See Megan Run Page 13

  Megan chuckled and stared without seeming to stare, then her breath caught in her throat. Her hands stopped mid-fold. "It’s Aiden."

  "What?" Lynne gasped. "You’ve been alone with him and you don’t jump his bones every single time?" Lynne grabbed the shirt from Megan’s hands. "You’re insane. I believe you now. Your mother did something to you that is irrevocable. You need therapy." Lynne made a sound of disgust. "Let a man like that chase me, and I swear, for the love of God, he’d be naked every minute of the day."

  Lynne pushed her from behind the counter. "Go get him, and bring him over here." Lynne sighed. "Oh, and he looks lost. I love it when men look lost." She clutched the shirt to her chest. "You’re insane."

  Megan moved into Aiden’s view. The corner of his mouth quirked up when he gestured his head to the walls lined with clothing. The vases filled with flowers were placed on a few tables. She wondered if he was impressed with the décor her shop offered, or if he was just happy to see her.

  Was she doomed if she hoped for the latter? The smile spread slowly over his face. She let out an uneven breath. Yes, she was. "Who let you out of the boondocks?"

  "I was sent to bring you back." He glanced at his watch. "You have until midnight or the deal is off."

  Megan deflated. Secretly, she’d hoped he was there for her, just for her. "Well, I didn’t plan to stay for long."

  Lynne coughed, "Liar."

  "Let me introduce you to my general manager." She turned to Lynne, giving her the evil eye. "Lynne, this is Aiden."

  "Good morning. How are you?"

  "I’m doing good. It’s a nice store. I’m sure Megan’s insufferable, but it’s nice to know she has someone on her side."

  Did Lynne just flutter her eyelashes? "I only think about quitting once a day. She hasn’t been so bad lately. I think it has a lot to do—"

  "Thank you, Lynne." She hoped the "thank you" sounded like "I will fire you."

  "It was nice meeting you, Aiden, but the relentless taskmaster speaks." Lynne took the shirt she’d been folding and disappeared in the back.

  Megan turned back to Aiden. He should have been out of place in her world, but he fit. Amid the flowers, the pants, sweaters, and shirts, he looked at ease. He had the ability to look comfortable even in the most dire situations. Megan was sure it had nothing to do with him being a cop. Megan was also sure it had everything to do with her heart thumping fast and hard in her chest.

  "I was coming back. I’m not going to lose the house. I..." She searched for the word. "Needed space from everyone and everything."

  "Including me?"

  Yes. No. The indecision made her chest ache harder. He was the one person in Riverbed she wanted to spend all her time with. The one person she couldn’t see herself getting tired of.

  She went for honesty. "You’re the only person I look forward to seeing. You don’t ask anything of me. You don’t have ulterior motives for wanting me in Riverbed." She took in a deep breath. "I trust you, Aiden."

  And that said a lot, because when was the last time she’d trusted a man with her heart? Ah, yes, her father, but that was a totally different can of worms she wasn’t ready to touch again. Or ever.

  "You shouldn’t trust me."

  "What do you mean?" He didn’t fill in the empty space between them. He didn’t touch her or hold her to let her know she wasn’t wrong about trusting him.

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "So, this is your place?"

  With Lynne, Megan would have pointed out the change of subject. "The Boutique. Fashion for the upwardly mobile." Megan smiled. "Doesn’t change the fact that some women who are dirt poor come in to get the latest fashions. I usually mark down the prices when their eyes grow big like saucers at the price tag. I can’t say I grew up dirt poor, but I know the feeling of wanting something I can’t have."

  Aiden smirked. "Not as business-minded as you try to be."

  Megan shrugged. "Everyone should be able to feel good in the clothes they wear. That’s not asking much."

  "But it’s important to you," he said softly.

  Megan straightened the clothes on the shelf to her left and tried not to let the words affect her. "It’s what I do."

  Another beat of silence from Aiden before he said, "I told Shep to talk to your mother."

  "Why?" Megan stopped doing the busy work.

  "You know the subject matter, and that’s also important to you."

  Was it against feminism to feel grateful? Was it wrong to like how the little buzz of attraction had turned into something warm and comforting, an emotion she’d started to rely on? Her heart and her head refused to agree on whether or not it was. Her feet took her to him. She let him wrap his arms around her waist, enveloping her with the scent of starch and soap. "Things used to be so simple."

  "You can stay." He murmured against her hair.

  She wasn’t sure if he meant here or Riverbed. Megan didn’t want to ask, because she wasn’t quite sure of the answer. At some point she had lost control of her emotions. Getting them back would put distance between Aiden and her. There was no choice but that someone would get hurt by the decision she would have to make. At the moment it was too painful to think that she wouldn’t have this much longer. She took in a deep breath and stepped back. "I’m putting you to work while you are here. How well do you fold?"

  He shook his head. "I’ll be security."

  "You’ll distract the customers with your good looks."

  "I have good looks?"

  "You know the chastity belt you warned me about? You’re going to need one from Lynne."

  "I heard that." Lynne said from the back. Megan rolled her eyes at having her suspicion confirmed—her manager was eavesdropping.

  Aiden laughed. "What do you need me to fold?"

  *****

  Megan closed the door quietly behind her, but her effort was wasted. The talking stopped in the living room. Chandi, in her bathrobe, shuffled into view. "We were having a little girl-talk. Come sit with us."

  The thinly veiled command was heard and obeyed. Megan went into the living room and instantly felt overdressed. Bette, her mother, and a new addition, Aunt Sarah, all lounged in their bathrobes. The flower arrangement was replaced by a large bottle of Bacardi, half empty, on the coffee table.

  Megan placed herself between Bette and Sarah. Nicole, legs crossed, was settled in the loveseat, and Chandi, showing amazing flexibility for her age, sat cross-legged on the floor.

  "We’ve been talking about men, love, marriage, children, and alcoholism." Chandi picked up her glass from the table. "What’s your take?"

  "Uh…"

  Bette patted Megan’s thigh. "She’s too young to know the real thing even if it bit her."

  "True," Sarah agreed, and Megan tried not to take offense.

  "I disagree." Nicole murmured and then met Megan’s eye. "She’s always been smarter than me in so many ways. To be honest, I kind of envied her old soul."

  The comment sounded too sincere to be sucking up. "Really?"

  "I’m tired of you using that tone with your mother." Chandi took a swig from her glass. "She may have done some stupid things in her past, but I think it’s time you forgive her. She’s had your best interest at heart since you’ve gotten here. Do you know how much this house is worth in this market?"

  "No," Megan said slowly.

  Chandi barely gave her time to reply before she started again. "A lot, and she’s practically giving it to you scot-free because she knows how much you love it. She told us about Taylor. Wish she would have told us sooner. We’d have strung him up by his balls. She didn’t, so that’s neither here nor there. I think it’s time we got through the past to get to our future."

  "You sound philosophical when you’re drunk," Sarah noted.

  "Thank you. Now that’s out of the way. What do you think of men?"

  "You’ve already asked her," Bette pointed out, picking up her glass from the table.

  "Don’t recall getting an a
nswer." Chandi’s answer was muffled as she chugged more liquor.

  "She has Aiden," Nicole said.

  "Mother, you’re not getting on my good side."

  "She’s not supposed to. She’s your mother."

  Megan raised her eyebrows at Sarah’s comment. "You’re right. Never mind me." Megan reached for the Bacardi. Bette slapped her hand.

  "You’re not old enough to drink."

  "I’ve seen the way she looks at Aiden." Chandi poured her a drink. "She’s old enough."

  Dead silence met the words.

  Nicole was the first to laugh, and then it become contagious.

  Sarah sobered first. "Aiden. Isn’t he Shep’s nephew?"

  "Yes." Megan took the glass offered to her.

  "So, that’ll make him your cousin."

  Megan made a noncommittal noise, because she’d done more than kiss her future cousin. She drained her glass.

  "Well, this is definitely the country."

  "Remove the stick, Sarah." Bette clapped a hand over her mouth.

  "Finally you guys seem likable again." Chandi raised her glass to them. Megan met her mother’s gaze. Nicole shrugged as if to say, "They’re your family," and Megan relaxed into the couch cushions. For the first time in years, they didn’t seem so bad.

  Chapter 16

  "We need to get party favors." Megan said to him.

  "I have to go with you—why, again?"

  "You signed us up for this. You will suffer along with me."

  Aiden searched his memory. Yeah, he had signed them up for the party. At the time, he’d agreed, and not for the first time since Megan had made it back into town was he second-guessing his decisions. He kept his feet propped on his desk. "This can’t wait, why?"

  Megan placed a hand on her well-rounded hip. He lost track of thought for a moment, visualizing his hands on her bare skin, gripping her to him. He shook his head when she spoke. "Their combined party is in twenty-four hours. If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to book the band."

  "Riverbed has a band?"

  Megan placed her hand on her other hip. His eyes followed the motion. Her fingers sank into the soft flesh, and he held his breath. He knew how soft her skin was, how it tasted as good as it looked. Was he turning into a cannibal? Her fingers tightened, and he could almost feel how hot her skin would get when he’d sink his teeth into her side. He needed to get her alone, and quick. Overnight he’d turned into the boy scout she’d expected him to be and kept condoms in his glove compartment, wallet, sock, pants pocket... "Sure let’s go."

  "We’ll need to go into Livingston."

  "Sure." He’d stop off of Dead Man’s Curve and get her naked, and quick. He took his feet off the desk.

  "No."

  He paused. "What?"

  "I know that look. We don’t have time. Did I mention we have less than twenty-four hours to get this stuff?" She glanced at her watch. "The store closes in two hours. It takes at least one hour to get to Livingston. We need to get this stuff, and offering me a quickie will not get this party decorated or endear me to you."

  He grabbed a handful of her shirt and grazed his teeth against her collarbone. "Twenty minutes, and I can turn on the sirens to get us there in thirty minutes."

  She moaned. "Twenty minutes is all I get?"

  He licked and sucked his way up to her ear. "Best twenty minutes of your life."

  Megan laughed. "Stay focused."

  "Talking to me?" he asked, but didn’t really care, as he was making his way under her shirt.

  "No, to myself." She moaned again. "We’re in a police precinct."

  Her observation should have stopped him in his tracks. Instead he lifted her bra and captured her nipple between his fingers and squeezed lightly. He opened his eyes to see her head thrown back in ecstasy, mouth parted and asking to be kissed. A good thing he did look up. Shep had just parked the cruiser. Aiden’s stomach fell in disappointment. He replaced her bra where it was supposed to be, fixed her shirt, and took a much-needed step back.

  "Shep’s coming."

  He plopped on the desk, figuring they’d have to go to Mars to get sex; otherwise, they’d get caught. Her eyes widened as she turned to look out the window. Her unsatisfied nipples strained against her T-shirt, puckered and erect, and he could almost see the chocolate-hued buds asking, begging to be tasted. Aiden groaned and willed his own erection to subside.

  "Afternoon, Shep," Aiden said, when his uncle walked in. He waited to see what Shep would say. Nothing. Shep nodded to Megan and gave Aiden a cold stare, but walked to the back, to the jail cells.

  He forgot about his libido. Not even Shep ever passed up a perfect opportunity to chastise Aiden about his actions. He guessed Shep was making up for the years his brother had forgotten to give Aiden speeches on the opposite sex. Today, he didn’t. Aiden’s frown deepened. "Can you give me a second?"

  "I’ll be waiting in the Green Demon," Megan said.

  Aiden followed Shep’s steps until he found him in a cell with the door open. Shep was lying down on the concrete bed.

  Aiden paused, and then it came to him. "Nicole, told you about Taylor."

  "Why didn’t she ever say something? I could have had him arrested."

  "A better idea would have been running him out of town. Assault charges would have stuck for a while, but it wouldn’t have changed his location. Nicole dealt with it the best she knew how, at the moment."

  Shep shook his head, and Aiden knew his uncle wasn’t buying the explanation. Shep’s face looked to be made of stone. Dread filled Aiden’s stomach. His uncle was steady as they come, up to a point.

  "Are you having second thoughts?"

  There wasn’t a quick reply. Somehow he was best man, caretaker, son, nephew, and fling. Add marriage counselor to the list, and he’d be complete. Aiden leaned against the bars.

  "I don’t understand why, after all these years, she didn’t tell me."

  "You’ve just said it. What’s the point of telling you after all these years?"

  Shep sat up. "Is Megan okay? He didn’t do..." Shep clamped his mouth shut.

  "No, if he had, even then I’m sure she’d have kicked him in the balls and called it fair and square."

  Shep grimaced. "You were heading out, right?" Aiden nodded. "I’ll be here when you get back, if you need me."

  Aiden hesitated, not wanting to leave his uncle alone with his thoughts. The man could think the simplest thing to death, when the bottom line was he loved Nicole. Nothing, not even the past, would change the fact.

  "Don’t do anything rash while I’m gone."

  "I could say the same, boy. I’m not blind." Shep lay back on the cot. Aiden walked out of the precinct, and unfortunately sex was now the last thing on his mind. He climbed into his truck.

  "What’s going on?" Megan asked.

  "Trouble in paradise, but I think things will pass." I hope things will pass, he added to himself.

  "Should you be leaving Shep alone?"

  Aiden glanced at the precinct in his rearview mirror. "I have no idea." He only hoped there would still be a bachelor and ‘ette party to decorate for when they got back.

  *****

  Aiden dropped Megan off at her car, watching her hips sway their seductive song. He shook his head. Shep would owe him big for walking away from her hips, her thighs, her lips...her laugh. There was no deeper he could get. When she waved to him and slid into her car, he had no excuse for sitting in the middle of the street holding up traffic, if there was any, to watch her drive away.

  He parked in front of the precinct, preparing himself to handle the problems he’d left behind to be with her, because that’s exactly what he’d done—to be more honest, what they’d done. They’d escaped with each other, avoiding the subject of her leaving soon. He didn’t dare bring up the promises he’d made to her when they were younger, nor how things went with her mother when she got home the night before. It wasn’t because he was a man of few words. He didn’t want to say t
he words that would change their mood. When are you going to be back? Are you ever going to forgive your mother? Did you ever love me? No, he wouldn’t ask. He wanted the stolen moments.

  Aiden glanced at the precinct. The light from Shep’s desk lamp was still on. Hearing about Taylor was eating at the man and the cop, both protectors, and for Shep, simply, both sides had failed.

  Aiden slid out of his car, wary of what he’d face once he went in. He opened the door and had to do a double-take. Shep’s feet rested on the edge of his desk, and his eyes were closed. Okay, maybe he’d been expecting to see his uncle in a fetal position, sucking his thumb. This was relaxed. "Shep?"

  "I heard you come in."

  Aiden leaned against the door jamb. "And?"

  Shep sighed and opened his eyes. "If I ever see Taylor again, I’ll beat the crap out of him."

  "That’s it?"

  "Are you deaf, boy?" His uncle was back in fine form.

  "I’ll see you tomorrow."

  "Wait. I forgot to ask you where you were going with Megan."

  "It’s a surprise." Aiden turned and closed the door on Shep’s muttered, "It better not be a nine-month surprise." His uncle was definitely back in top form.

  *****

  "I’m still mad at you for not letting me keep him," Lynne said to Megan the next morning.

  "You don’t have to yell."

  "I’m just saying if you don’t want him, I’ll gladly take him. I have no problem with seconds that look like him."

  Megan flung her arm over her eyes before she spoke the words she’d been trying to deny for the past twenty-four hours. "I’m falling for him. Again."

  "How sweet. High school sweethearts."

  "This isn’t sweet. This is a disaster. This is the end of the world as we know it. I can’t stay here. My brain would leak out of my ears from watching the grass grow and talking about how drunk the Baker boys got at Tessa’s. This is, this is..."

  "‘Wuv, Twue Wuv.’’"

  Megan kicked her covers off. "No. It’s not. It’s infatuation, combined with extreme, acute, sexual frustration."

  "You guys still haven’t finished the deed? No wonder. I could have died from electric shock the other day."