Back Where You Belong Read online

  She told them about her website. She asked them to check it out. “It’s time we take a stand against the bullies. To take away some of their power. And in doing so, make us feel good about ourselves again. See, I’ve been hiding on my family’s ranch, afraid if I went out in society, people who saw the video would recognize me. It’s been two years since I left college, and my old roommate still has power over me. How lame is that? Recently, someone very dear to me told me she’d been bullied, too.”

  Tyler tensed. Would she mention Olivia’s name?

  “Her experience made me rethink mine. Surely, there has to be a way to turn a negative into a positive. Perhaps if I share my pain, I can help you cope with yours. Maybe you’ll feel strong enough to take a stand. I did and I’m stronger for it. When someone gets in your face and yells, take a stand.”

  Olivia and Cassidy, plus two other girls, stood. Heads in the auditorium turned toward them. Pride warred with Tyler’s protectiveness. Pride won and a slow smile spread as his chest expanded. Yes, his daughter would be the type to take a stand. Good for you, Angel.

  “When someone insults you for being overweight, take a stand.”

  Three overweight girls and one heavy boy stood.

  “When someone takes a picture of you in the lockers or the showers to show his or her friends, take a stand.”

  To Tyler’s surprise, six students stood.

  “When you can’t take the bullying anymore, take a stand with others who have been through it, too.”

  More students stood.

  “Bullying is wrong. Bullying must be stopped. Stop it now.” Lacy raised her hand, displaying the peace sign. “Stop it now.”

  The brave kids standing started chanting and waving their two-fingered solidarity gesture. “Stop it now. Stop it now.”

  “Wow, isn’t she something?” The tone of Brandon’s voice was tinged with admiration.

  “Yes, she is.” And if I let her get away, I’m an idiot.

  Once the chanting quieted down, Lacy spoke again. “I’m going to be here until the end of school. I’ll be up on stage, if you want to talk to me. I’ll be happy to hear what you have to say. To the rest of you, thanks for listening. To those of you who bully, it’s time to grow up and learn other ways of communicating. Thank you, everyone.”

  Most of the kids filed out of the auditorium, but several dozen kids scrambled to get up on stage. They surrounded Lacy, and he could see from where he stood, they responded to her sunrise smile and caring nature. She was charming them just as she’d charmed him. Too bad he’d been such a damn jackass about everything.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The parking lot was nearly empty when Lacy finally left the school. There’d been so many students to talk to, so many stories to hear. Could she make a difference? She was finding out, in some cases, just hearing them out and allowing them to unload was a help.

  A teacher by the name of Brandon Cole cornered her, asking her many questions about her plans for the TAB program. He knew some teachers in Dallas who might be interested and gave her their names and email addresses. To her surprise, he also asked her out for dinner tonight. Although his attention should have flattered her, the thought of moving beyond Tyler nearly did her in. But the strength she’d gained from the assembly had her accepting.

  She was almost to her car when the roses caught her eye. Six orange roses and three white tulips were propped against her windshield, held in place by the wiper blade. Because she had a sneaking suspicion who placed the flowers there, she glanced around the parking area. Perhaps Tyler was watching to gauge her reaction.

  He came to hear her speak, standing along the side of the auditorium, strong and silent like a live oak, his arms folded in defiance over his broad chest. For the strangest reason, seeing him gave her unexpected comfort, even if he was upset about her speaking. And she fully expected him to come up to her after the program and tear her apart. But he hadn’t. One minute he was there; the next he was gone. For a few foolish minutes, she’d even hoped he’d offer some words of praise for her program.

  When she reached out to remove the flowers from the wiper’s grasp, she saw a blue envelope. She leaned against her car and opened the card. On the front was a picture of a horse’s behind. “Know who this is?” the card read. She snorted and opened it. “It’s a picture of me. I’m sorry for the way I acted.” Well, he knew how to pick out a card; she’d give him that. Her eyes started to tear up when she read what he wrote.

  While it takes courage to sit astride a bull, that’s nothing compared to the courage you displayed today. I was so proud of you I didn’t know what to do, especially since I’d treated you so badly. Oh, the florist said giving white tulips signifies the giver wishes for forgiveness and a fresh start. I’d like to see you. There’s a park two blocks over on Madison. Would you meet me there? Please?

  Tyler.

  She removed the flowers and swiped a hand over falling tears. He thought she was brave. He was proud of her. He wanted forgiveness. She held the blooms to her nose and inhaled. Wasn’t that what she wanted, too?

  Tyler was leaning against his truck when she pulled into the empty parking space next to his. One booted foot rested against his door and his Stetson sat low over his eyes. She wiped damp hands over her skirt and took a deep breath. He moved slowly in that loose-jointed way he had and opened her door. A tanned hand reached in to help her out.

  When she stood, her gaze locked on his serious face. He did want to make up, right?

  He placed one hand at her waist as he closed her door. Then he backed her against her car. Their thighs touched, and her insides bomb dived and melted. His hands held her face, and he stared at her for a few beats.

  “You were amazing and I was an ass.”

  Tyler never did mince words.

  She pursed her lips. “True. But you were a handsome ass. Arrogant, overbearing, overprotective, but handsome. Olivia’s lucky to have you.”

  “God, I love you,” he groaned before he captured her lips.

  It was a kiss of hunger. A frantic kiss that spoke volumes and devastated her tenuous hold on her emotions. When he finally pulled back, she was crying.

  “No, Sugar. No more tears.” Gentle kisses feathered over her eyes and cheeks. “I’m sorry. Will you give me another chance? Will you give us a chance?”

  She shook her head. “You’ve caught me at a weak moment. Speaking to those kids was more emotionally draining than I expected. I thought I heard you say you love me.”

  “I do. Haven’t I told you that already?”

  “Not to my recollection.” If this man for whom she’d carried a crush for all these years had told her he loved her, she’d damn sure remember. Sometimes men were downright clueless.

  Tyler pointed to a bench between some pines and gnarled oaks, their leaves turned golden for fall. “Will you sit with me for a little? Let me hold your hand and talk?”

  On one hand, there was nothing she wanted more than to talk things out. To see if there was anything they could salvage from their relationship. But she had a date tonight to get ready for. Life’s timing sucked.

  “I’d like to talk, really I would.” She patted his chest. “There’s a lot that needs aired out. Like how you hurt me with your rejection.”

  “As I recall, you were the one who slammed the kitchen door in my face.”

  Oh, this was going to take a long time. Their issues could never be resolved in a short talk. “Yes, I did. After you shut me out of Olivia’s life. I get that she’s your daughter, but I could have a place in her life, too.”

  “Point taken.” He leaned in and kissed her quick and hard as if that were all it was going to take to smooth things over.

  “You rejected me.”

  Tyler shook his head.

  “I sent you texts, and you never responded. When I called to tell you about today, you were downright surly.”

  His dark eyebrows rose.

  “I read a book once. Can’t recall the
title or the author, but she—and I’m sure the author was a woman, ’cause men have no clue about feelings. She wrote that people treat you the way you demand to be treated.” She pulled her shoulders back and speared him with a glare. “Well, I demand to be treated with respect and kindness. I won’t be rejected one minute and romanced the next. You’re not the only single man in these parts, Tyler Desmond…and I’ve got a date for tonight,” she added to prove her point.

  He looked as though he’d been hit. “A date?”

  She wanted to bite her tongue. Why did she tell him that? To make him jealous? To hurt him the way he’d hurt her? Well, words were one-way instruments, weren’t they? Once spoken, they could never be taken back.

  “Yes, one of the teachers at the school asked me out.”

  A muscle bunched in his jaw. “Brandon Cole?”

  She nodded. “He said he stood with you during the assembly, and you told him we were dating. Why would you tell him that when we haven’t spoken in two weeks?”

  “I told you I wanted an exclusive relationship.” Evidently, he wasn’t going to answer her question, if he’d even heard it. No doubt his mind was snagged on her having a date.

  “Tell me, were we still in a relationship when you ignored me for two weeks? When you ignored my texts? No phone calls, no texts, no emails? And were we still in a relationship when you barked at me last night when I called? ’Cause that’s not the kind of relationship I want, Tyler Desmond. If you can’t treat me right all of the time, then forget I exist. You know, you can be a bit of a bully, too.”

  She turned to open her car door and he stepped closer and put a hand on either side of her shoulders, fencing her in. “Bully? You dare call me a bully?”

  He leaned over her, invading her space. His lime-based cologne prompted memories of their night together. The heat from his body warmed her back. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him lean down.

  “Was I a bully when I made love to you?” His voice was an intimate whisper. “Didn’t I show you tenderness?” He kissed her neck, and a shiver ran pell-mell through her. “Didn’t I see to your needs?” He leaned to kiss the other side of her neck.

  She was weakening, but she could not give in. Not until she had time to think. “I want more than sex. I want more than sizzle. I want a home and family. How can we have that, Tyler, when you don’t want to share your daughter with me? Am I not good enough for Olivia? For you? Now, back away and let me go.”

  When he stepped back, she felt the loss of his heat. She had to admit being in his arms for that mind-numbing kiss was wonderful. Yet, she couldn’t allow one fantastic kiss to alter the memory of his rejection. She got in her car, clicked the seat belt and started the motor. When she backed her old car out of the parking space, she left more than an oil spot; she left her heart and soul.

  ****

  “What did you think of Lacy’s speech today?” Olivia slid a slice of pizza on her plate.

  He’d been too numb with his dose of rejection to cook, so he resorted to their old standby. “I thought she was great.”

  Her food stilled halfway to her mouth. “Really?”

  He nodded. “I had no idea the problem of bullying was so prevalent. She’s doing a valuable service. I’m proud of her. It took guts to do what she did today.” She’d had a hard enough time telling him about the video. He’d held her close and listened to her bare her soul. Today she’d gathered her courage and spoken to strangers.

  “Are you going to try to patch things up with her?” Olivia pushed her glasses up on her nose. “Or will you get jealous again every time we talk?” She shrugged. “Kind of silly, if you ask me. I tell Cassidy everything and you never get your boxers in a twist over that.”

  “Watch yourself, young lady. Let’s keep things respectful.” He wouldn’t stand for his teenager talking to him like that.

  She shot him her patented hangdog expression. “Sorry, Daddy. Are you going to apologize?”

  He reached for his second slice and a few breadsticks. “Already did.” For all the good it did me.

  “What did she say?” Olivia’s brown eyes sparkled with excitement.

  He rested his arms on the table. “Angel, she has a date tonight with someone else.”

  She jumped up. “No! No, she can’t. Daddy, you have to do something. You have to make things right.”

  “Sit back down and eat. I tried. She feels we have no future, and maybe she’s right. I can’t force her to do something she doesn’t want. If I did, that would make me a bully, or so she claims.” How could he win Lacy back? She was so hurt and angry, she wasn’t listening to reason right now. Maybe she was more attracted to that bald teacher than she was him. He reached for his chest. God, that hurts.

  “I’ve waited for two weeks for you to tell me what’s been going on in school, but you were too angry to talk. When are you going to open up to your old man?”

  “I haven’t been very fair, have I?” She picked apart a slice of pizza and sighed. “Do you think I’m always going to be smaller than everyone else?”

  “No, I don’t. You’re just growing a little slower than most, that’s all.”

  A tear trickled down her heart-shaped face. “The girls make fun of me, Daddy. We have to undress after gym class and shower. They point at my flat chest and call me ‘Double-T.’”

  He fought to remain calm so she’d keep on talking. “Double-T?”

  She nodded and flicked away tears. “Tiny tits,” she whispered in embarrassment, her cheeks flaming red. “Some of the girls called me that in class, in the hallways, in the cafeterias. Once the boys heard it, they started calling me that, too. They say I’m not really a girl and call me Oliver.”

  A curtain of red lowered over his vision field. How dare they do that to his daughter? He wanted to rage and curse. He wanted to tear apart something. Instead, he held open his arms. “Oh, Angel, why didn’t you tell me? I’d have done something.”

  “What? What would you have done?” Her face held a resigned look of defeat, which scared the bejesus out of him. She stepped into his embrace and he held her close, his baby girl.

  “Anything. I’d have done anything to save you from this. We’ll work on this problem together. Lacy will help, too, I’m sure. I’ll do whatever I can to make things easier for you. Give me a chance to help you.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lacy’s “date” was not going well. How could it when she was sitting across a table from the wrong guy? She wanted to be with Tyler in the worst way, even if they were arguing over problems in their relationship. Better an angry man than an annoying jerk.

  “I’ll have the spinach and pear salad with vinaigrette dressing on the side. Baked flounder and brocolli. My date will have the same thing. We need to keep a closer eye on those ample hips of hers.”

  You pompous ass. She felt the heat of a blush flash on her cheeks as her fists curled on her lap. Her angry gaze swept from him to the printed menu. Gus’s nephew, Win, must be cooking tonight for such a lavish list. She glanced to the waitress. “I don’t care for fish. I’ll have the chicken.”

  “Nonsense. Fish is better for you.” Brandon waved away her remark. After the waitress left, he leaned across the table. “I watched the video of you four or five times after I got home from school today.”

  Her heart sank. She couldn’t look at him. This whole evening was a mistake. Just because he was a teacher didn’t make him date material. Really, what did she know about him? Except he wasn’t as nice as he first appeared.

  At least she had the safety of Gus’s place. Talking him into coming to the Lonesome Steer had taken some doing. He’d wanted to go someplace more trendy.

  Brandon’s gaze swept over the women at the next table. “This honky tonk surprises me. It’s not the dump I thought it was. The clientele isn’t so bad, either.” He winked at a slender woman in a pink Western shirt, its buttons undone to the level of indecency. She rewarded him with a finger wave.

  Throughout dinne
r, he kept a running dialog going on his past sports exploits. He also kept an eye on the woman at the next table. Not once did he ask her about her life or what she did for a living. How different he was from Tyler. In fact, he didn’t begin to measure up to her cowboy. Instead of ordering a double dessert like Tyler, he ordered another double Scotch.

  She wanted to laugh. Brandon bragged about his healthy lifestyle, yet he drank hard liquor as if it were vegetable juice. This was his fourth drink in less than an hour. His words were starting to slur. As far as she was concerned, this date was over.

  Maybe she could get a ride home with someone. Her gaze swept the place, looking for a familiar face.

  Accepting Brandon’s invitation to go out had certainly been an error in judgment. For one, he was a jerk who was a little too fond of the booze. And secondly, he paled in comparison to Tyler. Her cowboy was warmth and strength and caring. All things good. Why, oh, why had I called him a bully? Bullies wanted to demean and hurt the person in their evil crosshairs. Tyler was too goodhearted to hurt anyone.

  And what had possessed her to accept a date with this guy? She’d been hurt when Tyler didn’t come talk to her after her presentation at the school. Now she knew he’d gone to buy her flowers, but at the time she counted it as another rejection by a man.

  If she couldn’t find a way home, she’d borrow money from Gus to call a cab. The measly twelve dollars she had in her wallet wouldn’t be enough to cover her fare.

  “I need to use the ladies room.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Brandon barely spared her a glance.

  Instead of going straight to the restroom, she hurried for the end of the bar and motioned for the bartender, Marshall.

  “What can I do for you?”