Laugh Like You've Never Cried (Summer Lake 5) (26 page)

Michael's arm tightened around her shoulders. He hadn't let go of her all evening. She looked up into those green eyes full of mischief and smiled. He winked and landed a peck on her lips. She loved knowing that the two of them didn't need words to check in with each other. He was asking if she was doing okay. She was telling him she was just fine. When his arm dropped from her shoulders to her waist and pulled her against his side, he was telling her he wished she could come home with him tonight. Her eyes told him she did too.

Missy had been making them all laugh with some story. Megan only caught the tail-end of it.

“Well, I'm only small!” she was saying indignantly.

“Good things come in small packages,” said Dan who was sitting sideways with both arms around his fiancée, smiling at her.”

Michael had everyone laughing as he pulled Megan onto his lap. “
Dynamite
comes in small packages!”

She knew she was blushing, but she was loving it too as Michael closed his arms around her.

“You certainly look like dynamite in those clothes,” said Holly with a smile. “I'm so glad you agreed to model for me.”

Megan smiled, she was too. The dress she was wearing tonight had made Michael's eyes pop out when he'd seen her. It was simple and short, plain denim with a zipper than ran up the front from the hem to the neckline. She kept catching him looking her over and loved it. She'd decided it was a combination of what she wore and the way he looked at her that made her feel so sexy.

***

M
ichael stood up. “Sorry guys, but I need to get my little lady out on the dance floor.” It wasn't really where he wanted to get her, but it would have to do for now. She came with him eagerly and her arms came up around his neck. He managed to keep his hands off her ass, but only because he could see Kenzie was watching them. He wrapped both arms around her waist instead and held her to him as he moved her hips with his own. She had that wide-eyed smile going, working its crazy on him, telling him how badly she wanted him. He wished they could just get out of here so he could take her home and give her what she wanted. All night long.

“You worked your charm on Kenzie,” she said.

He nodded. He was more interested in working his charm on her, in bed.

Megan laughed and snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Excuse me, Doctor Morgan! I want to make love to you too, but I think we have to wait until my sister has gone. We certainly can't do it here.”

He winked at her, realizing that his need for her had him dancing a little more suggestively than was decent. “Sorry, Meggie. I can't concentrate. I've only had to go one night without you and I'm as bad as Ollie. I'll be humping your leg soon!”

Megan laughed. “Perhaps you should ask Kenzie to dance? That might dampen your enthusiasm?”

He nodded. He was calming right down at the thought of it. But glancing over at the table, he saw she was sitting there by herself. All the couples were dancing, Ben hadn't been around much at all tonight, and Gabe was at the bar.

“Would you mind? I need to go to the bathroom anyway.”

He smiled and thrust his hips against her one last time. “As long as you promise you'll dance with me again later.”

She nodded and stepped away from him with that smile. He
really
just wanted to take her home. Instead, he made his way back to the table and grinned at Kenzie as he offered her his hand with a flourish.

“Would you do me the honor, darl'?”

She smiled and stood to join him.

Out on the dance floor, Michael held her stiffly at a safe distance. His enthusiasm, as Megan had so delicately put it, had shrivelled. Where Megan was sweet and soft, her sister was hard and brazen.

“You're not what I thought you were,” she said. “And I'm glad I was wrong.”

“Not as glad as I am, darl'. I kept having visions of some evil sister coming to steal Meggie away from  me.”

Kenzie smiled. “I only want what's best for her. I want to see her happy, that's all. You know her history. I hope you can understand my doubts.”

Michael nodded. Kenzie wasn't what he'd thought either. “I do. But I hope I'm dispelling them?”

“You are. I don't feel so bad about leaving her here now.”

That made Michael curious. “She feels bad about you being there though. She thinks you're the one who might need help.”

Kenzie laughed, it sounded harsh and forced. “Don't let her worry about me. I can take care of myself. I always land on my feet.”

Michael wasn't so sure about that. She was a tough cookie, that much was obvious, but she also had the look of someone who wasn't eating well enough. Her clothes and shoes were provocative, but cheap in the other sense too. He decided to risk it. “Meggie thought you were struggling for cash. We can help out if ever you need it.” For a moment he was afraid he'd said the wrong thing.

Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line. But then she smiled. That looked forced too. “Like I said, don't let her worry about me. I'll be fine.”

“You wouldn't consider moving here?” he asked. “Megan would love that, and however much you say don't let her worry, we both know she's going to.”

Kenzie shook her head. “I was wrong about this place too. I thought it was a dead-end backwater. It's not. It's perfect for Megan.” She stared over his shoulder. “I think she'll be happy here, as long as you don't hurt her. Part of me wishes I was more like her.” She looked back at him now. “But what the hell would
I
do in a place like this?”

Michael shrugged. She had a point, he supposed. Though he wished there were something. “I don't plan on hurting her, Kenzie.”

“Men never do. I don't want to rip your balls off and banish you from ever seeing her again like I thought I would. But I am going to make one very strong recommendation.”

Blimey! She was a straight talker. He nodded, wondering what was coming.

“Don't rush her. You know what she's been through. She's just starting to find herself. It would be too easy for you to influence her. Don't shape her into what you want her to be. Let her figure out what she wants.”

Michael took a deep breath. She was only telling him what he already knew. It raised all those doubts again, about whether she would discover that she wanted the same kind of freedom Kay had. But only for a moment. He knew Meggie. He knew figuring herself out would only mean adjusting details, not changing the sweet, caring, fundamental nature of who she was. “I'll do my best.”

Kenzie smiled. “That's all any of us can ever do.” The song came to an end and she stepped away from him.

Michael followed her gaze as she looked back at the table where a guy was sitting to next to Megan who looked flustered and nervous. Kenzie turned back and gave him a grim smile. “Are you going to go rip his balls off, or am I?”

Michael chuckled. “I'll take care of it.” He jerked his head toward the stage where the band was now taking a break between sets. Chase had been watching Kenzie ever since they'd come out onto the floor. “I think you've got some business of your own to take care of.”

She smiled at him. “I told you, I always land on my feet.”

Michael left her to it and went to rescue Megan. It seemed to him, from the looks passing between her and Chase, that Kenzie was more likely to land on her back!

Megan's face lit up with that huge smile when he got back to the table. He grinned at the guy who was talking to her. “Sorry, mate. I can't blame you for trying, but this little lady is all mine.” He took Megan's hand and pulled her to her feet. He led her out onto the deck and around the corner. It was dark and quiet out here. He backed her against the wall and smiled down at her as he pinned her there with his hips. He loved the little gasp that escaped her lips.

“And I thought you were coming to the rescue back there! I think I might have been safer with that guy who was asking me out.”

Michael caught his hand in her hair and drew her head back so she was looking up at him. Her eyes glazed with desire as his other hand closed around her ass. He claimed her mouth in a deep kiss. He was surprised at his own primitive instincts. He'd wanted her all night. Now the thought of some guy asking her out had that possessiveness surging through him again. He wanted to take her right now, here against the wall, claim her as his own. The way her breath was coming slow and shallow, the way she was pressing herself against him as she kissed him back, told him she wanted him too. But no. He finally lifted his head.

“Don't even joke about it, little one. You know you're safe with me. I'm the safest place in the world for you.” He winked at her. “I can even keep it in my pants a little while longer. But you're coming home with me tonight. I really don't think Kenzie will mind.” He was pretty damned certain Kenzie would neither know nor care where Megan slept tonight. From the looks passing between her and Chase all evening, he had a feeling that even if she did make it back to Megan's place she wouldn't be alone.

Megan nodded. Her breathing was still shallow. “Is it time to go home now then?”

He smiled. “Soon, Meggie. Soon.”

***

T
he band had started up again by the time they went back inside. Megan squeezed Michael's hand when she spotted Kenzie dancing with the girls just in front of the stage. “Would you mind if I go and dance with them?”

He dropped a kiss on her lips. “You know you need to just tell me that you're going to. You don't have to ask.”

“I know. It's not that I think you will mind really. With you it's not as though I need permission. It's just that I'm wondering how soon you're thinking about leaving.”

He chuckled. “I reckon you're pretty keen to get me into bed aren't you?”

She nodded. “I am, and you know it. So I'm going to go and dance while I can.”

She made her way across the dance floor and joined Kenzie and the girls. She looked for Michael and gave him a little wave when she saw him standing with Pete near the end of the bar.

Holly grinned at her. “You need to get your sister to move up here.”

“I wish I could.” She looked at Kenzie. “Is there any chance we can convince you?”

Laura laughed and looked up at Chase who grinned when they caught him watching Kenzie while he sang. “I think
he
could convince her of just about anything right now.”

Kenzie laughed. “I don't know about that, but I can tell you I'll be convincing him of a few things later.” She looked at Megan. “Don't worry about me tonight. You go home with Michael.”

Megan frowned. It was what she wanted, but she wasn't sure about leaving Kenzie to her own devices.

Emma smiled at her. “Don't worry, Meggie. Chase is a good guy.”

Kenzie laughed. “See,
Meggie,
I'll be just fine.”

She smiled
.
Kenzie had already teased her about the way people here called her Meggie and she didn't correct them. She'd said it was a sign she was starting to loosen up. Maybe she needed to. Kenzie was her own person after all. “Okay. If you have anywhere near as much fun as I'm going to, then I know you will have a great night.”

The others all laughed at that. Missy slapped her arm. “And we know Michael is
huge
fun.”

Megan giggled. Then stopped and looked at Missy. “You do?”

Missy laughed. “Not in the way you do hon, no. But we grew up together, remember. And anyone who has ever seen him out in his cycling shorts can't help but miss it!”

Emma was laughing now. “Thank God
you
brought it up, Miss. I didn't like to say anything.”

“I think it's Meggie who brings it up,” said Laura.

“I do.” Megan knew she was blushing, but this was fun. “In fact, is it time to go home yet?”

Kenzie was grinning at her. “I have newfound respect, little sister. If that's the case, you should head off as soon as you're ready.”

Megan grinned back. “You don't need to tell me twice.” She looked around and waggled her eyebrows at them, just like Michael did. “I reckon I'm ready for bed!”

The fact that her attempt at an Australian accent was so terrible just made them laugh all the more. Kenzie came and hugged her. “This place is good for you. Now off you go home and let Michael be good to you.”

Megan nodded. “Please be careful?”

Kenzie grinned. “Always. And Megan, wait for
me
to call
you
tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”

***

M
ichael watched her with the girls. He loved the way she danced. He'd noticed from the first time he'd brought her here that she wasn't awkward or shy on the dance floor. To say she'd spent so much time hiding her hot little body, she sure as hell knew how to move it.

Pete punched his arm. “S'up Michael? You look like you want get that little lady home.”

Michael grinned. “That's because I do.”

“Is it serious then?”

He nodded. “Very. We might have to take it slow for a while, but yeah. It's serious.”

Pete laughed. “The way she keeps looking at you, I don't think there's any need to take it slow.”

Michael turned to him and waggled his eyebrows. “Nah, mate, we weren't slow at
that.
I'm talking about the serious stuff. I can't rush her into it. She needs time.”

“Serious, like marriage serious?”

“Yep!”

Pete laughed. “Wow! Another one bites the dust, huh?”

“I hope so.” He grinned as he watched her hug Kenzie and make her way over to them with that smile on her face. Finally! It was time to take her home.

Pete slapped his back as he walked away.

***

M
ichael unlocked the front door and Megan stepped inside. Ollie came bounding down the hallway to make his usual fuss of her. She bent down to rub his ears and let him lick her face.

“I missed you, Ollie-bug.”

He whined and offered her his paw, then rolled on his back. She leaned down to rub his belly. “You love it when I do that, don't you?”

“I do.” Michael took hold of her hips and pulled her ass back against him. He was so big, so hard, as he pressed himself against her. It felt sooo good. She pressed back into him as the heat rushed through her.