by Katie Meyer
He caught her hand as she reached for the condom. “Not so fast.”
Before she could argue, he rolled, flipping their positions. “I’m going to take my time enjoying you first.”
He wanted to show her she’d made the right call, to show her how much this meant to him, how much she meant to him. And selfishly, he wanted to make it last as long as humanly possible because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold back once he was inside her. He started with her mouth, kissing her thoroughly before working his way down. His hands traced and smoothed over silken skin, his lips and tongue following, searching out new spots that made her whimper, mapping each inch of her body until he couldn’t contain his own need any longer. Rising, he grabbed the condom and quickly covered himself.
As he entered her, he felt not just physical pleasure but a deep satisfaction, a realization that this was no mere sating of lust. This was more. Every part of him vibrated with the certainty that she was his, and he was going to do everything in his power to keep it that way. He put that energy into their lovemaking and Megan met him thrust for thrust, arching her hips and gripping his body with an intensity that had him unable to hold back. Too soon, he hit the brink and tumbled over, his body shaking as he felt her come with him. Spent, he bent one elbow and rolled to the side, tugging her against him.
And wished to heck he never had to let go.
Chapter Thirteen
Megan leaned against the sturdy railing enclosing the porch of the mountain cabin her parents had rented, a mug of coffee warming her hands in the morning chill. She’d been drawing out this moment, savoring both the custom dark roast and her last chance for one-on-one time with her mother before they had to pack up.
“They look like they’re having fun,” her mom observed, moving closer for a better view.
Down in the yard, Owen was busy upturning rocks, intently checking the wet grass underneath. Behind him trailed his grandfather, a field guide of North Carolina wildlife in his hands. He’d had it shipped overnight after noting Owen’s interest in the creatures they’d found on their daily walks. Together, they were marking each new discovery.
“Definitely. I love seeing how well the two of them get on.” Megan took another sip of her coffee and smiled. “And I admit, I enjoy getting a bit of break.” She’d felt almost guilty at first, unused to Owen preferring to spend so much time with anyone other than her. But it was important, and normal, for a kid to have role models in his life other than his mother. And that knowledge, plus sheer exhaustion, had overcome any lingering hesitation about sitting on the sidelines while her parents entertained Owen. Or, as was often the case, he entertained them.
“If anyone deserves to relax, you do. Your father and I are so impressed with how well you’ve handled everything, but I know it’s a lot.”
Setting her mug down, Megan warmed at the praise. “Thanks. I do the best I can. But I wish he could have more days like this.” She took a deep breath of crisp air and continued. “I was hoping you and Dad could start visiting more often?”
“Oh, honey, I would love that. But your father’s so busy right now, I just don’t know when we’ll be back in the country.”
“What about Christmas? If Dad is so busy, maybe you could come?” Megan was begging, and she hated it. Especially knowing it was pointless. Even now, her mother was shaking her head, features pinched.
“I’m afraid we’re going to be in Switzerland. One of the foreign ministers is organizing some sort of think tank at his chalet, and wants your father to be part of it. They want to work out all the details before the legislative session starts up.”
Disappointment, bitter and ugly, rose inside her, stealing the peace she’d been feeling a moment ago. She shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up. It had been years since they’d opened presents together. Still, was it so wrong to want her son to have a big, family Christmas?
Her mother fussed with the chain holding her reading glasses, avoiding eye contact. “Perhaps you and that man you were telling me about can do something this year? You did say that he and Owen get along so well.”
“They do.” Megan picked up her mug and, realizing it was empty, set it back down again. “But I thought if you and Dad were there, it would give you a chance to meet him. I think you’d like him.”
“I’m sure we will...just as soon as we can get there.”
Megan fought the urge to push harder. She wasn’t a little girl upset about her parents missing a recital. She was a grown woman. And if her parents still didn’t want to make their only family a priority, she wasn’t going to beg and plead to try to change their minds. But the rejection—because that’s what it felt like—stung.
She shrugged and started for the door. “Well, let me know where to send your present, I guess.”
“Megan, don’t you walk away from me like that.”
That tone of voice would have stopped her in her tracks only a few years ago. But one of the benefits of living through hell is realizing your own strength. So her footsteps didn’t falter on the old oak boards. “Sorry, Mom. It was great seeing you, but I’ve got to pack.”
She didn’t have time for melodrama or hurt feelings. She was busy enough, what with her job, Owen, and now a boyfriend. That was plenty. It had to be. Yes, it would be good for Owen to spend more time with his grandparents. And yes, having them around would make her newfound social life easier to manage. And maybe she had hoped to finally make up for the time she’d missed with her parents. Oh well.
Life didn’t get easier just because you wanted it to.
She was moving forward now, and if her parents were not part of her future, she wasn’t about to let them drag her backward.
* * *
Luke was equal parts impressed and horrified when he found Megan perched precariously on a rickety ladder leaning against the equally rickety eaves of her house. She was obviously trying to clean out the gutters, but the ladder was about a foot too short, leaving her standing on her tippy toes and stretching dangerously as she dug her gloved hand into the clogged metal. A pile of rotten leaves and debris sat on the ground beneath her. Evidence of her hard work if not her good judgment.
Ever since she’d returned from her Thanksgiving trip to the mountains, she’d become even more self-sufficient, if that were possible. He didn’t know what had happened; she’d refused to talk about it other than to say that her parents would not be in town for Christmas. He’d heard the hurt in her voice. There was more going on there, but family stuff could be tricky and he didn’t want to push her if she wasn’t ready. Earning Megan’s trust had been accomplished one step at a time and he wasn’t going to undo all that progress by focusing on something that didn’t really involve him.
However, letting her handle her family issues was one thing. Letting her break her neck doing home maintenance was another.
Afraid to call out and risk startling her, he stood quietly, chest tight, waiting for her to look down. When she did, she rewarded him with a weary smile.
“You know there are easier ways to do that, right?”
“Yeah, but they all involve paying someone else to do it or buying equipment that costs more than I’m willing to spend.” She gingerly eased herself down the ladder. It was clear that she knew she’d be even sorer tomorrow. “But I will admit, the videos on the internet made this seem a lot easier.”
“They always do.” Luke glanced through the sliding-glass door and saw Owen occupied with his Lego toys on the floor, Lily right beside him. Taking advantage of the relative privacy, he grabbed Megan’s arm and tugged her around the corner of the house before planting a kiss right on her surprised mouth. She tasted like sunshine and lemonade, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever get his fill of her.
Too soon, Megan pulled away. “Stop it,” she protested, laughing. “I’m filthy!”
He shrugged. “So? Guys like girls who get dirty.”
> She wrinkled her nose. “Really?”
“Sure, haven’t you ever heard of mud wrestling?” To be honest, it wasn’t something that had ever appealed to him, and still didn’t, but when it came to Megan, he was speaking the truth. She was grimy and sweaty, mud striping her face and arms, and her tank top sticking to her in places... And she was still the sexiest thing he had ever seen. Pulling her hips to his, he made sure to show her exactly how hot she made him with another sizzling kiss.
When they broke to take a breath, he was pleased to see the dazed look in her eyes. In the two weeks since she agreed to officially be his girlfriend, they hadn’t managed time for even one real date. He’d spent the Thanksgiving break at his mother’s, helping her with some maintenance around the house. Since his return, they’d both been slammed with work. Moments like this proved he wasn’t the only one who wished they had more time together. But Megan never forgot her main priority. Even now, she was stepping back, looking in the direction of the rear of the house.
“Owen—”
“Is playing with his Lego. If anything was wrong, Lily would have let us know.” Indeed, he’d only ever heard the perfectly mannered dog bark once, and that was when Owen’s shirt had gotten stuck on a branch while he’d been climbing a tree at the park. Both Luke and Megan had been within eyesight but hadn’t realized the predicament until Lily had sounded the alarm. Megan had explained at the time that Lily’s primary job was to calm Owen before he got upset, but that if that didn’t work, she would bark until someone arrived. Truly, the dog was a miracle.
Yet Megan still worried, and right now that could work in Luke’s favor. “But hey, why don’t you go check on him? Maybe grab us some cold drinks while you’re in there.”
Megan crossed her arms and glared at him. “You aren’t fooling me. As soon as I am inside, you’re planning to take over and finish cleaning the gutters, aren’t you?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“That’s so sexist. Just because you’re a man, you think you should do the dirty jobs?”
“Hey, we already established that I have no problem with you getting dirty. What I do have a problem with is you being unsafe. There’s a reason those ladders have a warning label saying you shouldn’t stand on the very top. It’s too easy to overbalance. So, unless you have a taller ladder somewhere, you need someone with a longer reach. Besides,” he added with a wink, “if you end up in the hospital, who will I take to the banquet?”
“Well, there’s always Liz Robins,” Megan quipped, smirking.
Luke grimaced. “Definitely not an option.” He’d rather clean all the gutters in the neighborhood than spend one evening with that man-eater.
“Fine. Knock yourself out.” She tipped her head toward the house. “I’ll go make some lemonade while you prove your masculinity.”
He took the time to watch her walk away, enjoying the view before she rounded the house and he was left with only the sad-looking ladder for company. The thing was even more decrepit than he’d first thought. The old wood was bleached and splintered from who knew how many years of Florida heat and humidity. Still, he’d rather risk a rung crumbling under his weight than have Megan topple off the top. And not because he cared about the stupid fundraiser, but because he cared about her.
Luke didn’t think that made him sexist. Dumb, maybe, given the way the first rung of the ladder creaked under his foot. He did have a longer reach than Megan, but he also weighed significantly more. He hoped no more than the dilapidated contraption could hold. Still, he eased upward, gripping the hot, sun-scorched side rails as tightly as he dared—a tumble from the ladder was nothing compared to how hard he’d fallen for Megan.
Chapter Fourteen
Megan held her breath, eyes closed, as Cassie zipped up the back of the dress. She’d had to order it online and, thanks to a shipping snafu, it had just arrived—only hours before Luke was due to pick her up for the banquet. If it didn’t fit, she was sunk.
“So, are you going to look?”
Dipping her head in embarrassment, she dared a quick glance in the full-length mirror hanging on the bathroom door. Another last-minute online purchase; until recently she hadn’t cared about her appearance to need one. For years, she’d settled for clean and hopefully unwrinkled, which made the woman staring back at her nearly impossible to recognize.
“Wow.”
“Definitely wow,” Cassie agreed. “That dress was positively worth waiting for.”
“It’s not too tight?” Megan smoothed her hands down her sides, loving the feel of the sleek red fabric. She’d chosen it, hoping the stretchy material would be comfortable. Though, she had to admit, the snug fit and above the knee length, while perfectly appropriate, left very little to the imagination.
Cassie shook her head. “It’s perfect. Luke is going to trip over his tongue when he sees you in it.”
The mental image of Luke panting after her like Lily begging for a treat was ridiculous enough to break through her worries about the dress.
Cassie was right. She looked amazing. She felt amazing. As if when she’d wiggled into the dress a piece of herself had fallen into place, as well. A piece she’d almost forgotten existed.
She’d been taking baby steps to...something...ever since she and Luke had started dating. But this dress felt like a giant leap toward the woman she wanted to be. Confident, sexy, and hopeful for the future. A woman who didn’t spend her life in crisis mode, waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the next problem to surface. She and Luke had a good thing going, and she wasn’t going to second-guess it anymore. At least, not tonight.
Feeling a bit like Cinderella getting ready for the ball, she slid on the matching sky-high heels Cassie had loaned to the cause. Unfortunately, that had been the only clothing size they’d had in common, or she could have avoided the entire shopping debacle.
Although, seeing herself now, Megan had to admit she was glad she’d gone to the trouble. This was the start of a new chapter in their relationship, and in her life. A new outfit was practically required. And wearing it, she looked like a whole new person.
“Mom, is dinner ready yet? Lily and I are starving!”
Owen’s voice broke the spell. She might have a boyfriend and the beginnings of a social life, but she was still a mom. Maybe she’d find a better balance over time, but right now her kid needed dinner. Turning from the mirror and the vision of what might be, she kicked off the heels and faced the present.
Two sets of eyes, one human, one canine, stared accusingly at her, as if five minutes past mealtime was a crime of epic proportion. She was about to point out the unlikely odds of starving to death in such a short time when Cassie placed a hand on her arm.
“Hungry enough for the Salty Chicken?” Cassie asked.
Owen’s eyes lit up at the mention of his favorite takeout restaurant. “With extra sauce?”
Cassie agreed before Megan, off kilter in her cocktail dress and bare feet, could call time-out on whatever was happening. “Sure, as soon as you’re packed, we can head straight there.”
“But I was going to drop him off after dinner,” Megan protested once Owen had darted down the hall. “You’re already watching him overnight. You don’t have to take him out to eat, too.”
“Whatever.” Her friend blew off the concern with a shrug of her shoulders. “I was going to pick up food on the way home anyway. Might as well save you the trip. Besides, this way you can take your time getting ready, do your hair, all that stuff.” Cassie ran a hand over her own no-nonsense ponytail. “I don’t know that I even remember what that involves, but I do know it will be easier if you’re not darting back and forth to the kitchen while doing it.”
Unexpected tears stung Megan’s eyes. A few months ago, she’d thought she had no one in her life to rely on. Now, she not only had an amazingly hot boyfriend, but a really good friend. She wasn’t quite su
re which was better. “Thank you.” She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “For the shoes, and watching Owen, and...” Emotion clogged her throat, stopping whatever words she might have used to express the importance Cassie’s friendship and support had come to mean to her.
“Stop.” Cassie shook her finger in warning, a suspicious glint of moisture in her eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”
Megan wanted to argue, but Owen was already back, overnight bag and plastic container of kibble in tow.
“People food makes Lily puke,” he advised Cassie. “She has to have her own food.”
“Good to know,” she answered soberly, as if learning brand-new information and not an experienced veterinarian. “I’ll be careful.”
“Okay. We can go then.”
“Can I get a hug goodbye at least?” Megan was glad he was becoming more independent. A year ago, he’d never have been able to spend a whole night away. But Lily, and his recent social growth at school, had given him the confidence to try new things. Including a sleepover with his friend Emma. Megan had no doubt he’d have a great time, which was something else to be grateful for. She’d still worry, but he was in good hands, and she couldn’t ask for more than that.
“Too tight!” Her son squirmed in her embrace and, even though part of her wanted to hold on forever, she took a deep breath and let him go.
He was moving forward, growing and embracing new relationships and adventures. If she needed any inspiration for her own life, all she had to do was to look at her son and hope to live up to his example.
* * *
Luke gripped the steering wheel tightly, willing his hands to keep the car on course even as his eyes drifted from the road. He’d been stealing glances at Megan since he’d picked her up. He hadn’t thought he could be any more attracted to her than he already was. He’d been wrong. So very wrong.
When she’d opened the door in that dress, the impact had hit him like a rogue wave, leaving him speechless for a full minute. Finally finding his tongue, he’d mumbled something trite he couldn’t remember now. But a guy couldn’t be expected to form a coherent sentence when all the blood had rushed from his brain to regions south. It was as though some switch had been thrown and all his dormant caveman genes had woken to demand he take this woman as his mate. Now. Forever. And that revelation, on top of the overwhelming lust clouding his head, was rocking his world.