Stand-In Father (Intimate Moments) (16 page)

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Authors: Pat Warren

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Humiliating was what this was, Megan thought now that she was fairly certain she wouldn’t fall or faint. “Don’t bother. Just hand in my robe, the green one from my closet. I’ll get dressed later.” No way did she want him going through her drawers, handling her underclothes.
Cocking his head, Alex thought he knew what she was thinking. “Don’t be shy, Megan. I’ve seen women’s underthings before. You’ll feel better getting dressed.” With that, he left the bathroom, not noticing Megan’s scowl aimed at his back.
Alex opened the first drawer of her dresser. Soft, silky panties on one side, so small he wondered why she bothered wearing them at all. He chose a pale peach pair, then let his hand wander to the bras. How could women stand wearing these things? he wondered, choosing a matching peach bra.
Shorts would probably be better than slacks, he decided, since she’d probably put on the air cast that went up past her ankle. In the third drawer, he found a white pair on top and grabbed them. No tops in any of the other drawers, so he walked over to the closet.
Blouses, T-shirts, slacks, skirts, a few dresses. He scanned the lot and finally chose a loose pink T-shirt because it had an imprint on it that made him smile. When Cranky, Feed Chocolate. Maybe he should get her a box today.
Walking back into the bathroom, he saw that she held a comb she’d used on her wet hair and was sitting there glowering at him. Ignoring her bad mood, he smiled. “Here you go. Need some help?”
With no small effort, Megan erased her frown. He was, she supposed, just trying to be helpful. “Thanks. I’ll take it from here.”
He was hesitant, the mental picture of her lying on a cold bathroom floor still vivid. “What if you fall again?”
“I won’t.” She stared at him, trying to look in control, not an easy thing to do in a steamy bathroom wearing only a towel.
“You can keep your back turned. I’ll just stand here in case you need me.”
Megan gritted her teeth. “
I can manage
.” And he thought she was stubborn.
“Okay, but I’ll be right outside.”
“You needn’t wait,” she told him through the closed door. “I’m fine now.” She listened for his footsteps leaving, but she couldn’t tell if he had. Carefully, she stood and unwrapped herself, then slowly got dressed, wondering just what Alex had been thinking while he’d picked out her clothes.
Gripping the sink, she stood up and wiped the steam from the medicine-cabinet mirror, then brushed her teeth. Only a bit unsteady now, at least she felt almost human again. Cautiously, she opened the door a crack and didn’t see him. Maybe he’d listened to her for a change and left. Drawing in a grateful breath, she held on to the door and then the wall as she made her way to the bed.
“Better now?” his deep voice asked from across the room.
Startled, Megan quickly sat down in the rocker, grimacing as a pain shot up her right leg.
“Are you all right?” Alex was all concern.
Ignoring the ache, she tried a smile. “Yes. It appears you’ve rescued me again. Thank you.”
He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “You should have waited.”
“I know, but I felt so clammy.” She had been frightened there for a minute in the shower when her vision had started blurring, but she felt a lot better now. “I haven’t been confined to my room like this since I was a teenager with a bad case of flu. I’d forgotten how helpless it makes you feel.”
Alex seized the opening to talk about her background. “I’ll bet you were a beautiful teenager.”
Threading her fingers through her hair to dry it, she made a face. “Beautiful? No, quite ordinary-looking, actually, compared to my sisters. Karen’s got gorgeous blond hair and she’s tall and sooo thin.”
Alex had caught a long glimpse of Megan’s shape last night beneath the thin material of the gown she’d had on. Curves in all the right places, enough to make his palms sweat. “What’s so great about thin? I like a woman to have a few hills and valleys.”
Megan ignored that, knowing a man wouldn’t understand. “But my youngest sister, Jeannie, is the real beauty in the family. She should be a model. Even when we were young, my dad used to say that Karen and Jeannie got the looks and I got the brains.”
What a warm and loving thing for a father to tell his daughter, Alex thought. Megan had to be better off with that jerk out of her life. Surely she hadn’t believed that crap?
Alex leaned forward, intent on making her see herself the way he saw her. “Your dad was mistaken. I haven’t seen your sisters, but they’d have to be dynamite to top you. You’ve got the kind of hair that makes a man’s hands itch to reach out and touch it. Your skin is so soft, absolutely incredible. And your eyes, the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, like the ocean on a perfect summer day. As for your body, from what I’ve seen, you could make strong men beg if you wanted to. Instead, you wear clothes several sizes larger than necessary, pull your fantastic hair back with a rubber band and probably haven’t worn anything other than lipstick since your high school prom.”
Stunned, Megan answered with the first thing that came into her befuddled mind. “I didn’t go to my high school prom. That’s when I had the flu.” And Neal had taken someone else because he’d already bought the tickets and rented his tux.
Alex wasn’t so easily sidetracked. “Why do you downplay your looks, Megan?” He’d been wondering that ever since he’d first seen her.
“I don’t, really. I’m not a great beauty, despite what you’ve just said, so I don’t see much point in pretending. I know what I am. I’m a small-town innkeeper, a mother, a Cub Scout leader, a daughter, a—”
“A woman,” Alex interrupted softly. “First and foremost, you’re a woman. Have you forgotten?”
Blinking rapidly, Megan bit down on her lower lip. Yes, she had, and she fervently wished he hadn’t come along to reawaken all those useless urges. “That’s irrelevant. I—”
“No. It’s all that is relevant.” It was getting late in the day and Alex had an important errand in mind. He rose and picked up his jacket where he’d tossed it onto a stool, needing something to do with his hands that wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her into his arms, to show her without words what he meant. “You’re a very lovely woman, Megan. Don’t ever forget that.”
For the second time in the same day, Megan watched him walk away, left with his cryptic comments to consider.
 
Obviously surprised to see Alex again so soon, Lawrence Williams nonetheless was pleased. As chief loan officer for First National, it would be a real feather in his cap to be instrumental in funding a development project for Shephard Construction. Since Alex’s first visit, Williams had had the San Diego firm checked out thoroughly and found their rating to be A-1. Hopefully, this alliance would be the first of many.
Smiling, Williams waved Alex to a chair across from his desk as he sat down. “I assume your feasibility study came back favorable and you’re ready to proceed.”
Sitting back, Alex crossed his legs. “Actually, the report’s not back yet. I’m here about another matter.”
“Of course. How may I help you?” Running through the possibilities mentally, Williams hoped that Shephard Construction wanted to switch their business account to his bank.
Alex had thought long and hard about this situation and had made up his mind after his last conversation with Grace. When he’d asked her if Megan was in financial difficulties, Grace had been vague and suddenly testy, unwilling to meet his eyes. Her body language and defensive comments had led him to believe he’d guessed right.
That’s when his conscience had kicked in. Because of him, Megan’s husband was gone, cutting the family income at least in half. Whatever Megan had done with the insurance money, it had undoubtedly gone to pay bills. And she still owed more. Because of him.
If she found out what he was about to do, she’d undoubtedly be angry. Alex intended to see to it that she never found out. She might wonder about the identity of her benefactor, but she wouldn’t know for sure. And his conscience would be assuaged, at least a little.
Alex cleared his throat. “Last week, you alluded to the fact that the mortgage payments on the Delaney property might be in arrears. As a family friend, I’m interested in helping Megan Delaney during this rough time. To accomplish that, I need to know the outstanding amount so that I can bring her account up to date.”
Williams raised one shaggy brow. “How very kind of you.” It was none of his business who paid, as long as someone did. “I’ll be right back.” He left the room.
Alex removed his checkbook from his inside jacket pocket and set it on the banker’s desk. Money had never been a problem for him, but lately, staying at Delaney’s, he’d seen firsthand as he never quite had before how difficult not having enough could be. Megan was obviously struggling, working long hours, trying her best. He had to do something to ease her burdens.
Aside from his generous salary and yearly bonuses from Shephard Construction, Alex had inherited a sizable amount when his mother had died, which his father had invested for him until he’d come of age and taken over his own portfolio. Despite large expenditures for his luxury condo, his sailboat, his car, Alex had plenty of money and need never work another day, if that was what he wanted.
But he enjoyed his work, the challenges, watching homes or commercial buildings go up, seeing something solid where before there’d been only vacant land. One day, he’d take over from his father as sole heir.
No, money wasn’t a problem. But being generous with it might be, if Megan got wind of his plans. If she wouldn’t easily accept help to repair a doorknob, he could only imagine how she’d feel about receiving this sort of assistance. Hopefully, he could keep his name out of the transaction. Aside from the mortgages, Alex had decided he’d have to set up something for Ryan’s education. Since he’d robbed the boy of his father, the least he could do would be to fund his schooling.
Maybe then he could put the matter to rest.
Carrying a manila folder, Williams walked back in and closed the door before handing a piece of paper to Alex, then wordlessly resuming his seat.
Alex studied the figure. “This is the equivalent of what, two or three missed payments on the first mortgage?”
“Three, yes.”
“What about the second mortgage?”
“That’s up-to-date.” He referred to his notes in the file. “The payments are much smaller, only $310 a month on the second.”
“And what is the balance on the second mortgage?” If she had that amount extra each month, perhaps she could hire a handyman.
Williams found the figure in his folder and told Alex, then sat back, waiting.
Alex did some quick calculating on the slip of paper, then opened his checkbook. In short order, he finished writing the check, but before handing it over, he looked at the middle-aged banker, hoping he could trust him. “This will bring the first mortgage up to date and satisfy the second. There is only one stipulation I ask of you. This whole transaction must be completely confidential.”
Williams sat forward, folding his hands over the Delaney file. “And what are we to say to Mrs. Delaney when she asks who paid off the entire second mortgage and brought her first one up-to-date?”
“That’s up to you. I’m sure you can come up with something, just as I’m equally sure this isn’t the first time someone not on the original note has made payments. Parents often do it to help out their children. Some employers have been known to assist a valuable employee who’s in a bind.” Alex handed over the check, pocketed his checkbook and rose. “Whatever you tell Mrs. Delaney, my name must not be mentioned, nor do I want it to appear on any of the paperwork. Agreed?”
“Yes, certainly. Would you like a receipt?”
“My canceled check will do.” He reached out to shake the banker’s hand. “I’ll call you when that other report’s in.” Leaving the First National Bank building, Alex felt as if a portion of the guilty burden he’d been carrying around ever since he’d learned of his father’s clandestine maneuverings regarding his transplant had lightened.
As to Ryan, the boy was only eight. There was plenty of time to set up an educational endowment for him. He’d take care of that when he got back to San Diego.
San Diego, Alex thought, walking back to his car. Home. He’d been gone over a week and his father had made grumbling noises when he’d called the office this morning.
When are you coming back? Why are you staying there so long?
He had no answers that would satisfy Ron Shephard or even himself.
Because the real reason he’d come to Twin Oaks—to make sure Neal Delaney’s widow and child were at least financially in good shape—hadn’t quite been satisfied yet. Did she owe even more? And, if so, to whom? How solid was the inn, the roof, the furnace? How could he walk away right now with Megan laid up and even more vulnerable? If nothing else, he had to see her through this injury. Grace couldn’t run the place all alone, take care of Megan and watch Ryan, as well.
Besides, Ryan had a game tomorrow night. He’d promised to take him.
As he reached his Porsche where he’d parked it on the street, Alex happened to glance into the window of a shop he’d visited once before. Several model cars were displayed, including a sharp Austin Healy convertible. He stood staring at the box for several seconds, then made up his mind and went inside.

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