Laugh Like You've Never Cried (Summer Lake 5) (8 page)

“Yeah, but look what you've done in the last five years. You built a great practice over there and now you're taking over from your dad here. You might not be leaping tall buildings, but what you're doing is much more important. You don't really dismiss the importance of a small-town doc do you? You're not telling me you don't understand everything your dad has done for the people of Summer Lake. Everything he means to them? And I know full well you're proud of Ethan and the relationship the two of you have.”

Michael nodded. “I know, mate. You're right. It's just, when I get around Gabe the old feelings of inadequacy start to surface, that's all. I'll never achieve the kind of success he has.”

Ben shook his head. “And he'll never achieve the kind of success you have. You're different people. He has his strengths, you have yours. He could never have raised a kid by himself the way you have with Ethan. He'll never achieve that kind of success, few men ever will.”

Michael took a deep breath. “That's what makes me feel like a big, fat failure, Ben. I do okay for Ethan. I know that. Within the framework of what we have, I do great. But every kid should have a mum, and Ethan doesn't. I failed him.”

Ben grasped his shoulder. “You've not failed him. From what you’ve told me over the years, he's much better off without Kay in his life. Whenever she has been around she's hurt him. I know it must have been hard to do what you did and leave Australia, but you can't claim it wasn't the best thing for him.”

“No. I can't. I know that realistically, given the circumstances, he's better off without his mum, but that doesn't change the fact that I wish he had one. A kid needs a woman to love him, to round out everything a guy can't give him. I know I did right, making sure Kay won't come back into his life, but that doesn't stop me from feeling like I've failed him.”

“Do you ever see yourself letting someone new into his life?”

Michael raised an eyebrow at his old friend. He had a feeling he knew where this was going, but he waited for Ben to elaborate.

“You've been the world's biggest flirt for as long as I've known you, which is your whole life. But you've never talked about a woman since Kay.”

Michael laughed. “I talk about women all the time!”

Ben joined his laughter. “No. You talk about hair color and body parts. The redhead with the great ass, the blond with the long legs, the brunette with the huge tits.” He gave him a knowing look. “You haven't talked about a woman as a woman since you first met Kay.”

Michael nodded. He had to admit he hadn't really thought about a woman as a woman, until....

Ben put the words to Michael’s thoughts. “Until Megan.”

He drew in a sharp breath. “I like that little lady a whole lot more than I should.”

“Why shouldn't you?”

“You were right. She's not my type.”

“Well, considering that your ‘type’ are the ones you screw and never see again, maybe that's a good thing?”

“Maybe.”

“What's the problem?”

“I told you. I like her too much and I don't even know her. And besides, she's short, she's timid, and she's all kinds of awkward.”

Ben raised an eyebrow. “And you say all of that with a huge grin on your face, as though they are the most desirable attributes a woman could possess.”

Michael laughed. He couldn't help it. “Because when they're all packaged inside baggy jeans and a sweatshirt, hidden behind huge glasses—
they are!
I can't get her out of my head, Ben. She's adorable!” He shot Ben a sideways glance. “And Ethan already knows her,
and
he thinks she's great.”

“Wow! So you
are
thinking about her in terms of maybe letting her into
his
life?”

“She's already in it. She's been working with him and Scotty. I don't know why I didn't make the connection on Friday night when you talked about her working at the library, but she's the 'awesome new lady' that he's been talking about for weeks.”

“So, she's already made it past the barrier that you put up to keep women out of your real life?”

Michael smiled to himself. “She has, mate.”

Ben nodded knowingly.

“What? What are you looking so smug about?”

“I'm just thinking you might be on course to find your real success right back here.”

Michael thought about it. It was way too early to think about Megan in those terms, but the possibility was making him smile.

***

M
egan put her phone back down on the counter for the third time. She really didn't need to call Missy to ask her what to wear. Missy would no doubt think she was being silly. She
was
being silly! Michael was taking her out for a drive. There was no need to wear anything other than her jeans. But she
wanted
to. She wanted to look pretty again. Even though he must have very questionable taste, she had been very aware of the way Michael had been looking at her last night. She wanted him to look at her like that again. She wanted him to kiss her again, like he had this morning. If their hugs had been a conversation between their bodies, their kiss had been a declaration of intent. When his lips had come down on hers her brain had shut down—and her body had fired up. She'd never felt like that before, but she wanted to feel that way again. She wanted him to kiss her—and more. She picked her phone back up. He'd be here in half an hour, she didn't have time to worry if it was silly. Instead of Missy though, she dialed Kenzie's number.

“Hey, sis. Have you changed your mind about coming to Nashville?”

She certainly didn't have time to get into that one. “No, but I changed my mind about probably not seeing Michael again. He's coming in half an hour and I don't know what to wear!”

Kenzie laughed. “Well, good for you. I'm glad you called me. You still have that box of my clothes, don't you? Pick something out of there.”

“Oh, Kenzie, I couldn't! Your things are too...too...”

Kenzie laughed again. “Too what, Megan? Too slutty?”

“No! I didn't mean that. Your clothes are beautiful—on you. I just wouldn't feel right in them, they're too....sexy!”

“Well, if you're going out on a date, don't you want to feel sexy?”

“Yes I do, but....”

“You do? Oh, my God! I was teasing! Okay then, this is serious, little sister. Where are you going and what's the weather like?”

“He's picking me up in his car and we're going out for a drive. It's sunny and really quite warm.”

“In that case, do you still have that white sundress you bought? The one you got to come to that picnic you chickened out of.”

“I do, but Kenzie, it's strapless. I can't wear a bra with it.”

“Exactly! You look drop-dead gorgeous in it, and it shows off those fabulous boobs you're always hiding!”

“Kenz, this is me you're talking to! Why do you think I chickened out of the picnic?!”

“Because you didn't want people to find out how gorgeous you are. But it sounds as if you really like this guy. He must like you if he wants to see you again, so why not let him
see
you?”

Megan thought about it. Could she do that? “But what if it gets colder?”

“You have my little old black biker jacket. That would go perfectly with the dress.”

“It would? But it's so different.”

“Exactly. The dress is sweet, the jacket is sexy, the combination will be irresistible!”

“But, Kenzie....”

“But nothing, Megan. You called for my advice. Now you have it, and now you have twenty minutes to get ready. It's your call. Do you sit and worry about it and end up going out in your jeans, or do you trust the one who knows and just do it?”

Megan smiled. “I'm going to do it! I'm going to go and put them on right now, before I change my mind!”

Kenzie laughed. “Well done! I'm proud of you. I don't suppose you ever bought any makeup did you?”

“No, but I still have the lipstick you gave me and that mascara. Do you think I need more?”

“No you don't. Wear what you've got, but Megan, you don't
need
any at all. You're beautiful! You're my little wild gypsy. Just act like you believe it. Now go, get ready, and have a wonderful time, okay?”

“I'll try. Thanks Kenzie.”

“Thank
you
for calling. I'm not much use to you most of the time, but this is one area I can help with. Call me? Tell me all about it?”

“I will. Thanks. Love you,  Kenzie.”

“Love you too, sis. And Megan?”

“Yes?”

“Leave your hair down.”

“Oh, but I was....”

Kenzie laughed. “Just do it, okay?”

“Okay.”

M
egan paced the kitchen. Could she really go out looking like this? She pulled the jacket on and tried to zip it up. Of course, it wouldn't go all the way up. The higher she pulled the zipper the bigger her boobs looked. She was hoping to hide them—not emphasize them! With the jacket open it wasn't so bad, and Kenzie had been right, it did work really well with the dress. She was glad her cowboy boots worked too, since she didn't have any shoes that went with dresses. She'd looked at the ones in Kenzie's box, but no way would she be able to walk in those. They were all too high and spikey.

She paced back to the mirror in the hallway, with Ollie at her heels. Last night she'd wished she was someone else, and now, with her hair falling loose around her shoulders, wearing this get-up, she looked like someone else. Someone who might just invite Michael to come inside with her. But that really was silly. He couldn't, even if he wanted to. He had to get home for Ethan. She shook her head at Ollie. “What was I thinking, Ollie-bug. This isn't me, is it? I'm going to get my jeans back on.”

Ollie barked once and wagged around her legs.

She stroked him. “Yes, I am, boy. I can play dress-up and dream, but this isn't me.”

Ollie ran to the front door and started pawing and whining just before she heard the knock. Oh no! Michael was here already? It could only be him. She looked up the stairs. Did she have time to run? He knocked again. Apparently not. She took a deep breath.

Never in her life had a man looked at her the way Michael did when she opened the door. His eyes were big as he slowly looked her over. He may as well be running his hands over her. She could feel his gaze caress her skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. His dimple sat next to a very satisfied smile.

“Wow, Meggie! Just...wow! I knew you were hiding a hot little self, but....damn!”

“I....I....I....” Perfect! The stutter didn't exactly match the outfit, did it?!

He stepped towards her and she froze. Now she couldn't even breathe, let alone speak. His arms came around her. She instinctively reached her own arms up around his neck—who knew she had those kinds of instincts? This time, when her breasts pushed against his chest, all of her senses were heightened. She could feel the roughness of his denim shirt through the thin fabric of her dress. She could feel how hard he was as he pulled her hips against his. Oh God! Now she could feel both of his huge hands cupping her backside as his mouth came down on hers. She closed her eyes and gave herself up to all these new and wonderful feelings—his lips on hers, his tongue mating with her own, how every part of her felt so hot, especially the part trapped between those big hands and that big... hard....She felt herself moan as he backed her against the wall in the hallway and closed the front door with his foot. She rubbed her hips against his and moaned with pleasure as he thrust against her. Then she moaned in dismay as he lifted his head and stepped away. He leaned back against the other wall so they stood facing each other in the narrow hallway.

“Damn, little one. We'd better go.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

His face looked pained. “No, darl'. You couldn't do anything more right. Which is why we need to get out of here. Otherwise
I
won't be able to stop myself from doing something very wrong.” He looked up the stairs, then back at her with that pained look.

“Why would it be wrong? I think I would like to do it.”

He covered his face with his hand and peeked out between his fingers. “Jesus, Meggie! How can you look like that and be so sweet and innocent?”

This was confusing. Was he saying he wanted to? Or that he didn't want to? She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. For the first time, she dared to look straight into his eyes and she pleaded with him that way, hoping he'd explain.

He wrapped her in his arms again. This time it was a safe hug, a coming home hug. She relaxed a little as she breathed him in. He rested his chin on top of her head. “It wouldn't be wrong. It could never be wrong between you and me, little one. It would just be too soon, and too short.”

She looked up at him.

“I've only got a couple of hours till I need to be home for my boy. When I do take you to bed, it'll be to spend the whole night with you.” He hugged her closer. “You're not a quickie kind of girl. We're going to take our time. Then I want to hold you all night, sleep with you in my arms, and wake up to your beautiful face.”

Megan squeezed her arms tightly around his waist. Never in her whole life would she have thought that a man would ever talk to her like that. Certainly not such a handsome, charming, wonderful man as Michael. She knew without a doubt though, that he meant it. She knew it from the way he was holding her, the way he was looking down at her. His gorgeous green eyes that usually held such mischief, now held a truth and an honesty as undeniable as the feel of his hard body. “I would like that, Michael. I would like that a lot.”

He brushed his lips over hers and smiled. “
Will
, Meggie, not would. You
will
like it, a hell of a lot.  I'm going to make sure of it.”

She smiled. “Promises, promises.”

He laughed. “Yep. It's a promise, darl'. And I don't break my promises.” He pushed his hips against hers making her gasp again as their bodies made promises of their own.

He let her go and winked. “Come on, we need to get out of here.”

***

M
ichael looked across at her as he drove. He couldn't quite believe just how much she'd been hiding inside those sweatshirts. Not only did she have the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen, she also had the hottest little body! No question about it. He made himself focus on the road. He'd already figured out that he would have to wait until next Saturday night to keep his promise. It was going to be a long week. He already knew it was going to be a frustrating week, filled with thoughts about how she would look and feel when he could get her out of her clothes and into bed. That little white number she was wearing was working all kinds of crazy on him. The way it was all elasticized around the middle only emphasized how tiny her waist was—and the fact that there was no bra restraining her
amazing
breasts. He needed to feel them, to taste them. He needed to make her moan like she had in the hallway. Damn! He shifted in his seat. It was going to be one hell of a long week! He shook his head. Here he was fantasizing and she was sitting right beside him. He needed to get to somewhere they could park. Looking at the road was too hard when he needed to be looking at her. Hell,
he
was too hard.