The man unstacks the boxes and puts them with the rest. Meghan calls some employees over to help open the boxes and get them ready for the public. She’s happy she made the decision to keep the limit to one item signed per player, whether it’s the cookbook, a hockey card, or a jersey. She couldn’t expect the players to sign everything. That would be asking for too much, and she wants to be on everyone’s good side, especially when there will be many more team events. Meghan helps out at the front of the line and then strolls the arena to make sure the event is running the way it was planned. So far, so good. People are smiling, laughing, and having a great time meeting their icons, and the players seem to be enjoying themselves. Meghan walks around the facility, making sure everyone is doing their job and the players have what they need.
By the afternoon, the crowd thins and Meghan instructs security to lock the entrance and to warn people the event is coming to a close.
There are still around a hundred people trying to get through to have something signed.
“Good job today,” Keri says. “I’m heading back to the office to finish up on a few things. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.” After Keri leaves, she kicks off her heels and hides them under a table with her briefcase. Instant relief. She sighs and throws her head back as she wiggles her toes.
“Exhausted?” Dana makes a pile of the crushed boxes.
“I’m okay. It’s my feet. They’re killing me.”
“You look like you could use a nap.”
“It will be an early night for me, that’s for sure.” Meghan takes out her cell phone to check the time. “It’s three already!” Meghan touches her stomach. She missed lunch. Early dinner, early bedtime. “We can start cleaning up. The event is over. You can tell the players to wrap it up. I’m going to start clearing off the tables.”
“Did you need me to sign any extra books?” a guy asks.
Him again!
“They’re for charity, right?”
This guy really is stuck on himself.
“I think we’re okay. Thanks.” She continues to collect the Sharpies.
“Do you need a hand?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.” She ignores him as he clears off his place setting and hands her his name card. Jared Landry. It had to be him. She takes the card.
“I thought this went until four.”
“I sent out the updated notice. It ended at three.” Meghan throws his card in the tote and places it with the others on a nearby table, where Dana adds the other name cards to it.
“That was you? You sent the e-mail?” Jared picks up a potted mum.
She stares at him. Is he for real?
“You’re Meghan.” He extends his hand while holding the plant at his side. “Jared Landry.”
“Meghan O’Riley.” She places her hand in his with a firm shake and releases it, going back to clearing the table of garbage and used Solo cups.
“Are you taking that?” Dana points to the plant.
Jared flinches and hands it over. “No.”
“I can take it.” Dana leaves with it.
“Sorry if I offended you back there. I didn’t know who you were.”
“And that makes a difference?”
“It does. We kinda work together. Don’t want to damage our relationship.”
Meghan snickers. “Damage our relationship?” What relationship? This guy is too much.
“Let me help you.” He reaches for another plant.
“No, I’m okay. Really. Thanks. I’m fine.” She tries hard to grin, even though she wants him to leave and not bother her again. She starts clearing the tables.
“The least I can do is give you a hand.” He puts the plant down as Dana comes for it and takes it away.
She raises an eyebrow. “Don’t worry about it. Thanks. I’ve got it. I’m sure you have things to do.”
Jared scratches his temple, looks around, and starts to stack the empty Solo cups that line the tables before tossing them into the garbage.
“Are you always this helpful?”
“I don’t mind helping out.”
“You don’t have to feel guilty for accusing me of being some random woman checking out locker rooms.”
“I didn’t know who you were.”
This guy’s not letting up. Why is he still here?
“That makes a difference? Is that what you like to do, spy on people?” She stares into his eyes. She swallows, waiting for an answer, but he, too, is gazing at her as though unsure what to say.
“I was walking by. I wanted to make sure you weren’t lost.”
She bursts out laughing. “Okay.”
“Seriously.”
“It was nice meeting you.” She turns on her toes. There is no way this Jared guy is going to think he’s God’s gift to women, the way he cocks his head and smiles at me. No way will I fall into that trap of forgiveness. What does he want?
“Are you having a bad day?”
She looks at him inquisitively. “No, I’m not.”
His eyes skim her outfit and he stares at her bare feet.
“I was wearing new shoes.”
“You spilled something.” He points to his chest, mirroring her reflection.
Her shoulders sink. “Thanks for pointing it out. I spilled my coffee on the way to work. Will you be at the next event?”
He nods.
“Good. Well, I’m sure you have things to do. I’ve got this.” She pulls off a white tablecloth.
“I tried calling you on my way here and I got pulled over—”
“You tried calling me? Why?”
“To tell you I was coming. I was running late . . . and then I got pulled over for holding my cell phone.”
“Don’t tell me, you got off.”
“Yeah.” His top lip tightens into a grin.
Typical.
“It was close. I got a warning.”
Meghan ties the Sharpies together with a rubber band. “It happens, right?” She throws them into the bin. Probably happens all the time.
“It’s never happened before.”
Yeah right. Is he reading my mind? I hope not because I’m thinking his biceps are incredible and his chest is probably just as tightly chiseled.
“I better go. Looks like you’re done here.” He backs away. “Get your boyfriend to look after you tonight and give you a foot massage.”
Her cheeks feel suddenly warm. As if Stu would even think of doing such a thing.
Boyfriend. Breakup. I gotta leave so I can get in touch with Stu and tell him we’re through.
Jared saunters across the concrete floor without a care in the world. He probably has a nice girlfriend and a nice life.
Chapter 2
Meghan wakes up to the sound of her phone ringing. Her eyes pop open, staring into the darkness, and she realizes she’s not dreaming. Her heartbeat quickens as she sits upright and looks at her alarm clock. It’s 12:02. She grabs for her phone that’s sitting on her night table. Who would be calling her at this hour?
She brings her phone to her ear and says hello with a sleepy voice.
“Megs!” the voice says, bringing her attention to his dramatic tone.
She puts her hand to her forehead. It’s Stu. He started shortening her name after he heard Brie call her that a few times, but for some reason when he says it, it doesn’t sound genuine. It’s forceful, like he’s trying to blow up an already-full balloon.
Meghan reaches over to turn on her sidelight. “What’s going on?” she asks. “Is everything all right? I tried calling you at dinnertime, but you didn’t answer and then I tried calling again before I went to bed. Did you get my message?”
“I just got home from the hospital.”
“Oh, no! What happened?” She brings her hand to her cheek; suddenly she’s not so angry with him. “Are you okay?”
“I broke my leg in an accident.”
“Your motorbike?”
“Yeah,” he says. “My moto
rbike.”
“Is it totaled?”
“Looks that way.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’ll be okay. Some bruising and cuts from the road. I’ll be fine.”
“How did it happen?”
He exhales, taking his time. Why does he have to play cool when she just wants to hear the answer?
“I tried to pass a car and there was an oncoming pickup. I don’t know . . . I swerved to miss it and went into the ditch.”
“Were you not paying attention?”
“The truck was coming so fast.”
“You’re driving a bike! You think you’re invincible!” Meghan says. “You drive like you own the road.”
“I don’t.”
“Cars shouldn’t have to give you the right of way. Jeez. Good thing there was room or you’d be a pancake,” she says, letting off steam. “Why do you think you can drive like that?”
“I’m lucky.”
“Yes, you are! And you just have a broken leg?”
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
“When did this happen?”
“After work.”
“Where were you going?” Suddenly Meghan calculates the time. What has he been doing for the past six hours?
“Oh, uh, just for a ride.”
“So after work, instead of going home, you decided to go for a ride?”
“Yeah.”
Meghan lets out a breath. “Must have been a long ride.”
“The weather was decent.”
“Where were you going?”
“Um, to a friend’s.”
“Who?”
“Why the questions? I’m hurt! Don’t you care that I have a broken leg? I could use some TLC.”
“Who were you going to see?”
“Someone from work,” he snaps.
“When did the accident happen?”
“What’s with the questions, Megs?”
“Doesn’t make sense that you would spend all that time with a guy friend, that’s all.”
“What? You don’t believe me?”
“It’s kind of odd, isn’t it?”
“No. I ride all the time. You know that. I keep asking you to come along, but you never do.”
“Motorbikes scare me.” And the way you drive. “Fortunately, I wasn’t with you.”
“I’m home now.”
“Are you doing okay?”
“I could use some company.”
“I can come by tomorrow after work.” Why does she feel so annoyed?
“Why not now?”
“Now? I need to be sleeping. I have to get up in six hours.”
“That’s right, you need your beauty sleep,” he mocks.
Meghan flinches. This is one of the reasons they aren’t compatible. He’s needy and she’s bored of him. Stu asking her to come over should excite her, but instead she’d rather be sleeping.
She has to break up with him. They can’t go on like this. They’re not even a couple. They barely see each other, and when they do, it’s about riding. She doesn’t even care to see him, not now, not after work....
“Who were you going to see?” Meghan asks.
“Can’t a guy go for a ride?”
“You worked until seven last night, usually when you work later all you want to do is go home.”
“Megs, Megs, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“What am I thinking?” She’s grinning at the fact that he’s acting like he’s hiding from telling her who his new friend is. “You’re friends with Thomas, the computer genius. You used to call him The Geek, now you guys are friends. I should have seen it coming when Thomas was asking you about your bike.”
He lets out a chuckle. Why does he find humor in this?
“You don’t have to be shy about it. I know you don’t want to be labeled as friends with Thomas, but it’s fine—”
“It was Tori.”
“Pardon?”
“I was on my way to see Tori.”
“The intern? What for? Never mind. I don’t want to know. I can’t do this anyway.”
“Do what?”
“See you anymore.”
“What do you want?”
Someone who cares to call me when an accident happens. Someone who needs me and I need them.
“We’re not serious, is that it?”
“Maybe that’s the problem,” she says, thinking out loud. “You don’t treat this relationship like it means something to you.”
“You’re not thinking marriage?”
Not with you.
She lets out a sigh. “No.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m not feeling this, us, being together. Clearly, I don’t mean anything to you.”
“What do you need?”
To call because you need me, love me . . .
“I’m not feeling the connection, the bond, the feeling I should be feeling. I don’t know what it is. I just know we need to move on. We’re done.”
“You’re breaking up with me over the phone?”
“I hardly see you!”
“I just asked you to come over!”
“Yeah, to have sex with you!”
“No, we can talk.”
“Since when do you do all the talking?”
“I can’t change your mind?”
“What for?” Meghan asks, her temper flaring.
“We can’t break up,” he says.
“Yes, we can.”
“We’re just getting to know each other!”
“It’s been five months! Besides, I don’t like being cheated on.”
“I didn’t sleep with her!”
“Seriously, Stu? That’s going to make me stay? You were probably on your way to her house to sleep with her. We don’t see each other anyway, only when it’s convenient for you.”
“You don’t want to give it another shot?”
Meghan hangs up the phone and lies awake, wondering if she’ll ever feel connected with someone enough to see him in the middle of the night and trust that she’s the only one.
Chapter 3
Jared grabs his wallet and puts it in the back pocket of his baggy black shorts. His other hand is holding his cell phone as he walks out of his house.
“I told you, Jare, you don’t have to send such extravagant gifts for Beckham,” his sister Jane tells him over the phone.
“Does he like it?”
“What four-year-old wouldn’t like a powered Porsche Spyder—a replica of his uncle’s—make that two Porsches because you had to buy one for his friend. Who does that?”
“At least when he’s playing with his friend, they don’t have to share. What kid wants to share?”
“That was really generous of you, thank you.”
“I like the pictures you sent.”
“He’s proud of his new race car.”
Jared smiles imagining his nephew putting the powered toy in full speed and ripping up the driveway.
“We’re coming out next week, remember?”
“Your rooms are ready.”
“Becks tells everyone he has his own room at your house.”
“Well, he does.”
“He makes it sound like he lives with you.”
“This house is too big for me. I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought it.”
“Didn’t you say it was perfect for a family?”
“It is.”
“One day you’ll fill the rooms,” she tells him.
“I don’t know about that. A couple of kids and I’d still have extra rooms.”
“Anybody would love to live in your house.”
Jared knows he’s fortunate to own such a beautiful estate, but he knows it’s his career that’s afforded him such luxuries. He hasn’t forgotten his roots, and if he can spoil his nephew and give his family things they don’t have, then he’s happy.
“Becks is really looking forward to seeing you.”
“Can’t wait either.
Don’t worry about packing skates to use for one afternoon. I’ll have some here for you.”
“You didn’t buy him a pair, did you?”
“I’d like Beck to come to the rink.”
“He’ll like that too. Jare?”
“Yup.”
“Your girlfriend won’t corner me again and ask to take me shopping?”
He laughs. “No. Definitely not.”
“Good. I don’t have the energy for that anymore. Last time, she told me I needed to wear skinny jeans and smaller hoop earrings were in. She’s like the fashion police. I know she’s your girlfriend, so I think I’ve been pretty fair with her, but if she tells me I need to cut my hair into a bob one more time, I think I’m going to tell her to mind her own business.”
“Ex-girlfriend,” Jared says, chuckling.
Jane exhales. “You two broke up? When?”
“Yeah. A month ago.”
“Thank God. She was a nutcase.”
“You’re telling me.”
“What happened?”
“She tried to move in.”
“Like stay over and not leave?”
“That and bring her stuff over and just leave it here. I found some candles on the living room mantel along with a picture of us in a frame. Never seen it before. And in my bathroom she left her makeup bag and toothbrush in a drawer. Don’t women hold on to those things?”
“Usually.”
“Then she started talking marriage.”
“No!” Jane shouts.
“She had big plans for us.” He laughs.
“I assume you broke it off? How did that go?”
“Not good. Does it ever?”
“By the sounds of it she’s obsessive.”
“A little possessive, too,” he adds. “And, I’ve lost a garage remote.”
“You think she took it?”
“I hope not. It’s probably around the house somewhere.”
“Does she have a house key?”
“No.”
“Do you think she’s impulsive? Do you think she would hurt you?” Jane’s voice is electric. “You have to be careful.”
“No, I think it’ll be okay,” Jared says, but the tightness in his stomach tells him otherwise.
“Make sure your gate is locked and Loretta knows not to let her in.”
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