fought panic as Maddie’s golden-brown eyes filled with tears. He was lousy with crying women. “That’s all right,” he assured hastily. “You don’t have to tell me.”
Maddie sniffed and she made a brave attempt at a smile. “All right. Thank you.”
All right?
He was more perplexed than ever. Whenever he told his sisters they didn’t have to tell him what was wrong, they claimed he wasn’t “interested” and seemed insulted. Granted, he was a stranger to Maddie, but it still surprised him. The intelligent thing to do was leave before things got more complicated.
“At least let me buy you a cup of coffee,” Patrick offered. Obviously, he wasn’t smart enough to do the “intelligent” thing. On the other hand, he’d made so many mistakes in his life, what was one more? “We’ve got great coffee here in Washington. And maybe Beth will show up so you can meet her.”
She regarded him for a long moment, then shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m headed for the cemetery. Well, actually to some graves that might be there with my birth name on the headstones. You see, I was adopted and thought I could get some information on my birth family by checking out the markers. Maybe I’ll come back another time.”
Adopted?
That was interesting. Patrick recalled that his sister-in-law had been raised in foster homes after her adoptive parents split up in a nasty divorce.
“When were you adopted?” he asked.
“I was a month old. My mom and dad are terrific, but I’ve been wondering about my birth parents—their health history and that sort of thing—in case I decide to have children. Which I’m not going to,” she added quickly. “So I’m not actually sure why I’m here. I told you I wasn’t pregnant.”
Patrick shook his head to clear it. Intimate revelations spilled from Maddie without a second thought. “Er…I remember. You aren’t pregnant,” he said.
“Well, I was planning to get pregnant,” Maddie qualified, her innate honesty forcing her into the admission. “But those plans changed abruptly. Thank goodness I found out in time.”
“Found out what?”
“Just s-something.”
To Maddie’s horror, more tears welled up in her eyes. It was so strange being in a place where people didn’t know everything about her. She’d grown up in a tiny town, where everyone knew everybody else’s business, so what was the point in trying to keep secrets? By now everyone in Slapshot knew about Ted and her failed wedding. Darn it all. Marrying the boy next door had always seemed so natural and expected and now she had no idea of what to do with her life.
“You still seem upset,” Patrick said.
He looked uncomfortable, which was fine with her. He’d made her plenty uncomfortable since calling her “gorgeous” and kissing her cheek.
Maddie tightened her mouth.
Boy, was she a dope.
But at least she was smart enough to turn down an invitation from Patrick O’Rourke. He was just the sort of handsome, sophisticated man her father had warned her about before putting her on the airplane in Albuquerque.
All at once Maddie scowled.
Why had her father warned her about other men? She’d told him over and over that she wasn’t ever dating again and that marriage was absolutely out of the question. She was sorry about the grandchildren thing, but one two-timing skunk was enough.
Patrick touched her arm, concern in his blue eyes. “Are you all right, Miss Jackson?”
She lifted her chin. “I’m just peachy, can’t you tell?”
“Uh, sure.” But he didn’t look convinced, and Maddie tried to relax. Maybe she wasn’t going to drink coffee with the man, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be pleasant.
“Well, it was nice meeting you.” She stuck out her hand. “I hope your sister-in-law has a beautiful baby.”
“Thanks.”
He grasped her fingers and she shivered. She’d never met someone with his electric body chemistry. The first time they’d shaken hands, the contact had sent tingles clear to her elbow, and this time the tingles reached the bottom of her stomach. It was different and exciting and the last thing she ought to be feeling, especially under the circumstances.
“Uh…bye,” Maddie mumbled, pulling free. Trying not to look as if she was rushing, she walked to her rental car and opened the door. She glanced up and saw him still watching her.
She smiled weakly.
Her father had always told her to be careful about strange men. It was the sheriff in him. They might live in a flyspeck town in the middle of New Mexico, but that didn’t mean his daughter could take unnecessary risks.
So, what would he say about Patrick O’Rourke?
Something succinct, probably.
Her dad was full of bluster and loud talk, but underneath he was pure teddy bear. Still, teddy bear or not, he’d be really uptight at the idea of a man kissing his little girl who hadn’t known her for at least twenty years.
Patrick stuck his hands in his pockets and watched Maddie Jackson drive down the street, feeling as if he’d just escaped a whirlwind.
Lord, the woman was baffling. And entirely too provocative. He wasn’t sure what that business about thinking about getting pregnant meant, though it sounded ominously like a romance gone sour. Even if he was interested in a relationship, he certainly wouldn’t think of starting one with a woman recovering from a broken heart or wanting a baby.
As usual, the R word made him vaguely uneasy.
Relationship.
Patrick shuddered.
It was fine for his brother to get married, and Kane had gotten himself a great wife, but he wasn’t about to follow his eldest sibling to the altar. He liked running his radio station and not having to worry about having to get home by a certain time. If he wanted to work all night, then that was his business. Switching KLMS from rock-and-roll oldies to country music had been a risk, but it was starting to pay off. He needed to stay focused on keeping things moving.
“Patrick, what are you doing in Crockett?” The laughing voice made him turn around. “Lately you’re always at the station. You haven’t even been making it to Sunday dinner with the family.”
“Uh…Beth?” he asked, peering at her closely. He wasn’t taking any chances after running into Maddie Jackson. Heck, he was lucky not to have been slapped or arrested.
Beth raised her eyebrows. “You were expecting someone else?”
“You’d be surprised,” Patrick muttered, giving her a tardy kiss. “I just met a woman who’s your spitting image. You wouldn’t happen to have a twin sister stashed someplace in New Mexico, would you?”
“I don’t think so.”
