The Great Texas Wedding Bargain (5 page)

She hurried to the apartment they’d rented in town. Her mother had a sandwich ready for her.

“You sit down and eat. Then we’re ready to go. Torie and I packed while Drew took his morning nap,” Faith informed her.

“I put my toys in a big sack,” Torie said proudly.

Megan loved the happiness in her little face. When Andrea had left Drake and moved back home, Torie had been a silent, unhappy child. Not because she missed her father, but because her mother was unhappy.

“What a good helper you are,” Megan bragged, giving her a hug.

Torie beamed back. “Now we can go play with Daisy.”

“I don’t know if Daisy will be at the house. I think she works with Rick.”

“A dog has to work? What does she do?” Torie asked, her blue eyes, like Megan’s, rounding in wonder.

“She makes the cows go where Rick wants them to go… I think.” Megan looked at her mother for confirmation.

“You’re probably right. We’ve got a lot to learn, don’t we?” Faith said cheerfully.

Megan frowned. Her mother somehow made their arrangement sound permanent. Or maybe she, Megan, was hypersensitive. She sighed and ate her lunch. It didn’t matter. They had to go through with the marriage anyway.

“Did you talk to Dr. Gibbons about not working tomorrow?”

Megan looked at her mother. “Why would I do that?”

“Because tomorrow is your wedding day, of course!” Faith exclaimed. “In fact, I think you should take off the rest of the week.”

“Mother, I can’t do that. Besides, the wedding isn’t until seven tomorrow night. I’ll be through work long before that.”

“And Thursday morning? I suppose you’re going into work like it was any other day?” Faith sounded offended at the idea.

“Mom, we may have to pretend this is a…a romantic marriage, but you and I know the truth.”

“Rick—”

“As long as you fix him breakfast, Rick won’t complain about anything.”

“Well, of course, I’ll fix him breakfast. That dear boy is half-starved to death. But I think—”

“Time to go,” Megan announced, rising from the table, her sandwich half-eaten. But she couldn’t listen to her mother’s opinion about her marriage any longer. Her words, immediately heard by Torie, stopped her mother’s argument.

“Daisy! Daisy!” the child shrieked at the top of her voice.

“I had no idea she was that interested in dogs,” Faith muttered.

“I’m going to pack a few things, then I’ll be ready,” Megan said, heading for the bedroom she shared with her mother. One of the benefits of their move would be a room to herself. She loved her mother and the children, but she needed some privacy occasionally.

T
HEY UNPACKED THE
children’s belongings first. The bed in Torie’s room was full-size, and the little girl rolled all over it.

“I get the whole bed, Aunt Megan? No one else will sleep with me?”

“That’s right, Torie. You’re a big girl now, and you can have your own room.”

“I can have tea parties, and everything!”

“Yes, you can, baby. Maybe soon we can find a small table for you.”

“Megan?” Faith called. She’d gone to the kitchen and Megan could hear her coming up the stairs.

“Yes, Mom?”

Her mother appeared in the doorway. “I’ve been looking at the bedroom downstairs.”

“Rick’s? You shouldn’t have—”

“I think I should take that room. Then he can move all his computer equipment to the master bedroom where there’s more room.”

“But—”

“He’s going to be much too crowded downstairs. And the king-size bed will fit him better. Unless you object to giving it up?”

“No, I don’t object, but I think we should wait until Rick gets here to make a decision.”

“I’m going to move his clothes back upstairs and settle in. The boy is so generous, he’d probably refuse to change. But this is for the best.” With a wave of her hand, Faith sailed out the door, full steam ahead.

Actually, Megan agreed with her mother. She’d thought the same thing. And it seemed only fair, with all Rick was doing for them, that he be comfortable. So she didn’t protest her mother’s decision. She, Megan, needed to be upstairs to take care of Drew if he awoke during the night. Or occasionally Torie had bad dreams.

She didn’t want her mother having to get up to tend to the children. She needed her rest.

So, the decision was a good one. She continued unpacking for Torie, her mind on other things than her husband-to-be.

Until it occurred to her that there was only one bathroom upstairs. She was going to have to share a bathroom with Rick Astin, who looked great in a bath towel.

When Rick pulled up beside the house that evening around seven, he knew Megan and her family were there. The car, of course, told him someone was there, but there were lights on all over the house.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he sensed movement and liveliness that chased away the normal loneliness he felt when he came home. Daisy, beside him, raised her nose and sniffed, as if she too could tell a difference.

“Oh! You’re back,” Faith exclaimed as she stepped into the kitchen, beaming at him. “You go clean up. I’ll have your dinner on the table in five minutes. I made Megan wait to eat with you, even though the children and I ate earlier. Shoo, now! You don’t want it to get cold.”

Rick smiled and stepped past his future mother-in-law. Good thing he agreed with her plans, because he didn’t think she’d be easy to derail. He automatically turned to the stairs before remembering that he’d been moved. Changing directions, he went to the downstairs bathroom and stripped out of his dirty clothes.

He felt years younger when he stepped out of the hot shower. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he opened the door to go to his new bedroom. Once there, he pulled open a drawer for clean underwear and found his choices to be silky and lacy.

He frowned, surveying the drawer. Not his underwear. Surely Megan hadn’t decided to cohabit without telling him? Somehow he didn’t think so. Especially when he couldn’t find any of
his
clothes.

Were they going to hide his belongings each day? Did he have to have a treasure hunt to find his underwear?

He strode back into the hall, a frown on his face, as he heard Faith calling Megan to come to dinner.

“Is Rick here?” Megan called back down the stairs.

“Yes, I am, and where’s my underwear?” he roared back. He was getting damned uncomfortable running around in a towel.

Faith opened the door to the kitchen and Megan appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Oh, dear, I forgot to tell you I changed bedrooms with you,” Faith said, smiling an apology.

Megan bit her bottom lip and stepped aside, silently inviting him to climb the stairs.

With a rueful smile in Faith’s direction, he ascended the stairs. When he reached the top, Megan was standing so close he could smell the fresh flower scent she always seemed to wear.

“I’m sorry. I meant to catch you before you showered,” Megan said.

“At least it’s not winter,” he muttered, figuring he’d catch pneumonia if he wandered around in a towel when it was freezing outside. “I’ll be down in a minute for dinner.”

After dressing, he hurried to the kitchen to find Megan seated at the table and Faith nowhere in sight.

“Where’s your mom?”

“She’s upstairs with the kids. She insisted I wait and eat with you. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Where’s the enchilada casserole?” The table held several bowls of vegetables and a covered dish.

“Mom didn’t think you should eat leftovers, so she cooked a roast.”

His eyes lit up as his stomach rumbled.

“Don’t tell me you like roast better than enchiladas,” she teased, relaxing with a smile for the first time.

He grinned. “I’m a Texan. We never turn down beef.”

He slid into the chair across from her, thinking how nice it was to have company at a meal. How nice it was to have company, period. Living with the four Fords would take away that loneliness that had bothered him for the past eight months.

Of course, when they left, he’d be lonelier than ever.

Not a happy thought.

Megan passed him a bowl of creamed potatoes. Then she removed the lid to the covered dish, revealing thick slices of roast beef. He inhaled the aroma with satisfaction.

“I’m going to be spoiled pretty soon,” he muttered as he served himself.

“Because you have dinner cooked for you?” Megan asked.

“Oh, yeah.” He took a bite of the roast beef and slowly chewed. Then he sighed. “Definitely.”

“I don’t think having dinner cooked for you is too much spoiling. Most men have that privilege.” Megan served herself a small amount of food.

“Is that all you’re going to eat?” he asked, frowning.

She looked up, surprised. “Why, yes. I haven’t worked as hard as you.”

“Did you work at the doctors’ office today?”

“Yes,” she said, going on to explain her work schedule.

“You don’t want to work full-time?”

“No. I don’t want to put too much of a burden on my mother. Her health hasn’t been good lately.”

Rick continued to ask questions about Megan’s life. Somehow, he needed to know more about this woman. The conversation made the meal even more enjoyable.

They’d almost finished when the little blond girl burst into the kitchen, wearing a pink nightgown. “I finished my bath, Megan.” Torie ran to her, throwing her arms around her aunt’s waist.

Rick stared at the child. “Are all of you spending the night?”

“No!” Megan returned, her cheeks red. “But Mother decided to bathe the children here. When they ride in the car, they go to sleep. This way we can tuck them into bed without waking them.”

“Oh. You should’ve gone home earlier instead of waiting on me.” He felt guilty about keeping the kids from their beds.

Megan stiffened in her chair. “We thought you would enjoy a hot meal.”

“Hey, I did! I wasn’t complaining,” he hurriedly explained. “I was thinking of the kids.”

“I like it here,” Torie insisted, smiling at him.

Rick couldn’t hold back a smile in return. The child looked like his idea of an angel. “I’m glad.”

“Don’t get puffed up about it,” Megan told him. “She likes it here because of Daisy.”

The dog, now lying in a corner in the kitchen, raised her head at hearing her name. Rick turned to soothe his faithful companion.

“Can Daisy play?” Torie whispered.

“After you’ve had your bath?” Rick wasn’t sure of the rules, but he thought Megan wouldn’t approve.

“No, Torie. You’d get all dirty again,” Megan said, her voice soft with love.

A fierce yearning surprised Rick. He hadn’t heard anyone speak to him with such warmth since his mother died.

But it was a momentary weakness. Nothing more. He certainly didn’t want the woman across from him to feel anything for him.

M
EGAN WAS GRATEFUL
for Torie’s interruption. There had been an intimacy developing between her and Rick that worried her. The man across from her was too easy to talk to.

“But Daisy’s not dirty,” Torie insisted, standing on tiptoes to see the dog.

“I think she might need a bath,” Rick said, his brown eyes solemn. “She rolled in the dirt.”

“When does she get her bath? She could share with me,” Torie offered. She edged closer to Rick. Megan had noticed that she had kept her distance from the man so far.

Rick smiled at the child. “Sweetheart, I don’t think that would be a good idea. Daisy usually bathes in the creek.”

Torie took another step closer and Megan held her breath, hoping Rick didn’t scare the child.

“Can I bathe in the creek?”

Rick appeared to seriously consider her question. “Hmm, I don’t know. Do you have a swimsuit?”

A sad look filled her little face. “No.”

“Ah. Well, when it gets warmer, we’ll buy you a swimsuit and you can play in the creek with Daisy.”

Megan could’ve told him Torie wouldn’t forget his promise. She hoped he hadn’t made it lightly.

The child began jumping up and down. “I can? Really?” Rick nodded and Torie spun on her toes and raced for the kitchen door, calling, “Grandma! Grandma! Guess what?”

“She won’t forget.”

Rick looked at her, a question in his eyes. “I didn’t think she would.”

“Good. Because every day she’s going to ask if it’s warm enough to play in the creek.”

“That’s okay. At least she won’t stare at me like I’m some kind of monster.”

Megan blinked. She hadn’t realized he’d noticed Torie’s wariness. “I’m sorry. It’s not you. She’s—”

“Been frightened by her father?”

Megan nodded but said nothing.

“I won’t ever hurt her, Megan. You know that, don’t you? I may not know much about kids, but I know they don’t deserve to be frightened.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You’re doing fine with Torie.” She hurriedly wiped away the moisture from her eyes. “Ready for some chocolate cake? We need to finish it off because Mother is dying to bake something else for you.”

“I think your mother should open a restaurant. She’s a great cook.” He rose and carried his dinner plate to the sink.

Megan jumped up. “I can clear the table.”

“I told you before, Megan, I’m not asking to be waited on hand and foot.”

His sharp tone surprised her. His voice had been so gentle when he was talking with Torie. Instead of questioning him, she cut two pieces of the rich chocolate cake and carried them to the table. “I’m going to get some milk to go with my cake. Do you want some?”

“I don’t know if I have any milk,” he said with a frown.

“We brought some.”

“I’ll give you some money for it,” he said, nodding to her.

“Why?”

“Because you don’t need to be buying food. That’s my job.” He took a big bite of cake and smiled in satisfaction. Then he added, “I’ll set up an account for you and your mother to use for shopping.”

“No, we can pay for our food. We’re living here free. There’s no reason—”

“I’m the husband, Megan. It’s my job to provide for my family.”

“We’re a pretend family, Rick. I will pay for our food. After all, I’m working.”

“No, you won’t,” he thundered, apparently having lost patience with her arguing.

“Whatever’s the matter?” Faith asked, coming into the kitchen, carrying Torie.

Megan saw the anxious look on the child’s face and immediately fell silent.

Rick, too, seemed to realize they were upsetting the child. “Nothing’s wrong,” he said and managed a smile, which was more than Megan could do. “I’m going to set up an account tomorrow to pay for things.”

Faith looked at him blankly, as if she had no conception of what he could be talking about.

“The groceries, Faith. And things the kids need. I don’t want you or Megan feeling you have to ask me for money, or pay for things yourself.”

“Tell him, Mom. He can’t do that.”

“Yes, I can. Not only can, I
will
do that.”

“But you—”

“My goodness,” Faith interrupted. “You two aren’t thinking.”

Rick frowned so fiercely that Megan almost laughed. The man didn’t like criticism.

“Of course I’m thinking,” he insisted, though his tone wasn’t as fierce as it had been. “I’m thinking I need to take care of my family.”

“And that’s a lovely thought, and more than we deserve,” Faith assured him, patting his shoulder. “And I know Megan was protesting because she feels you’ve already given us so much.”

Megan nodded, pleading with her gaze for Rick to understand.

“But instead of shouting at each other, you need to compromise.” Faith soothed Torie as she continued. “We’ll put some money in the fund and so will you. There will be plenty and we’ll all be contributing.”

“There’s no need—” Rick began.

“Yes, there is,” Megan interrupted. “We don’t want to cause you to run short on taking care of the ranch. I know you don’t have a big budget, or you would’ve already hired a housekeeper.”

He looked uncomfortable and Megan supposed he was embarrassed by his financial situation. But the man was a hard worker. Sometimes, Mother Nature didn’t reward you as she should.

“We’re going to save a lot of our money for the legal bills, Rick, but there will be some left over. We want to contribute to our living expenses.” Megan smiled at the big man, something she should’ve remembered to do all along. Her mother was right to remind her that Rick was doing something important for them. She needed to be sure he knew she appreciated his sacrifices.

Rick stared at both her and her mother. Finally, he nodded and turned his attention to the cake. “Fine. I’ll open the account tomorrow.”

With a satisfied nod, Faith moved over to the sink and sat Torie on the counter. “Have we finished the chocolate cake? Rick, what would you like me to make next? I bake a lovely peach cobbler. Do you like cobbler?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, and Megan could tell he was already distracted from their argument. “There’s nothing better than hot cobbler with ice cream melting on top of it.”

His gaze had become dreamy, as if he were tasting that dish right now. Megan chuckled. If she wanted Rick Astin’s attention, not that she did, of course, she’d have to turn herself into a tasty dish.

Maybe a strawberry shortcake.

M
EGAN HAD HER
morning free. She and her mother did the last-minute packing. Everything else was already in place for them to move to Rick’s.

“You should be going to the beauty shop, having breakfast in bed, like Andrea—” Faith stopped, a stricken look on her face.

Megan bit her bottom lip, holding back the words that said she didn’t want to do anything like her big sister had, particularly anything to do with her marriage. But her mother didn’t need that reminder.

“Don’t worry, Mom. Next time I’ll have breakfast in bed.”

Her mother muttered something under her breath, but Megan didn’t understand the words. When she asked for clarification, Faith, her cheeks bright red, said it didn’t matter.

Megan was reminded of what had happened two nights earlier with her car. “Mom? Did anyone…no, never mind.” She couldn’t ask that question. It sounded ridiculous. “It’s time for me to go in to work. Do you have everything under control here?”

“Yes, I do. But hurry home. The wedding starts at seven, you know.”

Megan bit her lip again before giving her mother a smile and slipping out the door. Like she’d forget that she was marrying a stranger this evening! That wasn’t a normal occurrence in a woman’s life.

At least it shouldn’t be.

A picture of Rick Astin popped into her head. He was the epitome of a romantic hero. Broad shouldered, narrow hipped, a handsome smile. She remembered his gentleness with Torie. He more than looked like a hero. He acted like one. At least he had so far.