by Jeannie Moon
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Molly and I hatched a plan. I came home early so I could bring her here, and I figured we could take her trick-or-treating together.”
Looking up at him, Meg wondered if the happiness she felt in her heart showed on her face. “The two of you came up with this?”
“Yes, we did. What do you think?”
“I like it. I was going to take her to my mom’s neighborhood later. It’s easy to get around.”
“That makes sense.” Jason fingered the ribbon on her puffy white sleeve, and his eyes looked her up and down. “This is some costume. Who are you?”
“Bo Peep.” She swished her skirts flirtatiously and watched his eyes flash. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful. Just like you.”
Meg bit her lower lip, letting herself enjoy his words, his gaze. What was making her heart squeeze, however, was the fact that he wanted to see her world. He was here.
There was a peal of laughter from a group of little girls who had taken Molly as one of their own, and Jason looked over. “It’s chaos here. How do you get them all to do the same thing at the same time?”
Meg grinned. “Magic.” She turned toward the group and clapped her hands in rhythm. Two long claps and three quick ones, and she could see Jason was stunned when the children stopped everything and copied what she’d done. She had their full attention, and her husband was impressed.
The kids were smiling and happy, and she was just about to give instructions for lining up when her entire class started squealing and pointing behind her.
Meg turned, and coming at her was a very large pirate. Grant. He stalked into the room and snarled at the kids. Jason had his back to the wall by the door, and Grant had walked right by him. Her husband had folded his arms, and his face was stone cold and expressionless. He was not happy.
“Ahoy, mateys!” Pirate Grant growled. “Me pirate ship is docked offshore, and we’ve been told to bring this maid back to Mother Gooseland.”
Grant caught Meg’s eye and grinned. Damn. What was he up to? “Come along, lass,” he said. In one quick move he scooped her into his arms, and the kids cheered. They wouldn’t have done that if they could read the look on Jason’s face, which had gone from amused to lethal in a split second.
The situation was bad. Grant’s behavior wasn’t acceptable, and yet, on the inside, Meg’s heart did a happy dance.
Jason was jealous. Her husband was wonderfully, dangerously jealous, and there was nothing that could have given her more hope than the way his arm shot across the doorway, blocking Grant from leaving the room.
“You should put her down now.” Jason’s voice was low and steady. No-nonsense. Grant looked at him, then at her. Meg nodded.
“You should put me down.”
Grant didn’t take another step and lowered her to the floor. Jason stepped toward her and set his left hand on her back before extending his right hand to the pirate, who looked more confused than fierce.
“Jason Campbell. Meg’s husband.” Grant shook his hand, glanced at her, and then mumbled something before he left the room. Meg wasn’t sure what he’d said. The only person she could focus on was the man she’d married.
He wasn’t intimidated by Grant’s size. In fact, she was starting to see that not much intimidated Jason. The secure feeling that washed over her was something she never expected. He really was going to protect her, and protect Molly. He wasn’t a big, burly guy, but he was a man, and he was a man who defended the people he loved.
Kathy, her classroom assistant, had the children lined up, and all Meg could do was look at her husband. His handsomeness took on something new, something stronger. A calm settled in Meg’s heart, and she knew everything was going to be okay; she knew she wasn’t alone.
The announcement came for the kindergartners to head outside, and Kathy, who was dressed as a black cat, led the class out of the room.
Meg and Jason stood alone in the classroom for a few seconds, the quiet descending as the children got farther and farther away from the room.
His hand was still on the small of her back, the warmth of it seeping through her costume and deep into her core. Turning, Meg reached out, and Jason did the same. They held each other, just held each other, in the empty classroom.
“I think I hate that guy,” Jason said.
“You made that pretty clear.”
“I don’t want his hands on you. Ever.”
“I think he got that, too.”
He brought his head back, and Meg saw something spark in his eyes, something that was both happy and sad. Wanting to soothe him, she stroked her hand over his cheek.
“What is it?”
“I’m glad I came here today. Glad I got to see you with your students.” He swallowed hard. “Those kids just adore you.”
Meg gave him a little peck on the lips, happy beyond words that he was there, that her world mattered to him. “I love them, too, each and every one.”
He looked at her, his eyes filled with emotion. “No wonder Grace named you as Molly’s guardian.”
“Why do you say that?”
He examined her face. Meg saw pain in his eyes and she wanted to make it better, find some way to give him what he needed. “You’re always giving of yourself, Meg, and you love so much. I don’t know if I can do that. I don’t know if I have it in me.”
Meg hugged him again, hoping that he would see in himself what she had always seen. “You do. It’s in there. It’s always been in there.”
***
Jason saw Meg’s car pull into the driveway from his office window, and he was glad she was home. After the way his visit to her school had unfolded, they had a lot to talk about. He’d watched the Halloween parade and loved seeing how happy Molly was with the other kids, and he got more than a few dirty looks from Meg’s ex-boyfriend. But that was well worth it. He wanted to make sure the asshole knew Meg was not on the market and he should keep his hands off.
He didn’t think it would be an intense afternoon, but the short time he and Meg were alone in her classroom had knocked the wind out of him. When he saw Nielsen pick her up the way he did, Jason’s vision burned red. The rage he felt, the jealousy, that another man was touching his Meg floored him. He’d always been protective of her, but this was totally different.
Jason had thought about all the possibilities for this relationship. Or at least he’d thought he had. He hadn’t counted on making the mistake of falling completely and totally in love with his wife, but that’s exactly what happened. As soon as they started spending time together—having dinner, going to movies, watching TV—as soon as he let his guard down, she had crawled inside him and taken up residence in his heart.
He’d resigned himself to the fact that no one would ever replace what they’d shared when they were younger. She was special, his girl, but the feelings that had been developing from the minute they said I do were more than Jason bargained for. He didn’t know if he could handle it, didn’t know if he could be who she needed him to be.
It’s not like his parents gave him a lot of hope. He assumed they loved each other once, but now they existed in this poisonous bubble with no joy, no affection, and he didn’t want to do that to Meg. Meg without joy would be a crime.
“Hey.” Her voice broke the silence in the room like a breeze. He turned in his chair, and there she was—sweet, smiling, perfect, and for the time being she was his. She’d left Bo Peep behind and was back in her work clothes, a pair of black pants and a gray turtleneck sweater. She looked happy, and if he thought about it, other than during the shit he’d put her through, Meg always looked happy.
“Hey, how was the rest of the day?”
She walked toward him and sat on the edge of the desk. “It was quick. The kids had a ball and were nicely sugared up when they went home.”
“You looked like you were having fun, too.”
Meg licked her lips, and much to Jason’s surprise, sh
e settled into his lap, wrapping both arms around his neck.
“You know what made me happy?” She kissed him gently. “Having you there.” Another kiss. “Listening to the class moms talk about how hot my husband is.” A deeper kiss this time, and her tongue touched the seam of his lips, sending a shock right to his groin. Christ.
“I’m hot, huh?” She leaned in and smiled against his mouth. By this time she’d pressed her body right to his. He could feel every lush curve, every hollow. Jason’s brain was starting to shut down just from being so close to her.
“You are very hot,” she said. “Especially when you’re jealous.”
“I wanted to fucking kill that meathead.”
“I know.” She nipped at his earlobe, and Jason wondered how he could be considered a sane man for not doing everything humanly possible to keep this woman in his bed. She nuzzled his hair and whispered in his ear, her breath like a warm touch. “My hero.”
The last kiss was hungry, demanding, and Jason went with her to a place that he knew they would have a hard time coming back from. He wanted her. He wanted to be everything to her. To love her, to protect her, to be the man she needed. He didn’t know if he could.
“Have faith in us,” Meg said, her eyes exploring his like she was reading his mind, yet still looking for an answer.
Jason held her close, knowing they were on the brink of something wonderful or tragic.
He wanted it to be wonderful. Meg deserved wonderful.
Chapter 16
Meg sat on the bed in the master suite of Jason’s luxury Manhattan apartment, dressed for a black-tie benefit that she was certain would show her for the fraud she was.
Her dress was gorgeous, black silk chiffon with sequin embellishments on the top and the bottom all floaty and soft, moving around her like a mysterious cloud; her hair and makeup had been professionally done. But she wanted nothing more than to be in sweats with a beer.
That wasn’t an option, though. In a few minutes, about twenty-five of Jason’s business associates would be coming in the door for drinks before the benefit, and she was expected to be the executive wife. To mingle and make small talk. She just hoped she didn’t screw up.
There was a light tapping on the door, and Jason poked his head in. “You ready? They want us to sample the hors d’oeuvres before the guests arrive.”
“Okay.” Not that she could eat. She was sure her stomach would revolt and she’d be in the bathroom. Once she stood, wobbling on her four-inch heels, she went to the dresser to dab on some perfume. Jason came up behind her and ran his hands over her bare shoulders and down her arms, locking eyes with her reflection in the mirror.
“I have no doubt you will be the most beautiful woman there tonight.” Leaning in, he kissed her neck, just below her ear, and Meg thought about the past week, when they kissed and touched each other whenever they got the chance. Molly caught them once and was totally disgusted. She made her objection known, complete with the requisite “ewww,” and nothing could have made Meg happier. She felt like a newlywed, stupidly in love and swamped with desire. Her body was a raw nerve ending when he touched her, and there was something in him, something that was telling her that he wanted this to work between them. He may have been hesitant or unsure, but he wanted it.
“Is the room comfortable for you?”
“Very, but . . .” She trailed off, wondering if she should be direct or more coy. She went for coy, since it had been working for her so far.
She looked at their reflection in the mirror; it was intimate. Now directly behind her, Jason’s arms moved around her middle and pulled her snugly against his body. His large hands opened and spread out on her belly, pressing her so close, she could feel his erection against the small of her back.
God, this was torture.
“Is there something you need?”
Meg decided against the coy games. For the first time in her life, she’d tell Jason exactly what she wanted. It wouldn’t be easy—there was risk involved even though they’d gotten closer. But Meg put her faith in him. “I need you. I don’t want us to have separate bedrooms anymore.”
“Really?” His eyes were on hers and he hadn’t moved a muscle. If he hated the idea, now would be the time to let go. He didn’t.
“Yes, but you have to promise me that you won’t give up on us.”
“I don’t want to.” He turned her in his arms, and Meg tilted her head to see him full-face. He was doing the same, examining her features, drawing in what he saw.
It didn’t take long for him to focus in on her mouth, and even less time for him to kiss her. His lips were sure and firm as they moved over hers, testing and teasing. But what she was most aware of were his hands. His hands, which were large, but gentle, made her feel safe. One was threaded through her hair, the other was resting on the small of her back, and Meg melted into him. Sheathed in the gauzy, sequined material, which flowed over her like water, she was completely aware of her body and how it was responding to him, how his touch, his kiss, made her burn. The guests coming, the benefit, nothing mattered as much as Jason and how she felt when he held her. In those moments, Meg drifted away and said a secret prayer that he could finally love her the way she loved him. The way she’d always loved him.
“God, I want to take you to bed right now, but people are going to be here soon.”
“We’ll have all night.” She stepped back from him, missing the warmth of his body, but if she didn’t right then, she wasn’t going to.
“And tomorrow. I have no intention of letting you out of bed tomorrow, either.”
Meg giggled. “So what do we have to do with the food?”
“Sample it. Make sure we approve what the caterer has prepared for the guests.” He smiled and then gave her a quick peck.
“What if we don’t like the food?”
“What?” She could see it was something he’d never considered.
“What if the food is awful?” she asked.
“I guess,” he said, “I’d have to run to the store and get chips and salsa.”
“You could really splurge and get some peanuts, too.”
Jason took her hand, and for the first time since they were married Meg felt like they were in this together. The whole better-or-worse thing made sense, and it wasn’t just the physical attraction, either. The way he held her hand, looked at her, talked to her—there was another force at work, and Meg had decided to believe in this man and in her feelings for him.
“There’s just one thing,” he said. “Harper called a little while ago.”
Meg felt a pinch behind her eyes at the mention of the Harpy. “Did she want to make sure we had an ample supply of small children for her to consume?”
That stopped him right in his tracks. He closed his eyes and shook his head, but couldn’t help grinning. “Don’t say that when people get here, okay?”
“Whatever you say.”
“Okay, well . . . Harper told me she ran into my mother at the club and, ah, she extended an invitation to them.”
Meg stopped this time, right before she entered the living room. “I’m confused. You can’t possibly mean that she extended an invitation to them to come here without checking with you first, do you?”
“I do. I’m sorry to drop this on you. I know it’s not right, and I gave her hell for it, but this is an opportunity to show my parents and Harper that we can’t be pulled apart.”
Meg tried to wrap her head around the bombshell and took three deep breaths before responding. This was going to be fine. She had to have faith. Another deep breath. “Okay. Is there anything else?”
“My brother’s coming. With Harper.”
The burn in Meg’s stomach was her blind hatred of Harper Poole. “Of course he is. What a perfect couple.” Meg didn’t like Josh Campbell. She never had. He was a bully, just like his father. This whole night had suddenly gotten more complicated.
The caterer was set up in the gourmet kitchen, preparing an array of ele
gant finger food. Meg, suddenly hungry, surveyed the choices. “This is quite a spread. Do you entertain a lot?”
“No, but I wanted people to meet you.”
“What?” He wanted what?
“This party is for you, Meg. No more hiding.”
Those few words, telling her the party was for her, that he wanted to show her off, took away the ache from past wounds, took away the fear that she wouldn’t be accepted. His simple gesture helped her see that nothing was like it was before. He wanted to be with her, and Meg had no idea that being wanted could make her feel so powerful.
***
Jason watched Meg circulate among his friends, and if he was worried, he shouldn’t have been. Owen’s and Nate’s dates had taken her in, and she seemed to be having a good time. Seeing her like this, in the elegant space with New York in the background, made him think about the years behind them, the years when he’d hidden her because he thought she wouldn’t fit in.
For someone so smart, he was a fucking idiot.
If she was the least bit uncomfortable, you couldn’t see it. Everything about her was poised and confident, and she was so beautiful, with her long, loose curls and goddess face. Jason wasn’t focusing on anything but her.
Nate came up next to him and handed Jason a neat Glenlivet. “Catherine likes Meg. It’s nice for her to have someone to talk to at these things. She said something about all of us going out to dinner. You in?”
Jason nodded. “As long as Meg’s there, so am I.”
Nate sipped his drink. “I know you guys were having a rough time of it, but it seems better. Is it?”
“It’s getting there. It has to. I know I’m not what she needs, but the thought of losing her makes my stomach knot.”
“Leaving out the obvious—that she’s hot and an absolute doll—she seems to understand you.”
“She sees right inside me, Nate. She’s always been able to see everything.”
The door buzzed, and when his housekeeper opened it, his mother swept in, followed by his father, brother, and Harper. He glanced at Meg, who looked like she’d just been thrown to the wolves. The second she made eye contact with him, they moved toward each other. Strength in numbers, he thought. Once they came together in the middle of the room, he took her hand.