Time Out (4 page)

***

“I want to have
a word with you,” Anna said to her brother as she slammed the back
door to her parents’ house.

Nick didn’t
even acknowledge her. He continued to read the newspaper and devour
the prime rib Hazel had left for him.

“Why are you
being such an ass to Megan?”

That woman was
the last person he wanted to think or talk about. From the first
moment she stepped foot on the ranch, she’d dogged him like a
prickly rash he couldn’t get rid of. He’d see her at his parents’
dinner table, jogging down the dirt road between the two houses,
playing pool with Carver at Jimmy’s… Hell, he saw her face damn
near every time he turned on his TV set. Of course, it didn’t help
that his TV always seemed to be tuned to
that
country music
station. Not that he was trying to catch a glimpse of her. He kept
telling himself he’d be happy if he never saw her again.

Nick reached
for his beer bottle, tipping it back and taking a deep swallow. It
had been a long and tiring day. Once again, he’d had to cancel a
date because of fencing issues. He suspected a little sexual relief
was the only thing that might make him feel marginally better. He
was convinced his foul mood was due to the fact that he hadn’t
dated
since Megan came to town. “I don’t wanna talk about
her.”

Anna sat down
beside him. “Too bad. We’re going to talk about her whether you
want to or not. I just spent the afternoon with her and Sela. She’s
looking for a place to live because you make her feel so
uncomfortable.”

“Good. Tell me
she found somethin’ suitable, and she’ll be movin’ out sooner
rather than later.”

“Believe me,
she’d like nothing more than to move out.” Anna ripped the
newspaper out of Nick’s hands when he continued reading it instead
of talking to her. “Listen to me. I like her. Mom and Dad like her.
What the hell have you got against her?”

“I told you.
She’s an opportunist. She was content living the good life on her
rich father’s dime all those years, even though she admitted they’d
never had a relationship. She led Brock Logan on for God knows how
long, probably collectin’ expensive clothes, jewelry, and cars
along the way. She had an affair with her married producer so she
could get ahead in her career. When she decided she wanted to
‘start over’ in Nashville, she wound up here, living with our
wealthy parents and datin’ yet another rich guy. You gonna try to
tell me that’s a coincidence?”

“That’s what’s
really bothering you, isn’t it?” Anna said, propping her chin in
her hand and studying him. “You’re mad ‘cause she’s seeing your
nemesis.”

“I don’t give a
damn who she dates as long as she’s not tryin’ to take advantage of
our parents’ generosity while she reels in her next big fish.”

“I saw the way
you reacted at Jimmy’s that night. You were mad as hell. From where
I sat, you looked a little jealous.”

He rolled his
eyes. “I’ve never been jealous of Carver a day in my life.” He told
himself watching them wrapped around each other on the dance floor
at Jimmy’s didn’t affect his opinion of her. He’d disliked her long
before he saw her cozying up to the enemy. Being Carver’s
girlfriend just gave him another reason to dislike her.

“I think you’re
attracted to her.”

Nick nearly
choked on a piece of prime rib. Chewing carefully and washing the
meat down with a sip of beer gave him the time he needed to
consider his response. “You think that’s how I treat a woman I’m
interested in? If that were the case, I’d be sittin’ home alone
every night.”

“You do sit
home alone every night, or at least you have since Megan came to
town. I only see you out when you go to Jimmy’s for a beer with the
boys. Why is that?”

“I’ve been busy
with work. Last Song and Shake Down have an equally good chance of
takin’ the Derby this year. When I’m not busy runnin’ the ranch and
managin’ the breedin’ program, I’ve been focused on gettin’ them
ready. Hell, that’s a full-time job and then some.”

“Yeah, but you
were just as busy last year, and you still made time to date. Could
it be that the only woman you’re interested in dating is already
seeing someone and that’s eating you up inside? Is that why you’ve
been so nasty to her?”

“I already told
you why I hate Megan. She’s a gold-digger who’s not above using her
looks and body to land a rich guy.”

The back door
closed quietly, and both Nick and Anna looked up.

He could tell
from the look on her face, the tears pooling in her bright green
eyes, that Megan had heard every word.
Damn it.
He’d never
admit his remorse aloud because he didn’t want her to know he
regretted hurting her feelings. He wasn’t a callous person, and no
matter how he felt, he wouldn’t tear a person to shred for sport
when they could hear him.

“Megan, we
didn’t hear your car.” Anna got up and went to her friend’s
side.

“I wanted to
take a little walk to clear my head, so I parked down at the
barn.”

Nick eyed her
four-inch wedge sandals. “You took a walk in those shoes? Not the
smartest decision. You could have fallen or tripped and twisted
your ankle.”

“Like you’d
care,” she said, meeting Nick’s eyes.

He saw
something he’d never seen in Megan before: softness and
vulnerability. “Anna, I’d like to have a word with Megan, if you
don’t mind?”

“That’s up to
her,” Anna said, placing a hand on her friend’s forearm. “You don’t
have to if you don’t want to.”

Megan blinked
back the tears. “I don’t mind. Like I said before, I can handle
myself.”

Anne gave her a
quick hug. “If you need to talk, don’t be afraid to call.” Shooting
a look over her shoulder at her brother, she said, “I’m warning
you-”

“Later, sis.”
Anna left and Nick waited until he heard her start her car before
he pointed at the fresh pot of coffee on the counter. “Would you
like a cup?”

“No. I’m just
going to go up to my room and get out of your way.” Megan moved
past him, but he grabbed her wrist. Looking down at his hand, she
said, “Let go of me.”

He did as she
asked, hoping she wouldn’t flee. “You don’t have to go. I was just
leavin’.”

Nick knew he
should apologize, but he couldn’t find the words. Pushing his chair
back, he stood up. They were mere inches apart, close enough that
her soft floral scent beckoned to him. She wore very little makeup,
a contrast to the made-up version he was used to. He’d never
noticed how long her eyelashes were or the ever-so-faint sprinkling
of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Even without cosmetics,
the woman was stunning.

Megan said,
“You don’t have to leave on my account. This is your home. Not
mine.”

“What was your
home like?” Nick didn’t know why he’d asked, but he found he
suddenly cared.

A frown creased
her forehead and between her arched eyebrows. He was relieved she
hadn’t resorted to injections to smooth out the natural lines. As
his eyes traced her face, he saw something else: ever-so-faint
laugh lines. He remembered the sound of her laugh and the way it
made him feel. He hadn’t heard her laugh since the first day he met
her, but he realized he wanted to again. Soon.

“Why? You want
to do a little more research, dig up a little more dirt?”

“Is there any
more dirt?”

She closed her
eyes and drew a breath before looking him in the eye. “Have I done
things I’m not proud of? Yes. I’m human. Can I go to bed now?”

Nick had the
sudden urge to touch her skin, to find out if it was as soft as it
looked. He brushed a fallen eyelash off her cheek. Velvet. That was
the only word that came to mind. Her skin felt like velvet beneath
his rough fingers.

She pulled
back. “What are you doing?”

“Eyelash.” His
lips turned up at the corners, and he realized that was probably
the first time he’d offered her anything resembling a smile. “I
guess that means you get to make a wish.”

“I don’t waste
my time making wishes.”

His heart
constricted. What had happened to prompt her to stop believing
wishes could come true? “Why not?”

“Wishes are for
little kids. I know better.”

“If you could
have one wish, what would it be?” For some inexplicable reason, he
suddenly wanted to know her just a little bit better. He knew it
was a dangerous quest in light of what he already knew, but he
couldn’t seem to help himself.

“I don’t wish
for anything.” She tried to make her way around him, but he blocked
her path to the door.

“Everyone
wishes for somethin’. Tell me what you wish for.” Nick was shocked
to see her eyes brim with tears, and he was even more surprised to
feel a bit of admiration at how hard she tried to prevent them.

“I don’t share
my dreams with men who think so little of me.”

She had him
there. “Okay, I’ll admit gold-digger may have been a little
harsh.”

“I’m not dating
Shaw because of his money,” she said quietly.

Just the man’s
name made Nick’s blood simmer. “Then what do you see in him, ‘cause
he sure as hell doesn’t have much else goin’ for him.” Women often
said Shaw was handsome, and Nick had to admit Shaw hadn’t built a
multi-million dollar business by being stupid, but that didn’t make
him worthy of…
a woman like Megan.
Where had that thought
come from?

“He’s kind,
gentle, compassionate. He talks to me about his life, his business,
his friends and family. But more importantly, he listens. He wants
to get to know me.”

Nick was
suddenly envious of the things Shaw knew about Megan when she was
still a mystery to him. “Do you see a future with him?” That
thought didn’t sit well with Nick. He didn’t want to spend the rest
of his life with her living just down the road, sleeping with the
enemy.

“No.”

Relief coursed
through him. “Why’s that?”

“I don’t intend
to stay in Nashville. The plan is to go home at the end of my
contract.”

“Why?”
Twenty-four hours ago, he would have whooped with delight, but
Megan’s softer side made him realize there may be a lot more to her
than he’d believed.

“Nashville
isn’t my home. It never will be.”

“It could be,
if you gave it a chance.”

“Now why would
you want me to do that? You said yourself you can’t stand me,”
Megan said.

“How about we
agree to a truce?” He offered her his hand.

Looking at it
warily, she asked, “Why?”

He smiled for
the first time since he’d met her, and she looked taken aback.
“Let’s just say I’ve had a change of heart.”

“Why do I find
that hard to believe? You don’t seem like the kind of man who
changes his mind often or admits to being wrong… ever.”

He chuckled as
he took her hand. The casual contact sent a jolt up his arm and
made him wonder if he would combust should they venture into
intimate territory. His sister was right. He was definitely
attracted to Megan. Whether it could ever be more than physical was
anyone’s guess.

“You’re right
about me. But I’m not so sure I was right about you.”

“Is that your
way of saying you’re sorry you jumped to the wrong
conclusions?”

Nick admired
her for challenging him, but he wasn’t willing to concede just yet.
He couldn’t say for sure he’d been wrong about her. The only way to
tell was by getting to know her better and, to his amazement, that
no longer seemed like an abhorrent prospect. “Let’s just say I’d
like us to get to know each other better.”

She withdrew
her hand, a look of confusion on her face. “I don’t know what your
game is, McCall, but I won’t make the mistake of letting my guard
down around you, I can promise you that.”

Nick watched
her leave, his eyes traveling to the dip in the lower back and
gentle slope of her bottom in her tight black pants. Convincing her
to let her guard down, among other things, would be half the
fun.

A fitful night’s sleep
caused Megan to sleep through her alarm the next morning.
Unfortunately, that meant Nick was at the kitchen table digging
into a stack of Hazel’s blueberry pancakes when she came down.

Nick’s eyes
tracked her movements as she filled a mug with coffee and leaned
against the counter. Pointing at a basket of fresh blueberry
muffins in the middle of the table, he said, “Help yourself.”

She would have
told him she wasn’t hungry, but her stomach growled as she opened
her mouth. “I guess I can have a quick bite before I have to get to
the station.” After all, she reasoned, downing a cup of coffee and
a muffin wouldn’t take more than five minutes. She could stand his
company for that long. She hoped.

“Did you sleep
well?” Nick poured her a glass of juice.

Megan couldn’t
believe that charming gentleman was the same beast who’d called her
a gold-digger the night before. He was definitely up to something.
Probably trying to earn her trust so she’d reveal her skeletons.
Fat chance
. “Not really. I had a lot on my mind.”

“Such as?”

“Shaw, for
one.” She smiled behind her juice glass when he scowled. “He was
having a little problem yesterday. I was wondering whether he’d
dealt with it.”

“That guy would
need a lifetime to deal with all of his problems.” He picked up a
crispy piece of bacon and ate it as he watched her, obviously
waiting for her to defend her boyfriend.

“I think we
should just agree to disagree about Shaw. That is, if we have any
hope of being civil to one another.” She buttered her muffin and
popped a small piece into her mouth.

“I’d love
nothin’ more than to forget he’s alive.”

He disarmed her
with another heart-stopping grin, and she had to remember to
breathe. With cropped black hair, a dark summer tan, clear blue
eyes, and all those bulging muscles from years of working on a
ranch, she’d appreciated his male perfection from the first time
she met him. When she saw that flash of white teeth and
accompanying dimples, she realized how easily he could steal a
woman’s heart. And then stomp all over it with those scuffed cowboy
boots he favored.