The Texan's Tiny Dilemma. Judy Christenberry

she’d been with at the wedding. His name had been Roger something, and he was a teacher at the same school where Teresa had taught kindergarten.

      Jim intended to find the man. If nothing else, the creep would pay for having abandoned Teresa and his baby. Jim would see to that.

      When the final dismissal bell rang on Monday at the elementary school where Teresa had taught kindergarten, the school erupted as students headed for happier pursuits.

      Jim entered the office.

      “May I help you, sir?” an elderly lady said from behind the counter.

      “Yes, I hope so. This is embarrassing, but yesterday I ran out of gas and I was broke. This guy loaned me ten dollars and told me he was a teacher here. His first name was Roger, but I forgot his last name. I want to pay him back. Do you have anybody here by that name?” He used his most charming smile.

      “Oh, that would have to be Roger Arnsby. He’s the sweetest thing!” the grandmotherly woman said.

      “Yes, of course. How could I have forgotten—Arnsby. What room is he in?”

      “His room is one-oh-seven, just down the hall, but you’ll have to sign in if you want to see him.”

      “Thank you, ma’am.” Jim signed the visitor log and left the office. He quickly found the correct room. He rapped briefly on the door and stepped forward to face the man behind the desk.

      He hurriedly stood and looked at Jim. “Can I help you?”

      “Perhaps. We met at my brother’s wedding in July.”

      “Oh, right, Teresa’s sister’s wedding,” the teacher said with a relieved smile. “I knew you looked familiar.”

      “Oh, you remember Teresa?” Jim asked grimly.

      The man frowned. “Of course I remember her. She’s a friend.”

      “Seen her lately?”

      “No, I called her in September to go get a cup of coffee. You know, touch base with her, but she was busy.”

      “Guess what she was busy with.” Before Roger could answer, Jim continued, “She was throwing up because she’s pregnant.”

      “Did you come here to tell me that?”

      “I came here to tell you because she doesn’t have a brother to inform you.”

      “Why would she need a—Wait just a minute! Are you implying she’s pregnant with my baby?” Roger demanded, his voice rising close to hysteria.

      “Glad to see you got my meaning. Now, I’m not sure Teresa wants you in her life, and that’s her choice. But you owe her some financial support for your child.”

      “But I’m not the father of her child.”

      “Oh, really? How do you know?”

      “I know because Teresa and I are friends. I never had sex with her.”

      “You seemed pretty hot and heavy at the rehearsal dinner and wedding,” Jim reminded him.

      “Yeah, because that’s what she wanted. When I tried to continue the relationship because—because I was falling for her, she refused. Said she appreciated my help, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship.”

      “Would you say that if she were standing here in front of you?”

      “Yeah, I would. And I’d also want to share in my child’s life, even if its mother still wasn’t interested in me. But unless the ways to get pregnant have changed to include hand-holding, I’m not the dad. That’s about as far as I’ve gone with Teresa.”

      Jim frowned ferociously and Roger took a step backward. “Ask Teresa if you don’t believe me. I’m sure she didn’t tell you that I was the father!”

      “She didn’t,” Jim said with a growl. What the hell had gone on last summer? And why did she ask this bozo to slobber all over her at the rehearsal and wedding? It was as if she was trying to prove that she hadn’t been hurt.

      He turned, almost stumbling, and started out of the room. “Sorry,” he muttered over his shoulder.

      “Hey! Wait! Did you figure out who the father is?”

      “I think so. Sorry I bothered you.”

      Jim got in his car and sat in the parking lot, trying to gather his thoughts.

      Could it be?

      He hadn’t thought—

      But she’d avoided him after he’d told her he wouldn’t be seeing her anymore. That was for sure. Which meant he’d hurt her.

      He hadn’t intended to. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Jim thought about his reasons. As a teenager, he’d been embarrassed, humiliated by a girl who thought he was going to give her his senior ring. They had doubled with his brother and his girlfriend because his brother had asked him to. His senior year had been ruined because the girl had vilified him to everyone.

      He’d vowed never to be caught in the same situation again.

      Then Pete had come back home, met Tommie and the other two triplets. Somehow Jim had ended up dating Teresa. And he’d panicked as his mother kept talking about him marrying Teresa.

      He’d felt he had to disassociate himself before any free choice was taken from him. He’d arranged to take Teresa to dinner one Friday night. Unfortunately, before he’d gotten up his nerve to tell her, she had acted out of character.

      She’d seduced him.

      Jim rubbed his face with his hands. That night had been wonderful…and horrible. He hadn’t been strong enough to resist her, probably because he’d secretly wanted her all along. But after they’d made love, he’d still told her he wouldn’t date her again.

      Stupid of him.

      There was no justification for what he’d done, except that he’d panicked. After having the most memorable sexual experience of his life, he’d rejected her.

      But the most important question here was whether or not he was the father of her baby.

      And that question had to be answered today!

      Chapter Two

      It only took one look from Teresa to change Jim’s plans. He wasn’t going to demand anything. Because he’d seen fear in her eyes.

      “Jim! What are you doing here?” she’d asked.

      What had he done to make her fear him? And if he demanded the truth now, when she already feared him, she’d never admit his role in her pregnancy.

      “I wanted to come by and see you. Mind if I come in?”

      “But why are you off work? It’s too early for you—”

      “I worked a lot of overtime last week. I thought I’d take off early today. And I wanted to offer my services to you.”

      “Your services? I don’t need any accounting help.”

      He smiled, gently moving into her house as she backed away from him. “I know that. But I thought there might be some things I could do for you…like a brother.”

      “A brother?” Her voice wavered and Jim didn’t know if she was going to laugh or cry.

      “You know, lift things, move things. I’ll pretend to be your brother while you’re pregnant. You can call on me for anything.”

      They were still standing in the entryway. Jim didn’t think he was going to get any farther into her home.

      “Well, that’s very thoughtful, Jim, but—”

      Suddenly, a strange look came over her face and she