The Great Texas Wedding Bargain

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The Great Texas Wedding Bargain Page 14

by Judy Christenberry


  “I forgot. Kiss me, too, Daddy!”

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You two be good for Grandma, tonight, okay?”

  “We will!” Torie assured him, beaming. “We’re going to watch videos.”

  “Aha. Smart Grandma,” he said, winking at Faith. “Ready, sweetheart?” he asked Megan.

  She nodded, still not speaking.

  He took her hand and led her out the backdoor where he’d parked his truck.

  They were halfway to the restaurant before he addressed her. “You haven’t said anything. Are you unhappy about having dinner with Mac and Sam? Because she’s your boss?”

  “No, of course not. Samantha is wonderful.”

  “Well, if you don’t object to them, it must be me.”

  Her cheeks flamed, but she hurriedly reassured him. “Don’t be silly. It’s just…I’m nervous,” she confessed.

  Rick gave her a sharp glance. “Why?”

  “It’s different from being at home together.”

  “Ah. You mean because this is our first date?” he asked, grinning, pleased to know she remembered his words.

  “Yes, but that’s a ridiculous thought. We’re married, for heaven’s sake.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed huskily. “But we’re still newlyweds, so why don’t you scoot over and use the middle seat belt.”

  “No. We’re almost there.”

  But he heard the tension in her voice, saw the sideways glance she gave him, and grinned. On the way home, he’d insist.

  MEGAN ENJOYED the evening. She particularly laughed at Mac’s description of Louann charging into his office.

  “But what did she expect to gain from it? I mean, she’s the one with the money, isn’t she?” she asked, looking at Rick.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “She’s a mean, spiteful woman.”

  “Then how did Mac convince her to drop it?”

  Mac stepped in and answered. “My powerful arguments, my silver tongue, my persuasive voice…and the fact that I said she’d have to pay the legal costs if she failed.” Then he added, “In my humble opinion, some rich people are the stingiest I’ve ever met.”

  “That’s terrible,” Megan protested. “Money isn’t important in itself. It’s what it can do. I mean, look at Dr. Greenfield’s wife. She sponsors those parenting classes for all the young people in the county. That can make a real difference to a child’s future.”

  Rick didn’t know about the classes and asked several questions. They all agreed Florence’s classes were wonderful. Samantha had gone to them several evenings to offer her expertise.

  “If you had money, what else would you do?” Rick asked Megan.

  She shrugged her shoulders, then said, “I’d offer scholarships to students who reached a certain grade point in their high-school career. Maybe combine that requirement with public service. Or provide the local schools with computer equipment so the students have a chance in the real world at getting jobs.”

  Samantha agreed enthusiastically. “Or how about free child care to young single mothers? They can’t make enough to afford good child care. It’s too expensive.”

  “Yes, and there’s—”

  The two women were off and running, with many ideas for improving the community.

  Mac leaned across to Rick. “I think Megan should run for mayor. She’d do a heck of a job running the town.”

  Megan overheard him. “No, I wouldn’t. Right now I have to concentrate on raising Torie and Drew. But maybe after they’re grown?” she suggested with a grin.

  “But don’t you and Rick plan to have children?” Samantha asked, then turned bright red. “Oh! I’m sorry. I mean—you seem so natural together. I didn’t intend to—oh, I’m making a mess out of everything, aren’t I?” She hid her face on her husband’s shoulder.

  “It’s okay, honey,” Mac assured her, grinning. “If they sue, I know a really good lawyer.”

  She raised her head and slapped his arm, grinning. “Thanks a lot. I really am sorry.”

  Megan graciously accepted the apology. Rick, on the other hand, put his arm around Megan and drawled, “Don’t give up on us, Samantha. We may surprise you yet.”

  Megan’s cheeks burned and she avoided looking at anyone. How could Rick make such a remark? They hadn’t…it was their first date!

  When she realized her ridiculous thought, she gave a prayer of gratitude that she hadn’t said the words aloud. They’d think she was crazy.

  “Good for you,” Mac said with a laugh.

  Suddenly, Jessica and Cal appeared at their table.

  “Well, well, well,” Cal said. “Out partying and you didn’t invite us?”

  Rick and Mac, in a convoluted dialogue, explained the reason behind the dinner and then invited Cal and Jessica to join them. Soon it was a party of six, instead of four.

  Megan found herself relaxing. She forgot the problems with her niece and nephew. She forgot the confusion she felt about Rick. She felt carefree for the first time in a year, since before her sister’s death.

  Finally, Rick called a halt to the evening. “Sorry to have to break this up, but I don’t have office hours like you guys. I have to get up early in the morning.”

  “Ha! We’ve heard that before from Spence and Tuck,” Cal assured him, naming the friends with ranches near Rick’s. “You know, we need to have a barbecue soon. We haven’t had one since Alex and Tuck’s wedding.”

  “That sounds great,” Samantha agreed. “But have it soon before I get too big to be seen in public.”

  Everyone protested except Mac who leaned over to whisper something in his wife’s ear. She turned a bright red and slapped his arm again.

  “Amazing, isn’t it?” Cal teased. “They’re still acting like newlyweds.”

  “Like you two are any different,” Mac protested.

  Megan felt envy well up in her. One of the nicest things about moving to Cactus was making friends with these couples. And seeing the bliss of their marriages. She hadn’t really believed it was possible to have such happiness anymore.

  Not after her sister’s disaster of a marriage.

  Cal looked at her and Rick. “Of course, you two have an excuse.”

  “What’s that?” Rick asked.

  “You are newlyweds,” Cal pointed out with a laugh.

  Rick assured them he hadn’t forgotten. Then he stood and pulled Megan to her feet, wrapping his arm around her.

  She didn’t protest. After all, she knew he was posturing for his friends, for the reputation of their marriage. Besides, his arm felt too good around her.

  When they left the restaurant, Jessica and Cal stayed behind so she could check on something in the kitchen. As owner, she kept close tabs on everything.

  Mac and Samantha continued out of the restaurant with Rick and Megan.

  “Uh, guys, I hate to end the evening on a bad note, but I do have something I need to discuss with you,” Mac said in a low voice as they went down the steps.

  Megan spun around, her gaze anxious. Rick’s arm steadied her.

  “What is it, Mac?” he asked, his voice serious.

  “The P.I. I hired called late this afternoon. He hasn’t been able to find much on Moody. It’s common knowledge that his father has paid off a lot of people, but he can’t find anyone to talk.”

  “But maybe he still can?” Megan asked, thinking the news wasn’t as dismal as she’d thought it might be.

  “Maybe. But that’s not the bad news.”

  They stood silently, waiting, braced for what Mac would say next.

  “He heard there’s a possibility Moody may be released early.”

  “How?” Rick demanded.

  “It seems a certain judge pulled some strings.”

  Megan’s hand covered her mouth, but not before everyone heard her moan. “How—how early?”

  “In a week or two.”

  “But he had another three months to serve!” she protested.

  “I know. I’m sorry, Megan.


  She couldn’t say anything else. Biting her bottom lip to keep from crying, she nodded and turned to Rick’s truck. She had to get away.

  Rick shook Mac’s hand, nodded to Samantha, and hurried after her. She slid into the front seat. Before she could close the door, he nudged her. “Sit in the middle. We need to talk.”

  As an excuse, it was lame, but she felt so cold, so shaken, that closeness to Rick sounded just about perfect right now. She did as he ordered.

  He slid in the truck and wrapped his right arm around her as he started the truck and backed out of the parking lot. Megan tried to remain calm, but she began shaking as reaction set in.

  “Shh, baby, it’s all right,” he whispered before his lips touched her forehead.

  “I’m frightened, Rick. He’s…he’ll make trouble.”

  “We’ll protect the kids, sweetheart. We’re going to make this come out right, I promise.”

  Megan loved his words. She appreciated his support. But she wasn’t sure she believed him. She and her mother had been fighting Drake Moody ever since they realized how he was treating Andrea. It had been an uphill battle.

  Now it seemed as if they were facing a cliff.

  No way out.

  Tears filled her eyes, but she struggled not to let them escape. Torie’s sweet little face swam in her mind. Drew’s innocence filled her heart. She had to protect the children.

  And Rick was willing to help.

  She lay her head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for being the opposite of Drake Moody.”

  “My pleasure,” he said softly and continued to drive.

  HOLDING MEGAN TIGHTLY against him was having the usual effect on his body. Rick called himself an animal to even think of sex at a time like this.

  He damn well was going to make sure that judge lost the election come November. He’d call his business manager tomorrow and set things in motion. The man’s opponent would have everything legally possible to win.

  In the meantime, their wonderful evening had ended in disaster. Not that it was Mac’s fault. At least they’d had a good time. But the pleasure he’d felt, sharing dinner with friends, showing off his beautiful lady, making plans in his head for other evenings to lure her into his arms, had all disappeared.

  He stopped beside the back porch and got out, turning to pull Megan after him. She slid into his arms and he swung her up against his chest to carry her inside.

  “Rick, I’m frightened.”

  “I know you are. So am I. But that’s the smart thing to be. It keeps you alert, on your toes. It keeps you battle-ready. If you’re too complacent, you’re sure to lose.”

  “You sound like you’ve fought a lot of battles.”

  “Yeah, I have. And we’re going to fight this one, too. Okay?”

  He felt her head nod against his neck, but she said nothing. After he’d gotten them in the house, he set her down to lock the backdoor. Then he took her hand and led her up the stairs.

  “Why don’t you sleep in tomorrow morning,” he suggested. “I can make my own breakfast.”

  “No. You’ve given me so much, I…I can never repay you. I made the best bargain in the world when I asked you to marry me.”

  “No, sweetheart, I made the best bargain. And I never intend to let you go. There will be no annulment. When you’re ready, this marriage is going to be real…in every way. But we’ll wait until everything’s calmed down and you’ve had time to think.”

  He was proud of himself. He wanted her so badly he could barely walk straight, but now was not the time to sway her. He didn’t want her thinking he would take advantage of her.

  She’d said nothing, so he leaned down and kissed her forehead and nudged her toward her bedroom door. With a sigh.

  “Are you sure?” she asked, her head still down.

  “Sure? About our marriage?” He drew a deep breath. “Oh, yeah, I’m sure.”

  “I’ll always have Torie and Drew. They’re my children now.”

  “And mine. Torie calls me Daddy, remember?”

  “But, Rick, it’s different when it’s pretend.”

  He couldn’t stop. He pulled her against him and kissed her lips. “Sweetheart, it hasn’t been pretend for me for a long time.”

  “It hasn’t?”

  He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Megan, we’d better cut this short if you intend to be a virgin in the morning. I don’t want to take advantage of your stress. I want you to come to me because it’s what you want.”

  Her arms slid around his neck and she leaned her body flush against his. “It’s what I want, Rick.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Do I have to beg? I want to be with you. I want to wake beside you in the morning. I’ve finally found a man I can respect, an honest man, a decent man. I’m sure.”

  And he’d found an honest and decent woman, who also happened to be beautiful and sexy. As his lips descended to hers, his mind traveled over her words and tripped over the honest part.

  But he’d explain. She’d understand.

  Tomorrow, he’d tell her the truth.

  Because he couldn’t think of anything but making love to Megan tonight.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rick carried Megan into his bedroom and carefully placed her on the king-size bed. He’d dreamed of sharing his bed with her for the past two weeks.

  From the first, he’d been attracted to her. He supposed that was why he’d agreed to her offer so quickly, in spite of his fears of marriage. She was hard to resist.

  Before he could pull away, Megan tugged him down, her lips seeking his. He didn’t hesitate to follow her lead because kissing her was something he craved. As their lips mated, their kiss growing deeper and deeper, his hands ran over her body, tracing her curves, stroking her.

  His hands slid beneath her skirt, but her warm flesh was shielded by the pantyhose she wore. Frustrated, hungering to touch her, he lifted his lips. “Megan, I want to touch you.”

  She sat up and reached for her zipper. Rick eagerly assisted her. Pulling her dress over her head, she flung it away. But instead of working on disrobing herself anymore, she reached for the buttons on Rick’s shirt. And her lips returned to his.

  The undressing took awhile because it was hard to remove their clothing unless they separated. And neither could stop the touching, the kissing, long enough to complete the job. Yet, both continued to work on it.

  “Rick, I’m burning up,” Megan confessed, stroking his chest, now that she’d removed his shirt. When her hand strayed to the belt buckle, he drew in a deep breath.

  “Me, too,” he whispered and took her lips again.

  Megan’s hand slipped below his belt, feeling the hard ridge beneath his zipper. With a moan, she returned to the belt buckle, working at unfastening it.

  Suddenly it seemed urgent for him to help her. Once his jeans were discarded, he stripped her of her panties, the last obstacle to their mating. Then he poised himself over her.

  Mindful of her inexperience, he eased his way between her legs, still stroking and kissing her with all his being, wanting her to suffer as little as possible. When he finally pushed into her, he held her tightly, whispering sweet words into her ears before his lips returned to hers.

  MEGAN HAD expected the pain, but it was soon lost in Rick’s care of her, in his touch, his caress, his kiss. Her desire returned tenfold as he began to move in her. She clung tightly, urging him on, unable to bear the thought of halting the most beautiful experience of her life.

  When she thought she could stand the shimmering, electrical sensations no longer, she felt a star-burst of release that shone in her mind like a fireworks display. Then felt a rapid descent into utter exhaustion.

  Rick, too, stilled, his body lying damp and heavy on hers. But rather than crush her, he seemed as one with her, a feeling of completion she’d never felt before.

  “Megan? Are you all rig
ht? Did I hurt you?”

  She couldn’t speak, but she shook her head no.

  “You’re not all right?” he asked anxiously, raising up on one arm.

  “I’m…wonderful,” she whispered, still discovering it difficult to find words.

  Rick rolled off her, making her want to protest, until he pulled her to him as he lay beside her. Wrapped in his arms, she felt she’d come home, to the one place in the world that was hers.

  “Rick, I…” What could she say? Words couldn’t explain the emotions coursing through her, faster than light. She wanted to tell him so much—and she wanted to say nothing.

  His lips covered hers, a gentle kiss that spoke of love, not lust. And she decided he understood. Her eyelids fluttered down and she let exhaustion claim her.

  RICK HELD her against him long after she slept. He pulled the covers over the two of them, savoring their togetherness.

  Just as he’d known, soon after his first marriage, that he’d made a mistake, this time he knew, too. That he’d made a glorious decision when he’d married Megan Ford. Megan Astin.

  He liked saying her name, his name. And he intended to hold her to him for the rest of her life. She was his soul mate, his partner, the perfect woman for him. He loved her more than life itself.

  Though he drifted to sleep, he awoke several hours later and gently awakened Megan by his hands roaming her body, touching at will what had once been forbidden territory. He delighted in her response, her willingness to touch him, to join him in their loving.

  Though he wasn’t sure she ever came fully awake.

  When the alarm rang before dawn, he tried to slip from the bed without awakening her. As he withdrew his warmth, she moaned and reached for him, her eyes still closed. He rewarded her with a soft kiss.

  Then he left the bed, knowing he’d carry the experiences of the night with him all day, until he could touch her again.

  MEGAN DIDN’T get to sleep in all that much later, since Drew awakened her at his normal time, a little before seven.

  She was disappointed to find Rick gone, but not surprised. Her husband was a hard worker. She savored the word husband with pride.

 

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