by Janet Dailey
“You sound as if you know something I don’t. You’re from Nashville. Do you know her?”
Megan winced. The question had hit close to home. “I know the type, that’s all,” she said. “Some women will do anything to get ahead in the business, even pretend to be someone they’re not. And they don’t care who they hurt. Sorry, I don’t mean to be judgmental. It’s just that you’re a nice guy. I don’t want to see you get your heart broken.”
“Thanks for your concern. I mean it.” He swung the Jeep around the corner, onto a narrow, unlit side street. “But it’s my heart. It’s been broken and mended before. And if it happens again, at least I’ll be able to say that I took a chance.”
And that’s the reason why I don’t want to see you again. Megan was about to speak the words, when he pulled over to the curb and turned to face her.
“I believe in taking chances,” he said. “I took a chance every time I climbed onto a bucking bull. Taking chances got me to a championship. It also got me damn near killed. That’s the luck of the draw. And it’s the same with relationships. Sometimes you get hurt. Once in a while, you win the grand prize. But if you’re too scared to take a chance, nothing happens.”
He reached for her across the seats, his fingertips brushing her cheek, his thumb gently lifting her chin. “Take a chance, Megan,” he said. “Climb onto this crazy ride and see where it takes us.”
He kissed her, his lips closing on hers with an easy sureness that quickened her pulse and sent whorls of pleasure cartwheeling through her body. She could have pulled away, but something about the gently teasing pressure of his mouth stirred longings so intense that she didn’t want them to end. She closed her eyes. A moan stirred in her throat as he nuzzled her lips, caressing, tantalizing . . .
Think! the voice of reason shouted in her head—and Megan knew she’d be a fool not to listen. The rascal certainly knew how to kiss. But then, he’d had plenty of practice. Was he practicing on her—maybe warming up for Lacy?
Think! The man had just confessed to crushing on another woman. Now he was kissing her—and getting away with it. Who did he think he was?
Summoning her outrage, she placed her hands on his chest and shoved him backward. Even in the dark, she could see that he was grinning like a satisfied cat.
“What did you think you were doing?” she sputtered.
“I was kissing you. And you liked it. Don’t tell me you didn’t.”
She turned away from him in the seat, gazing forward into the darkness beyond the windshield. “You are out of line, Conner Branch,” she said in her firmest teacher voice. “Take me home this minute.”
“As you wish.” He laughed as he put the Jeep in gear and pulled away from the curb. “I hope you’re not waiting for an apology.”
“I wouldn’t expect one from a man who thinks he’s so hot that women will beg him for a kiss.”
Still laughing, he swung the Jeep around and headed back toward Main Street. “You could’ve stopped me,” he said. “I’m aware that ‘no’ means no. And my hearing is excellent.”
But she hadn’t stopped him. The instant his hand had touched her face, she’d known that he was about to kiss her. She could have easily pulled away or spoken up, but she hadn’t. In fact, she’d kissed him back.
Hot-faced, Megan watched the colored Christmas lights blur into rainbows. Any argument she could raise would only sink her deeper. All she could do was let him take her home and, before getting out of the Jeep, make it clear that she never wanted to date him again.
“I like you, Megan,” he said, pulling up in front of her family’s house. “I hope you’ll let me see you again.”
The man had brass. She had to give him that. “I don’t know if that would be such a good idea,” she said.
“Why? Because I kissed you?”
“In part. But mostly because you’re holding out for another woman. For all I know, you were imagining her when you kissed me.”
He shook his head. “Wrong guess. Believe me, that was you I was kissing, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
“You’re insufferable,” she said.
“So I’ve been told. But I promise I’ll grow on you if you give me a chance.”
“I’d have to be crazy to do that.”
“There are worse things than being crazy.” He pushed open the door of the Jeep. “Think about it. Meanwhile, I’ll walk you to the porch.”
He came around, opened the door for her, and helped her to the icy ground. Megan clung to his arm to keep from slipping on the front walk. Under the shelter of the porch, she released her grip and stepped away. He made no effort to kiss her again, but he was still smiling.
“Give it some thought,” he said. “We could have some fun times together.”
“And what about your dream woman? I don’t fancy being some man’s Plan B.”
“You said you had a boyfriend. That puts us on an even footing. We could be each other’s Plan B.”
His logic—if that’s what it was—made her head spin. Megan’s hand fumbled for the doorknob and turned it. “Good night, Conner. Thank you for a memorable evening,” she said.
“I’ll call you.” He moved back to let her go inside. Megan opened the door, stepped through, and closed it behind her. Seconds later, she heard the Jeep start up and drive away.
* * *
Megan walked into the living room, where Daniel and her father were watching a basketball game on TV. Her mother glanced up from the novel she was reading.
“How was your evening, dear?” she asked.
“Fine.” Crazy, but at least it wasn’t boring. “I met some nice people.”
“Good. Derek called. He said he hadn’t been able to get you on your cell phone. I told him you were out with friends. He said he’d call back later.”
“Oh, thanks.” Megan headed for her room to change. She’d turned her phone off for the evening. Derek had probably left several messages. It would be like him to track her down, if nothing more than to make sure she was all right.
Sometimes his protectiveness made her feel like a truant sixth grader. But at least he wasn’t in love with Lacy. In fact, he’d encouraged her to put the wig and makeup aside and perform as herself.
Derek was a good man, everything a school principal should be, Megan conceded. He was responsible and conscientious—the polar opposite of devil-may-care Conner.
But there was no point in comparing the two men. Derek had a plan for his whole life—including her. Conner was like a carnival ride on a hot summer day—wild and heady, then gone like the sweetness of cotton candy in her mouth. He was a cheap thrill, a waste of her time.
So, why couldn’t she stop thinking about him and that dizzying kiss?
In her room, she sat on the bed, found her phone in her purse, and turned it on. There were three voicemail messages from Derek. She listened to the first one.
“Hi, Megan. Just calling to say I miss you. Hope you’re having a nice time with your family. I’ll try you again later.”
The second message held a note of worry.
“Where are you, Megan? Why aren’t you answering your phone? Is something wrong? Call me, please.”
The third message was even more urgent.
“It’s almost nine o’clock, Megan. For heaven’s sake, call and let me know you’re all right. If I don’t hear from you in the next ten minutes, I’m calling your parents.”
And that was exactly what he’d done. At least now he knew she wasn’t dead on the highway somewhere. But had he really been concerned about her safety? Or was he more worried that she might be out with another man?
It wasn’t as if they were in a committed relationship. Neither of them had promised not to date others. But knowing Derek, he’d have already taken that for granted. If she didn’t call him back now, he would just keep calling until he reached her.
Scrolling to his phone number, Megan made the call. Derek picked up on the first ring.
“Megan!
Thank God you’re all right. You shouldn’t worry me like that. Where were you?”
“Some new friends invited me to dinner. They were lovely people, and I was fine.” Not the whole truth, but she knew better than to tell him about Conner. “What about you?” she asked. “What have you been doing with your vacation time?”
“Mostly working—going over the new budget proposals and the projections for the coming year. That, and supervising a crew to fix those potholes in the school parking lot.”
“That doesn’t sound like fun,” Megan said.
“Nothing’s much fun without you here. I might as well work. I miss you, Megan. Promise me that this is the last Christmas we’ll spend apart.”
Megan muffled a sigh. “I can’t make that kind of promise, Derek. Nobody can—unless they have a magic crystal ball.”
“Well, a man can dream, can’t he?” Derek’s chuckle sounded forced. “Are you still planning to sing at the town Christmas party?”
“That’s the idea. The Badger Hollow Boys are counting on me to perform.”
“In costume?”
“As Lacy? Yes. That’s part of the package.”
“But it’s a family event in a small town. Why not perform as yourself?”
“Because Lacy is more entertaining.”
“And sexier. You’ll have every man in the place panting for you. And sooner or later, one of them is bound to act on his feelings. You don’t know how men think, Megan. You don’t know what goes through their minds when they see you onstage in that cheap-looking getup. It’s like you’re . . . advertising.”
“We’re not having this conversation again, Derek,” Megan said. “Nobody wants to hear Megan Carson sing. I discovered that when I was auditioning for gigs.”
“But why not? You’re a beautiful, wholesome young woman.”
“That’s enough, Derek. I’m finished with this argument. And I’m tired. We can talk later. All right?”
“I’ll call you tomorrow night.”
“Fine.” Megan ended the call and fell back on the bed, her eyes gazing up at the ceiling. Derek was a good man, solid and dependable, she told herself. If she said yes when he proposed, he would always take care of her, always be there to protect her. Always.
“Take a chance, Megan.” Conner’s seductive voice echoed in her memory. “Climb onto this crazy ride and see where it takes us.”
But what was she thinking? Conner Branch was nothing but a charming player. His only plan was to give her a few thrills and drop her as soon as Lacy showed up. Lacy—a woman who only existed onstage and in his lusty, male imagination.
There were times when Megan was tempted to box up the wig, the makeup, the boots, the Stetson, and the beaded coat, toss them into a Dumpster, and walk away for good. But there was a certain magic in being Lacy; there was a sassy self-confidence that as shy, conservative Megan, she would never possess on her own.
Conner had said that he would call her. What would she say if he asked her out again? Would she be sensible and refuse to waste more time on a small-town heart-breaker? Or would she fling caution aside and take a chance?
She’d be a fool to see him again. But there was the memory of that kiss . . .
* * *
Conner came home to an empty house—empty, that is, except for Bucket, who greeted him in an ecstasy of licks and wagging. He let the dog out long enough to do his business in the snow, then called him back inside.
The house was chilly. Conner opened the potbellied stove and laid a dry log on the glowing coals. Leaving the door open, he warmed his hands and waited for the wood to catch fire.
The chaste kiss he’d shared with Megan lingered like a pleasant buzz on his lips. He’d enjoyed kissing her—the softness of her lips and the slight hesitation that had melted into a murmuring response. He would do a better job of it next time, he vowed, with his arms molding her against him, his mouth plundering hers. To paraphrase Rhett Butler, Megan was a lady who needed to be kissed often, and by someone who knew how.
He hadn’t planned to have Megan find out about his crush on the raven-haired singer. But maybe it was just as well that the secret was out. Now they could be open and honest with each other. No secrets. No evasions. Just a mutual understanding between two intelligent adults—and a good time with no strings attached.
It had been too long since he’d enjoyed that kind of relationship. The ladies of Branding Iron tended to be marriage-minded. Last year, Ronda May Blackburn had schemed relentlessly to get him to the altar. Ronda May was a nice girl, and Conner hadn’t wanted to hurt her with a nasty breakup. But he’d been vastly relieved when she’d set her sights on an easier target. Now she was planning a spring wedding. He would be there to kiss the bride and wish her the best.
The log in the stove was beginning to burn. Flames licked at the splintered bark, radiating blessed heat into the room. Conner turned around to enjoy the heat on his backside. Travis wouldn’t be home for a while, he knew. He might even spend the night at Maggie’s and show up early for chores. Lucky man.
Bucket’s damp nose nuzzled his fingertips. He reached down and scratched the dog’s scruffy ears. “Looks like it’s going to be just you and me, old boy,” he murmured. “Just two old bachelors rattling around in an empty house.”
He was just beginning to realize how empty that house would seem.
Chapter 5
By her third day at home, Megan had taken over all her father’s breakfast duties. She enjoyed making the meal special for her family. This morning she’d planned on waffles with blueberries and whipped cream, Daniel’s favorite.
Wearing her sweats and sneakers, she headed for the kitchen. The windows were dark, the house still quiet, but the others would be waking up soon. They tended to rise early, and she wanted to have breakfast on the table by the time they were ready to eat.
Conner’s sizzling but tender kiss tugged at her memory. Forcing herself to dismiss it, she tucked the thought, like an unneeded handkerchief, into a pocket of the past. She was here to be with her family, not to indulge in a fling that promised no future and would only waste her time. Conner Branch was history. End of story.
The light in the kitchen was on. To Megan’s surprise, she found Daniel sitting at the table, dressed in his robe and flannel pajamas. He was gazing down at an open booklet, his face a study in furious concentration. Glancing over his shoulder, she saw that it was a driver’s handbook for the State of Texas.
“Goodness, Daniel, how long have you been up?” she asked.
“A long time,” he said. “Somebody at work gave me this little book. I don’t want Mom and Dad to see it. They might take it away.”
Daniel’s struggle tore at Megan’s heart. She could imagine how badly he wanted to be independent and have his own car; and she knew he was going to need help. But taking his side would mean going against her parents’ wishes. She would have to handle the situation carefully.
“Shouldn’t you be getting dressed for work?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It’s my day off. Maybe you can help me learn this book. I can read the words, but some of the ideas are hard to understand.”
“I’ll think about it. For now, why don’t you go and get dressed.” She wouldn’t go behind her parents’ backs. But maybe she could talk them into letting Daniel try the written test. If he couldn’t pass, that would be the end of the argument. But she would do her best to give him a chance.
After Daniel had gone to his room, taking the forbidden booklet with him, Megan busied herself with setting the table and gathering the ingredients for her blueberry waffles. She’d spent much of the night lying awake, remembering Conner and that restrained but blazingly sensual kiss that had felt like an invitation for more to come.
Would he call her again? But never mind that, she told herself. She’d come home to be with her family and help out in any way she could. The last thing she needed was the distraction of a new, if temporary, man in her life—especially a man who’d a
lready fallen for Lacy.
She was pouring batter into the waffle iron when her parents came into the kitchen. Both of them were dressed for the day, Ed pushing her mother’s wheelchair to the table before he took his seat. There was no sign of Daniel, but she could hear the shower running in the bathroom. This might be her best chance to talk about letting Daniel study the driver’s handbook.
She filled their mugs with fresh coffee, then cleared her throat and plunged ahead. “I’ve been talking with Daniel. He wants me to help him study for the driver’s written test.”
Her mother raised her eyebrows, a sign of disapproval. “But why go to the trouble? I can’t imagine he’d pass.”
“But he wants to try. Why not let him? I’d be happy to help. If he fails or gives up, he won’t be able to drive, and you two won’t have to be the bad guys.”
“And if he passes the test?” her mother asked.
“It’s not an easy test. If he passes it, I’d say he deserves to go on to the next step.”
Dorcas frowned. She’d always been protective of her vulnerable son. “I don’t know about that. What if he has an accident?”
“Why not let the boy try,” Ed said. “It’s not likely he’ll pass. But if he’s willing to study, he deserves a chance, at least.”
“Well, if you’re sure . . .” Dorcas trailed off as Daniel walked into the kitchen. He was wearing his bathrobe, his dark hair still damp from the shower. He looked at Megan, then from one parent to the other, as if expecting to be scolded.
“Son, Megan tells us you want to study for your driver’s test,” Ed said. “We’ve talked about it. It won’t be easy, but if you want to try, we’re willing to let you.”
The change in Daniel’s expression was like the sun coming out. Grinning, he held up his hand and gave Megan a high five. “I’ll study hard. I’m going to pass the test. You’ll see. This is the best day ever!”
A knot of worry tightened in the pit of Megan’s stomach. She understood how much Daniel wanted to drive. For him, having a car was the key to becoming a man. She would do anything she could to help him. But what if he’d taken on too much? What if her beloved brother was headed for a crushing disappointment?
