Right Here Waiting (17 page)

So her name was Shanice. “What’s so funny?”

“I never dated her.”

Why was he lying to her? “How can you say that when I
heard her ask you when you were planning to take her out again?”

“True, she did ask me that, but I never dated her and
don’t plan to in the future.”

“Why did she ask you about it if you never did?”

“Shanice rented the cabin she is staying in for the
entire summer and she’s paying extra for me to give her horseback riding
lessons.”

His explanation still didn’t change the fact he thought
she was a slut. She couldn’t allow him to go with her when she went back to New
York. She wasn’t in the mood to argue with him about it, so she changed the
subject again. “I need to get back to the cabin to help Josh.”

“Not so fast,” he said, tightening his embrace. “Josh
knows you’re here. He said for you to get some rest.”

“How did he find out I’m here?” she asked, feeling
alarmed.

“He showed up looking for you this morning. Martha came
up to see if I knew where you were.”

“Martha knows I’m up here in your bed?” she hissed.

“Yes she does, but don’t worry. I explained everything to
her. She wanted to know if you wanted some chamomile tea. It’ll calm your
stomach.”

“Actually, I would like some. I still feel a little sick
to my stomach.” Maybe it would get her strength back.

“I’ll go tell Martha and come right back.” He crawled out
of bed and left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

* * *

W
hen Blade returned with her tea, she
managed to convince him she didn’t need him to stay in bed with her all day.
She quickly turned her head when he dropped his pajama bottoms so he could get
dressed. When he finished, he reluctantly left the room.

Later in the afternoon, after another cup of chamomile
tea and a couple slices of toast, she was finally able to convince him and
Martha she felt well enough to get out of bed. Before Blade would give into her
request, he made her promise she wouldn’t do any work for the rest of the day.

She entered the cabin and sank down on the sofa. She let
out a long sigh. She was never happier to see the cabin than she was at this
moment.

Josh was seated at the computer waiting for a download
which no doubt was taking forever with the dial up connection.

“How are you feeling?” he asked casually. His arms were
folded across his chest as he leaned back casually in his chair.

“A lot better after the chamomile tea Martha gave me to
drink.”

“I’ve never known you to drink yourself to the point of a
hangover before. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“It was a onetime mistake I will never let happen again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. I sure as heck didn’t enjoy waking
up feeling the way I did.”  She knew he was concerned about her, but she wasn’t
in the mood for it right now. “What are you downloading?”

Josh chuckled. “There you go changing the subject. Now
this is the woman I have come to know. I’m downloading a file containing images
of the clothing line we are developing ads for. Mr. Harper thought it might
help if we could see the clothes in question.”

“I want to see them when they are finished downloading.” She
knew it could take all day. She didn’t have the patience Josh seemed to
possess.

“You will. I’m going to print them out on some photo
paper I brought with me and hang the pictures up over there,” he said pointing
to a blank wall on the other side of the room.

There was a knock at the door. She hoped it wasn’t Blade.
"Were you expecting someone?" Megan asked.

"No," Josh responded as he got up to answer it.
It wasn’t Blade. It was Edith. She seemed genuinely surprised to see Josh.

“Who are you?” she heard Edith ask.

* * *

“
M
y
name is Josh Burton.”

“Oh! I was under the impression this was the cabin Megan
Nelson was living in. Do you know where I can find her?”

“She does live here.”

“Are you visiting from another cabin?”

“No I’m not. I’m from New York. I’m staying here with her
until she returns to home.”

She could tell Josh was getting ticked off by Edith’s
twenty one questions routine. She decided it was time to get him off the hook.
She got up off the sofa and walked over to the door.

“Do you really think it’s necessary for you to stay here
with her for an entire year?” Edith was asking when Megan got to the door.

“Our boss seems to think it is. Maybe you can take it up
with him.”

“What does he have to do with you staying here?”

She knew it was time to intervene. It was apparent Edith
wasn’t happy about her and Josh’s living situation.

“Edith, would you like to come in? I could fix the three
of us some iced tea and we can sit down and talk about this.”

At first Edith looked unsure, but gave in after some
thought. “I don’t see why not,” she said as she entered the cabin.

She offered the older woman a seat on the sofa before she
excused herself to go into the kitchen.

When she returned, Josh was back at the computer and
Edith was seated on the sofa, obviously ignoring each other’s presence.

“Get over here,” she hissed in Josh’s ear as she handed
him his glass. She turned to Edith with a smile on her face. She walked up to her
and handed her iced tea to her before sitting down next to her on the sofa.

Megan waited until Josh pulled a chair up a few feet from
where they sat before she spoke. “I think now would be a good time to introduce
you two.”

Edith cleared her throat. “Megan dear, before you do, I
have a very important question I have ask you.” The older woman cleared her
throat.

“What?”

“What about Blade?”

“What about him?”

“You and Blade are perfect for each other. He is the man
you should be with.”

What was wrong with everyone? Why was everyone around her
pushing so hard for her to give in to Blade’s sexual advances?

Josh spoke up. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

Oh great! Now Josh was joining their team. Whatever
happened to what she wanted and what made her happy? It seemed most people
forgot about it, or they just didn’t care.

“Excuse me? If you agree with me young man, what are you
doing here shacking up with her? How is your being here going to help her and
Blade be together the way they should be?”

“I’m not here to seduce her as you seem to be implying.”

“Why are you here?” Edith eyed him as she waited for an
answer.

Josh adjusted his eyeglasses, which kept sliding, down
his nose. “I’m here on a business trip. Megan and I are working on an ad
campaign for the advertising agency we both work for in New York.”

“You mean to tell me the two of you are not lovers?”

“That’s exactly what I have been trying to tell you,” She
interjected. She took a sip of her iced tea before setting the glass down on
the coffee table. “If you will recall, I was trying to introduce the two of
you, but was interrupted.”

“You were,” Edith said as she relaxed somewhat.

“Edith, this is Josh Burton. Josh is my co-worker and
good friend. We are not lovers. He sleeps on the couch while I sleep in the bed
in the bedroom. It’s all very innocent.”

“Now I’m embarrassed,” Edith said as she tried to
recompose herself. “Will the two of you please accept my apology?”

“Apology accepted,” Josh said.

“Josh, this is Edith. She and my mother were best
friends.”

Josh got up and walked over to Edith and shook her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Josh,” Edith said with a warm
smile.

After, they were able to have a nice visit. Edith asked
questions about the advertising industry and she and Josh did their best to
answer all her questions.

* * *

W
ith Megan’s hangover and everything
happening at the ranch, Blade almost forgot about his appointment with the
attorney.

He didn't have time to change into his suit before he
left the ranch and he just barely made it in time for his meeting to sign the
document.

Maybe he purposely forgot the meeting. He wasn’t looking
forward to signing the document to turn all ownership of ‘Happy Meadow Ranch’
over to him; a place that rightfully belonged to Megan.

He didn’t want to take advantage of her, and he didn’t
want her to feel as if he were. If everything went according to plan, he’d be
turning ownership of the ranch back over to her soon.

Mr. Halifax entered the office and Blade apologized to the
man for his shabby appearance before shaking hands with the attorney in the
dark blue pinstriped suit and eyeglasses.

They both sat down and the attorney placed a file folder
on the desk in front of him. He opened it and took out the document Blade needed
to sign.

The attorney placed the document in front of him and held
out an ink pen for him to use.

Blade took it from him. There needed to be another way.
“Is there any other way around this so she retains ownership of the ranch?”

“I’m afraid not. You could contest the terms of the will
in court, which could take years and months, and in most cases, the terms of
the will are carried out as they are written in the end.”

With a shaky hand, he signed the document and handed it
back to Mr. Halifax. He finally did it.

“If this is all you need, I’ll be on my way,” Blade said
as he began to get to his feet.

The attorney stopped him. “Not so fast Mr. Thorne.
There’s still one more business matter we need to discuss before you leave.”

“What?” Was there something wrong?

The attorney reached into the file folder and held up an
envelope. “What am I supposed to do with this?” he asked.

“What is it?”

“Megan’s parents gave this to me at the time they filed
their will. It’s a letter her parents gave me with strict orders to give it to
her when the year was up. They never left any instructions on what to do with
it if she didn’t complete the year.”

“I can take it and give it to her when the time is
right,” Blade said as he reached for the letter. Mr. Halifax pulled it back out
of his reach.

“How are you going to give it to her when she won’t be
here? She’s going back to New York, remember?”

“I’m going with her when she goes and wherever else she
decides to go in life.

“Take this and make sure she gets it,” Mr. Halifax said
as he handed the letter to Blade.

Blade thanked the attorney and said his farewells before
leaving the office to head back to the ranch, which was now legally his, but he
would always view it as Megan’s ranch.

He still needed to run several other errands to put together
the surprise evening he was planning for Megan. He’d have to hurry if he wanted
to get it all done in time.

* * *

S
he was in her bedroom reading the
mystery book she started reading several days ago when there was a knock at the
door.

“Come in.”

It opened and Josh walked in. “I have a brilliant idea,”
he announced.

“Really? What’s so important you tore yourself away from
the computer?”

“Why don’t we play dress up,” he said as he walked over
to the closet. He opened the door and peered inside.

Did the man go crazy or what? “Have you completely lost
your mind? I think you have spent way too many hours in front of the computer.
It must have fried your brain.”

He ignored her comments. “This is perfect,” he said,
pulling a powder blue sundress from its hanger. She was beginning to wonder
where he got his sense of fashion from.

She sat up and stared at him in disbelief. “What is it
perfect for?”

“It’s perfect for playing dress up in, of course. You
have five minutes to get out of your clothes and into this dress before I come
back in. Starting right now,” he said, pointing to the watch on his wrist. He
placed the dress on her bed and turned to go out.

“Wait.”  Josh stopped and turned to look at her. “Why do
you care about what I’m wearing all of a sudden?”

“Come on, Megan. Loosen up a little and have some fun.
Remember time is ticking away and I’ll be back. He turned and walked out of the
room, closing the door behind him.

She knew Josh was up to something, but nevertheless, she
picked up the sundress and held it up to herself, playing along with it. Maybe
it would be fun.

She sat the dress back down and climbed out of bed. She
stripped down to her bra and underwear. She picked up the sundress and slipped
it on over her head. She walked over to the mirror and examined herself in it.
She only wore this dress a couple of times.