A teen with spiky red hair and black athletic shorts shoved past them. “What’s the matter, Grandpa? These skates too complex for you?”
His friend, a skinny blond with acne, guffawed.
“That was rude.” Megan frowned, staring after the teenagers.
Adam grabbed onto the wall and pulled himself up. “Do I look that old?”
Megan glanced around. “It’s mostly kids here right now. We probably look a hundred to them.”
He laughed. “Probably.”
“Come on, Grandpa. Let’s stop blocking the door.” She took his hand and led him onto the floor. Electricity zinged through him where their skin touched.
He successfully balanced for a few steps, although he was bent over kind of funny. “I don’t think I’m doing this right.”
“You just need to get used to the feeling. Try pushing yourself forward with one foot, while balancing on the other.”
“Ha! You’re kidding, right?”
The redhead and his friend skated past. “They really shouldn’t let people in here if they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Megan shot a glare at them. “That kid’s beginning to annoy me.”
“Ignore him.” Adam straightened as best he could, then pushed himself forward with one foot, as she suggested. He tottered a bit, but managed to stay upright. Hanging onto Megan’s hand helped.
“Hey, that was good. Try again.”
The next push didn’t go so well, and he jerked to compensate, letting go of Megan and landing once again on his behind, his arms and legs sprawled out. Some worker zoomed over and stopped the steady flow of young kids so he could get back on his feet.
He felt like Bambi on ice. “Why did I let you talk me into this?”
Megan giggled. “Because you knew it would make me feel better.”
He practiced for a while, Megan sticking with him. The redhead passed him again, and shouted, “Hey, Gramps, you’re going so slow, I think you’re moving backwards.” His friend doubled over and chortled. Megan seethed, but Adam cautioned her once again to ignore them. He was relieved when he saw them leave the rink and go toward the snack bar.
As he grew more confident, his pushes became harder and gave him more momentum. “You’re doing great,” she said over the music.
He found himself enjoying the activity, not only the skating but being close to Megan. The physical contact was making him feel like a kid with his first crush.
“Want to try it on your own?” Megan squeezed his hand.
“Sure.” Although he wasn’t sure at all. “Don’t leave me though.”
She nodded, and he let go of her hand. Everything seemed okay at first. He pushed off with one foot, like he’d been doing. Then he switched legs, gaining momentum. He was able to make the turns without Megan’s help, and began to feel confident. He pushed off, harder.
“Great! You’re going really fast!”
He’d noticed he’d been going fast, but ‘great’ wasn’t the sentiment running through his mind. “Um, how do I stop?”
“Just grab the wall.”
Adam wasn’t sure that advice was very good, but he decided to try it, so he veered off. Unfortunately, he realized too late that he was headed for the swinging door. He hit the door at full momentum. The carpet wasn’t as smooth under his wheels, which left him doing a hopping, leg lifting thing trying to stay upright, his arms pin-wheeling in the air.
Inertia carried him through the chairs—where people scattered to get out of his way—right toward the redheaded kid at the snack bar, who had a full slushie in his hands. The collision happened in slow motion: bumping into the kid’s back, the slushie going airborne, next flailing and grabbing at anything he could to try to gain his balance again, and lastly his fingers finding something to hold onto.
He only wished it hadn’t been a pair of black athletic shorts.
Adam landed on his face, cold slushie sliding down his back, his fingers still clutching the fabric which pooled around the ankles of the redheaded kid.
8
Megan pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. Adam drove down the interstate, and he didn’t seem to be in the best of moods. She cleared her throat. “It sure is raining.”
He nodded. “At least it washed most of the slushie out of my hair.”
“You still have some in your ear.”
He grimaced. “And down my shirt. My back’s still sticky.”
A laugh tried to bubble up, but she suppressed it with a cough. “At least the police let you go.”
“I still think they should have arrested that kid.” He touched the bruise under his eye and winced.
“Well,” she said, desperately trying not to snort. “You did try to yank his shorts entirely off, after pantsing him.”
“My finger got caught! Do you think I wanted the kid to fall on me?” He signaled and changed lanes. “He didn’t have to go nuts-o on me.”
“You humiliated the poor guy.”
His lips twitched. “It wasn’t all my fault.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “Yeah, he really should have made sure his boxers weren’t caught on your wheels before standing up.”
Adam made a noise that sounded like a cross between clearing his throat and blowing his nose. Megan couldn’t hold it in any longer, and soon they were both howling. Tears streamed down her face. She couldn’t remember ever laughing so hard.
After gaining control of herself, she said, “I’m glad the cops didn’t make a big deal of it. You could have been put on some sex-offender list somewhere.”
“I think the officers understood. We did have film footage.”
She bit her lip. “I think it’s on YouTube already. Luckily, we’ve got a three-second delay. I’m sure the most embarrassing parts were cut.”
Adam snorted, which made her laugh all over again. He shot her a grin, his dimples making him look super sexy. “That kid’s going to need counseling.”
“He probably needed it before today. What child makes it out of adolescence without a parent messing them up?” She meant it as a joke, but Adam grew serious.
“What do you mean?”
The windshield wipers swished as they tried to keep the rain at bay. Megan waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “You know. Parents screw up their kids more often than not.”
His gaze turned contemplative. “I see.”
She decided to change the subject. “So, what’s your main goal in life?”
He rubbed his chin. “The same as everyone else, I guess. Build a good career. Settle down. Get married.”
“Not everyone has those goals.”
Lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder. Megan tensed. Storms made her nervous.
“You’re right. But a lot of people do. I was just saying I’m not that original.” He shrugged. “What about you?”
“I guess my career is my main goal. Succeeding at something I love.”
“Sure.” He tapped the steering wheel and looked at her sideways. “No family for you?” The turn signal flashed as he took the off ramp.
The question hung in the air for a few moments. “I don’t think a woman needs a man in order to be happy.”
“That’s not what I said.”
What was he trying to do, bait her again? She chose her words carefully. “I haven’t made any family-oriented goals.”
His eyebrow arched. “What if you meet Mr. Right?”
She exhaled, a little frustrated he wouldn’t just drop the subject. “Are you proposing?”
A warm laugh came from his chest. “No.”
“Good. Because you’re not even Mr. Right Now.”
His laughter made her smile. It warmed her, like wrapping up in a f
uzzy blanket. It was comfortable. She joined in.
“Don’t sugar coat it, babe. Tell it like it is.”
She suddenly remembered Dale was filming every word from the back seat. She was getting used to him being around. He blended into the background now. And that was dangerous. She’d have to watch herself. “Sorry. I just meant this relationship is still new.”
“So, you’ve forgiven me for the rock wall?”
“Let’s not go overboard.”
The rain slowed, and the sky turned a surreal blue. Adam slowed the car and turned into her parking lot. “I guess when I walk you to your door I’ll have to prove how sorry I am.”
Why did those words send a shiver of delight through her? He was not the nice guy he was pretending to be. She shouldn’t want to kiss him. But her lips tingled in anticipation anyway.
He didn’t disappoint. His kiss curled her toes and quickened her pulse. She closed her eyes and let the sensations wash over her. Soon his lips were on her jaw, her throat, and her earlobe. She placed her hands on his chest with the intent of pushing him away, but couldn’t follow through.
“I need to talk to you,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Then he pulled back and gave her a heart-stopping smile. “See you.”
She entered her apartment, her skin burning where he’d left a trail of kisses. What did he mean? What was there to say? Her stomach betrayed her and fluttered like a silly teenager’s.
No. She couldn’t lose her head over this guy. He wasn’t being real with her. He wasn’t to be trusted. She untied her shoes, slipped them off, and placed them neatly in the closet. The fridge was empty, so she rummaged through her cupboards until she found a box of pasta and some vegetable soup. It was almost ready when her intercom buzzed. She let him through.
She opened the door when he knocked, and there he stood, leaning against the door jamb, looking like a rock star. Her pulse quickened. “Adam.”
Really? That was all she could think to say?
“I dropped Dale off at the station. Mind if I come in? I can have a pepperoni pizza here in less than fifteen minutes.”
“I was just about to eat.” She pointed to her kitchen and debated with herself. Kicking him out was the smart thing to do, but she stared into his eyes too long, and her mouth moved on its own. “If you don’t mind some noodles and soup, you’re welcome to join me.”
A sexy smile formed on his face. “My favorite.”
She laughed. “You don’t even know what kind of soup.”
“I’m sure it’s delicious.” He followed her into the kitchen and pulled out a chair.
She served up two bowls and set them on the table. Then she scooped the Alfredo pasta onto plates and got out some cold sodas. When she’d seated herself, her curiosity got the better of her. “Okay, why are you here?”
He picked up his fork and pushed the food around on his plate. “I need to apologize.”
That was the last thing she expected him to say. She stared at him, trying to figure out what his motives were. “For what?”
“For today…for everything.”
“Way to be specific.”
He blew out a breath. “I made a mistake. I tried to humiliate you. But it only made me feel terrible.”
Unable to fully trust him, but curious as to what he wanted, she decided to play his game for a while. See what he was up to. “Everything worked out in the end. No harm done.”
A look of relief flooded him. “I want you to know, I don’t agree with everything Leon’s doing.”
The mention of their boss made her stiffen, and she tried hard to keep a scowl off her face. “Neither do I.”
“I don’t think we need to argue to get good ratings.” He shoveled a forkful of pasta in his mouth.
She thought about his words. “Then how do you propose we get people interested in the show?”
His smile turned her middle into Jell-o. “Our online dating. It’s skyrocketing the popularity of the morning show.”
“Won’t that get boring, though, after a while? Just watching us go out on dates?”
“That’s why I think we need to mix it up a bit.” He took a swig of his soda.
“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” She stopped eating and waited for him to drop the other shoe.
He grinned. “Don’t look so worried. I was just thinking that having our fans write in and make date suggestions might be fun.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Date suggestions?” It didn’t sound that bad, but a foreboding feeling settled in.
“Sure. I’ll ask our viewers on Monday where we should go for our next date. It’ll give them a chance to participate.”
Warning flags popped up. “What if they suggest something we don’t want to do?”
Steam rose and curled up from his spoonful of vegetable soup. “We can weed out the bad suggestions.”
“Heights are off the table.” She gave him her best ‘you’ll die if someone suggests bungee jumping’ glare.
“Of course.” He tipped his soda can up, taking another swig. Why was that so sexy on him?
She looked away. “I guess. If we have full control over what we end up doing…”
“Great!” His smile gave her goose bumps. “One last thing.”
Oh, heavens. What now? “Hmm?”
“I don’t think we should tell Leon yet.”
“I agree with that. He’ll find a way to turn it into something horrible.”
“I’ll sneak it into the show on Monday. Leon will love it anyway, it will draw people to the website.”
They finished eating in silence, Megan trying not to notice the way Adam’s shirt clung to his muscles, still damp from the rain. Or how her insides got all mushy when his lips curled into a grin. She cleared the table, hoping to give Adam the hint to leave.
When she was done, she didn’t sit back down again. Instead of standing, Adam looked up at her. “Can I ask you something?”
She folded her arms. What she wanted to say was, “No. Now take your lying butt out of here.” What she really said was, “Sure.”
Adam cleared his throat, leaning back in his chair. What was he doing? Maybe she didn’t want to talk about it. Instead of coming out and asking, he hedged. “I didn’t want to say anything while Dale was filming, but you mentioned something that made me curious.”
She pulled her chair out and sat, her blue eyes staring at him. “What?”
“Did you have a bad childhood?” He didn’t mean to blurt it out.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Heat crept up his neck. He’d better explain. “I mean, you said something about parents screwing up their kids, so I just figured…”
Megan sat there staring at him, her mouth still hanging open.
Great. He shouldn’t have said anything. So stupid. “You don’t have to tell me, if it’s too personal.”
She regained her composure. “No, it’s okay.” She stared down at her lap. “My mom and I…we never got along.”
He’d already figured that out, but he didn’t want to be rude, so he waited for her to continue.
“Nothing I ever did was good enough. Like when I made her breakfast in bed for Mother’s day. I couldn’t have been more than ten years old. I wanted to surprise her. I snuck downstairs and made scrambled eggs and toast.”
“You were allowed to use the stove?”
Megan laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “I’d been making meals since I was little. My parents have demanding jobs, and were never around. They hired a sitter, but she mostly ignored me, lounging on the couch talking on the phone with her boyfriend. Someone had to cook, and my little sister was only a baby.”
“What did your mom say when you
made her breakfast?”
A scowl crossed her face. “She scolded me for waking her up on her day off, then she threw the plate across the room. I ran to my room and cried for an hour.”
“How awful.” His heart ached for her.
“She had a terrible temper, and nothing I did was right. My grades were never high enough. My performances never perfect enough. And when I majored in communication, well, that was a stupid waste of time, according to her.”
Indignation rose in him. “What does she do?”
Megan scoffed. “She’s a surgeon. Of course. She saves lives for a living.”
“Sounds like she forgot the most important life. Her daughter’s. Some people can never give praise, no matter how hard you work.”
“She’s got her perfect daughter. My little sister Wendy can do no wrong.”
That threw his theory out the window. “How about your father? Did you have a good relationship with him?”
She smiled. “Yeah, we get along. He tends to be the soft middle to our Oreo cookie. If he weren’t around to separate us, I think Mom and I would have killed each other a long time ago.”
Adam laughed, glad the mood had lightened. He hadn’t meant to get so personal with her. “I’d better be heading out.”
Was that disappointment that flashed across her face? A few minutes ago, he’d have sworn she was about to toss him out.
“Okay.” She stood. “I guess I’ll see you at the station.”
On impulse, he grabbed her hand. Warmth spread through him. “I meant what I said earlier. I’m sorry for everything.”
She looked at him funny, but he didn’t explain. How could he tell her he was sorry for ever going along with Leon’s stupid ideas? Sorry for the cruel things he’d said on air. Sorry he couldn’t forget all about the station and do things the proper way.
If he could, he’d leave this job and take Megan with him. But that was crazy. They weren’t really a couple. It was all for the camera. And he was in no position to quit his job. He just needed to get a handle on things.
Reluctantly Married Page 6
