by Cat Schield
“No obvious issues,” Will corrected with a wry grin. “Although I have to say that Cora Lee was responsible for keeping us together as a family. The months after my father died were hard, but Cora Lee loved us fiercely and constantly reminded us how strong we were.”
To Will’s surprise, Megan reached out and placed her hand over his where it rested on his thigh. If it had been anyone else’s hand, Will would scarcely have noted the touch, but with Megan, every look, each brushing contact with her body set his nerves on fire. After a too brief squeeze, she withdrew.
“She’s really protective of you.”
“Protective.” Will chewed on his lower lip and mulled that over. “Is that another word for bossy and opinionated?”
Megan shook her head. “She’s those things, too, but only because she worries about you.”
“And how would you know that?”
“I heard you two talking this morning. She questioned the wisdom of me staying at the ranch.”
Will thought back to the conversation, trying to recall what had been said. “And I suppose you heard her remark on how I’m attracted to you.”
Megan nodded. “She didn’t seem too keen on the fact. And she called me an iceberg.”
“You’re not. In fact, you’re the furthest thing from one.”
It was something he could attest to firsthand. The frenzy of her gyrating hips as he’d thrust into her. Her impassioned cries had an edge of near desperation to them as moisture had gathered between their straining bodies. He’d tasted the saltiness of her sweat as he’d licked his way up her neck toward her luscious mouth...
Noting a sudden tightness in his jeans, Will pulled off his cowboy hat and wiped sweat from his brow. Damn, the woman had gotten beneath his skin. He shoved the images of her from that night to the back of his mind. She was unloading her emotional baggage. He needed to listen so he could understand her better.
“Sometimes I feel as if I can’t trust anyone,” Megan said, the color in her cheeks high as if she’d read his mind and was also recalling their feverish lovemaking. “It’s why I give off the appearance of being an iceberg. I keep my guards up all the time and push people away.”
“Until Rich came along and broke through.” Will couldn’t stop the resentment coloring his tone. It bothered him that he’d been too dense or preoccupied to go after a woman as amazing as Megan.
“And look at what that got me.”
“You can’t blame yourself for taking a chance and having things turn out the way they did.”
“Can’t I?” She blew out a breath. “I get the point you’re trying to make, but at the same time the fact that I was taken in by Rich makes it harder for me to trust again.”
Will heard the echo of his thoughts in her words. “You can’t live your life not trusting people.” Do as I say, not as I do.
“I know,” she said. “It’s something I have to work on.”
“You could start by trusting me.”
“I could.” She drew the words out thoughtfully. “What would trusting you entail?”
“I think you’ve already started. You told me how you felt about me in high school and that you overheard my conversation with Cora Lee. It would be nice if we could talk to each other about things that are bothering us.”
“I guess I could do that.” She paused and chewed on her lower lip. “As long as we start slow and small.”
“Slow and small it is. You have been upfront with me. Let me return the favor.” He released a ragged breath then went on. “That night we spent together after Jason’s memorial service was a huge surprise to me. Not only was the sex fantastic, but being with you felt right in a way I’ve never known before.” Speaking from his heart had never been harder, but Will felt that he owed Megan the truth. “That bothers me because I feel like I’m out on a limb, waiting for it to break.”
The admission came out easier than he’d expected.
“You’re not alone on that limb and there’s no reason it has to break.” She gave him a smile of heartbreaking vulnerability that nearly stopped his heart. “That night was wonderful for me, as well, but I think both of us recognize we’re in a complicated situation and that how we feel in this moment might change once Rich is caught and life returns to normal.”
Part of him resented her practical nature, but he knew she was right. That didn’t stop him from wanting to haul her off her horse and make love to her beneath the stars.
“So what do we want to do?” he asked, then without waiting for her answer, added, “I’d like for us to get to know each other.”
“In bed or out?” She looked surprised that she’d asked the question.
He couldn’t help it, a chuckle slipped out. With the laughter came a release of tension. Her features softened into a broad smile.
“Both.” He might as well continue to be honest. “Pretending that I don’t want to get you naked and make you scream my name again is contrary to learning about each other.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “And it’s quite possible once we know each other...intimately...we will realize we don’t like each other very much at all.” Her teeth flashed in a flirtatious grin that belied her bleak statement.
“I hope you’re kidding because I can’t imagine what I could learn about you that would change my high opinion.”
“I have all sorts of terrible traits.”
“Name one.”
She made a fierce face. “I expect you to be able to read my mind.”
“That’s pretty common in women,” he said, his lofty tone earning him a scowl. “We’ll work on it.”
“I leave every drawer and cupboard door open that I touch. It makes my assistant crazy.”
“My assistant use to complain that I acted as if she was the keeper of everything. As organized as I can be when it comes to my business, I never know where to find things like staplers or paperclips. It really drove her nuts when she’d told me several times where something belonged.”
“I was tricked into falling for and marrying a man I thought was you,” she muttered, her eyes on the horizon where the sun had fallen behind the clouds, painting the sky crimson, tangerine and gold.
Will couldn’t let that hang out there without reminding her of his own failings when it came to Lowell. “My best friend tried to kill me and then took over my life, killing your brother and harming a bunch of people in the process.”
They sat side by side on their horses as the day faded around them. Declaring their failures had dampened the mood, but also connected them. They were on equal footing in this debacle with Rich. What remained to be seen was whether that was a suitable foundation to build a relationship on.
“I guess neither one of us is perfect,” Megan said, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know if I’d say that,” Will said, his gaze resting on her meaningfully. “There’s not a lot about you that doesn’t scream flawless.”
Instead of smiling at his compliment or laughing it off, she grew silent and very still. Will immediately saw that he’d said something wrong.
“What did I say?” he asked.
“Rich use to say all kinds of over-the-top flattering things to me. Telling me I was beautiful and perfect.” She sighed. “I fell for it. Pretty hard, in fact. I believed him because I thought it was you saying those things and they were exactly what I’d hoped you’d say to me all those years ago when we were in high school. Only, I wasn’t beautiful or perfect in those days. I was skinny, awkward and at times my competitive nature got the better of me.”
“I’m not Rich,” Will said gruffly. “I’m not saying things to you with some hidden agenda. I’m not going to try to seduce you or sweet-talk you into my bed. I speak the truth.” Far from being annoyed at being lumped into the same category as Lowell, Will appreciated that Megan had shared her concerns with him. “I promis
e I’ll always be truthful.”
“Thank you.” Her fingers, which had tightened on the reins, now relaxed. “I’m sorry if I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“Don’t apologize. You have legitimate concerns.”
“I have issues.” Megan rode in silence for a few moments. “Do you ever wonder if you’ll be able to trust anyone again?”
“Yes...I do.” Although he hadn’t admitted that to anyone else, it seemed important to share with Megan. “You and I both have a lot more in common than you might think. We’ve both been through the ringer and it’s not something we can easily bounce back from.”
For a while the only sound was the steady thump of the horses’ hooves and the rising symphony of insects as the sky deepened to a velvety navy blue.
“I’d like to trust you,” Megan said at last.
Will smiled. “I’d like to trust you, too.”
“Think we can?” She peeled her eyes off the trail ahead of them and met his gaze.
Although he saw hesitancy there, he glimpsed hope, as well, and nodded. “I think we can work on it.”
* * *
Megan regarded herself in the boutique’s three-way mirror. The luxurious decor, strategically placed lighting, glasses of wine and attentive store clerk had lulled her into a state of relaxation she hadn’t felt since the night Richard had approached her. The outing was made even better because Dani had finally carved time in her schedule to come along.
Not that Megan needed to find a dress for Aaron and Kasey’s engagement party this Friday. She had a closet full of expensive clothes. But she was attending the party with Will and that gave her the excuse to buy something new. Not just new, but different. Out of her comfort zone. And that was exactly how she’d describe the figure-hugging, black-lace dress she was currently wearing.
“That’s the one,” Dani declared, her lips pursed in a silent whistle.
“This is the one,” Megan echoed, sliding her palms down the sides of the dress.
“Will is going to die when he sees you in it.”
Although she told herself she shouldn’t choose the dress for this reason, Megan couldn’t lie to her friend. “I’d like that. It’s been a long time since I’ve dared to be sexy and this dress makes me feel that way.”
“How do you not look at yourself in the mirror every morning and say, ‘Damn, I’m a sexy thing’?” Dani struck a sassy pose and pointed at Megan. “You’re one of the most beautiful women in this town.”
Megan grinned at her friend’s antics. “Beauty isn’t always about how you appear, but how you feel inside. And one thing Rich was really good at was destroying my confidence in a dozen subtle ways.”
Dani sobered. “I get it. I’m sure every woman has that moment when she feels less than she is because of something someone says.”
Megan gave her arms a vigorous shake, dispelling the somber mood. Setting her hands on her hips, she tried to match her friend’s cocky attitude. “That’s all behind me now. I am the new and improved Megan.”
“You go, girl.”
Inspired by Dani’s cheerleading, Megan turned her attention to her friend. “Now, how about you? That bright blue wrap dress you tried earlier was perfect on you.”
“I love it, but I don’t know if it’ll work with my new shoes.” Dani had fallen in love with a pair of strappy red sandals with flowers from Royals Shoes’ current collection, declaring that she’d loved the way the big, round petals let the foot peek through. And the bit of rhinestone in the center of each flower gave them the perfect touch of bling. “What about the black-and-white color-block dress?”
The simple sheath had black hourglass panels front and back with a strip of white running up the sides. The design gave the illusion that Dani had curves for miles. The red shoes would be a sexy pop against the dress’s monochromatic palette.
“Cole’s going to go nuts when he sees you in it,” Megan said. “And in addition to looking fabulous, our dresses will complement each other.” She paused, caught off guard by a sudden rush of emotion. “It’s really been great having you back in my life,” she told her friend in a shaky voice.
Dani came over to hug her. “I feel the same way.”
With their fashion decisions made, the two women made their purchases before heading out. As soon as Megan heard the boutique door close behind her, she glanced around, scanning the street for any sign of Rich. Checking her surroundings had become a necessary habit. She thought she was being unobtrusive until she caught Dani’s worried frown.
“He really has you spooked.”
Megan didn’t need to ask whom her friend was referring to. “When I first found out I’d married an imposter, I was more humiliated than concerned about my safety. But after learning what he did to Will and then to Jason, he’s showed himself to be dangerous and unpredictable. And he’s back in town.” She’d kept the parking lot encounter to herself, but now she wondered if she’d done the right thing to come shopping with Dani. “He confronted me in my building’s parking lot a few nights ago.”
Dani’s brown eyes went wide. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to worry anyone.”
“You didn’t want to...” Dani shook her head in dismay. “What happened?”
“He said he wanted me to go with him.”
“Go with him where?” her friend demanded.
“I have no idea. I think he’s back to finish some unsettled business.”
Picking up on Megan’s anxiety, Dani began to scan the immediate vicinity the way her friend had done. “Are you sure it was a good idea for you to come shopping like this? Rich could jump out and grab you at any second.”
Seeing her friend’s alarm, Megan wished she’d kept quiet. “I don’t think he’ll try anything on a busy street in downtown Royal. If I thought otherwise, I never would’ve put you in any kind of danger.”
“I’m not worried about me.”
“I am. You have two beautiful boys counting on you to stay safe and a very formidable man who would be devastated if any harm came to you.” Megan frowned. “In fact, maybe it would be better if this is our last solo outing until Rich is caught.”
“You can’t isolate yourself from everybody who loves you in an attempt to keep them safe.” Dani looped her arm through Megan’s in a display of solidarity and said, “Come on, let’s go grab some lunch.”
Despite being filled with misgivings, Megan nodded. Her throat constricted as emotion overwhelmed her. Having a good friend like Dani was priceless and she was more determined than ever to keep the mother of two safe. Even if that meant Megan had to keep her distance for the near future.
Once they were seated in a booth at the Royal Diner, Dani began to probe for details about Megan’s encounter with Rich. Megan explained how she’d managed to get a shot off, possibly wounding the imposter.
“You are so brave.” Dani regarded her in open admiration. “I don’t know what I would’ve done in the same situation.”
“I was terrified,” Megan admitted without reservation. “And acting on instinct. I didn’t consider trying to hit him, only scare him away.” She released a quavering breath. “But now, and it’s terrible of me to say, I think if he comes near me again, I could point the gun at his black heart and pull the trigger.”
Although the confession shocked Megan even as she made it, she understood where the declaration came from. Long before Rich had killed Jason and threatened her well-being, he’d systematically targeted her self-esteem and psychologically tormented her. The love she’d had for him in the beginning had faded beneath long months of his subtle abuse after they were married. And yet she’d continued to play the part of good wife because she’d believed she was married to Will Sanders, a man she’d long admired. Once she knew she’d been fooled, it was easy to turn against Richard Lowell.
“
If someone was out to harm me or my family, I’d be the same way,” Dani said. “And Rich is a very dangerous man. You shouldn’t have to think twice about doing whatever you have to do to protect yourself.”
While Megan had never expected anything but support from her friend, she appreciated hearing Dani’s input. Whatever shadows had darkened her psyche fell away for a time, leaving her feeling brighter and more optimistic than she had in weeks.
She blinked back the sudden moisture in her eyes and smiled. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
Dani nodded. “So, I guess that explains why you are living at the Ace in the Hole? How is that going?”
“It’s nice.” Megan blew out a sigh.
“And spending so much time with Will?” Dani’s voice took on a sly overtone. “Are you getting along?”
“Of course. He’s wonderful.”
Although they’d had dinner together at the ranch several times in the last few days, they hadn’t returned to the camaraderie they’d achieved during the sunset ride. She wasn’t sure if it was her fault or if he was holding back. Probably both of them were grappling with how far to advance their relationship and how fast.
They’d put sleeping together on the table, but as much as she craved his slow, deep kisses and the excitement of his hands gliding over her skin as he discovered all the places she loved to be touched, Megan didn’t want only a series of sexual encounters, however incredible they might be.
So, maybe their lack of progress was her fault. Maybe she was giving off a vibe that was warning him away.
“And I’m sure he feels the same way about you,” Dani said.
Megan sensed where her friend was going with the inquiry and made a face. “I wouldn’t know about that, but he seems to be enjoying my company. At least, that’s what he tells me.”
“I’m just gonna come straight out and ask,” Dani said with abrupt seriousness. “Are you two sleeping together?”
“No.”
“Really?” Her friend looked crushed. “Because I know you were really attracted to him in high school. And the way he looks at you makes me think he’s interested.”