."

"It's customary for the male to drive."

She bit back a snort. "Welcome to the new millennium, sport."

"Dammit, Diedra. Will you please let me drive?"

Now he asks. Just because he wasn't getting his own way. She didn't have time to play games. "This is my car and I'm leaving now. Either you get in or you don't." She pressed the accelerator. Alec ran around the car and swung himself in as she took off.

Which way had Jeff gone?

"Two years ago, I swore I'd never ride in a car with you again. I can't believe you talked me into this."

"I didn't talk you into it. It was your own free choice." Diedra risked a glance at him, only to be met by one of his famous scowls.

She turned her attention back to the road. The street was dark and nearly deserted. She saw a car stopped at a light about two blocks away. That had to be them. The light changed and the car turned a corner, heading for the freeway. She quickly followed.

"When was the last time you had this car serviced?"

"Last week. Why?" she asked. Then it dawned on her. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Let you live down the fact that you played an outrageously stupid joke on me, making me late for Jeff's wedding? My one and only opportunity to give him away in marriage?" Alec didn't raise his voice, but his tone was deadly dangerous. "I was his best man, for Pete's sake. They held up the ceremony for nearly two hours. You destroyed my tux."

"I'm sorry, already. I didn't want to miss it any more than you did. Don't forget, I was Meagan's maid of honor. I told you then it wasn't a joke but you wouldn't believe me." She'd been a fool back then, too. They'd met only days before the wedding, and she'd thought Alec was attracted to her, was interested in pursuing a relationship. She couldn't have been more mistaken. At the first sign of trouble, he'd run for the hills, just like every other man she'd ever been interested in.

None of that mattered now. She pressed her foot harder on the accelerator, trying to catch Jeff and Meagan.

Alec pulled out his cell phone. "I'm calling Jeff."

"I hope he answers. Meagan didn't."

"Jeff, call me," he said to his cousin's voice mail. She handed Alec her phone. "Maybe leave a text message for Meagan, telling her I'm worried?"

He nodded and did as she instructed.

About forty-five minutes later, they trailed Jeff's car as it exited off the freeway. The area was remote. No other cars, and the only signs of life she saw were animals' eyes lit up by her headlights. The further into the country they went, the more convinced she became that Jeff would accidently harm her sister.

"I'm worried, Alec. Where is he taking her?"

His jaw clenched. "I don't know. I do know Jeff, however, and he won't harm Meagan. He still loves her. After seeing her behavior tonight, I think she deserves whatever she gets."

"Mr. Sparks, I'll have you know this whole thing has all been Jeff's fault. My sister was a sweet, gentle person until he broke her heart. I should never have tried to get them back together. I should have left well enough alone. At least the baby would still be safe."

"He's not going to hurt her or the baby. Yell loud enough to give her temporary hearing loss, maybe, for not telling him, but that's it."

"I should have known he'd act like a brute. Bet you would, too, if you ever found a woman foolish enough to marry you."

Diedra swerved to avoid hitting an armadillo darting across the dark road. The right side of the vehicle drove onto the shoulder of the road.

Alec swore. "I'll have you know lots of women want to marry me."

"Ha! Only women like Mimi LaPeugh."

The car bounced as she turned it back onto the pavement.

Suddenly, the car's headlights went out. The engine coughed and then died. It wasn't normal car problems, though. It was her.

Why now? Why did the blasted car have to conk out when her sister needed her? Why couldn't she be more like normal people?

"Is it out of gas?" asked Alec, reaching over and flicking the gas gauge.

That's what happened to normal people. They ran out of gas. Or engines suffered wear and tear. Or tires went flat. But not to her. "I filled the tank this morning." Her voice broke.

"Diedra Palmer." His voice rose. "You're not pulling this one on me again. Put on the parking brake."

"I didn't do it, Alec."

"You think I'm fool enough to fall for the same routine as two years ago?" Alec climbed out of the passenger seat and walked around to the driver's door. "Get out."

Diedra didn't want to get out. She took one look at Alec's face and wished she'd locked the door. She reached up to do it, but Alec grabbed the door handle first and swung the door open. Rats.

"Get out of the car."

She thought about refusing but realized it was futile. With as much grace as possible, Diedra slid over to the passenger side while Alec climbed behind the wheel.

He turned the ignition. Two years ago, when he'd tried the ignition, Diedra's car had started right up. Unfortunately, he'd spent over an hour checking out the engine, the battery cables and the gas before insisting that Diedra let him try starting it. This wasn't the same car, though, and the situation was different. Completely different. Now, the engine didn't turn over. It really was dead. He checked the inside lights. Nothing.

He got out of the car and looked under the hood, then returned and tried the engine again without success.

"I checked the timing belt, but it seems fine. I think it's the starter or the alternator, which I don't think even you have the ability to destroy without touching." Alec slumped over the steering wheel. "I'm sorry, Diedra. I should have known you wouldn't do it again."

"That's fine. That's just fine. But I didn't do it last time, either." She was silent for a moment and then softly added, "At least, I didn't do it on purpose."

Alec wanted to shake her. "What do you mean?"

Her face looked pale in the moonlight. She didn't speak, just stared into his eyes. She looked—Scared? Humiliated? Vulnerable?

All he was aware of was the sound of crickets and a gentle breeze and the dark night reflected in her eyes. If any female was ever fatal, this one was. If he were smart, he'd get out and start walking.

But he wasn't very smart.

He leaned closer, fighting against the pull of her. Her eyes fluttered closed. Waiting. Only an inch or two separated him from sampling her inviting lips. No longer able to hold back, he kissed her.

Chapter 6

Diedra tasted like fresh cherries. Soft, moist, sweet, with just a hint of tartness. He deepened his kiss, taking a moment to linger in the scent of her, in the heat of her, in the soft surrender of her lips. His tongue played about her lips and explored deeply inside her mouth. Cupping her face with his hands, he ached to feel her entire body pressed against his. He was needy. So needy.

She met him with tender greed. Judging by her response, she was pretty darn needy, too.

He ran his fingertips from her face down her neck and shoulders, then drew her closer. The aroma of cherries became stronger and almost hypnotic. Her skin was firm yet soft. Ignoring all the little warning bells going off in his head, he pulled her closer still, wanting to feel more of her warmth.

As she leaned into their embrace, she bumped against the steering column. The engine revved. The headlights came on. So did all the interior lights.

A.C. jerked up straight. What on earth did he think he was doing? The last thing in the world he wanted to do was get involved with Diedra, despite the fact that his body very much wanted to explore every inch of hers.

He could thank his lucky stars that things hadn't gone any farther than a kiss. He'd never planned to kiss her. He'd never been willing to find out what they might have if things had been different.

Diedra was the last type of woman he should get involved with, unsuitable in every way. For all her sexiness, she was flighty, outrageous, a disaster in every meaning of the word.

Besides, they were on a mission. They still needed to find Meagan and Jeff. Jeff needed to know he would soon become a father.

He gazed down at Diedra's peaceful, soothing face. Her eyes remained shut and she looked ready. Ready for him to kiss her again. But that lovely, placid exterior hid the hell about to break loose around her. She was trouble with a capital "J" for Jinx.

Whatever had possessed him wouldn't again. "You know... tomorrow you should probably get a mechanic to go over your car."

Her eyes snapped open. They gradually narrowed. "Get out."

"What?"

"You heard me. Get out of my car."

She was the most unreasonable, lunatic woman he'd ever met. She made his mother seem sensible. Why had he ever wanted to kiss her?

He looked at Diedra in the stark clarity of the interior dome light. Then his gaze fastened on her blue skirt, riding up her slender thighs. Oh, yeah, that was why.

He quickly looked back to her angry eyes. "You're mad. Right? If it's because of the kiss, I can explain..."

How could he, thought Diedra. How could he kiss her one minute and then act as though nothing had happened? Didn't he feel it too? When his lips had touched hers, she'd felt as though her insides had been lit up by a swarm of lightning bugs. She brought her fingers up to touch the lips he'd so recently caressed, but abruptly brought her hand down. She knew she'd nearly shown him just how much his kiss affected her, and it brought a flush to her cheeks.