Megan woke alone, and although she wasn’t totally surprised by Kane’s absence, not waking with her new husband beside her still hurt. She’d hoped marriage would bring them closer, bridge some of the emotional distance that separated them. And for a few glorious hours last night she believed she’d reached past those barriers and touched a part of his soul.
Apparently, he was so used to withdrawing and shutting people out that he’d automatically done the same to her once the soft, warm glow of their lovemaking ebbed and cold reality intruded.
Sighing, she reached across the bed and placed her hand on his pillow. The gold band on her finger glinted, reminding her of the commitment she’d made to this man. She’d never taken her responsibilities lightly, and being Kane’s wife would be no exception. She was going to love him whether he liked it or not, and she hoped that love would be enough to heal old pain and memories.
Mrs. Fielding,. She smiled, liking her new name and the way it sounded on Kane’s lips. She liked a lot about her husband, especially his smiles and laughter, rare gifts she intended to make a daily part of her life. Starting this morning.
Refusing to let Kane spend any of their short weekend honeymoon away from her or secluded in his workshop, she tossed off the covers and slid from the bed, intending to track her wayward husband. Passing the sexy nightie she’d worn the night before, she opted for comfort and grabbed one of his large shirts from the closet and slipped into it. She pulled on a pair of wispy panties then went into the bathroom and brushed her hair and teeth.
She returned to the bedroom and opened the top dresser drawer Kane had left empty for her undergarments. Reaching beneath the froth of silky things, she retrieved the wedding gift she’d bought for him when she’d gone into the city two days ago to do some shopping. Holding the silver-wrapped present against her chest, she padded down the hallway in search of Kane.
She found him in the kitchen, leaning against the open back door and staring at the yard. He wore a pair of soft faded jeans that made him look too sexy for her peace of mind. His pensive expression made her momentarily pause. They were good together in bed, but what about dealing with the everyday intimacies shared between a husband and wife? Would Kane allow them to have that kind of relationship or would he forever hide his emotions?
She wasn’t going to let him. Determination propelled her forward, and he turned and looked at her. The instantaneous flare of hunger in his eyes caught her off guard, as did the spark of pure male possessiveness. Her body flushed from head to toe. The one thing he couldn’t hide was his desire and physical response to her.
Gratified that she affected him on some level, she stopped at the kitchen table, waiting to see if he’d come to her. “Hi,” she said, her voice sleep soft and a little husky from his open appraisal of her.
“Mornin’,” he murmured, eyeing the present in her arms with a slight frown. He didn’t move, increasing the awkward morning after tension filling the room.
They stood there for endless seconds, each one waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, she gave in and crossed the distance separating them. Grabbing his hand, she led him to the table and pushed him into one of the wooden chairs, then draped herself over his lap before he could object.
The look of surprise on his face made her laugh. “I have something for you.” She handed him the flat, square package, eager to see if he liked the gift she’d selected for him with such care.
Tentatively, he took the present. “My birthday isn’t until November.”
Sensing he wasn’t used to receiving surprises, she sifted her fingers through the hair at his nape and smiled encouragingly. “I’ll remember that for future reference. This, however, is a wedding gift.”
His mouth tightened. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to. I saw it when I went into the city and I knew you had to have it.” Impatient and anxious to see his reaction, she nudged the gift in his hands. “Go ahead and open it.”
“All right.” He tore off the paper, revealing a thick, leather-bound book. He stilled, the wrappings fluttering to the floor unnoticed as he stared at the cover, the title and author inlaid in gold lettering.
“What’s this for?” he asked, an odd, almost defensive quality to his voice.
She tilted her head curiously, certain he was teasing her. “It’s for you. Open it up and take a look.”
He did, slowly flipping through the pages. Glossy pictures of various pieces of furniture graced the pages, along with detailed instructions on how to build each. The pieces were intricate and elegant in design, requiring the skill of an experienced carpenter like Kane.
“I’m sure you have a collection of books on cabinetry,” she said quickly when he said nothing, “but this is a new edition, and I couldn’t resist.” She searched his face, seeing a muscle in his cheek tick and something similar to anger darken his gaze.
Confusion doused her earlier exhilaration, and she touched his jaw, making him look at her. “You don’t like it?” she asked, unable to keep the hurt from her voice.
Kane swallowed the huge knot in his throat and forcibly schooled his expression so he didn’t disappoint her. He loved her thoughtfulness, but how could he like something that made him feel so inferior? Every time he looked at this leather-bound book he’d be reminded of the giant chasm that separated him and Megan. Other than the showy and striking pictures, he’d never be able to enjoy this book, never be able to duplicate one of the beautiful pieces of furniture for Megan like he suddenly wished he could, just to surprise her.
“It’s great,” he said, shoving his regret way down deep inside, to that dark place where it had lived for so many years. “But I have nothing to give you.”
She gave a soft little sigh tinged with relief, which to his ears translated to, “That’s why you looked so upset?” He’d let her think that because the truth might break the fragile bonds of his new marriage.
She shifted on his lap and rested her hands on his bare chest, her gaze capturing and holding his. “You’ve given me more than I ever possibly dreamed I would have.”
“Andrew?” he guessed. He set the book on the table and dropped his hand to her knee, deciding he liked the way she looked in his shirt. Liking better, though, how she looked in nothing at all but a warm flush tingeing her body.
“Andrew, and you,” she whispered.
“I’m not such a great bargain,” he said gruffly, not wanting the responsibility of trying to remain balanced on that pedestal she was putting him on. One false move and he’d fall and break his neck.
“Oh, yes, you are.” She smiled a siren’s smile and wiggled her bottom. “I happen to think you’re quite handy to have around.”
Desire rocketed through him and he groaned, unable to resist her. “You’re using me?” he teased.
“Absolutely. What’s a husband for, if not to use properly?” She slowly unbuttoned the shirt she wore, revealing lush curves and smooth skin. And as Megan set out to seduce him and his body eagerly responded, a disturbing thought filtered through his mind.
His wife had discovered one of his weaknesses. Her.
Megan darted out of the bedroom from where she’d just changed into a short outfit and picked up the phone in the living room as it rang for the third time. She answered with a breathless hello.
Her greeting was met with silence, then a tentative female voice asked, “Is Kane there?”
She could still hear the water running in the bathroom where she’d left Kane ten minutes earlier, after they’d shared a morning shower. Megan found herself blushing at the memory, which was ridiculous. It wasn’t as though the caller could read her thoughts.
“He’s in the shower,” she said, curious as to who this woman was and what she wanted Kane for. “Can I give him a message?”
Another pause. “This is his sister, Diane. Would Andrew happen to be there?”
“No, he’s not.” Realizing the intimate scene she’d just set for Kane’s si
ster, she thought it wise to introduce herself before Diane jumped to the wrong conclusion. “I’m Megan, Kane’s wife.”
“Kane’s wife?” Shock and disbelief filled Diane’s exclamation. “Kane got married? Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Everything happened so suddenly.” And it had, a whirlwind of events that had irrevocably changed her and Kane’s life. Knowing Diane would want details, she explained her friendship with Andrew and learned that Diane already knew of her from Andrew’s letters. As for her marriage to Kane, she told her the same thing she’d told Mrs. Henderson, that she and Kane had been corresponding for the past year and a half and their long-distance relationship had evolved into something more. If Kane wanted to tell her the truth, she’d leave that to him.
She followed her brief story by saying, “I’m sure Kane was going to call to tell you the news.”
“Hmph,” Diane said indignantly. “Kane is terrible about calling, and he’s even worse about answering my letters-which he’s never, ever done. But maybe that’s because he’s been spending all his time writing to you.” Her voice held a teasing quality.
Megan didn’t correct her assumption, but she did find it odd that Kane wouldn’t respond to his sister’s letters.
“I’m sure I would have found out sooner or later from Andrew that my big brother got married,” Diane went on. “At least he writes me faithfully.”
Megan smiled. “I’ll make sure he continues to do so.”
“Good,” Diane said, sounding satisfied. Then she grew more heartfelt. “Megan, take care of my brother for me, okay? He’s been through so much. He raised me after our parents died, and I know he didn’t have an easy marriage with Cathy. It was so difficult for me to move away and leave him, but my husband got a better paying job, and, well, we have a young family of our own and knew he’d never be able to make the kind of money he is now if we stayed in Linden. But I miss Kane and Andrew so much.”
Megan was certain the sentiment was returned by both Andrew and Kane. “I’ll have to see what I can do about coercing Kane into taking us on a vacation.”
“Oh, please do!” Diane said excitedly.
They talked for a few minutes longer. By the time Kane exited the bedroom and she handed him the phone so his sister could congratulate him on his new marriage, Megan felt as though she and Diane had forged the beginning of a friendship.
And as Megan sauntered into the kitchen to give Kane some privacy, she decided she liked having a real family of her own, complete with the sister she’d never had but always wanted.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KANE arrived home from work the following Thursday afternoon expecting Joyce’s car to be parked out front as it normally was. It wasn’t. He was surprised she’d left without her weekly pay, which he gave to her after he cashed his check on Thursdays. Maybe Megan had paid Joyce after her tutoring session with Andy, he thought, climbing out of his truck.
Megan. They’d been married less than a week, but already they’d settled into a comfortable pattern shared by married couples. He looked forward to coming home and seeing her, sitting at the kitchen table, eating dinner and talking about everyone’s day. Just like a real family. Andy had asked Megan if he could call her mom, and the delight and love shining in her eyes had warmed Kane. Despite his personal reservations about marrying Megan, he knew he’d done the right thing for his son.
He entered the kitchen, set his lunch box on the counter, then followed the voices drifting from the living room. Megan and Andy sat on the couch together with Andy reading from a textbook while Megan followed along and helped him pronounce the more complicated words.
“Where’s Joyce?”
Megan glanced up, startled.
Andy stopped reading and put a bookmark between the pages before closing it. “Hi, Dad. Joyce isn’t here.”
“She didn’t show up for your lesson?” It wasn’t like Joyce to be so irresponsible.
“She was right on time,” Megan said, straightening the school papers scattered on the coffee table. “I paid her for the week and sent her home.”
He stopped in the middle of the room, frowning. “Is she sick?”
“No.” Finally, Megan looked up, meeting his gaze. A hint of defiance shimmered in the depths. “I let her go.”
“You what?” His voice rose an octave.
Megan didn’t flinch. “I said I let her go.”
“As in she won’t be back?”
“Yes.”
He gaped at her, unable to believe she’d be so bold. He could feel his world shifting, throwing him off balance. He struggled to find even ground. “You let her go without asking me?”
“I thought we’d discuss it tonight,” she replied reasonably.
He wasn’t feeling reasonable. “I’d like to discuss it now.” He turned and strode into the kitchen.
He heard his son’s plea. “Mom, please make him understand.”
He heard Megan’s soft response. “I’ll try my best.”
He paced the floor, a jumbled mass of emotions twisting inside him. Needing a release, he vented his anger on Megan as soon as she entered the room.
“You had no right to get rid of Joyce.” He jammed his hands on his hips and pinned her with an incensed look. He knew he was acting irrational but he couldn’t help himself. “I hired a tutor for Andy for a reason!”
She crossed her arms over her chest, not backing down at his ferocious glare. “Which is?”
Kane froze. Too late, he realized his mistake. Only one reason managed to filter through his muddled mind. I want him to have all the advantages I never had as a kid I want him to be able to go to college and be successful one day. But he couldn’t voice his explanation because his reasons intertwined with his insecurities and childhood memories of forgetting school lessons. Of wanting to learn but being so overwhelmed by other responsibilities that he’d had to forfeit an education.
And now, as an adult, he paid for that sacrifice every day of his life. He’d vowed long ago that Andrew would never know the degradation and humiliation of not being academically inclined.
Of not knowing how to read.
But Megan seemed to understand even without knowing the truth. Her expression softened, and she approached him. “I know you want the best for Andrew, but I talked to Mrs. Graham today and found out he’s well above most of his classmates.”
“A tutor keeps him there,” he replied tightly.
“Andrew is a smart kid. He told me only the kids with learning disabilities have tutors.”
He released a harsh breath that whistled between his teeth. Turning away, he pushed his fingers through his hair, wondering if he’d inadvertently damaged his son’s self-confidence. He’d never intended to make Andy feel inferior, had only meant to give him every benefit possible. It pained him that he’d hurt his son that way, yet a part of him didn’t regret his decision.
“Dad?”
Kane looked at Andrew, who stood in the kitchen doorway, an uncertain expression on his face. “Yes?”
He fidgeted on his sneakered feet. “I don’t want Joyce to tutor me anymore.”
Kane couldn’t quite let go of his convictions. “Son, sometimes we have to do things we don’t like-”
Megan placed a firm hand on Kane’s arm, halting his lecture. “Kane, you need to listen to Andrew.”
He clenched his jaw, but he looked at his son.
“I like Joyce,” Andrew went on, “but it’s not like she teaches me things I don’t already know.”
“She helps you with your homework,” Kane pointed out. And that was something he couldn’t do.
Andrew’s gaze went from Kane to Megan. The two exchanged a look before he glanced at his dad again. “Mom can help me with my homework.”
Kane rubbed the taut muscles at the back of his neck, debating the merits of such an arrangement.
Megan’s fingers tightened around the corded muscles in his forearm. “Since I’m here when he gets home from school, I’ll be abl
e to spend time reviewing his homework with him.”
“Please, Dad,” Andrew begged. “I don’t need Joyce. I got straight As on my last report card.”
“What if your grades start slipping?”
“If that happens, which I doubt,” Megan said wryly, letting Kane know with a pointed look that she wouldn’t allow it to happen, “then we’ll rehire Joyce.”
Kane could feel his arguments crumbling. He couldn’t protect Andrew forever, and he knew he needed to extend his son some trust or Andrew would grow to resent him and the tutoring. The only thing that eased his mind was that Megan would be able to monitor his progress.
“Deal?” Andrew asked enthusiastically, thrusting a hand toward Kane before he could formulate any more questions or change his mind.
Kane knew when he was beaten and accepted defeat gracefully. “Deal,” he muttered, and shook the hand Andrew offered.
“Andy, get dressed for church,” Kane called as he followed the delicious aroma of coffee down the hallway. “We’re leaving in half an hour.”
“Okay, Dad!” Andy darted around him to the bathroom, Sunday clothes in hand.
Kane entered the kitchen. Megan glanced from the tablet of paper in front of her, pen poised for jotting down items in a neat row.
“Good morning,” Kane greeted her cheerfully. He opened the refrigerator and peered at the meager contents.
She tapped the end of her pen against her paper, lifting a brow. “You’re in an awfully good mood this morning.”
He looked over his shoulder, smiling lazily. “Is there any reason not to be?”
“I suppose not.” Amusement and soft desire sparkled in her blue eyes. “All you have time for is a quick bowl of cereal.”
“I’ll pass.” He closed the refrigerator door and approached the table. “We’ll grab some lunch after church.”
She laced her fingers beneath her chin and gave him a chastising look. “I would have made you a big breakfast if you hadn’t kept pressing the snooze button.”
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