Dear heaven, Megan thought, a sudden warmth suffusing her, caressing her heart, her mind, her very soul. Ben Rizzoli loved her. He did!
The anger and concern in his eyes, so readable on his face, spoke of so much more than just caring. He was in love with her, just as she was in love with him. Oh, how glorious, how—
“Damn it, Megan, say something,” Ben shouted.
“There’s no need to yell,” Megan yelled.
“The hell there isn’t. I’ll holler the roof down if that’s what it takes to get through to you.”
“Will you promise not to punch Charles if we cross paths with him?” Megan said, planting her hands on her hips.
“No!”
“I rest my case,” she said, folding her arms across her breasts. “You’re not going.”
“Then neither are you, sweetheart,” Ben shot back.
“Damn it, Ben.” Megan’s eyes widened. “Now look what you made me do. I said ‘damn.’ I never swear, never.” She burst into laughter. “You’re a terrible influence on me, Dr. Rizzoli. Oh, good grief what a mess. We’re squabbling like children on the playground.”
Megan continued to smile as she shook her head. “This really isn’t funny, but laughing is better than crying, and I’m so tired of crying.” Her smile disappeared. “So very tired of crying.”
Ben enclosed the distance between them and encircled Megan with his arms.
Megan wrapped her arms around Ben’s waist and leaned her head on his shoulder, savoring the aroma of him, the solid strength of his body, the warmth from his massive frame. She sighed and tightened her hold, as if to never let him go again.
“Ah, Megan, Megan,” Ben said, then inhaled the spring-fresh scent of her silky curls. “What am I going to do with you?”
Just love me forever, Megan thought dreamily, losing herself in the essence of Ben. For better, for worse. In sickness and in health. Until death do us part. Just love me.
“Well,” she said, not moving an inch away from him, “you were the one who said that because you found me in the woods you got to keep me. So...keep me.”
Yeah, right, Ben thought. At that moment Megan might believe that she actually wanted to stay with him. That made sad sense, because he was still the barrier, the safety net, between her and Chastain. But that situation was coming quickly to a head and would be over very soon.
Then? Megan would take a clear look at what Dr. Ben Rizzoli could offer her. Or to be more precise, what he couldn’t offer her. No, she wouldn’t want to stay with him then. No way.
But for now, in the now, she was his. And nothing, by damn, was going to happen to her. Whatever it took, whatever he had to do, he would keep Megan out of harm’s way.
“Megan...” Ben started.
“Yes, all right.” She raised her head to meet his troubled gaze. “I’ll call my attorney back and tell him that you’re coming with me tomorrow. He said he’d notify the housekeeper about our arrival, because I no longer have a key to the house.”
“You know the housekeeper will tell Chastain that you’re coming.”
“Maybe not,” she said. “She was always very kind. She didn’t say anything derogatory about Charles to me, but there was a softness, a gentleness, about her when we spoke. I believe she knew what Charles was doing to me.”
“But she still works for him, Megan, must feel a certain sense of loyalty to him. Or he pays her so well she doesn’t want to lose the position. It doesn’t matter. We’ll be prepared for whatever happens.”
Ben paused. “Thank you for giving in on this. I realize that you’re trying to stand on your own two feet as you begin your new life, but there are times when that just isn’t the way to do it.”
“That applies to your situation too, Ben.”
“Mmm.”
Megan smiled. “You and your famous ‘mmm.’ You speak volumes with that little sound.”
“Mmm.” Ben brushed his lips over hers. “Mmm.” He traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his tongue. “Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.” Then he captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
Desire exploded within them, hot, licking flames like those crackling in the fireplace. Ben raised his head, took a sharp breath, then slanted his mouth in the opposite direction to claim Megan’s lips once again.
I love you, Megan, Ben’s mind hammered. You’re going to leave me. I know you are, but, heaven help me, I love you. For now, in this now, you... are... mine.
Ben deepened the kiss as he slid his hands over the feminine slope of Megan’s bottom, pressing her close, his arousal heavy against her.
A whimper of need whispered from Megan’s throat as she returned the urgent, nearly rough kiss in total abandon.
Oh, Ben, her mind hummed. I love you with all my heart. I know you love me, Ben, I just know you do. I want to stay by your side forever. Don’t send me away, Ben. Please, please, please.
A beeping sound coming from one of the end tables caused Ben to stiffen and break the kiss, muttering an earthy expletive in the process.
“What... what is that noise?” Megan said, then took a much-needed breath.
“My pager.” Ben eased her away from his heated, aching body. “I’m on call for the emergency room at the hospital tonight.”
“Oh. Well...Oh.”
Ben chuckled. “May I quote you on that, ma’am?” He went to the table, picked up the pager to see the number on the tiny screen, then nodded. “Yep. Damn. I have to call in.”
As Ben strode toward the telephone on the kitchen wall, Megan sank onto the sofa, aware suddenly of her trembling legs. She placed one hand on her heart, willing it to return to a normal tempo.
A few minutes later, Ben returned and hunkered down in front of her, barely missing the coffee table.
“I have to go,” he said. “There’s a possible heart attack waiting in emergency. Call your attorney while I’m gone. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He raised up enough to plant a kiss on her lips. “Hold that thought.”
“Mmm,” Megan said.
Ben laughed, then moments later hurried out the front door. Megan sat perfectly still, savoring the lingering taste of Ben and allowing her mind to conjure delicious scenarios of what would transpire between them when he returned.
Time lost meaning as she sat there, a soft smile on her lips, her body tingling with desire that would be satisfied so exquisitely by the wondrous lovemaking she would share with Ben.
A sharp knock at the front door caused Megan to snap out of her sensuous haze.
“Ben probably forgot his key,” she said, getting to her feet. “Why did he take it off the chain, silly man?”
Good heavens, she thought. She had no idea that she’d been sitting there long enough for Ben to tend to business at the hospital and return home. She’d floated off into a rosy, passion-laden, lovely place.
She rushed to the door and flung it open, a smile on her lips.
“Ben, I’m so glad—”
She stopped speaking as a chill swept through her.
“Charles,” she said, hardly above a whisper. “Oh, God, no.”
She tried to close the door but Charles’s arm shot out and he gripped the edge of the door with one hand, pushing it inward as he moved into the room. Megan backed up several steps, unaware that she had hunched her shoulders in an attempt to curl into herself in a protective gesture. Her heart beat so wildly, it was actually painful.
Charles Chastain slammed the door and narrowed his eyes. He was wearing his signature customtailored suit. His blond hair was razor cut, every strand in perfect place.
“You’ve been a naughty girl, Megan,” he said, a steely edge to his voice. “And I’m very angry with you for the inconvenience you’ve caused me.”
I’m sorry... sorry... sorry, Megan’s mind screamed. Please, Charles, no, don’t hit me. No...no...no... please... please...
“Nothing to say in your defense, my dear?” Charles said, advancing slowly toward her. “To add to your sins, you’ve taken a love
r, a man so lower class that he doesn’t even bother to get a haircut when needed. The thought of him touching you sickens me.”
Charles stopped in front of Megan and shook his head.
“It’s all so sad, so tragic,” he said. “You’re obviously mentally unbalanced, as evidenced by these recent escapades of yours. I’m going to see to it that you receive the finest care possible in a place where you can’t endanger yourself further by running away like an undisciplined child.”
“No,” Megan whispered. “No.”
“I waited until your doctor left, waited to see if he’d return. Waited and watched you, Megan, as you sat staring into the hearth.
“Were you thinking of me? The man who worships the very ground you walk on. The man who’d been your devoted and loving husband. The man who is devastated about your mental collapse, about having to put you away in an institution for a very, very long time.”
Charles lunged forward and gripped Megan tightly on her upper arms, giving her a rough shake.
“How dare you behave in this manner?” he said, a pulse beating wildly in his temple. “You’re fortunate that the reporters didn’t find out about this prank of yours, or I’d be even more angry than I am. But you must be punished, Megan. You understand that, don’t you?” He shook her again. “Don’t you?”
The chilling veil of fear that had encased Megan disappeared in a sudden swish. Taking its place was a red haze of fury.
With a surge of physical and emotional strength she didn’t even know she possessed, she thrust her hands against Charles’s chest and pushed him away.
He staggered backward, nearly falling, but regained his balance quickly, curling his hands into tight fists.
“What I understand,” she said, her voice amazingly steady, “is that you are an evil man, Charles Chastain. You will never hit me or hurt me again. Never. You no longer have control over me. I’m free. Free.
“Your threats mean nothing. You are nothing. You’re finished, Charles. I’m going to tell the reporters the truth about you. Everything. You’ll never be governor, because you’ll be in jail, serving a sentence for spousal abuse. I am going to put you away for a very, very long time.”
“No!” Charles roared.
He raced forward, his large hands closing around Megan’s slender throat, then tightening, tightening.
She beat at him with her fists as black dots began to dance before her eyes and a loud buzzing noise echoed in her ears.
The front door thundered against the wall and seconds later, Charles’s grip on her neck loosened, then was gone.
“You bastard,” Ben said.
He spun Charles around and delivered a stunning blow to the center of Charles’s face. Charles flew backward, landing on the floor with a resounding thud and covering his nose with both hands. Blood poured between his fingers.
Megan sank to her knees, gasping for breath.
Ben reached down, dragged Chastain to his feet by the lapels of his jacket, then slammed him against the wall.
“Don’t hit me again,” Charles whimpered, still holding his nose. “You broke my nose. It hurts. I’m in pain. Please don’t hit me again.”
Ben pulled back one fist to deliver another punch.
“Ben, no,” Megan said, her voice scratchy. “Don’t do it. Don’t lower yourself to his level. I’m going to destroy him. With words, Ben, with the truth of what he is. I have the strength now to do that. It’s over. Oh, Ben, it’s over. I really am free. I’m free.”
Ben didn’t move as he reached deep within himself for self-control to dim the want, the burning need, to smash his fist into Chastain’s face over and over again. He drew a shuddering breath and shoved Chastain away, watching the cowering man sink to the floor again.
“Ben?” Megan whispered.
Ben turned and hurried to her, scooping her from the floor and holding her tightly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“Are you all right?” Ben said, his voice raspy.
“Yes, yes. You’re here. I thought you went to the hospital.”
“I did. The man had indigestion, wasn’t having a heart attack, so I came right back.”
“I lost track of time, I guess. Thank you, Ben, thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I just finished up what you obviously had already dealt with. Are you really going to do it? Are you going to blow the whistle on Chastain, call a press conference and expose him for what he is?”
Megan lifted her head and Ben’s jaw tightened as he saw the red marks on Megan’s throat from Charles’s hands.
“Yes,” Megan said. “I’m going to do it. I have the courage and strength now, I truly do.”
Ben looked directly into her eyes. “Then you’ll be free, just as you said.”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. Yeah, that’s...good.” He set her carefully on her feet.
And when she’d finished with the details, taken care of all that needed to be done to close the final door on her nightmare past, she’d leave him to begin a new life.
“I’ll...I’ll call Cable Montana and have him come pick up Chastain.”
Ben looked at Charles where he sat huddled on the floor, pressing a blood-soaked handkerchief to his still-bleeding nose.
“Well,” Ben said. “I got one pop at him.”
“Don’t even think about hitting him again,” Megan said. “He’s not worth it, Ben.”
“I can’t hit him again.” Ben chuckled and shook his head.
“Why not?”
“Man, oh, man, Brandon is going to laugh himself silly when he hears about this.”
“What are you talking about?” Megan said, obviously confused.
“I took my best shot, and guess what?” Ben rolled his eyes heavenward and moaned. “I broke my hand!”
Chapter Twelve
“If I borrow a purple crayon from Joey,” Brandon said, grinning, “can I sign your cast, Ben? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pretty please?”
“Give it a rest, Hamilton,” Ben said, glaring at him. “Now!”
“Well, cripes, you’re no fun,” Brandon said, then took a bite of his juicy steak.
It was Wednesday evening and Ben, Andrea, Brandon, and the aunts were enjoying a delicious dinner in the dining room at Hamilton House.
Jennifer was on duty as the hostess, but stopped often at the group’s table to get caught up on all the details regarding Megan and the newsbreaking story of the downfall of Charles Chastain.
“Megan still doesn’t know when she’ll be able to come back to Prescott?” Andrea asked Ben.
“No.” Ben attempted again to cut his steak despite the cumbersome cast on his right hand. “Damn.” He dropped his knife and fork onto the plate.
“Shall I cut your meat for you, dear?” Aunt Prudence said.
“No.” Ben sighed. “Yes. Thank you, Aunt Prudence. I’m a starving man here. I’ll sure be more sympathetic when I slap casts on people in the future.”
“One often has to walk in another’s shoes,” Aunt Pru said, “to truly understand their journey.” She finished cutting Ben’s steak and slid the plate back in front of him. “There you are, dear.”
“Thank you.” Ben paused. “I want to thank you, too, you and Aunt Charity, and Jennifer, for your...well, quiet reaction to what Brandon and Andrea told you about my eyesight. The hugs said enough, and I appreciate your not going on and on about it.”
“We’ll deal with it, big boy,” Aunt Charity said, “when it happens.”
Ben nodded.
“So!” Andrea said. “Back to Megan. We watched her press conference on television. She was dynamite.”
“That she was,” Ben said quietly. “Very strong. Very classy. She insisted on going to Phoenix alone, and standing on her own two feel I put her on the puddle-jumper plane out at the airport on Sunday and off she Hew.”
“But she’ll be back,” Aunt Prudence said.
“Maybe,” Ben said, directing his attention to hi
s dinner.
“Maybe?” Andrea said, leaning slightly toward Ben.
“She said she’d be back Monday night after the press conference.” Ben said, looking at Andrea. “This is Wednesday. Do you see her at this table? She told me on the phone last night that there’s a bundle of stuff she has to tend to. Endless statements to the cops, and on and on.”
“Well,” Andrea said, “that’s reasonable.”
“She’s also had endless calls from talk show hosts,” Ben went on, “wanting her to be interviewed about spousal abuse.”
“Did she agree to do the shows?” Andrea said.
“She didn’t agree,” Ben said. “But she didn’t refuse, either. She told them she had too much to deal with at the moment, and she’d think about it.”
“And you said?” Brandon prompted.
“Nothing,” Ben said, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “I didn’t say anything really, except that she should do whatever felt right to her.”
“Well, mercy sake, hotshot,” Aunt Charity said. “That’s not going to get Megan back under your roof and into your bed where she belongs.”
“Charity, please,” Aunt Prudence said. “You’re being a trifle personal, dear.”
“I am not,” Aunt Charity said. “Anyone with half an ounce of sense knows that Ben and Megan are in love with each other, should be together. The way Ben responded to what Megan said about all those television offers, it sounded as though he didn’t give a rip if she came back to Prescott or not.”
“Megan has the right to make her own decisions, Aunt Charity,” Ben said.
“Megan has the right to have all the data she needs to make those decisions,” Aunt Charity said, scowling at him. “Does she know you’re in love with her?”
“You said that,” Ben said, matching her expression. “I didn’t.”
“Oh, give me a break, big boy,” Aunt Charity said. “Who are you trying to bluff? Yourself? You’re in love with Megan Chastain, and you know it. Where you blew it is that you didn’t tell her that.”
“What’s the point?” Ben said, his voice rising. “I have nothing to offer her. Nothing. A whole new life is opening up for Megan. She can do a helluva lot better than spending the remainder of her days with a blind man.” Ben shook his head and pushed his plate away. “Hell.”
The Most Eligible M.D. (The Bachelor Bet #3) Page 14
