Laugh Like You've Never Cried (Summer Lake 5) (16 page)

“Exactly.” Mrs. Slater's expression softened. “She needs to think about
you
too, Megan. You're building yourself a good life here. Your sister needs to consider that, not ask you to give it up. If she really can't cope by herself, then let her come here.”

Megan smiled. That was what she'd thought herself. It was nice to have her colleague confirm that it wasn't her being selfish. It was just practical. Still, she knew that if Kenzie wanted her to go, she would.

Mrs. Slater seemed to understand what she was thinking. “You don't have to put her happiness before your own, Megan. I hope she won't try to make you.”

“Oh, it's not like that.” It wasn't was it? Kenzie was just trying to look out for her, do what was best. That was all. But Megan knew that what was best for her would be to stay here, keep building this little life she was enjoying so much—and keep seeing Michael.

Mrs. Slater watched her. “You think about it. You know I'm right. And I know I'm being selfish. I don't want to lose you. But more than that, I don't want to see you do something you'd regret.”

Megan nodded. She didn't either.

***

M
ichael pulled into one of the spaces around the back of the library and looked over at Ethan.

“Are you
sure
you really need this book tonight, mate?”

Ethan nodded solemnly. “I do, Dad. I have to have it for school tomorrow.”

Michael gave him a hard stare. “And it has nothing to do with the fact that I didn't ask Megan to come over to ours?”

Ethan bit his lip and smiled around it. His eyes were bulging with the effort not to laugh. Michael couldn't help but smile back at him. The little tyke was trying to set him up and they both knew it.

“No, but since we're here, and this is one of the nights she closes up, you could always ask her now.”

Michael shook his head at him. “So, you even know her schedule?”

Ethan laughed. “Umm....Yeah, but only because it's easy. She closes up on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the Slater-dragon does it Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Even Grandma doesn't like to come then.”

Michael had to laugh. Mrs. Slater had worked at the library since he was a kid himself. He remembered many a telling off she'd given him and Missy for making too much noise—laughing mostly. She was a tough old bird, but she had a heart of gold.

Ethan was letting himself out of the car. “Listen, mate. I didn't ask Meggie last night, because I'm already seeing her again on Saturday. I didn't want to overload her.”

Ethan sat back down and glowered across at him. “That's not fair! You said next time she could come to ours.”

“No, little mate. That's what
you
said. I said we'd see.” He smiled now, hoping to get Ethan back on his side. “I am going to ask her over, I just don't want to mess up by asking too much too soon. I saw her last night. I'm seeing her on Saturday....”

“Well, why can't I see her on Saturday too?”

Michael laughed. “Because you're over at Scotty's, remember? I'm only seeing her because you're not around.”

Ethan pursed his lips. “So can she come over on Sunday when I get back?”

“How about you let me see how Saturday goes first?”

“It'll go great, Dad. You're a charmer. It'll be fine. I'm going to ask her.” With that he scrambled out of the car and ran across the parking lot and up the steps to the library.

Michael shook his head. He was glad the boy was keen, but he was still trying to figure out how it all might work. He didn't want Ethan getting too close to Megan before he figured out what he himself wanted. Part of him was happy and excited about where all this might be going, but another part was much more cautious. He'd really screwed up when it came to Kay. She'd hurt Ethan more than he would have ever believed was possible for a woman to hurt her child. No matter what he wanted himself, he would never again willingly expose the kid to a situation that might hurt him. He already knew Megan would never hurt him intentionally, but he didn't know enough about her or her past yet either.

He jogged up the steps to catch up with his boy. Wondering how this little encounter might turn out.

When Michael pushed open the doors his heart thundered in his chest and he had to catch his breath. Ethan was resting his arms up on the counter at the front desk, even though he had to stand on tip-toe to do so. He was resting his chin on his hands, smiling as he talked to Megan. She was smiling right back at him. Seeing the two of them like that stopped him in his tracks. He stood there watching as Megan laughed at something Ethan said. The kid was grinning up at her. She reached across and patted his shoulder. Blimey! It made him want everything he'd thought he was getting when he married Kay. A wife and a kid to look after. To come home to. To be his family. To laugh with—to love! He loved Ethan with all his heart and soul. Seeing Megan there with the little guy made him wonder if he loved her too. The way his heart was racing and his palms were sweating, he thought he knew the answer. But he wasn't about to let himself go anywhere near it. Not yet. He barely knew her. He needed to know more about her, needed to know Ethan wasn't going to get hurt.

Ethan pointed over at him. Megan met his eye and smiled. That smile really did work all kinds of crazy on him. It made his feet start walking over to them without his permission or even his knowledge, until he realized he was at the desk with them—with his son and his girl.

Ethan was grinning at him. “Don't you, Dad? You want to take us out on the boat on Sunday.”

Michael looked from Megan to Ethan and back again.

“Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.”

Wow! He didn't know what to say. He just stared into her eyes, and she stared back, smiling. Ethan nudged him, bringing him back to Earth.

“
Don't
you, Dad?”

He laughed and nodded. “I do. What do you say, Meggie? Ethan doesn't think it's fair that I get to hang with you and he doesn't.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “I'll have you all to myself on Saturday night.” Her cheeks colored at that. “Then on Sunday we can have breakfast before we pick this guy up and take the boat out for the afternoon.”

“I'd like that.”

“You will.”

“I will too,” said Ethan. “And you can stay for dinner afterwards. Can't she, Dad?”

He looked at Megan. “If she'd like to?”

She nodded. “She would.”

“Good,” said Ethan smiling at the two of them, looking very pleased with himself.

Michael had to laugh. “Don't you need to go get a book, mate?”

He shook his head. “No. I've got plenty.”

Michael lowered his face to his son's with a mock frown. “I thought you desperately needed a book tonight?”

Ethan laughed. “Oh! Yeah.” He gave Megan a cheeky grin. “That's what I told him!”

Megan laughed. “Then perhaps you'd better find one?”

“You can never have too many books, right?” He wandered away with a big grin on his face, turning back before he disappeared behind the bookshelves to wink at Michael and give him a big thumbs up.

Michael laughed then looked back at Megan. “You don't have to if you don't want to, you know.”

“I'd love to! I....” She stopped and her face fell. “Unless you don't want me to? Was it just Ethan's idea?”

Michael wanted to go around the desk and hold her. She looked so disappointed. So uncertain. “You know better than that, Meggie.
I
want to see you. I'm looking forward to Saturday night, to taking you out, seeing you in that dress.” He winked at her. “And getting you out of that dress before I sleep with you again. This way I get to spend the whole day with you too.”

She still looked uncertain. “Okay, but only if you really want to. I don't want to take up your time with Ethan.”

“Well, I want you to and so does he. So it looks like you're outvoted.”

“In that case, Doctor Morgan, I shall look forward to it.”

He grinned. “I will too.” Ethan was heading back to the desk with a pile of books. “For now though, it looks like you have a customer to take care of.”

She smiled. “I do. One of my best customers, and my favorite too.”

As Michael watched her check out Ethan's books it seemed as if she really meant it. The two of them obviously got along so well. He rubbed a hand over his chin. He had some serious thinking to do.

M
egan looked across nervously at Emma. They were sitting on the deck of the restaurant overlooking the water. She was seriously considering making an excuse and leaving before the others got here. Why had she agreed to come to their Saturday girls' lunch? She liked Emma, they'd had a great time together the other night, but this time there would be three others. She wasn't so worried about Missy, she was lovely. Holly and Laura had seemed nice too. It wasn't even that she was bothered about them not being nice. It was being in a group that she didn't like. She never knew what to say.

Emma gave her a reassuring smile. “I know you're nervous now, but after everyone has gone I'm going to ask you if you enjoyed it, and I bet you'll say yes.”

“I hope you're right. I'm very tempted to leave now, before they get here.”

“I can tell, but you're too late. Here comes Missy.”

Missy made her way between the tables, stopping to say hello to people here and there. Laughing and joking. Megan could see why she and Michael got along so well. He'd said that they were best friends when they were kids.

“Hey, ladies.” She reached their table and hugged them both. Megan was getting used to the way everyone seemed to be so huggy here—she liked it. Missy sat down next to her. “I'm so glad you came. I was ready to come pick you up if you'd chickened out.”

Megan smiled. Missy already had her figured out. She didn't seem to miss a trick. “I'm glad I came too. I think.”

Missy laughed. “At least you're honest about it. You're going to have to get used to it though, and I think it's a smart move to come out with just the girls first.”

“Definitely,” said Emma. “This can be a practice run for tonight, too. You are going to come, aren't you?”

Megan nodded slowly. “I think so.” Michael had given her the choice. Most of the gang were coming over to the resort tonight to listen to the band. He'd said they could join them,
if
she wanted to. If not, they could eat at Giuseppe's again. She felt really torn. She knew he would have more fun here with his friends, but she would never choose to spend an evening with a whole group of people. Or at least she never would have before. Now she was a little curious. It might be fun, if she dared to do it. She was learning that was the way things usually turned out around Michael.

“Oh, you should come,” said Missy. “I won't be here, because I've got the boys, but it's always a great night. You'll enjoy it.”

“You know what I'm like though, Missy. It's scary.”

Missy wrinkled her nose at her. “I remember a certain someone being scared of going out with Michael not so long ago. And you can't tell me that isn't turning out well, that you're not glad you did.”

Megan felt her cheeks flush. She took a deep breath. If she was going to be friends with them then she should let herself talk to them. In the way girlfriends did, in the way she'd always wished she had someone to talk to. “I am very glad I did, Missy.” She looked at Emma too. “Thank you both for being so encouraging. I really like him.” There, she'd said it out loud!

They were both smiling back at her. “And he really likes you too, hon.” Missy grinned. “I've never seen him like this. I mean, he flirts all the time, with everyone, but that's almost like a defense mechanism. He puts on the charm so no one gets near him. With you he's just diving right in.”

Emma laughed. “You should have seen him the other night, Miss. He was doing his usual and I was cross with him for flirting when Megan was there. He got all worried that she was going to be cross with him too.” She smiled at Megan. “But this lady is not as insecure as I am. She gets him, and knows that it's just what he does.”

Missy smiled at her. “You'd have to understand that about him just to survive the first five minutes.” She made a face at Emma. “Not every woman needs her man to be completely devoted to her every second of every day, Mouse.”

Emma laughed. “We're all different. Anyway, look. There's Holly.” She waved as a tall slim, beautiful woman with long, brown hair made her way over to them. She sat down next to Emma.

“Hey ladies. How are we?” She turned to Megan. “I'm glad you came. And don't worry, if you can survive spending time with Michael, we'll be easy company.”

Megan smiled nervously. She wasn't sure what Holly meant by that. She hoped she wasn't being mean.

Holly laughed and touched her arm. “Sorry, sweetie. That might have come out wrong. I mean your man is so full of fun, and such a big personality, that even the four of us will be a peaceful time after him.”

Megan nodded. It was true.

“I talked to Laura,” Holly continued. “She's going to be a little late. That smoking hot pilot of hers came back earlier than she thought. She hasn't seen him since last weekend and I think they have a little catching up to do.” She grinned at Emma. “He was supposed to be bringing Nate, but something changed. Did you know that Nate's moving up here?”

“I did. Jack's been wanting to get him up here for ages. And Lexi's coming too.”

Holly nodded. “I adore that woman.”

Missy looked at Megan. “Okay. Emma is married to Jack. Holly is engaged to Pete. Jack and Pete run a big company and they are talking about people who work there. Lexi, I think, is Jack's secretary and Nate...”

“Nate is one hot guy!” A dark-haired woman pulled up a chair next to Holly and smiled around the table. “What? He is! I've known him for years. He's worked with Jack for ages. What?”

They were all staring at her. Megan was staring because she was so beautiful. She must be Laura.

Holly laughed. “We weren't expecting you yet. I was just telling the girls that you probably had some catching up to do with that gorgeous pilot of yours.”

Laura gave them a raunchy grin. “All caught up. For now. I left him wanting more. I don't want to wear him out before tonight!”