by Regina Duke
Kevin had to laugh. He swallowed his second Xanax. “I hope these don’t make me loopy.”
“Did the first one?”
“No.” He looked surprised. “No, it didn’t.”
“But you boarded the plane without panicking.”
Kevin nodded. “Amazing. I just hate the idea, though, that I have to take drugs to fly.”
“Do you take Tylenol for pain?”
“Yes, but—”
“It’s a drug,” said Megan teasingly. Then more gently, “You must have some personal experience with the abuse of certain drugs.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “You might say that.” He glanced sideways at her. “Hope that doesn’t send you running the other way.”
“No family is perfect. I assume you’ll fill me in as we get closer to the old homestead?”
Kevin made a face, but changed the subject. “Say, you still have your driver’s license, right?”
Megan patted her purse. “It’s about the only thing I do still have.”
“Great. You’ll need that in Reno when we get our wedding license. Do you want to be married at the courthouse or in a wedding chapel?”
Megan pondered the question. “I’ve seen those chapels in the movies, and I wasn’t really impressed. Since your mother is preparing an actual wedding for us, let’s get married at the courthouse and save the party for your family.” She lowered her voice. “That should be a bit less expensive as well.”
Kevin agreed.
Megan tucked her purse behind her legs and squirmed in the roomy comfort of the first class seat. She pressed her hands together with delight and leaned toward Kevin. “This is so much fun! You can afford to fly first class, but you were afraid to fly? Gosh, I could understand your fear if you had to fly tourist, but up here?” Her eyes were bright with excitement.
Kevin smiled and took a breath. The Perrier was refreshing. The seat was very comfortable. And the flight attendants were already supplying them with salted nuts.
“Oh, thank you,” said Megan effusively.
Kevin patted her knee and said, “My dear, you must learn how to talk to the help. A simple thank you is enough. After all, you are paying for the privilege.”
Megan paused, then caught the twinkle in his eye. She punched his arm. “You big pretender! You don’t sound nearly hoity-toity enough to be a real snob.”
Kevin turned a hand over. “I left home at eighteen, so I’m rusty. Wait until you meet my mother.”
Megan said softly, “Oh, goody.” Then she whispered, “Do you think it would be tacky to open our nuts while people are still boarding?”
Kevin chuckled. “I think you’re allowed. Besides, that’s why they board behind us. So they can’t see how the upper crust is treated.”
Megan tore open the bag of almonds and munched contentedly. When her soda ran out, a flight attendant offered her another.
“Yes, please.” She glanced down at Kevin’s hands. His fingers were relaxed now, and he was swishing the ice in his Perrier. “Do you drink anything stronger?”
“Hmm? Occasionally. But not very often. That family thing again.”
“Got it. Did you put your laptop in the overhead?”
“Yes. Why? Do you need to do more research?” His tone was mildly sarcastic.
Megan shrugged it off. “When I interrupted you for coffee this morning, it looked like something on your computer had upset you.”
Kevin looked thoughtful. “My sister. She’s having a lot of emotional problems. She sent me a disturbing photo of herself.”
“Is she at the ranch?”
“Yes.” Kevin seemed to notice the music headphones for the first time and put them on.
When he said no more, Megan dropped the subject. She would meet the troubled sister soon enough. Besides, the doors were closing, and the flight attendants were giving their safety speech. She glanced down at Kevin’s hands. They were now tapping in time to music. She allowed herself a tiny smile. No panic attack.
As the plane took off, she noticed that Kevin’s eyes were closed and his fingers were still tapping. When the flight attendants announced that people could use their electronic devices again, Kevin got up calmly and retrieved his laptop.
Megan selected a magazine from the basket offered by the flight attendant and thumbed idly through it. Out of the corner of her eye, she kept track of Kevin. When he slammed his laptop shut, she looked up.
“What is it?”
Kevin looked grim. “I have my email program set to save mail to a local file on my computer so I can access it anywhere.” He opened the laptop again. “You might as well see this one before we get to Reno.” He turned the email so she could read it.
“I know what you’re doing. Bring that trollop to Colorado and I won’t guarantee her safety.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MEGAN FLASHED WITH ANGER. “What a rude thing to say! Who is this jerk?”
Kevin looked apologetic. “My father.”
“Oh, terrific.”
“I don’t get it! This sounds like he plans to be at the ranch. How can he know what I’m doing? My mother didn’t tell him. They barely talk at all.”
Megan turned a hand over. “They have children together. Trust me, they talk. Maybe he picked up on a slip of the tongue. Or maybe one of your siblings told him.”
Kevin didn’t look convinced. “He and my sister are mortal enemies. She clams up whenever he’s around. And my kid brother, well, dad keeps telling mother that Keegan needs special education classes. A lot he knows! The kid’s a genius!”
“Then maybe he has spies.” Megan said it casually, but the effect on Kevin was startling.
He half turned in his seat and tapped a finger on the tray. “I’ve been saying that for years, and no one believes me! He always sticks his nose in. He always seems to know what I’ve decided. It drives me crazy.”
“Well, who besides your mother knows what we’re doing? Do you trust your chauffeur?”
“Yes. I’ve known him for years.” But there was a hint of doubt behind the words.
“Then who else?”
Kevin shook his head. “I can’t think. It must be the Xanax.”
Megan nodded toward the laptop screen. “Is that your father’s way of threatening me? Do you think he’ll follow through?”
Kevin turned to her. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m certain he’s done things in the name of business that cross the line, but he’s mostly bluster. And you’ll be in friendly territory. The ranch belongs to my mother’s family, and he’s never felt comfortable there. He doesn’t like the western way of life. Hates animals. Won’t let Keegan have a dog at the New York apartment.”
“Does he even have a soul?” asked Megan, shocked at the idea of preventing a child from having a pet.
Kevin was taken aback. “You think that’s really weird?”
Megan’s jaw dropped. “The man hates animals! That is just wrong.”
“Well, I’ll try to run interference for you if it comes to that. I didn’t expect him to be at the wedding, though.”
“If he has spies and knows we’re planning to get married, and he’s against it, I would fully expect him to show up. And as for running interference? You don’t come through an accident like mine and six months of fighting for life in the hospital without finding your backbone. Besides, I have a lot of experience with blustery, loud, and pushy fathers. I have one of those myself.” She raised a hand for the flight attendant and requested another soft drink.
Kevin sat brooding, staring at his laptop.
“Why don’t you put that away and tell me more about your family? You were ready to spend twenty hours in a car filling me in, so you’d better talk fast. It’s only two more hours to Reno.”
Kevin closed the laptop. “Okay. You already know that Karla is going through a phase.”
Megan held up a hand. “Start with your childhood. Where were you born? Who was your favorite teacher? That kind of stuf
f.”
Kevin leaned back in his seat and started talking.
Megan smiled and nodded at appropriate moments. Kevin barely even noticed when the plane landed.
As they strolled through the terminal toward the luggage carousels, Megan nudged him with a friendly elbow. “I think your fear of flying is solved.”
Kevin nodded and gave her a half smile. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Amazing.”
“Maybe we should book our flights to Colorado before we leave the terminal,” suggested Megan.
“I already did that in the terminal in Seattle. I rented a car, too, while you were in the ladies’ room.”
“You’re the man,” said Megan, slipping her arm around his.
She caught a glimpse of their reflection in the shop windows that lined the terminal and walked a little taller. There was no better looking couple in the whole place. It occurred to her that Kevin had quite a bit of muscle. His olive tee revealed the kind of physique most men had to work at.
“You must be missing your gym workouts,” she said.
Kevin shot her a puzzled glance? “Gym? Who has time for the gym?”
It was Megan’s turn to look puzzled. “You look like you live there.”
Kevin touched his chest in an unconscious gesture. “My summer job,” he said enigmatically.
Megan waited, but he said no more.
At last she gave his arm a little pinch. “Which is?”
Kevin looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Er, I enjoy the outdoors, so in the summer I work as a logger.”
“This whole marriage thing must be getting in the way.”
“It is interfering with my exercise program,” he said. “The luggage carousel is still empty. Let’s go to the rental car desk first.”
Megan rubbed her leg.
“Did you know you do that every time I mention a car?”
Megan’s cheeks burned. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry,” said Kevin, slipping his arm around her waist. “I’ve rented a tank.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
WITH LUGGAGE IN TOW, Kevin led the way to the rental car lot.
“Wow,” said Megan. “I thought you were kidding!”
Kevin grinned at her. “Full size SUV, comes with a step to help you get in and out. Let me load the luggage.”
He went around the back and tossed their bags into the rear. Then he opened the passenger door for Megan.
“Thank you, kind sir.” She levered herself into the seat.
“I live to serve.” Kevin bowed with a flourish.
As they pulled out of the airport, Kevin said, “Let’s go take care of business first.”
“Fine by me.”
An hour later, they were licensed and wed. There was one awkward moment, as they both realized they had no wedding bands to exchange. Kevin explained to the justice of the peace that they were saving the ring exchange for the family celebration.
As they returned to their rental, Megan was very quiet.
“Everything okay?” asked Kevin, opening the door for her again.
“I was just wondering what kind of person you must think I am. How many girls would agree to marry someone just to eliminate a debt?”
“Probably more than you think,” said Kevin. “But we’re a perfect match. How many guys would agree to marry in order to control the family trust?”
“Thousands,” said Megan with a straight face. “Maybe millions.”
Kevin laughed. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Here, let me help you up.”
He got behind the wheel. “Now that we’re legal, I want to celebrate. Have you ever been to Reno before?”
“No. I grew up mostly in Cloverdale, California, and my parents would never choose ‘sin city’ for a vacation.” She put finger quotes around it. “That’s what my dad calls Reno and Las Vegas.”
“What does he call the Indian reservations with casinos?”
Megan shrugged. “No idea.”
“Have you ever been to Tahoe?”
“Never.”
“Then that’s where we’ll have dinner.”
Kevin concentrated on driving and was quietly pleased that Megan did not chatter all the way up Mount Rose Highway. He noticed that she kept one hand in her purse, fingering the marriage document. Once again, he felt a flickering doubt about Megan. But even if he was right, he could relax. They were married, and he’d managed to find a wife days before his birthday. From what he’d seen of Megan so far, he was certain she would be acceptable to his mother. What his father thought did not matter. Nothing he did would ever please his father, so why try?
Half the battle was won. He would take her home to the ranch for the wedding his mother was organizing. Friday, the wedding. Saturday, his birthday. Monday, meet with the lawyers and take over the Trust. Almost there.
Hang on, Karla. Just a few more days and your future will be secure. Then I can get back to my own life.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. And find out who the spy is.
As the scenery changed from high desert to forest, Megan began to perk up. By the time they reached Incline Village and Crystal Bay, she was leaning forward, eager to soak in the sights.
“This is beautiful! Everything is nestled among the trees.”
Kevin smiled. “I thought you’d like it. Now for the big question. I had to wait until we were legally bound, because your answer could make or break this whole relationship.”
Megan grew serious.
Kevin turned away so she couldn’t see him fighting a smile. When he could talk, he said, “Do you want dinner in a fancy restaurant? Or a picnic on the beach?”
Megan laughed. “Picnic! Picnic!”
Kevin grinned. “Good choice.” He pulled into a steep driveway. It led to an elevated parking lot with a large grocery store and several little shops backed up to the forest.
“I didn’t even see this from the road,” said Megan. “It all feels hidden away. I half expect to see fairies dancing in the woods.”
“No comment,” said Kevin. “Let’s go get some food. They’ve got a deli, too.”
Kevin pushed the grocery cart and let Megan make the food choices. He found himself watching her with pride. As other men noticed her, he wished he’d thought of a ring sooner, but then, his original plan had not included a quick marriage in Reno.
Megan did a quick examination of the cart. “Chicken, Dr. Pepper, potato salad, enchiladas—” She paused to give Kevin a dubious eye. “—a veggie tray, napkins, paper plates, plastic cutlery, and plastic cups. All done!”
“Not quite.” Kevin rolled the cart to the liquor aisle and picked out a bottle of champagne. Then he moved to the in-store bakery and picked out two chocolate eclairs. “Now we’re done.”
By the time they got to the beach, long fingers of shade were stretching along the sand. A cool breeze came off the water. Families and young couples were playing next to the lake. Catamarans danced along the chop.
Kevin found a shady spot and they settled on the sand.
Megan said, “Everyone is dressed for swimming but no one’s in the water.”
“Go get your feet wet and you’ll find out why.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Are there crabs in the water or something?”
Kevin laughed. “No, not at all.” He took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pant legs. “Come on, I’ll go with you.”
It was obvious she didn’t trust him on this, but she got barefoot as well.
Kevin took her hand and led her to the shore, past squealing toddlers and lolling teens. A group of friends was launching a canoe.
Kevin let go of her hand and strode into the clear water, bracing for the impact. He turned a smiling face to her and said, “See? No sharks. No crabs. Come on in.”
The boys around the canoe paused to watch.
Megan moved forward cautiously.
Kevin extended a hand. “Here, I’ll make sure you don’t slip.”
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Megan took his hand.
Kevin tightened his grip and tugged her forward. Her feet hit the ice cold water and she squealed with surprise.
Kevin laughed out loud. “Mountain run-off, from the snow pack to the lake.”
“My feet are freezing!” Megan tried to pull her hand free, but Kevin was having too much fun.
In self defense, she reached down and splashed water at him. As the icy wave hit his tee shirt, he roared and let go of her hand. Megan lost her balance and fell back on her bottom.
The shock of the cold water made her squeal again.
Kevin took pity on her and lifted her by one arm. “Water’s fifty degrees.”
Megan stood shivering, her capris soaked from the waist down. “Th-th-thanks. I would have g-g-guessed thirty-five!”
A quick return to the SUV for dry clothes was in order. Megan slipped into the ladies’ room and came out in a pair of khaki bermudas. She lay her wet capris over a sun-soaked stone to dry as they ate their picnic.
“Sorry about the bath,” said Kevin. “I just couldn’t resist.”
Megan gave him a lopsided smile. “I’m sure I’m not the first girl to have that trick played on her.”
Kevin was pleased that she wasn’t angry. “Food tastes so much better outdoors.”
“I agree,” said Megan.
Kevin poured champagne. “I thought we should make a toast to us.”
“Great idea.” Megan touched her plastic cup to Kevin’s. “Here’s hoping we both get what we need.”
“And want,” added Kevin.
They drank.
“Another,” said Kevin. “Here’s to picnics on the beach.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
They drank.
“One more,” said Kevin, smacking his lips and pouring champagne. “Here’s to driving the old man crazy by ripping my mother’s family money out of his hands.”
Megan giggled.
They drank.
“I have to stop,” said Kevin. “Or we’ll be spending the night on this beach.”
“The sun is going down.”
“It can’t be! We just got here!”
“We landed at two, were married by three, got to Tahoe at four, bought food, found the beach, got wet and cold, lingered over our picnic and you’re surprised it’s almost eight o’clock?”
