She nodded, and Colt noted once again the strong disposition of his niece. He should keep his eyes open when it came to that girl. The slight lift of her chin was proof she was more like him than her daddy. She was made of strong stuff. And the fact she had an obvious attachment to God made her even stronger.
He swallowed back the knot in his throat. He needed to get out of this room. The stench of death and the reality of his wrong to his niece turned his stomach. He walked out into the foyer and found his way to the restroom.
After splashing cold water on his face and sending up a quick prayer for forgiveness and strength, Colt made his way out of the restroom.
“Colt is the kind of guy I want to see Megan with.”
Colt stopped. The hushed voice came from Megan’s sister.
“Who’s to say she isn’t with him? He’s here at the funeral, isn’t he?”
Colt stepped back closer to the restroom door. It was a man’s voice. Probably her fiancé’s.
“I’m worried about her liking your friend. That Justin guy she works for. He’s wrong for her.”
Colt narrowed his eyes. He’d meant to look into that man. Justin Frasure. Megan’s boss. He’d had a bad feeling when Megan mentioned him that day at the pond. Her sister evidently didn’t approve of the guy.
“Justin has never said one word about liking Megan.” It was the man’s voice again. “And she hasn’t said anything to you either.” “She doesn’t have to.”
Colt couldn’t listen anymore. He stepped back into the restroom and peered at his reflection. He loved Megan McKinney. Justin Frasure would have to move out of the way.
Chapter 19
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.
ROBERT FROST
It was going to be another bad day. The month of June passed in a haze. Megan worked, taught piano lessons, and helped Marianna prepare for the wedding.
She managed through the motions of life. She avoided Justin. He was just entirely too cute, and she simply needed to be away from him. She tried to avoid Colt, though he made it a bit more difficult. After every piano lesson, he had ice cream sundaes ready or the horses groomed to be ridden or a board game spread out on the dining room table. She knew he was trying to help her feel better. Colt had the best of intentions, just like when he kept her father’s death from Hadley. But he had a hard time taking the hint when a girl just needed some space. He couldn’t fix her, and she’d gotten to the point she wanted to avoid going to his house because she didn’t want to do anything.
Her mother visited a lot. Preparations for the wedding, she said. But Megan knew it was more than that. She was grieving her husband’s death, and she wouldn’t allow herself to show it. Or admit it. She’d grown colder with Megan, but Megan didn’t have the strength to care. She grieved in ways she hadn’t expected. Her father’s last plea for her to forgive him played like a broken DVD in her mind. How she wished for the time to start anew with him.
“Get your shoes on. You and I are going out.”
Megan shifted on the couch and looked up at her sister. She nodded. It was Saturday. She didn’t have anything better to do. Except continue to sulk. “What do we need to pick up for the wedding?”
“Nothing!”
Megan frowned at her sister. “Then what are we …”
The front door opened, and their friends Julie and Amber walked inside. Marianna pointed to the girls. “And I’ve recruited support.”
Amber grabbed Megan’s hand and pulled her off the couch. “You’ve been brooding for a month.”
Megan stuck out her bottom lip. “I have not.”
“Oh yes you have,” said Julie, “and you’ve had reason to be sad.”
“Bill was the only dad we’d ever known,” said Marianna, “and I’m thankful he received Jesus as his Lord.”
Amber pointed at Megan. “But you need a reason to stop moping.”
Megan crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I am not moping.”
“You need a haircut.” Julie lifted several strands of Megan’s hair off her shoulder.
Marianna wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. I don’t want you looking like ‘The Shaggy D.A.’ for my wedding.”
Megan giggled at the memory of the old movie she and her sister used to watch when they were little. “My hair is fine.” She cocked her eyebrow and pointed at her sister. “I’m taking that as an insult.”
“It was an insult,” stammered Marianna.
“Actually it’s quite thick,” said Amber. “You know I’ve always been jealous.”
“But the dead ends kinda stink.” Julie waved her hand in front of her nose. “And when was the last time you washed it?”
Megan’s mouth fell open. She placed her hands on her hips. “My hair does not smell bad. I’ll have you know I just washed it yesterday.”
Megan stopped her tirade when she realized Amber, Julie, and Marianna were all trying to hide back chuckles. She felt a smile lift her lips. “You got me.”
Marianna wrapped her hand around Megan’s elbow. “That’s the first smile I’ve seen in weeks.”
Julie opened the front door. “Our appointments are in fifteen minutes. We’ve got to get out of here.”
“We’re all going to get our hair cut? Really?” asked Megan.
“We’ve gotta look good for the wedding,” said Julie.
Megan let out a deep sigh and smiled at her friends and sister. “Let me get my shoes.”
She went into her bedroom and grabbed a pair of flip-flops off her shoe rack. Dropping them to the floor, she noticed how bad the nail polish looked on her toes. She walked back into the living area. “Maybe we could stop and get our toes done, too?”
Marianna placed her hand over her heart. “My sister is rejoining the land of the living. She’s asking for a pedicure.”
Julie scratched the top of her head. “Megan loves a pedicure like a dog loves its bone.”
“Like a horse adores its carrots,” said Amber.
“Like a pig loves its slop,” said Julie.
Megan lifted her hand. “Okay. Now, you’re just getting gross.”
Amber placed the back of her hand against the side of her mouth in a fake whisper to Julie. “But seriously, check out those neglected toenails.”
“Hey! They don’t look that bad.” Megan swatted Amber with the back of her hand.
Julie shook her head. “Honestly, Megan. I’ve never seen so much peeling paint on your little piggies.”
Marianna raised her pointer finger in the air. “Then it’s settled. Haircuts then pedis. Maybe a little pizza afterward.”
Amber groaned. “No fair. You know I’m trying to lose five pounds so I can fit in my bridesmaid dress.”
“I don’t have to lose anything.” Julie pumped her fist. “Pizza sounds great to me.”
Megan laughed as they continued to argue on their way out to the car. She still felt a deep loss in the center of her heart. Part of it probably had to do with her continued near-estranged relationship with her mom. Still it would be good to go out with her sister and friends. She needed this. She hadn’t realized how much so until they pointed out her toes.
She looked down at her feet. It was true. She’d never let her nails get so chipped. Even one of the rhinestones on the flower design on her big toe had come off. It had been too long since she’d had a pedicure.
Julie and Amber started to banter over who would sit in the front with Marianna. Megan inwardly chuckled as she slipped into the backseat behind her sister. It was going to be a good day after all.
Megan lifted her shoulders when Justin approached her desk. She had no reason to still feel so anxious around the man. She saw him each day at work, each weekend at church, and on Thursdays at Bible study. It was obvious he’d changed since accepting Christ. Women didn’t flock to his office, except those who brought along husbands and sought out adoption help. She had to admit Justin was not the man he’d once been. And she liked the man
he’d become. More than liked. Admired.
And that is why her stomach rumbled like a volcano about to erupt each time he did approach her.
He stopped in front of her desk and shoved his fists in his pants pockets—dark charcoal pants that fit him to perfection. The deep-green button-down shirt he wore simply did not do what it should—cover and disguise the muscles bulging from his chest and arms.
Seriously, what was God doing when He formed this man in his mother’s womb? Was He experimenting with different physical features to see what combination formed the most beautiful of the entire race? Gotta give You credit, God. If that’s what You were doing, You did good.
She bit her bottom lip. She would not salivate over her boss. She would not. And quite frankly, she was getting tired of always having to remind herself not to slobber in his presence.
She looked up at him. His dark brown eyes studied her. And she realized he was nervous. Justin Frasure—nervous? To talk to her?
She almost snorted aloud, but the scared puppy dog expression he wore stopped her short. “Can I help you, Justin?”
He swallowed and averted his gaze. Looking back at her, he pulled his fists out of his pockets and wrung his hands together.
What in the world was he doing? He acted as if they didn’t see each other practically every day of their lives. He reminded her of a high school boy about to ask a girl on a … Uh-oh. Her heart sped up. Surely he wasn’t about to … She inwardly shook her head. No, it wasn’t possible. She was nothing like Justin’s type. She wasn’t ugly, but she most certainly wasn’t flashy or drop-dead gorgeous.
“I was wondering”—his gaze bore into her with an intensity she’d never seen—”if you’d go to a charity ball with me.”
Megan lifted her eyebrows and placed her hand against her chest. “Me?”
His expression switched from intensity to amusement. “Yes, you, Megan. I enjoy being around you more than any other woman I’ve ever known.”
Heat washed over Megan’s cheeks and neck. He hadn’t exactly proclaimed his undying love, and she most certainly didn’t want him to do so. She didn’t know what to say. She needed to stay away from Justin Frasure. He was her tempting fruit. When she was around him, she thought and felt things she didn’t want to think and feel. It was safer to stay away, to say no.
“It’s a charity ball to raise funds for overseas adoption. It’s formal attire.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out several bills. “I wouldn’t want it to be a hardship, so …”
Megan looked at him with uncertainty. He was giving her money for a dress. It was a nice gesture. Maybe it meant he didn’t intend it as a date, simply as a professional outing. She could handle that. She owed it to the company. She’d be training her replacement in the next few weeks. It wouldn’t hurt to go with Justin to an event.
“A business date? That would be fine.” She took the money from his hand. “Of course I’ll go with you.”
A glimmer of something passed across his features. Was it regret? Or sadness? She didn’t know and didn’t want to think about it.
He jutted out his chin. “A business date. Sure. It’s short notice. The dinner’s this weekend. Is that okay?”
Warmth spread over her cheeks again, as she realized she’d grabbed the money out of his hand without finding out if she could even attend the function. She nodded quickly. “Sure. That’s fine. I’ve got time to look around for a dress tonight.”
He opened his mouth then clamped it shut before he turned on his heels and walked back to his office. If she didn’t know better, she might have believed he was about to offer to go with her to pick out the dress. She didn’t want him to tag along. It would be hard enough to attend a formal dinner without swooning all over the man. And if she could, she’d leave her lips home for the evening. If only that were possible.
She looked at the clock on her computer. Thankfully it was time to leave. She needed out of the office. Needed to clear her head. Going to the mall to shop for a formal gown to go on a “business” date with the most beautiful man God had ever created would be just the thing to help get her mind off Justin. She rolled her eyes as she grabbed her purse out of the cabinet and headed out the door.
Once at the mall, she made her way to one of the nicer department stores. It was one her wallet had never allowed her to venture inside. She hadn’t counted the cash Justin gave her until she’d reached the mall. He’d given her more than she made in a week. All for a dress and pair of shoes. Which meant they needed to be nice. Which meant Megan’s stomach rolled because she’d never bought anything that nice.
“May I help you, miss?”
Megan turned and saw an adorable, petite brunette. Her hair was cut like Tinker Bell’s, her makeup dark, and she wore a diamond in the side of her nose, but her clothes and shoes made her edginess appear even more professional and gorgeous. Maybe this woman would help her think outside of her usual wardrobe choice—though hopefully not too far out. Megan swallowed. “I’m looking for a formal gown, and I need it this weekend.”
The woman clapped. “Then we need to get to work. No time for alterations.” She extended her hand. “By the way, I’m Avery.”
Megan shook her hand then told the saleswoman her dress size. Avery placed her finger on her cheek and studied Megan’s shape. Megan squirmed under the intense scrutiny until Avery grabbed her arm. “Girl, you have a knockout shape. I want to be sure we enhance all the right places.”
A thrill raced down her spine. She’d never shopped like this. Never had anyone study her to bring out her best physical qualities. She wanted to be around people who cared about who the person was not what she looked like. Still, it was fun to think of purchasing something special.
Megan gaped at the mounds of dresses Avery pulled off the racks. “I’m going to try on all of those?”
“Maybe.” Avery shrugged. “Unless the perfect dress pops out at us before you’re through the stack.”
Megan went into the dressing room and slipped into the first dress—an aqua strapless gown with sequence beading at the top. The color was beautiful, but it made her hips look bigger than they were. She stepped outside of the room to show Avery. The saleswoman shook her head and sent her back inside. “Next.”
She took off the dress then tried on a deep red that was too dark against her skin, then a black that was too low-cut, then a pink that was too light. It was practically the same color as her skin.
She grew weary of trying on gowns and realized she was happy she wasn’t some ritzy guy’s wife who had to worry about perfect appearance all the time. Dress shopping was the most exhausting thing she’d done all week.
Avery handed her another dress. It was a smoky blue color, almost the same shade as Megan’s eyes. Her heart sped up, and she hoped this dress looked good on her.
Avery winked. “This may be the one.”
She bit her bottom lip and smiled. After shutting the door behind her, she slipped on the gown. It had a Grecian look with cutaway shoulders and deep slits in the front and the back. The jersey style gathering made the slits modest yet sensual. A thick band of sequins the same color of blue fit perfectly around her waist. From there the gown flowed like a waterfall all the way to her toes. It was perfect.
She stepped out of the dressing room, and Avery placed her hand on her chest. “Girl, we found it.” She looked at Megan. “Don’t you think?”
Megan nodded.
Avery snapped her fingers. “And I know just the perfect shoes.”
Megan shared her size, and then Avery raced out of the fitting area. She admired the dress. Lifted her hair off her shoulders. She’d wear her hair up. A deep sigh sounded from the back of her throat. She felt like a princess.
Avery arrived with the shoes, and just as she’d said, the silver sequined heels added just the right amount of pop to her feet. Avery shooed her back into the dressing room. “Let’s get you out of it before anything happens. You’re going to knock your man off his feet.”
>
Megan didn’t respond. She could’ve told Avery it was a business date, that her boss didn’t care for her in that way. That she didn’t want him to. But she felt so beautiful. Though she’d fought against it for years, in this dress, she wanted to impress the man she loved. To see his expression swell with pride that she belonged to him.
She had to get out of the dress and fast. Fanciful, romantic notions were not in her future. As soon as she finished her last weeks at the firm, she would start school in the fall as a music teacher, and she’d be away from Justin. Well, except for church functions and Bible study. But she could try to keep her distance in those settings.
Once dressed in her own clothes, Megan followed Avery to the counter to check out. Avery motioned to a woman in the back then looked back at Megan. “It was a lot of fun dressing you up. I hope you enjoy your date.”
“Thank you so much, Avery. You were a huge help.”
Megan looked back at the counter and sucked in her breath. The stunning redhead stood behind the register. Justin’s old client. What was her name? Sophia. While she rang up the purchase, Megan fumbled through her purse to find the money Justin had given her.
Maybe she won’t recognize me. Won’t remember me.
“I know who you are.” Sophia pointed at her. “You’re Justin Frasure’s secretary, right?”
Megan shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Shouldn’t the woman just ring her up and let her get out of there? Knowing she couldn’t be rude, Megan nodded.
Sophia placed the gown in a garment bag and zipped it up. “Awfully fancy dress. It’s beautiful. One of our nicest.”
Megan nodded again and handed her the cash.
“Going somewhere with Justin?”
Megan bit her bottom lip. Okay, the woman was way out of line. That was none of her business. If her manager walked up on this transaction, Sophia would be reprimanded. She looked at the redhead’s name badge, which listed her as a manager. Megan inwardly groaned. That’s just great.
Lifting her chin, she looked into Sophia’s eyes. “As a matter of fact, we are going to a charity ball. It’s a business engagement.”
Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky Page 16