Someone to Trust (17 page)

Chapter Eighteen

“Wow! You look amazing!” Lee whistled when Megan answered the front door of her cabin. By the look on his face, she knew he meant it.

“Thank you,” she sighed. She was pleased with his compliment because she’d really gone out of her way to look extra nice. It had taken her a week to find the perfect dress. Finally, she’d settled on a simple black sleeveless which crisscrossed her chest before gathering at the waist and falling softly over her slender hips to swirl gently around her knees. She paired the dress with strappy black kitten heels and accessorized with a short strand of pearls and matching earrings.

Sitting in his truck beside her, Lee could hardly take his eyes off her to focus on driving. Her hair was swept up and clasped in lose tendrils on top of her head with a few escaping to caress her neck and fall down the sides of her oval face. Her lips were lightly glossed and her eyes glistened from the touch of mocha shadow applied to her lids. Megan wasn’t a vain person and knew her looks were average. However, sitting with Lee, created a whole new awareness. Tonight, for the first time, she really felt pretty.

“Thanks for agreeing to come with me.” He reached over and covered her hand with his as had become his custom.

“As if I’d miss your aunt’s birthday party—not likely. I’m so honored to be included.”

“She’d be upset if you, Cindy and Alan weren’t there. She’s become very fond of you.”

“And we love her,” she declared, hesitating a moment before adding, “I must admit I am a little nervous about meeting your father.”

“Don’t be. Just be yourself; what’s not to love?”

“I just hope I don’t break something…or trip…or…”

“Stop worrying. It’ll be fine.” He laughed.

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the Queen of Klutz,” she reminded him as she fiddled nervously with her hair. He laughed and squeezed her hand.

“I wouldn’t change a thing about you,” he said, taking his eyes off the road for a moment to shoot her an affectionate glance.

Her heart ached at his words.
That’s because you don’t really know me.
She couldn’t tell him the truth about herself and she couldn’t break it off with him either. Did that add selfish to the already long list of faults she had?

Aunt Vera’s sixtieth birthday was being held at a reception hall in Chatley. She was well loved by friends and family, and based on the numbers of RSVPs, the Inn simply would not accommodate everyone.

When Lee and Megan got to the hall, a good number of people had already arrived and the party was in full swing. Aunt Vera greeted them immediately with hugs. Megan handed her the gift she brought.

“Oh, honey, you didn’t have to get me a thing. Your presence is gift enough,” Aunt Vera said, giving her an unpretentious smile and yet another hug. She was such a gracious lady, and in the short time she’d known her, Aunt Vera had gained Megan’s respect and admiration.

“Lee, go introduce her to everyone,” Aunt Vera instructed.

Doing as his aunt bid, Lee slipped an arm around her waist and guided her across the room, stopping every several feet to introduce her to a family member or a friend. There was no way Megan could remember all their names. They spent several minutes chatting with Alan and Cindy before finally making their way over to a very distinguished looking gentleman standing next to the woman Megan knew to be Lee’s mother.

Instantly, Megan knew the gentleman was Lee’s father. He was an older version of Lee, tall with silver hair and the same unusual gray eyes.

Lee greeted his mother first with a hug and a kiss on the check and then turned to his father for a handshake before being pulled in by the older version of himself for a gruff hug. Mrs. Grainger inquisitively turned cool blue eyes on Megan.

“Dad, I’d like for you to meet Megan McCormick. Megan, you’ve already met my mother and this is my dad, Lee Grainger, Sr.”

Megan extended her hand, grasping each of their hands in turn for a handshake. Hillary Grainger barely allowed her hand to stay in Megan’s more than a second. Megan almost expected to see her wipe her hand down the side of her silk navy dress after releasing Megan’s grasp.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Grainger, and good to see you again, Mrs. Grainger,” Megan greeted, with a nervous smile.

“You as well, Megan,” Mr. Grainger said, with a smile that reminded her very much of Lee. Mrs. Grainger simply nodded her head and then turned to her son, dismissing Megan entirely.

“Lee, Felicia is due to arrive any time now,” Mrs. Grainger informed her son. Megan’s stomach tightened in a knot which Lee must have realized because he cast an apologetic glance over at her. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

She stood quietly for a few moments listening to their conversation about family members and the like before saying, “Lee while you’re visiting with your parents…I’m going to get some punch. Can I get you anything?” It was the first thing she could think of to make an escape.

“No thanks. I’ll come find you in a minute.” Lee smiled in understanding.

“Take your time. I’ll be fine,” Megan assured him before turning back to his parents and giving them the warmest smile she could muster.

“It was a pleasure,” she offered, feeling foolish for not being able to think of anything else to say.

They both nodded. Mr. Grainger gave her a smile but Mrs. Grainger continued to stare coolly. Megan made her retreat, hoping she didn’t seem too rude, as she weaved in and out of the guests making her way to the punch bowl.

His father was likable enough, but his mother was a downright snob!

She immediately felt guilty for having such a thought. She had hoped his mother’s original treatment was due perhaps to being shy and feeling awkward meeting new people, but as much as Megan tried, she was unable to excuse the woman’s less than friendly behavior and obvious displeasure at Lee’s interest in her.

It wasn’t long before Lee found her and they continued to make their way around the party, visiting first one person and then the next. They spent the majority of their time in the company of Alan and Cindy.

Lee and Megan found their place cards for dinner and discovered they would be sitting with Lee’s parents. Fortunately, Alan and Cindy were seated at their table as well, which helped Megan get through the meal. Throughout the dinner, Mrs. Grainger kept watching the door. Megan assumed she was watching for Felicia. That knowledge made it difficult for Megan to relax or to enjoy the food, which she otherwise would have found delicious.

Midway through dinner, a jazz band began playing and the ambiance of the music helped ease some of her tension. Soon, the center of the reception hall, which was serving as a dance floor, was filled with young and old alike.

Lee put down his napkin and looked over at her. Slowly, he stood and stretched out his hand, asking, “Would you do me the honor, Miss McCormick, of this dance?”

Megan hesitated only a second. When he looked at her the way he was at this moment, she could deny him nothing and placed her hand in his. He helped her to her feet and led her onto the dance floor. Alan and Cindy soon followed their lead.

Lee gently pulled Megan to him and held one of her hands up to his shoulder, enveloped in his larger hand. He placed his other hand at the small of her back and began gliding her slowly around the room. As she moved across the floor with him, the soulful echoes of the saxophone helped her lose herself in the depths of those incredible gray eyes. It seemed as if all of time stood still, all distractions disappeared, and for a moment, it was just the two of them swaying to the music. Megan felt completely safe and content to just be next to this man who had won her heart.

The music stopped and the band leader invited everyone to take their seats as they prepared the birthday cake. “Don’t go far, folks, we will be singing to this wonderful lady soon.”

Everyone began to make their way back to their tables. Lee and Megan had just taken their seats when Mrs. Grainger stated, with what seemed to Megan a bit of glee, “Oh look, Felicia has arrived.”

Everyone at the table turned toward the door as the dark-haired beauty made her way in.

“Mmm…it would seem she’s brought a date with her,” Mrs. Grainger added with interest. Megan, who had settled in her seat, turned once again in curiosity toward the door. Lee remained facing away from the door. Evidently, he wasn’t interested in any man who would come with Felicia.

Megan spotted Felicia and then the man with her. He was blonde, tan, rather good looking and… It couldn’t be; it just could not be. It wasn’t possible! It was Trevor Raines. Megan gasped, audibly drawing Lee’s attention to her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in concern. She felt as if she might be ill.

She actually felt as if she might faint. This could not be happening. Not now. In all the places, at all the times, why now?

“Megan?” Lee leaned over and whispered, “Are you all right?”

“Y…yes, I’m fine,” she lied in a stammering voice. Lee didn’t look as if he believed it. She may as well tell him.

“No, not really,” she amended. “I’m not feeling very well.” That was the truth or at least a portion of it, but perhaps that could be her way out of the place. While she was debating it, all attention turned to Aunt Vera standing by her birthday cake. Those wanting to say something about the wonderful woman celebrating her birthday were encouraged to do so. Megan didn’t hear a word of it. Even when Lee stood and commemorated his aunt, she was too distracted to grasp much of what he said. She simply clapped when everyone else did, then numbly stood and sang the birthday song with the chorus of voices.

The band struck up their instruments again, and to a round of applause, her adoring husband whisked Aunt Vera onto the dance floor. Megan was about to excuse herself to go to the ladies room when Felicia approached the table.

Trevor was immediately behind her and Megan could feel her face flush as panic rose in her. She was trapped with nowhere to run.

Felicia greeted Lee’s parents with a warm smile as she rested a slender hand on Lee’s shoulder. Leaning down close to his ear, she breathed huskily, “Good to see you, Lee.”

He nodded and smiled politely. “Felicia.”

She turned to Megan with a canary-eating smile. “Hello again, Megan.”

Megan could say nothing. She was afraid of what sound would come out if she dared open her mouth but she did manage a nod.

“I’d like for all of you to meet a dear friend of mine, Trevor Raines.” Trevor managed to shake everyone’s hand, saving Megan for last. As he turned to Megan, Felicia said, “Oh that’s right, I believe the two of you are already acquainted.”

The table’s attention turned to Megan as Trevor took her hand. “Megan. How good it is to see you again. You look as lovely as ever.” He held her hand longer than was necessary or appropriate; Megan finally extracted it.

“Well, we’re going to get some cake and punch but will catch up with you later,” Felicia announced, sauntering off with Trevor in tow.

Megan turned to Lee whose brows were drawn together in confusion. “Bathroom…” she got out hoarsely. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Are you okay? Do you need Cindy to go with you?”

“No, I’ve got it.” She didn’t wait for a response.

She had to get away before she completely lost it. She was thankful no one else was in the room when she got there. She stood over the sink, trying to take deep calming breaths. After taking a look at herself in the mirror, she opted for wetting a paper napkin and pressing it to her face. Three women entered the ladies room, giving Megan a strange look before continuing their own conversation. Maybe she was being overly sensitive, but she decided she couldn’t stay in there. She made her way out of the room and down the hall toward the party. Her steps came slower and slower the closer she got to the ballroom, and just before she was to enter, she noticed a set of double doors leading out onto a balcony.

Fresh air, that’s what she needed.

She would take a moment to clear her head and decide what she needed to do. The last thing she wanted was a public confrontation with Trevor. Her guess was that if Felicia had her way public humiliation would be the order of the day. This was not how she wanted Lee to discover her past. Truth be told, she’d rather he not discover it at all.

As Megan stood on the veranda, taking in calming breaths of the night air, she felt a presence behind her. Thinking it was Lee coming for her, she turned only to discover Trevor. She sucked in a sharp breath.

He crossed the veranda quickly; his eyes practically glowing in the darkness.

“Megan,” he whispered in his most seductive voice. He put his hands on her shoulders and she stiffened at his touch.

Ignoring her tenseness, he proceeded, “Darling, you don’t know how I’ve missed you. I nearly went out of my mind when you left. It was as if you vanished, but now, I’ve found you again and we can be together as I promised.”

Megan stared up at him. Did he really think she would go back to him just like that? Did he find her so gullible and without conscience? Did he not consider his wife and daughter?

“What about your family?” she asked quietly.

“I’m leaving them.” At her sharp gasp, he rushed on, “Really. This is something I have to do for me. I have to make myself happy.”

Megan felt bile rise in her throat. She took a step backward and looked at Trevor. Really looked at him. What had ever attracted her to him? Beyond his good looks, what was there? When compared to the warm, caring, considerate man she had found in Lee, Trevor paled in comparison.

“Go home to your family, Trevor. What we thought…no…what I thought we had never existed. I want you to go away and leave me alone.”

Trevor took a step toward her and Megan raised both her hands as a signal for him to stop. “I mean it. I never want to see you again. The thought of our relationship sickens me. The thought of what I was to you…”

Megan heard a creak on the planks of the veranda floor and turned to see Felicia standing with Lee in the doorway. Felicia looked as if she’d just hit the lottery.