With the days losing light earlier and earlier, she too often found herself in pajamas by six o’clock. When had she gotten to that stage in life that the best part of her day was spent in pj’s? Mercy, she was getting old.
As soon as Megan examined her closet, she knew she wanted to dress a little sassier than usual tonight. Even if she was just going out with Nora and Marly, Megan had that female urge to step up her game a notch.
When had she let herself get so dowdy and boring? Lately she’d only donned the barest of makeup for work, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d pulled out her curling iron or straightener. If she looked under her bathroom sink, she’d probably find them overtaken by dust.
Glancing at the clock, Megan decided she had time to put some effort into her appearance tonight. After a quick shower, she opted for the big iron and put large, bouncy waves into her hair. A little more shadow than usual made her green eyes pop. Why didn’t she do this more often? Just what she’d done so far had boosted both her energy level and confidence.
After pulling on a simple yellow tank-style dress, Megan wrapped a thick belt around her waist, threw on a fitted navy cardigan and pulled on her favorite cowgirl boots. Surely she had earrings that went with this outfit. Digging through her meager stash of jewelry, she managed to find some dangly hoops and a chunky silver bracelet.
Megan grabbed her purse and headed out the door. She hadn’t heard from Evan in a couple of days, and, surprisingly, her house hadn’t been bothered while she’d been gone.
The guilt of expecting him or his friends to steal something weighed heavily in her gut.
Megan shook off all negative thoughts as she pulled into Dolly’s. It being a Friday night, the place was bustling with cars filling the parking lot and people piling in through the front doors.
Music blasted out of the bar as a group of guys held the door open and gestured for her to enter. Smiling her thanks, Megan stepped inside, quickly scanned the room and found Nora and Marly in a booth along the wall.
With a wave, Megan wove her way through the crowd as a slow country song filled the room. Hand in hand, couples made their way to the scarred wooden dance floor. Megan refused to allow the image of her and Cameron dancing to occupy her mind. She was here for fun and for a girls’ night. Nothing more.
Nora slid over, giving Megan room to ease onto the leather seat.
“You look beautiful,” Nora said with a huge smile. “I was just happy to shower and actually attempt to fix my hair.”
Marly laughed. “You’re always gorgeous, Nora. But, seriously, Megan, you look great.”
“Thanks.” Megan sat her purse between her and Nora and thanked God she’d taken some extra time to get ready. “I was going for the fun Megan instead of therapist Megan.”
“Well, honey, you nailed it.” Nora waved her hand at a waitress. “First round’s on me.”
“I need a drink,” Marly stated. “I’ve been sewing on Willow’s Halloween costume for a week and it still looks like a hot mess. Why the hell did I think I could be supermom instead of just buying one?”
Nora patted Marly’s arm. “Because you’re an awesome mom and Willow doesn’t care what it looks like. She’s just excited her mom is making the Darth Vader-cowgirl-princess getup.”
Marly moaned. “I suppose. I think letting her pick her favorite themes was a bad idea. I meant one character, not three combined.”
Once they ordered their drinks plus a basket of chips and salsa, Megan turned to Nora.
“How’s Bev? She getting used to those crutches?” Megan asked.
“Eli said she’s still complaining about using them, but he told her she’d get used to it.” Nora rested an elbow on the dull wooden tabletop and smiled. “As long as Mac is there, though, she doesn’t have to get up for anything except to use the bathroom. He’s right at her side making sure she doesn’t even have to ask.”
Marly laughed, pushing back a wayward curl from her forehead. “The St. John males have a tendency to go overboard with protecting and assisting their ladies.”
Megan thought about how Cameron had wanted her to show Evan some tough love. Cameron was ready to step in and be her human shield, but she had held him back. She remembered a time in high school when a guy was insistent she leave a party with him and all but dragged her toward his car. Cameron had stepped in then, as well, and punched the guy in the face.
The waitress came back with the drinks and each woman took a long, sigh-worthy sip. Megan licked the frothy, fruity foam off her top lip and glanced up to see the other two staring at her.
“What?”
“You were daydreaming.” Nora quirked a brow while sliding her fingertip over the condensation on her tall, slender glass. “I know this is absolutely none of my business, but we’ve known each other a really long time.”
Megan braced herself for whatever Nora was about to ask.
“Any chance you and Cameron...” Nora let the silent question settle between them as she pulled the toothpick full of pineapple out of her drink and plucked a piece off.
Marly eased her forearms onto the table and leaned forward, obviously eager to hear the answer, as well.
Megan shrugged. “We’re best friends.” That was the truth. “I’m not sure we would know how to be anything else.”
“Have you tried?” Marly asked.
The waitress returned, setting a giant basket of tortilla chips and three small bowls of salsa on the table.
Megan pretended to look for the perfect chip while she contemplated the answer she should give over the answer she wanted to give.
“I believe the silence speaks for itself,” Nora proudly stated as she dipped her chip. “There’s no way a man like Cameron can ignore you for years.”
Yeah, well, he had. At least in any form beyond friendship. But when his mouth had been on hers, his hands up her shirt, he’d certainly given off the vibe he was staking a claim.
“How long have you guys been a secret?” Nora asked, leaning in just a bit more, a wide, knowing smile spread across her face.
Megan sighed. “There’s no secret. To be honest, we only kissed for the first time last week and that was because I was sleeping, he startled me from a dream and I...”
“Please, please don’t stop there.” Marly reached across and squeezed her arm. “I may not have known you that long, but I’m wrapped up in this and I know it’s not my business. So, tell Nora and just let me listen in.”
Megan laughed and took a drink, welcoming the chill of the strawberry-flavored, alcohol-enriched slush. “I yanked him down and kissed him,” she muttered.
Both women’s eyes widened as their grins spread even wider. Megan couldn’t help but smile back because she so had to get this off her chest. And there wasn’t a doubt in her mind these two ladies would offer her some much-needed advice.
“Then he cornered me in his kitchen the other night after we watched your kids during your date.” Megan found herself moving forward with the story without being prompted. She wanted to blame the alcohol, but after only two sips, that defense fell flat. “He was angry at the kiss we’d shared.”
“If he cornered you and was angry, sounds to me like he’s turned on and is mad at himself,” Nora supplied. “Probably for just now taking notice, if you ask me.”
“Yeah, well, we argued. That led to another kiss and his hand up my shirt.”
Nora and Marly high-fived each other across the table, and Megan felt her face flush. “This is silly.” She laughed. “I feel like I’m in high school.”
“Better than high school,” Marly chimed in. “Way better. So what happened next? This is the best girls’ night ever.”
Megan reached for another chip. “Sorry to disappoint, but he pulled back and we argued again. I just don’t know what to do.”
Nora shifted in her seat and all smiling vanished as she looked Megan straight in the eyes. “Take my advice. Don’t wait to tell him how you feel, what you truly want. I did th
at with Eli the first time. We let a lot of years and hurt build between us, and then we had to overcome so much to be together. You’re not guaranteed a tomorrow.”
Megan felt the quick sting in her nose as her eyes started to fill. Nora had been in love with Eli in school, and then he had gone into the military. After a few years, Nora married Eli’s friend, who had ultimately died while deployed. Nora had taken the long, hard road to find love, and Megan could only nod as the lump formed in her throat.
“Damn it.” Marly yanked her napkin from under her drink and dabbed beneath her eyes. “I had my makeup so nice, too, thanks to that pin I saw on Pinterest.”
“I didn’t mean to cause tears,” Nora defended herself, passing another napkin over to Marly. “I’m just trying to help.”
Megan blinked back her own unshed tears and gripped her icy-cold glass. “You did help. I know I need to tell him how I feel, but I guess I just needed encouragement. I’m a bit of a coward. What if we mess up? He’s the most stable person in my life, and I can’t lose him as a best friend.”
Nora nodded. “I understand the fear, but if he loves you beyond friends, isn’t that worth the risk? Is he worth it?”
Without a doubt. Cameron was worth risking everything for.
Her phone chimed from her purse. She thought it was rude to be on the phone when out with a group of people, but it could be a patient in need.
“Sorry,” she said, digging out the phone. “Give me one second.”
The caller ID flashed her brother’s name. Megan swiped the screen and answered.
“Evan?”
“I’m ready.”
Those two words held so much meaning. “You want me to come and get you?”
“Yeah, um, I was dropped off at the parking lot beside the old gas station that closed. You know where that’s at?”
Megan nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “Yes. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
She hung up, quickly pulled money from her purse and tossed it on the table before explaining to the girls that she had to get her brother. There was no time to go into further details because Evan changed his mind so often, she wanted to jump through this window of opportunity.
Besides, he might be in danger if he was in a parking lot at night all alone.
Megan raced for her SUV. As she pulled into the lot, at first she didn’t see anybody. As soon as she got out, she felt the presence of someone behind her. Spinning around, her heart leaped into her throat. The hulking figure wasn’t Evan.
Pulling all her experience and courage to the surface, Megan lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Where’s my brother?” she asked.
The sneer on the stranger’s face sent a cold chill down her spine. He stepped closer, all the while raking his eyes over her. Curse this dress she’d felt beautiful in earlier. Why was she now feeling as if she was being punished for wanting to look nice?
“I’m right here.”
Megan jerked around to see Evan, hands in his pockets, staring across the open space. She could barely see him for the glow from the streetlight that was at the other end of the block. But the tone of his voice worried her. He sounded sad, nervous, almost desperate.
“What’s going on?” she asked Evan as she started to take a step forward.
The man behind her gripped her arm. Megan had taken a self-defense course, a requirement for her job. Instantly the lessons came flooding to her mind. She whirled around and shoved the palm of her free hand straight up into the man’s nose.
With a howl, he dropped her arm and covered his face. She shook out her wrist and glanced over her shoulder to Evan.
“Get in my car,” she ordered, her gaze volleying back and forth between her brother and the man who would no doubt be angry. She didn’t want to be there when he decided to retaliate. “Now, Evan.”
“I can’t.”
Another man seemed to materialize behind Evan. This man held a gun...pointed at her. The hulk behind her gripped her arm once again, this time tighter as he yanked her back against his chest.
“They’ll kill us if we don’t do what they want,” Evan told her. “I had no clue they were setting me up, Meg. I’m sorry.”
Apologies could wait. Right now she needed to figure out how to get them out of here without getting shot. “What do you want?” she asked, still trying to keep her voice calm though she was anything but.
“Your brother here owes us twenty thousand dollars,” the man behind her stated, his hot breath against her cheek making her gag. “And after that stunt you just pulled on me, I’m adding another five K.”
Why hadn’t she paid more attention to her brother? Whatever mess he’d gotten wrapped up in had apparently been going on awhile if he owed that kind of money. Still, all that could be dealt with later. Right now she needed to figure out a way to survive the night. She wanted Cameron. He wouldn’t be afraid; he would arrest these guys and save her and Evan. But Cameron wasn’t here, and she’d have to fend for herself.
“I’m sure you know I don’t have that much money on me,” she told them, her eyes darting to the gun still aimed at her.
Sirens filled the night, and Megan nearly wept with relief. She forced herself to keep in mind her surroundings and the men who were threatening her. She may not be a cop like Cameron, but she’d counseled enough addicts to know that if they were high, they didn’t care who they hurt. They had nothing to lose. Which meant she was expendable.
Before she knew it, the man behind her let go, causing her to stumble back from the force of his departure. The man with the gun patted Evan on the shoulder as if they were the best of friends.
“Come on, man.” The guy shoved his gun in his waistband. “You ain’t waiting to talk to no cops. You’re with us till you pay up.”
Evan threw her one last pained look and mouthed “sorry” before turning and running off into the night with the men who’d just threatened their lives. With shaky knees and tremors overtaking her body, Megan sank to the cool concrete. Moments later, a cruiser pulled in, too late to save her brother.
Chapter Twelve
Never in his life had fear crippled him to the point of losing control and being ready to throw it all away.
But the sight of Megan in the clutches of notorious gang leader “The Shark” was an image that would haunt him forever.
Then the gun had appeared, and Cameron had to get a patrol car sounding that second. He knew those guys. He knew they wouldn’t shoot Megan unless provoked. The siren did its job and the criminals fled—including her lowlife brother. Cameron wanted to get ahold of that man and punch him in the face for not protecting his sister.
What the hell had Megan been doing there, anyway? His heart had nearly exploded in his chest when he saw her black SUV pull into the lot. He’d gotten a good look at her sexy little dress and cowgirl boots, showcasing those shapely legs. But even that punch of lust had vanished the second those dangerous thugs had surrounded her.
Now, an hour later, Cameron stood on her porch. He knew she was inside because his officer had told him he’d driven Megan’s car home while another officer drove her in his cruiser. She was too shaken up, too scared to drive.
Cameron slid his key into her lock and let himself in. The second he stepped over the threshold, he called her name, not wanting to alarm her because he’d come in the front door and not the back as he normally did.
He heard the sound of her boots clicking over the wooden floor from the rear of the house. Megan came down the hallway, her arms wrapped around her midsection, her face pale.
For her fear alone he vowed to get enough evidence on these guys to put them away for a long, long time. Right now, though, he wished he wasn’t on the right side of the law. He wished more than anything he could track them down and beat them within an inch of their lives, forgetting about the justice system altogether and saving the taxpayers’ dollars.
“I knew they’d call you.” She pasted on a smile that fell short of convinci
ng. “Did they find Evan? I’ve texted and called him, but...”
Fury threatened to take over. She was worried about Evan? After a man had held her at gunpoint while another practically held her captive?
“My officers were more concerned with you.” Only because the FBI was still out there right now keeping an eye on the traffickers...and because Cameron had told his two officers to make sure Megan was watched until he arrived. “Evan is a big boy.”
Anything else he said would be out of anger, and the last thing he wanted to do was fight. Between the way her vulnerability had settled between them like a third party and the way that dress hugged her body, Cameron was having a really difficult time prioritizing his emotions.
“Are you okay?” he asked, taking a step forward, then another, until he was within reaching distance. But he fisted his hands at his side. “My officers told me you weren’t hurt, but I needed to hear it from you. I needed to see you.”
Those bright green eyes seemed even more vibrant than usual. Cameron didn’t know if he was just now noticing or if she’d done something tricky with her makeup. Regardless, the way she watched him, the way she seemed to be holding herself back, had him nearing the breaking point. He’d been holding on by the proverbial thread for so long now; it was only a matter of time before he fell.
Megan reached up, shoved her hair back from her face. “I’m fine.”
Her action drew his gaze to her arm, to the fingerprint-size bruises dotting her perfect skin. Cameron clenched his teeth, reining in his anger because none of this was her fault and he wouldn’t make her the target simply because she was the only one here once the rage fully surfaced. The only thing he could fault Megan with was having a kind heart and wanting to help people who would continue to stomp on her and use her.
Cameron gripped her wrist in one hand and slid a fingertip from his other over around the marred skin. “You’re not fine. This never should’ve happened.”
He’d cursed himself for standing by and watching as events unfolded, but had he gone charging for her as he’d wanted to, as his heart told him to, his cover would’ve been blown and she would have known the cops were watching Evan. Cameron was watching Evan.
From Best Friend to Bride Page 10