“Hey, you, I don’t want him to come either,” Rick said, but he was grinning.
“Are you ’fraid of him, too?” Torie whispered.
“Nope. I’m not afraid of him. But I don’t want him to come because I like our family the way it is.”
“Me, too,” she said softly, one arm going around his neck.
“I had an idea today. But we need to ask your mommy—” Rick broke off, catching his mistake. “I mean, we need to ask your Aunt Megan about it.”
Torie leaned forward and whispered. Megan could just barely hear her words. “Sometimes I call her Mommy, too. I don’t think my real mommy cares. She went away.”
Megan’s heart ached at Torie’s sad words. She and her sister hadn’t always agreed on everything, but she’d loved her. And Andrea had loved her children.
They were the reason she’d finally left Drake. And they were the reason she left with him in his car. They were supposed to discuss the children’s future.
Megan caressed Torie’s blond curls. “You can call me Mommy if you like, Torie. Your real mommy won’t mind and you’re my little girl, now.”
Torie leaned into Megan’s caress. But she looked at Rick. “Does that mean you’re my daddy?”
Megan gasped, unable to think of anything to say.
Rick, however, after looking surprised, nodded. “I guess I am. So, guess what I thought we should discuss with Mommy?”
“What?”
“I wondered if maybe you’d like your very own puppy?”
All the tragedy, the angst, the worry was forgotten. Torie squealed with delight, clapping her little hands together. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Megan opened her mouth to protest. But the joy on Torie’s face stopped her. Even Drew, not sure what he was cheering about, clapped his pudgy hands together and squealed with his sister.
Faith had stopped putting dinner on the table, watching the three of them talk. Now she reached for Torie.
“Time for dinner, young lady. You and your brother have to get your baths and get tucked in bed soon. We’ll discuss puppies tomorrow.”
RICK FIGURED Faith’s scolding words were aimed at him as much as Torie. But he hadn’t been able to bear the heartbreaking sadness in the little girl’s eyes and words.
“I want to sit by Daddy,” Torie complained as Faith put her in a chair by Megan.
Both women turned to stare at the little girl, and Rick almost chuckled out loud. Hey, it wasn’t his sterling personality. It was the puppy.
Megan silently switched places with Torie, putting the child between her and Rick.
The platters were passed around and Rick tucked into another well-cooked meal. Chicken-fried steak tonight, with creamed potatoes, pinto beans and a tossed salad.
“How big is a puppy?” Torie whispered, leaning toward him.
Rick looked up and found Megan’s gaze on him, as well as Torie’s. “I don’t know. I’ll look for a puppy tomorrow. And you can be thinking of a name.”
The rest of the meal, Torie tried out various names on her audience. Megan shot a glare at Rick after the thirtieth name was discussed ad nauseam. “Torie, eat your dinner. It’s almost your bedtime.”
Just as Faith was picking up Drew to take both children upstairs for their baths, Torie had another question.
“What about Drew? Does he get a puppy, too?”
“No!” Megan exclaimed without waiting for Rick’s answer.
He grinned. “No, honey, one puppy will be enough. You’ll get to name the puppy, but you have to share it with Drew.”
“Okay, I’ll share,” Torie promised. Then she raced around the table to take Faith’s hand.
Megan, who had promised to do the dishes if Faith took care of the baths, stood and began clearing the table. Rick rose and picked up several dirty plates.
“I’ll do it,” Megan said sharply.
“I’ll help,” he said firmly, not willing to be shut out. Megan seemed to think they could keep strict lines in this situation. He didn’t.
“That’s not your job, Rick.”
He leaned over and kissed her as he walked past. Just a brief kiss, not what he wanted. But enough to get her attention. “Our job is to keep those babies happy and safe. I’m doing my part.”
“Was that the reason for the puppy?”
“Yeah. And it worked. Torie forgot all about her father.”
“I wish I could,” Megan confessed, slumping against the kitchen cabinet.
Rick set down the dirty plates and took her in his arms again. He knew how he’d like to distract her, but he couldn’t take advantage of her emotions.
“Maybe I should get you a puppy, too,” he suggested, a warm smile in place when she pushed back and stared at him. To his relief, a gurgle of laughter escaped her.
“Maybe helping with the dishes is a better idea,” she told him, still smiling.
He couldn’t resist. Planting a smacking kiss on her soft lips, he released her. “Your wish is my command, Mrs. Astin.”
Turning back to the table, he began clearing it again, thinking he was fortunate Megan didn’t realize how much he’d meant those words.
AFTER THE kitchen was cleaned, Rick went to his bedroom. He still needed to move the rest of his equipment, but first he had some phone calls to make.
The fourth call did the trick. Herk Jones, one of his neighbors, had six puppies, yellow lab and retriever mix, that were ready for new homes.
Rick returned to the kitchen. Faith and Megan were sitting at the kitchen table, tightly holding hands, quietly talking.
“Am I interrupting?” he asked, pausing by the door.
Faith managed a smile. “No. Megan was explaining what Mac had to say, but she’s finished.”
Rick gave his mother-in-law an encouraging smile. “Things are going to go our way, Faith. We’re going to protect the kids.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am. The biggest thing you’ve got to worry about is training a puppy.” He grinned and added, “Sorry, I know I kind of sprang the idea on you, but I couldn’t stand for Torie to look so sad.”
Faith stood and walked over and, much to Rick’s surprise, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You’ve got a good heart, Rick. I can handle a puppy if it means Torie is happy.”
“Good, ’cause we can pick it up tomorrow.”
With a faint smile, Faith patted Rick’s arm. “Then I’d better get to bed. I’ll need my rest.” She walked to the door, but her gaze was fixed on her daughter, an anxious look on her face.
“Go on,” Rick said softly. “I think Megan wants to discuss names for the dog with me.”
Megan’s head snapped up and she glared at Rick. “I certainly do not. Torie took care of that problem at dinner.”
“I suppose we could leave it up to her,” Rick said slowly, as if considering her words. He winked at Faith and she nodded to him before calling out a good-night and leaving the room.
Rick crossed to the table. “Come on, gloomy Gus, I want to show you something.”
“This is no joke, Rick!” Megan snapped. “We could lose the kids!”
He pulled her to her feet. “I know that, Megan,” he assured her, wiping any amusement from his face. “But we’re not going to. And whatever happens, getting depressed about it isn’t going to help anything.”
She bowed her head.
Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her up and led her to the back porch where a porch swing hung. He hadn’t spent much time in the porch swing since he bought the place. It had felt too lonely to sit there at night by himself.
He sat them both down in the swing, his arm still around Megan. After a moment of sitting stiff as a toy soldier, Megan sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. Rick pushed the swing into motion with his foot.
“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered.
“For what?”
“For acting like a baby. For making you work so hard at our agreement. It would’ve been better
for you if you’d hired a housekeeper instead of putting up with our problems.”
Instead of responding directly to her remarks, Rick continued to push the swing. Then he said, “You know, no one has ever called me daddy before.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll tell Torie not to—”
“You’ll do no such thing. I’m not complaining. I kind of liked it.”
“But you don’t want a family. You said you’d never marry again.”
Rick chuckled. “I said I didn’t want a wife. Not a real one. But a family? I always thought it would be neat to have a couple of kids.”
Megan sighed. “Life is so complicated.”
“Yeah, but it can be pretty great, too. Look up there,” he directed, pointed up to the velvet blue night. A silver-dollar moon shone down on them. “That’s what I wanted to show you.”
“It’s lovely. Everything is lovely here. So quiet and peaceful. So safe.”
“And we’re going to keep it that way. You just keep believing, sweetheart. That’s all it takes.” He kissed her forehead.
“Rick, I…it’s not fair to you.”
“What’s not fair?”
“You’re giving so much.”
“You think I should renegotiate our deal? Maybe I could ask you to sleep with me on alternate Thursdays?”
She gasped.
Rick chuckled. “Don’t get upset. I’m teasing.”
“But—”
“Megan, if we share a bed, it will be because we both choose to do so for ourselves. And no other reason. Understand?”
“Yes,” she said with a sigh, her head still resting on his shoulder.
Rick knew how to take her attention off her problems. “And I just want to tell you I’m ready whenever you are.”
She leaped up from the swing.
Chapter Ten
Damn, he’d done a good job.
His first breakfast at home as a married man was a silent one. Neither Faith nor the children were up yet. To his surprise, Megan was in the kitchen when he got downstairs a little after six.
But after his remark last night, Megan wouldn’t look at him or speak to him. She fed him, but that was all.
“Do you work today?” he finally asked.
“No.”
“When would be a good time to take Torie to pick out her puppy?” He polished off the bacon and eggs, sopping up the last of the eggs with his biscuit. She still hadn’t answered when he finished. “Come on, Meg, quit treating me like a criminal. It’s not against the law to tell you that I want you.”
“That wasn’t part of the agreement.”
“Hey, I know that, or I’d be a lot more content right now.”
She squared around, her fists cocked on her trim hips. “How do you know? I might be lousy at sex.”
The significance of her words almost passed by him as he enjoyed her challenge. Then he stared at her, horror on his face. “You’re a virgin?”
“I didn’t say that,” she snapped and whirled around, turning her back to him.
He ignored those words. “Why?”
“Why what?” she asked as she furiously scrubbed at an already clean sink.
He stood and carried his dirty dishes to the sink, but he was careful not to touch her. “Why haven’t you ever, uh, you know, been with a man?”
“You think no one ever asked?” she challenged.
“Not likely,” he assured her. “You’ve had me drooling ever since we met.”
She turned bright red and looked away. “That’s none of your business.”
Rick wondered who would be more involved than her husband. But he wasn’t really her husband, and he’d made it clear that he didn’t want to be. So she was right.
He backed away. “Uh, I’ll start my day. How about right before lunch?”
She gave him a puzzled look.
“To go get the dog. I figured Torie took a nap after lunch.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll have her ready.”
He panicked. “You’re coming with us, aren’t you? I mean, I like Torie, but I don’t know how to take care of her by myself.”
For the first time since he’d entered the kitchen, Megan smiled. “One of us will go with you, I promise.”
“Okay. I have to run into town for a little while, but I’ll be back by eleven.”
MEGAN SANK back against the counter and let out a big sigh when Rick left the kitchen.
She was in trouble.
The man was being an angel, a protective, thoughtful angel. She couldn’t ask for more to protect her niece and nephew. When they’d made their arrangement, she’d figured a marriage certificate, a man as a figurehead, was what she’d get.
Rick had given her so much more.
He’d comforted, consoled, teased. He’d reached out to Torie. The child had even called him daddy, though Megan didn’t intend to encourage that.
But last night he’d indicated he wanted more. Oh, he’d said he was teasing, but it had always been Megan’s theory that teasing had an element of truth in it.
The scary part was it would be so easy to give herself to him. He was sexy, kind, honest. He was protecting the children.
And there was something in her that lit up like a firecracker when he touched her.
She straightened, stiffening her shoulders. So okay, she’d have to avoid his touch. She could do that. She’d stay focused on the problem at hand. Once she got custody of the children, then she’d deal with Rick.
An annulment would be a lot simpler than a divorce.
Drew’s fussing interrupted her thoughts. The baby monitor on the cabinet told her her nephew was ready for his breakfast.
She hurried upstairs to him before he woke his sister. Torie usually slept until eight, another hour and a half away. Megan didn’t want her tired if they were going to pick out her puppy today.
With Drew in his high chair, Megan began the rest of her day, distracted from the thoughts that had interrupted her sleep the night before.
RICK HEADED INTO town around eight-thirty. He’d decided he needed to consult with Mac in more detail.
When he reached the town square, where Mac, and Tuck’s wife, Alex, had their offices, he discovered Mac’s office didn’t open until nine o’clock. He changed direction and headed for the sheriff’s office.
Cal, sitting with his feet propped up enjoying a cup of coffee in his office, saw Rick as he entered. “Hey, bridegroom, grab a cup of coffee and come join me.”
Rick did as he suggested, snagging a doughnut, too. After all, breakfast had been a couple of hours ago.
“How’s married life?” Cal asked.
“Great, except I’m tired of answering that question,” Rick told him, recalling Mac’s same question the night before.
“Ah. Life under the microscope. Well, that’s life in a small town. Get used to it,” Cal suggested with a huge grin.
“I will, but it’d be easier if the matchmakers didn’t help.”
Cal’s grin widened even more. “Aw, come on, they were doing you a favor. A night of bliss with your new bride.”
Rick rolled his eyes. “That’s not why I’m here.” He didn’t want to discuss his marriage with anyone.
“Something wrong?” Cal was suddenly all business.
“Not yet. I’m actually in town to see Mac. He came out last night to tell us we have to be in court in Fort Worth on Monday. Megan’s brother-in-law is challenging the temporary guardianship.”
“What does Mac think?”
“He said he thought we’d be okay. But Megan is worried.”
“Yeah.” There was a wealth of understanding in that one word.
“I wondered what you knew about the man.”
“Moody? Mac asked me the same question. I pulled everything I could off the computer and gave it to him.”
Rick sighed and sipped the hot coffee. “Megan hasn’t said much. How bad a character is he?”
“I don’t know. Megan talked to Mac, but the only things on his
record are a couple of DWIs.”
“That’s not a lot to cut him off from his kids.” Rick couldn’t help thinking if someone tried to take his kids from him, he’d do whatever it took to get them back. Then it occurred to him that he was beginning to feel the same way about Torie and Drew.
“Megan told Samantha he was abusive,” Cal said thoughtfully, frowning, “but I don’t know what that entailed.”
Rick raised his eyebrow. “And Dr. Gibbons told you?”
Cal grinned. “She didn’t tell Samantha as a patient. And Samantha told Mac. After all, he’s her husband.”
“And he told you because you’re the sheriff?” Rick deduced.
“He wanted me to know what to look for in the records.”
“Okay, I’ll see if Mac is in yet.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“You’re not busy here?”
“Naw. And I’ll tell ’em where to find me if something comes up.”
After making arrangements, the two men walked to Mac’s office to find him just settling in to the day’s business. They covered Drake Moody’s record quickly, and Mac said he’d hired the best P.I. he knew in Fort Worth to see what else he could find.
Rick leaned forward. “Okay, here’s what I want to know. Should I call in some markers? I know a few influential people in Fort Worth.”
“You do?” Mac asked with a frown. “Like who?”
Rick ran down a mental list. “The mayor, a couple of councillors, some businessmen.”
Cal spoke up. “This judge granted the temporary custody to Megan originally, didn’t he? So he must not favor Moody.”
Mac shook his head. “When it came up after her sister’s death, Megan said Moody and his family were involved in saving his skin. They all ignored the children.”
“And since then?” Rick asked.
“They’ve ignored the children,” Mac repeated with a nod.
“They haven’t seen them since her sister died?” Rick asked, wanting to be sure he understood.
“They haven’t even called. They didn’t attend the funeral. Nothing.”
“Won’t that count against them?”
The Great Texas Wedding Bargain Page 10
