Ben replaced the receiver, then ran a hand over the back of his neck.
“You’re one of the family now, to quote Andrea,” he said. “As well as a friend.”
“That’s lovely,” Megan said quietly.
Ben returned to the table and sat opposite Megan.
“We’ll have to get going here,” he said.
“Ben—”
“Megan, don’t push,” he said, meeting her gaze. “Yes, I realize I have close friends here, but... Hell, I don’t want their pity, don’t want to see it in their eyes, on their faces, hear them express endless sympathy about what is going to happen to me.”
“Why not?” Megan said, leaning toward him. “Those are all different kinds of hugs. Everyone needs hugs when they’re in trouble. You’re using the word pity in a very negative way. Erase pity. Consider their potential reactions as sincere sorrow, caring, love and concern for a dear, dear friend.”
“No,” Ben said, then drained his coffee mug. “Go put on your pretty dress.”
Megan got to her feet. “You are so stubborn, Rizzoli. If I was Andrea, Brandon, or one of the others, I’d be very hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to come to me with what you’re facing.
“Do you want them to believe that you’re only a fair-weather friend? That they’re not to count on you during their difficult times? After all, you didn’t confide in them during yours. Think about it.”
Megan stuck her nose in the air and marched from the room.
“Women,” Ben muttered. “Their busy, complicated minds never stop, just operate on high-octane twenty-four hours a day.” He sank back in his chair and sighed. “Great. That’s all I needed. Something else to think about.”
“There you have it,” Ben said to Andrea and Brandon a short time later. “Just stay on alert, Brandon. Cable Montana agrees with me that Chastain probably has a detective, if not more than one, looking for Megan. Be aware of anyone who might hang around Sleeping Beauty too long today.”
“Got it,” Brandon said.
The four were in the large conference room off the lobby of Hamilton House where they could speak in private.
“I’m terribly sorry about what you’ve been through, Megan,” Andrea said.
Here it comes, Ben thought. The pity, the oh-poor-you junk. Megan might consider that garbage as welcomed hugs, but he’d pass, thank you very much.
“But that’s all behind you now,” Andrea said brightly. “It’s onward and upward, looking to the future.” She laughed. “At the risk of sounding like Aunt Charity, I think you should kick Charles Chastain’s butt.”
Brandon chuckled. “You definitely sound like Aunt Charity, my sweet.”
“Well, Charles Chastain shouldn’t be allowed to go merrily on his way,” Andrea said. “Good heavens, Brandon, that man wants to be governor of our state. No way. Nope. Not a chance.”
That was it? Ben thought incredulously. One little “I’m terribly sorry, Megan,” then onward and upward? Unbelievable.
“I’m still sorting through my options,” Megan said, bringing Ben back to attention.
“Well, we’re here for you,” Andrea said, “no matter what you decide to do. Come on, I’ll show you how to operate the fancy cash register that Janice has in Sleeping Beauty. Oh, Janice and Taylor will be coming up here tomorrow for Joey’s birthday party. ’Bye, Ben. Go play doctor with someone.”
Megan smiled warmly at Ben, then the two women left the room, laughing and talking. Brandon frowned and shook his head.
“How many minutes would you like to have alone with Chastain, Ben?” he said.
“Ten,” Ben said gruffly.
“Me, too. I can’t stomach guys who beat up on women. Man, Chastain is lower than low. He has to be exposed, the truth told about him.”
“That’s Megan’s call, Brandon.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Brandon paused. “Megan seems relaxed and happy. Considering what she’s been through with Chastain, not to mention her case of amnesia, that’s pretty remarkable.”
“She’s an incredible woman, and she’s a lot stronger than she even realizes,” Ben said. “Megan is intelligent, too, and...fun, you know what I mean? And when she laughs? Hell, the whole house—home—is filled with sunshine. That’s not to say she doesn’t have a temper. She can get in a rip that—” He stopped talking and frowned. “What are you grinning like a fool about, Hamilton?”
“Welcome to the love club, buddy,” Brandon said, punching Ben on the arm. “You’re down for the count. Does Megan know that you’re in love with her?”
Ben opened his mouth to deny the claim that Brandon was making, then decided it wouldn’t do any good. Brandon Hamilton had known him too well, for too long.
“No,” Ben said quietly. “She has no idea how I feel about her. Well, she knows that I care deeply for her, but...” He shrugged.
“So? Tell her you’re in love with her.”
“No,” Ben said. “There’s no purpose to be served by doing that.”
“You’ve lost me here, Rizzoli. Megan is free to do as she pleases. If she’s in love with you—well, hell, man, you can have the whole enchilada. A wife, kids, a home, a future with the woman you love. What do you mean, there’s no purpose to be served by telling her that you’re in love with her? That should be the first thing on your agenda.”
“I said no, Brandon, so drop it, would you? I’m outta here. I have patients to see.”
“Hold it,” Brandon said. “There has been something heavy on your mind for many months, Ben. We’ve all been aware of that, all of us who care about you.
“I think whatever is wrong is keeping you from going after what you could have with Megan. What is it? Come on, buddy, this is me, Brandon.” He splayed one hand on his chest. “Talk to me.”
With a muscle ticking in his tightly clenched jaw, Ben stared at his lifelong friend for several moments. Then he spun on his heel and strode from the room.
Chapter Nine
After Megan had rung up two sales on the rather complicated cash register in Sleeping Beauty without mishap, she relaxed and soon realized she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
The women who wandered into the shop were pleasant and friendly—obviously in a laid-back vacation frame of mind. There was none of the hustle and bustle and please-hurry-dear attitude that Megan was accustomed to while shopping in Phoenix.
Janice’s merchandise, Megan decided early on, was scrumptious, so feminine and luscious.
She straightened and folded silk and satin teddies, camisoles, tap pants and nightgowns. There were scented candles with matching fragrances in bath beads, crystals and soaps. A woman would feel pretty, pampered and feminine with any purchase made at Sleeping Beauty.
At noon, Andrea appeared at the shop with a glass of iced tea and a sandwich, which Megan ate while sitting on the high stool behind the counter. Andrea expressed the desire to join Megan for the meal, but she had a business luncheon with a new client of her advertising firm.
In the middle of the afternoon, Megan wrapped a purchase in pretty paper for a customer to give as a birthday gift, causing Megan to remember that she didn’t have a present to take to Joey’s birthday party the next day.
She called Ben’s office and asked the woman who answered the telephone to please have Ben phone her at the shop when he had a free moment Fifteen minutes later, the telephone on the end of the counter rang.
“Sleeping Beauty,” Megan answered cheerfully.
“That’s convenient,” Ben said, “because this is Prince Charming. Wake up.”
Megan laughed. “That’s not how the story goes. You’re supposed to kiss me awake.”
Ben made a loud smacking kiss. “How’s that?”
“Needs practice,” she said, still smiling.
“Mmm. That can be arranged. How’s it going there? Having fun?”
“Oh, my, yes,” she said. “I really am.”
“Good. What can I do for you, ma’am? I’m returning your call, y
ou know.”
“I wondered if you’d mind going shopping when you pick me up this evening. I need to buy a present for Joey.”
“So do I. It was on my list of things to do, but I lost the list.” Ben paused. “We could grab a hamburger, then hit the toy store.”
“I have no idea what a five-year-old boy would like.”
“I do. I was a five-year-old boy a million years ago. If it has lots of moving parts and makes noise, we’re in business.”
Megan frowned. “Oh, dear. I got caught up in the idea of Joey’s gift and just remembered I don’t have any money to buy it.”
“No problem. We’ll get something great and put both our names on the card. Gotta go. See you later.”
“’Bye, Ben.”
Megan replaced the receiver slowly. She sighed, then frowned.
She was in limbo, she thought. She was free of Charles, but yet, she wasn’t. She had no money, none of her clothes or personal possessions, no way to be truly independent.
Megan propped her elbow on the counter and rested her chin in her palm.
She was waiting for Charles to find her, was convinced that he would eventually manage to do that. There would be an ugly confrontation of some sort, and then somewhere down the road she’d really be free.
Megan straightened, her frown deepening.
This was dumb. Why was she putting her life on hold until Charles located her?
“That’s easy enough to answer,” she said aloud.
Because she was terrified of the man, was postponing that final scene as long as possible, like a frightened child. There was also the fact that she hadn’t yet determined if she was going to go pubhc with the truth about Charles Chastain.
This was getting ridiculous. She was mooching off Ben just as Nutmeg the cat did. How long did she expect Ben to feed and clothe her, keep a roof over her head?
It was time to gather more courage, reach deeper within herself for the strength to be proactive. She would inform her attorney as to her whereabouts and have him tell Charles that she planned to make one trip to the enormous house in Phoenix to collect her belongings.
A shiver of fear coursed through Megan as she envisioned herself walking through the front door of that house. The house of terror she could only pray would fade from her memory in time.
Think about the future, she ordered herself, not the past. Think about Ben, not Charles. Think about sunshine and happiness beyond measure, not evil darkness and disillusionment.
Tonight. Yes, tonight she’d telephone her attorney at his home and make arrangements for him to escort her to the house she’d shared with Charles Chastain. She’d claim what was rightfully hers and then...
“Then... what?” she said.
She didn’t know.
Because she had no idea if Ben Rizzoli loved her, wanted her to stay by his side, continue to live with him.
Ben saw himself as a man with no future, nothing to offer, because of the horrible shadow of his pending blindness that hovered over him. Even if he loved her, would he send her away because of what he was facing?
Megan pressed her fingertips to her temples.
There were still so many unanswered questions, so many unknowns, so much to deal with. It was all such a complicated, tangled maze.
Megan was pulled from her thoughts by a man entering the shop. She slid off the stool and moved to the front of the counter.
“May I help you find something?” she said, smiling.
The burly man, who wore a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie, did not return her smile.
“No, I’ve found what I was looking for,” he said. “Mrs. Chastain.”
Megan felt the color drain from her face and her knees begin to tremble.
“What... what do you want?” she said, hearing the quivering in her voice.
“It’s very simple,” the man said. “You just come with me. Quietly. No fuss. We walk out of here, and Mr. Chastain will forget that this little escapade of yours ever took place. You’ve had your fun, but the show is over. Let’s go. You’re expected in Phoenix.”
Megan took a step backward. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you. You have three seconds to leave this shop, or I’ll scream the roof down.”
“No, I don’t think you will,” the man said, his voice low and menacing. “You see, Mrs. Chastain, you’ve been ill, emotionally unstable. Mr. Chastain has documents prepared citing numerous events that have taken place that indicate you need to be committed to an institution for professional care.”
“You’re crazy,” Megan whispered.
“No, you are. Let’s see here. You tried to bum the house down. You came at Mr. Chastain with a butcher knife. What else? Oh, you almost made it out the front door stark naked.
“And now? You ran away to be with your lover in this hick town. You’re a sick cookie, Mrs. Chastain, but your concerned ex-husband will have you put away to recover, as he struggles against his tears of heartache when he makes the announcement to the press.”
“Lies. It’s all lies.”
“Of course it is, but who will believe you, when Charles Chastain is the one telling them? If you don’t come with me now, your next stop is a long stretch at the funny farm.”
“Charles will never get away with this,” Megan said, taking another step backward.
“Yes, he will, and you know it. Oh, and Mrs. Chastain? In case you’re on the fence about your decision, Mr. Chastain wishes you to know that charges will be filed against Dr. Benjamin Rizzoli.”
“What?” Megan said, her eyes widening.
“As a medical man, the good doctor realized you were unbalanced. He took advantage of you, seduced you, was after the Chastain money. Rizzoli will beat that rap, but his credibility as a doctor will be so questioned in the interim that he can kiss his practice goodbye. His reputation will be shot to hell.”
“No, oh, no. Please. Don’t hurt, Ben,” Megan said, her eyes filling with tears. “Don’t do this.”
“It’s up to you, Mrs. Chastain.” The man paused. “Ready to go? My car is parked across the street. You’ll be back in Mr. Chastain’s arms in a couple of hours and your little trip up here will be forgiven.”
“I...I have to think,” Megan said, shaking her head. “I... I need time to think. I—”
“There’s nothing to think about,” the man said. “You’re coming with me—now.”
A large hand clamped down on one of the man’s shoulders.
“Oh, that’s just not possible,” Brandon said. “Megan has to run this store. She can’t leave it unattended. Hit the road, chum.”
The man shrugged off Brandon’s hand and turned to face him.
“Don’t get involved, sucker,” he said. “You’ll be in way over your head.”
“Really?” Brandon said, raising his eyebrows. “That’s not how I see it...sucker. This isn’t Chastain’s turf. He should have mentioned that before he sent you up here.”
Ben ran in the front door of the hotel with Cable Montana right behind him. Moments later, both men were in Sleeping Beauty. Andrea nodded in satisfaction from behind the registration desk and started across the lobby to join the group.
“Megan?” Ben went to her and pulled her close, holding her tightly.
“Oh, Ben,” she said, tears shimmering in her eyes and echoing in her voice as she looked up at him. “You mustn’t do this, because Charles is going to destroy you. He is, Ben. He is.”
“Not in this lifetime, sweetheart,” Ben said, then dropped a quick kiss on her lips.
Ben released Megan, set her away from him gently, then stepped in front of the man.
“Walk out, or be carried,” Ben said, a steely edge to his voice.
“Vote for carried,” Brandon said, close to the man’s ear. “Come on, be a sport.”
“Hold it,” Cable Montana said, moving between Ben and the man.
“He hasn’t voted yet, Cable,” Brandon said.
“Brandon, hush,” Andrea said, unable
to curb her smile.
Cable pushed his Stetson up with one thumb and looked directly into the man’s eyes.
“Here’s the story,” the sheriff said. “I can arrest you for attempting to intimidate a woman on a Friday, wearing a tie past noon within the city limits, and having an unattended flat tire. Or you can leave.”
“You’re nuts,” the man said. “Those aren’t laws.”
“In Prescott they are,” Cable said, smiling.
“And I don’t have a damn flat tire,” the man said, none too quietly.
“Yes,” Cable said, nodding. “You do. It’s in the front, right by the vanity plate that says Chastain 4. Noticed it when I was coming in here. Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to advertise.”
“You’re going to regret this,” the man said, sweeping his gaze wildly over the entire group. “Big time.” He pushed his way past Brandon, left the store and hurried across the lobby toward the front door.
“Wearing a tie past noon?” Brandon said, chuckling as he looked at Cable.
“I thought that was a nice touch,” Cable said, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “Wasn’t bad, considering I was winging it. Thanks for the phone call, Andrea.”
“My pleasure,” Andrea said. “I punched in those numbers to call you and Ben so fast, I nearly broke my finger. But everything worked out just fine, didn’t it?”
“No, it didn’t,” Brandon said. “Ben didn’t get to deck the creep.”
“Stop it,” Megan said, tears streaking down her cheeks. “You’re all acting as though this is a game, a joke. You didn’t hear what that man said, what Charles intends to do. To me. To Ben. And he will. He can. Don’t any of you understand that? Don’t you realize who you’re dealing with? You’ve got to listen to me. Please. You must—”
“Hey, whoa,” Ben said, pulling Megan into his arms again. “Take it easy.”
“What exactly did that thug say?” Cable said. “What messages did he deliver to you from Chastain?”
“Give it a rest, Montana,” Ben said, glaring at the sheriff. “Can’t you see that Megan’s been through enough for one day?”
“I want to fully document what happened here today, Ben,” Cable said. “I can’t do anything with it at this point because Chastain would deny everything, say the guy was acting on his own, or that Megan fabricated the whole thing. But to be on the safe side, I intend to have this episode on record.”
The Most Eligible M.D. (The Bachelor Bet #3) Page 11