Right Here Waiting (10 page)

“What does it look like?” He smiled at her, but regretted
it. It seemed to make her even more upset than she already was.

“But why?” she practically yelled as he turned and began
packing her clothes in her suitcase again.

“Because I’m moving you into the house and your friend
can have the cabin.” Shock furrowed her forehead.

CHAPTER SEVEN

D
id she hear him correctly? Did he say
he was moving her into the house? Where did he get off thinking he was her
boss. A new wave of anger washed over her. She stood her ground though. “I’m not
leaving this cabin. I’m staying right here.”

“You’re suggesting Josh stay in your parents’ old room?”
he asked as he stopped packing to look at her. "The choice is yours."

“No, I’m saying I’m staying right here and Josh is
sleeping on the sofa.” She wasn't about to back down.

He resumed packing her belongings. What choice was he
giving her? From where she stood it looked as if he already made up her mind
for her. She reached out to grab her clothing out of the suitcase. She made a
big mistake. Blade reached out, grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face
him. She was startled by the direct contact. Not even an inch of space remained
between them. Their eyes locked. She felt the fight drain out of her.

Their lips as if having minds of their own, moved toward
each other and were soon locked together; as their tongues danced a timeless
dance. Someone cleared their throat, startling her. She quickly came to her
senses and realized what just happened. She and Blade pulled back at the same
time, and stepped away from one another instantly. Her legs felt like rubber.
Her cheeks burned bright red. What just came over her?

“Is this a private party, or can I join in?” Josh asked
them, a smirk on his face. Megan felt embarrassed.

Blade glared at him. “We’ll be out of your way soon, Mr.
Barton. I just need to finish packing Megan’s personal items so I can move her
into the main house. The cabin will be all yours.”

“Call me Josh. I didn’t catch your name.” Josh held out
his hand to Shake Blade's, but Blade ignored it.

“I didn’t throw it, but if you really need to know, my
name is Blade Thorne. I’m in charge of things around here.” He needed to make
sure this city guy knew who was boss around this place. If Josh had any plans
off sweeping Megan off her feet, Blade planned to make it impossible for him.

“Okay Blade,” Josh said, the look on his face showing he
really wasn’t happy with the attitude Blade was giving him, and who could blame
him, but Blade didn't care. It was Megan he cared about. “I really don’t think
it’s necessary to move her out of the cabin," Josh explained. "I will
be comfortable sleeping on the sofa in the living room.”

“I’m sure you would be, but just the same, I’ll be moving
Megan into the main house with me where she belongs.” Without another word,
Blade closed the clasp on the suitcase, picked it up with one hand, grabbed her
wrist with the other hand, and practically dragged her out of the cabin. She
must have been too stunned to say anything because she didn't protest.

* * *

S
he looked around her parents’ bedroom.
It was her first time in this room since before she left for New York and the
lights of the big city. Not much changed. She could almost swear she could
smell her father’s aftershave lingering in the air. She felt wrapped in a sense
of comfort and she embraced it welcomingly, but she was still unsure about
being in this room. Was she ready? Regardless, she was here now.

She took a deep breath and sat down on the bed. It was a
lot for her to take in all at once. She missed her parents deeply. The tears
she was holding back rolled down her cheeks like identical waterfalls. She was
grateful Blade brought her into the house, up the stairs, and into her parents’
bedroom and left without so much as a word after depositing her suitcase on the
king size bed sitting in the center of the room. She needed this private moment
to herself to reflect on the past and memories she treasured of her parents.

The bed was made of the same cherry colored wood as the
night tables, the dresser, the rocking chair, and the chest sitting on the
floor at the foot of the bed. Not long after her parents were married, her
father built this furniture with little more than his bare hands. He worked on
it late into the night after putting in a full day’s work on the ranch. They
didn’t have much money in those days, but her father always saw to it their
family was well provided for.

It didn’t matter what they needed, her father always
worked hard to get the money to buy it if he couldn’t make it himself. She
remembered the tree house her father built for her in the big oak tree in the
backyard. She wondered if it was still there. She wiped the tears away and
pulled herself together before jumping up and running over to the window to
look out.

Sure enough, it was there. So was the tire swing her
father put up for her the summer she was ten. She was still mad at Blade for
the way he treated Josh. She knew she should be helping Josh get settled in and
helping him set up their equipment, but the old tree house of her youth seemed
to be calling to her. What would a few minutes hurt to take a walk down memory
lane?

Like the child she once was, she ran down the stairs,
taking them two at a time in a rush to get outside. She continued running,
heading for the back door. She nearly knocked Martha down in the process when
she literally ran into her. This brought her to a halt.

“Whoa!” Martha said as she skidded to a stop. “Where are
you off to in such a rush?” Breathless, Megan grinned up at Martha.

“I just wanted to go out and see the old tree house,” she
said as soon as she caught her breath.

Martha’s eyes lit up. “Hey, I know, why don’t you and I
have a tea party up in the old tree house for old time’s sake?” It sounded like
a lot of fun. It was something she and Martha often did when she was a small
child.

She hated to disappoint Martha. She would love to have a
tea party with Martha and reminisce about the past right now, but she couldn’t.
“I’m sorry, Martha, maybe another time. I don’t have time right now because I
need to help Josh get settled in and set up our equipment.” The expression on
Martha's face changed. She seemed worried about something. What could it be?

“Blade was just in here, telling me about your friend
from the city. You run along now, and remember to be careful.” She could tell
Martha was serious and meant what she said.

“I will,” she said as she walked out of the house. She
was puzzled. Was Martha warning her to be careful out in the tree house? Or was
she warning her to be careful with Josh? It must be the latter. Josh was the
least of her worries. He was safe as far as Megan was concerned. The one she
needed to worry about was, in fact, Blade Thorne. He seemed to be able to work
his way into her heart at the drop of a pin.

* * *

B
lade just finished moving the last
bale of hay and stepped out of the barn to be greeted by the bright afternoon
sunshine when he noticed a lone figure emerge through the back door of the
house. He raised his hand to shield out the sun so he could get a better look
at the person. It was Megan.

She was still wearing those dang cut off shorts showing
off her perfect curves and the halter top which seemed to accentuate her
perfectly shaped breasts. The halter top was made from scraps of bright yellow
material, making her breasts look like large, golden globes. He ached to cup
them in his hands.

A thought occurred to him. Did she wear that outfit
special for Josh’s arrival? The thought burned him up inside. The city man
reminded him of a snake. The thought of Mr. City Man looking at her, let alone
touching her, caused anger to build up deep inside him. He sighed. What could
he do besides what he already done? There was no way he could keep her away
from this other guy. She worked with him for crying out loud.

When she suddenly broke out into a run, he thought
something horrible must have happened. His first instinct was to go to her, to
protect her. But he noticed the direction she was running. She was headed
straight for her old tree house out in the back yard that she played in when
she was younger.

He remembered the day as if it were yesterday when she
announced she was too old for the tree house. Look at her now. All grown up and
behaving as if she were a child again. A smile tugged at the corners of his
mouth. He loved watching her and wished he could spend the rest of his life
doing that.

He never noticed before this moment how athletic she
appeared to be. She must have one of those gym memberships so she could workout
often. He watched as she climbed the wooden ladder in record speed and disappeared
inside the tree house. She seemed as carefree as she was as a teenager. He
missed those days. He always enjoyed watching her every move in those days. She
never seemed bothered by anything. Things were much simpler back then.

She didn’t stay inside long though. She was only in the
tree house a minute, if that, when she emerged and climbed back down the wooden
ladder.

He watched in amusement as she headed straight for the
swing. She was like a child let loose in an amusement park. He wished he could join
her, but he knew if he disturbed her now, it would put an end to all her fun,
so he left her alone in her exploration of the past.

He watched as she tested the rope to see if it were
strong enough to hold her weight before she climbed on it. She didn’t need to
worry about it. He reconstructed the tire swing with new rope at the beginning
of summer when a guest’s little boy begged to swing on it. He wanted to please
the little boy, yet he didn't want him getting hurt either.

He wondered what it would be like to have children of his
own someday. He imagined watching his and Megan’s very own child swinging on
the exact tire swing. He tried to clear the image from his mind, but the truth
of the matter was he wanted children, and he wanted Megan to be the mother of
those children. The ranch would be the perfect place for them to start a family
of their own.

He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and there would be many
struggles ahead, just like her parents faced, but he knew him and Megan could
make it. If only she would come to her senses and realize they belonged
together.

Megan made the swing go in circles, her hair flying in
every direction; she seemed lost in a world of her own. He enjoyed watching her
this way. For the first time since her return to the ranch, Megan seemed happy
and free. Despite all the years she spent living in New York City, and beneath
her tough exterior, she still possessed a childlike innocence to her. He hoped
no one ever did anything to her to change that.

She suddenly stopped the swing and sprang to her feet.
With one last look up at the old tree house, she turned and walked in the
direction of the path leading up to the cabins. She made several friends among
the guests, and he hoped she was stopping in to check up on any one of them, but
instinct told him she was heading for Josh’s cabin. He was right.

His heart sank as he remembered she didn't belong to him.
She was free to choose any man she wanted, including Mr. City Man. “Not if I
can help it," he whispered under his breath. “If I have anything to say
about it, the only man she’ll choose is me.” He meant it. He wiped the sweat
from his brow, tried to clear his head, and went back to work.

* * *

W
hen she entered the cabin, she found
Josh surrounded by a bunch of complicated looking computer components and cable
lines, half of which looked alien to her. He looked up at her wryly. A feeling
of guilt washed over her and she felt the need to explain.

“I’m sorry about Blade’s behavior earlier and running out
on you like I did instead of staying here to help you get settled in and get
all this computer equipment set up.”

When Josh didn’t say anything, she continued. “Blade
isn’t the type of man who takes no for an answer and he’s used to getting what
he wants, when he wants it.”

“So I’ve noticed in the short time I have been here,”
Josh said, looking up from the computer line he was connecting. “Has he won
your heart yet?”

His question caught her off guard and she nearly choked.
She cleared her throat and composed herself before she asked, “What possessed
you to ask me that?” What was he getting at?

Josh laughed, and with a lopsided grin plastered on his
face, he responded, “It’s only obvious the man has it bad for you. He’s jealous
of me, wildly so, and extremely possessive over you.”

“Get real, Josh.” She felt a blush creep over her cheeks.

“Don’t you believe me?”

She sighed deeply before she sank down on the sofa and
drew her legs up, encircling them with her arms. “Oh please!" she
exclaimed, waving a hand at him. "The only thing Blade Thorne wants from
me is sex. You should know how it is. You're a guy.”

“Has he gotten sex from you yet?” The color covering her
cheeks deepened.