With Me in Seattle Bundle One (106 page)

I sit in one of the plush armchairs that faces the water and pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, and take a deep breath.

I didn’t lie when I said I wasn’t mad about Will flirting with that woman tonight. I’m not mad. But it did remind me that Will can literally have any woman he wants. All he’d have to do is crook his finger, and they’d come running.

I know he loves me, but what happens when he gets tired of me, and that tall, beautiful blonde starts to look more appealing?

I want to trust him when he says that he loves me. I believe he means it. And I love him so much it hurts.

I should go up and go to bed, but I’m not sleepy, so I reach over for my guitar. I left it here last night with the intention of practicing for Jules’ wedding, and there’s no time like now.

I don’t think anything could wake Will up right now.

So I strum and sing, playing the song over and over, tweaking the arrangement here and there to fit my voice. It’s a beautiful song. I wonder how it came to be Jules and Nate’s special song.

And it occurs to me that Will and I don’t have a special song yet. Well, there was the song that the kid played on the sax while we danced in New Orleans, when Will first told me he loves me, but I don’t know what the song was.

I smile and start playing a song I learned recently that I just can’t ever get out of my head. It’s by Christina Perri, called
A Thousand Years
, and it fits my voice perfectly.

The intro is supposed to be on the piano, but I’ve changed it for my guitar, and start to sing about a love that I’ve waited for for a thousand years, about being brave to love. The lyrics are sweet, and the song itself is soft and romantic.

When I finish, I set my guitar aside, finally sleepy, and stand to go upstairs, but when I turn, Will is sitting on the couch.

“Holy crap!”

“Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt you. That was beautiful.”

“Thank you. How long have you been down here?”

“Just a little while. I woke up, and you weren’t there, so I drank some water and took something and sat down to listen. I hope that’s okay.”

He looks unsure of himself, and I hate that.

“Of course it’s okay.” I cross to him and climb in his lap. “Did you have fun tonight?”

“Yeah, it was fun. Lost some money, razzed the guys.” He shrugs, and I smile against his chest.

“Let’s go up to bed.” I climb off him and hold a hand out, helping him to his feet. “How do you feel?”

“Still a little drunk,” he answers with a half smile.

***

A hungover Will is not a fun Will. He’s been surly and grouchy all day, so I left him when he finally lay down to take a nap, and decided to return Jules’ dress to her.

I hate to give it back. It’s so damn pretty.

I walk into Jules and Nate’s downtown office and whistle softly. Wow. Nice digs. Very high-class.

There’s a kind-looking older woman manning the reception desk. Her name plaque reads Jenny Glover.

“Hi, I’m Meg. I’d like to see Jules if she’s free.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asks.

“Uh, no. I’m sorry, I’m a friend. I didn’t realize I should make an appointment.”

“Please have a seat, and I’ll see if she’s free.”

Jenny calls Jules’ office, and less than fifteen seconds later, Jules opens her office door with a wide smile on her pretty face.

“Hi! Come in.”

I follow her into her office and am stunned by the view of the Space Needle and the sound. “Wow, that’s some view.”

“I know. We lucked out on this space.” She grins and leads me to a couch. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to return your dress and, honestly, get the hell out of Will’s house for a while. That man is grumpy as hell when he’s hungover.”

Jules laughs and nods. “Yeah, he’s not a good patient. If he’s ever sick, just steer clear.”

“I could have used that warning yesterday.” I try to hand Jules her freshly dry-cleaned dress, but she frowns at me.

“Why are you returning the dress?”

“Because it’s yours.” What the hell?

“No, it’s not.”

“What are you talking about?”

Jules sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Will didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Meg, Will bought the dress for you. He just had Natalie and I call the designer and make the arrangements. This was never my dress.” She smiles softly.

I’m stunned. My mouth drops, and I look at the beautiful dress in my hands.

“How much did it cost?” I ask.

“It doesn’t matter. It was a gift, Meg.”

God, she sounds just like her brother.

“What about the spa? The shoes? The underwear?”

“Those were all Nat and me. Will just bought you the dress.”

“And the diamond earrings,” I murmur.

“He got you diamond earrings?” she asks with a wide smile.

“Yeah, they’re gorgeous.” I sigh happily. “I should be mad, but honestly, I love this fucking dress. I want to wear it every day.”

Jules laughs. “It’s so perfect for you. Will picked it out himself, you know.”

“He did?”

“He did,” she confirms. “I heard about what he did last night when you guys were leaving. Wanna talk about it?”

I squirm uncomfortably. “I’m not mad about it.”

“But you’re not happy.”

I shrug. “He was drunk.”

“Spill it, McBride.” Her voice is firm, and I know I’m not leaving here without talking to her, and frankly, I need to talk to her.

I need to talk to someone.

“Jules, what the hell does he see in me?” I frown and look down. “I guess that’s what it comes down to. He can have anyone he wants.”

“Why is it so hard for you to believe that he wants you? Meg, you’re fantastic.”

“But…” I shake my head.

“No buts. Will adores you, Megan. I’ve never seen him like this.”

“He’ll get tired of me.”

“Stop it. Now you’re just being a pussy, and I don’t have time for this shit.”

My eyes go wide, and I raise my eyebrows. “How do you really feel?” I ask drily.

“Will is famous, Meg. None of us can change that, and I don’t think he wants to change that. He’s good at what he does.”

“Yes, he is,” I agree.

“There will always be groupies. He will always get recognized, especially around this town. Will’s never really cared about all that bullshit.” She shrugs. “It just goes with the job. But, Meg, if every time a woman tries to get his attention it makes you start to question his feelings for you, or whether you deserve him, you will never be able to make this relationship work.”

“What are you saying?” I ask her.

“If you aren’t in it for the long haul, willing to pull up your big-girl panties and deal with the bullshit that comes along with being famous, then cut your losses now rather than later.”

I don’t have any words. I just sit and stare at her, then look at the dress, and back to her.

“The thought of being without him kills me,” I whisper.

“Then trust him when he says he loves you. He means it. Enjoy him. Love him back.”

She looks so damn proud of herself.

And she’s right. He’s never given me a reason not to trust him.

“Okay. Thank you. For everything.”

“You’re welcome.” She pulls me into a tight hug and then walks me to her door. “I’ll see you Saturday.”

***

Just when I walk through my front door, my phone rings. Football Star reads on the display.

“Hey there,” I answer.

“Where are you?” God, he’s so grouchy.

“I’m at home. Just got here.”

“Why?”

“Because I just left your sister’s office, and I needed to come home for a while. I see you’re still as charming as you were this morning.”

He sighs. “Sorry. I slept too long.”

“Jules told me about the dress, Will.”

He swears under his breath. “Great, so now I guess you’ll bitch at me about spending too much money on that, too?”

“Actually, I was going—”

“Because I’m sick of trying to give you nice things and you telling me I shouldn’t,” he interrupts. “Do you have any idea how much money I make?”

“No, I don’t care—”

“I just signed a $100 million contract, Megan.”

Holy fuck.

“I can afford to buy you dresses and earrings and take you on trips.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes. I was going to thank you for the dress because I really love it, and I love that you picked it out. But clearly you’re still in jackass mode, so I’m going to let you go get over this fucking hangover that has you growling at me like a wounded bear and get some things done around my own house. I’ll see you later.”

I hang up before he can respond and toss my phone on the countertop in the kitchen.

I throw in a load of laundry, tidy my bathroom and clean out the fridge, swearing about grumpy football players who don’t know how to hold their liquor.

Jackass
.

And then it occurs to me: I don’t think he’s eaten today, unless he ate while I was out. But Will requires a hell of a lot of food, and with that hangover, which he’s not used to, I’m quite sure he hasn’t eaten.

So I take quick stock of my freezer and pantry and send him a text.

Be at my place in an hour.

***

The lasagna is resting on the tabletop, and I’m just pulling the garlic bread out of the oven when Will rings the doorbell.

I open the door to find him standing there, freshly showered, with a dozen pink roses, and I melt just a little.

“I’m sorry I’m a jackass.”

“Come inside, jackass.” I let him in and push the buttons on the alarm like I’m supposed to when I open the door, earning a wide smile from Mr. Overprotective.

“You set the alarm.”

“I did.” I shrug like it’s no big deal. “You seem to like it when I do that.”

“I do.” He holds the flowers out to me. “These are for you.”

“Thank you.” I bury my nose in them and take a deep breath. “They smell wonderful.”

“Like you,” he whispers.

“Don’t think being cheeky will redeem you from your jackassery.”

“Jackassery?” he asks with a laugh. “Where do you come up with these words?” He follows me into the kitchen, where I put the flowers in water.

“Where did you get that lasagna?” he asks, his eyes wide and pinned to the pan of bubbly goodness on the table.

“I made it.”

“What?” His eyes dart to mine, and he pins me with a glare. “You
made
that?”

“Yeah.” I toss the bread in a basket and set it on the table, along with plates and silverware.

“You can cook?”

“Of course.”

“You’ve been holding out on me?” He crosses his arms over his chest and looks downright pissed off, which makes me laugh.

“Will, you never asked me if I could cook. You just assumed I couldn’t.” I smile softly at him. “Are you hungry, babe?”

“God, I’m fucking starving.” He sits at the table, but instead of letting me sit in my chair, he pulls me into his lap and kisses me hard. “I’m so damn sorry for today and for last night. Did I really flirt with another woman with you standing right there, or was that a nightmare?”

“You did.” I cup his cheek in my hand. “I’m okay.”

“I’m never drinking again. I swear.”

“I’m okay, Will. I trust you.” I smile at him as I pull my fingers down his sexy face. “I thought you were hungry.”

“God yes.” He pushes me out of his lap and digs into the lasagna. “And after I eat this, I’m hungry for you.” His blue eyes follow me as I sit in my chair and I take a bite of garlic bread.

“Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

It was, perhaps, the most beautiful wedding I’d ever been to in my life. We’ve just left Jules and Nate’s wedding and  are riding in a limo with Stacy and Isaac and their kids and Caleb and Matt to the reception site, a beautiful country club in Bellevue. Jules chose to play it safe, with it being fall, and is keeping the whole event indoors.

I lean on Will’s arm, link our fingers, and sigh happily.

“That was beautiful.”

“Jules looked really happy,” Stacy agrees. 

“The twins were adorable flower girls,” I remark. Josie and Maddie wore fluffy, soft-pink dresses, their hair twisted up in sweet little updos.

“I think it was sweet of Jules to have Livie and Soph wear similar dresses, too,” Stacy says with a soft smile.

“Are we going to talk about dresses all day?” Caleb asks with a frown.

“Uh, Caleb, it’s a wedding,” I reply drily. “We’re going to talk dresses and shoes and flowers all day.”

“Shit,” he mutters and pulls on the collar of his white shirt.

“You look very nice,” I tell him with a sweet smile. And it’s true. He looks damn hot in a suit, all broad shoulders and tan skin. He grimaces.

“Thanks.”

“Are you flirting with my brothers again?” Will asks me with a grin.

“Yep. Get used to it.” I kiss his cheek. “But you’re my favorite.”

“Gee, glad to hear it, babe.”

“Here we are.” Isaac props little Liam on his shoulder, and we all follow him out of the limo. The other cars have pulled up around us, so all the family is arriving at the same time. The rest of the guests should already be inside.

I can hear the band playing inside. They sound good. I wonder who Luke got to play.

“Ready?” Will asks and holds his arm out for me.

“Yes, let’s party!” I take his arm, and he escorts me inside along with everyone else, Jules and Nate bringing up the rear.

Once we’re all in, Jules’ dad takes a mic and announces the newly married couple.

“It is my great honor to introduce you all to Mr. and Mrs. McKenna!”

Applause erupts, and the happy couple enter the hall, smiling broadly, absolutely glowing.

If it wasn’t so fantastic, it would be disgusting.

Jules’ dress is just flat-out amazing, which doesn’t surprise me. It’s white, almost Grecian in style, flowing up one shoulder and gathered with rhinestones. Rhinestones cascade down the mostly open back, holding the dress together. It’s floor-length, and as she walks, Tiffany-blue shoes peek out. Her something blue.

I scan the elegant room, taking it all in. The guests are beautifully dressed, wandering around, chatting or finding their assigned seats at one of the many round tables set with soft-pink linens and large pink bouquets of flowers and tea-light candles.