CHAPTER 35
Megan opened her front door to Ean later that afternoon. He wore the sexy grin that usually made bubbles pop in her stomach. Today the bubbles sat like bricks. She stepped back, pulling the door wider.
Ean shrugged out of his coat. “You’re probably wondering why I didn’t tell you I was having lunch with my ex-bosses.”
Megan locked her front door, then turned to watch Ean hook his winter jacket onto her coat tree. “I know what you were doing.”
His smile wavered. “You do?”
“Your firm wants you back.” Megan stepped away from the door. She crossed her foyer, past her cheery if overdecorated Christmas tree, into her living room.
“What makes you think that?” His voice seemed cooler.
“Their suits.” Megan faced him. More than the width of the living room separated them. “If they were here to visit with you, they would have worn casual clothes. Since they wore business suits, it was obviously a business meeting.”
Ean had changed his clothing since she’d seen him at lunch earlier today. At the restaurant, he’d worn a gunmetal gray suit. His cool green shirt and dark green tie had complemented his olive green eyes. Now, in addition to his dark blue jeans, he wore a bronze sweater that spanned his broad pectorals and hugged his washboard abs.
His smile disappeared. “And that business was offering me my old job back.” Ean paused in the archway between the two rooms, ironically beneath the mistletoe.
“What other business could they have with you?” Megan narrowed her eyes. What does he have to be angry about? I’m the one being misled.
“They couldn’t have any other reason for meeting with me. And, of course, I’d accept their offer, even though I’ve signed a yearlong contract on my town house and a three-year lease on office space.” Ean shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “You’re very insightful to deduce all of that from our business suits.”
Megan frowned. “Why are you angry?”
“What makes you think I’m angry? Is it because I’m wearing a bronze sweater?”
Megan crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you mocking me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” She hadn’t expected Ean to be happy to have her confront him, but she hadn’t expected mockery, either.
“Because your suit theory is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” He dragged both hands over his hair.
“What?” Megan dropped her arms and clenched her fist.
“I’ve told you that I’m staying. I’ve shown you. I’ve even asked you to live with me. What more do I have to do to convince you that I’m not leaving?”
“How can you go from always wanting a successful career in New York and leaving that career to return to Trinity Falls, Ohio?”
“I’m fourteen years older.” Ean stood with his legs braced and his hands planted on his hips. “You’re the one who told me people don’t stay the same. Why won’t you believe that I’ve changed?”
“Everyone leaves, Ean.”
“Not me. And, obviously, not you.”
Megan spread her arms. “What was I supposed to think when I saw you having lunch with your former bosses?”
“That I’d tell you later why I met with them. That I’d have a damn good reason not to tell you in advance about the meeting.” Ean tugged his jacket from her coat tree. “I never thought you’d consider me a liar.”
Megan gritted her teeth. “All right. Tell me now. Why were you meeting with them?”
Ean regarded her in silence as he zipped himself into his coat. “I asked you to move in with me. Did you tell me you wouldn’t because you didn’t have faith that I’d stay in Trinity Falls?”
“You’re changing the subject.” Megan’s cheeks burned.
“Am I?” There was pain in Ean’s eyes. “All this time we’ve been together, I thought we were in a relationship.”
“We were.... We are.” What was he saying?
“But you never trusted me.”
“I . . .” All her anger drained away. Is that how it seemed?
“If we don’t have trust, we don’t have a relationship. All we have is sex. The sex is great, but I was hoping for something more.” Ean turned for the door.
Megan hurried after him. Her words rushed over each other. “Ean, you caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see your firm’s partners. I didn’t know what to think.” She laid her hand on his shoulder, hoping he’d face her.
Ean turned to her. “You should have asked me.”
“I’m asking you now. Please.” Her eyes stung with tears. Her voice trembled with fear. “Tell me, why were you meeting with them?”
“No, I don’t think I will.” Ean’s face was expressionless. “You chose to believe the worst of me, instead of asking for an explanation. That’s what matters now.”
Megan watched Ean leave, unable to stop him. She’d allowed fear to dictate her relationship with him. She’d actually believed she could fall in love and still protect her heart. The pain in her chest let her know just how stupid she’d been.
Christmas Eve, Books & Bakery reflected Megan’s love of this time of year. Decorative snowflakes and stars swung from the store’s ceiling. Bookshelves were trimmed with tinsel, ribbons or bows. A real seven-foot evergreen dominated the center of the store. Every inch of it was as overdecorated as the Christmas tree in her home.
The store was merry and bright with the holiday, but Megan felt like Scrooge. She’d wanted to cancel this emergency Tuesday-night association meeting so she could go home and sulk behind the closed door of her darkened bedroom. But Ramona had asked her specifically for the opportunity to address the group. She couldn’t say no, but she wished she had.
“Good evening, everyone.” Megan waited for their attention. They all looked at her, looked at Ean, then looked away. Was their breakup that obvious?
“I want to thank everyone for coming tonight.” Megan started again. “It’s Christmas Eve. I’m sure you all had other plans. But Mayor McCloud asked to address our group, so I’ll turn the meeting over to her. Mayor?”
Megan sat as Ramona stood to address the six-member business association.
From the corner of her eye, Megan slid a glance at Ean. She hadn’t seen him since Monday evening.
But tonight he sat on the other side of Doreen, close enough to touch. He looked as though he’d slept like a baby last night. She hadn’t. If she looked the way she felt, she was probably frightening small children and animals.
Ramona cleared her throat. “Good evening, everyone.”
Murmured responses circled the two tables the group had pushed together prior to the meeting.
Ramona continued. “I won’t keep you long. As you know, last spring, the original town center owners defaulted on their loan. Ever since that time, the town has been looking for new ownership for the center.”
Tilda Maddox shifted in her seat. “We don’t need the history lesson, Mayor. Just tell us if you’re going to raise our rent again.”
Perhaps Megan should have been used to Tilda’s rudeness by now, but she wasn’t. “Tilda, be patient. The mayor is putting her announcement in context.”
Ramona inclined her head toward Megan in silent thanks before continuing. “As I was saying, the town declared the default and hired a rental agency to collect the rents and a real estate agent to find a new owner.” Ramona paused to look around the tables at the members. “I’m pleased to announce that we have a new owner for the Trinity Falls Town Center, the limited partnership of Fever, Craven, Bolden and Arnez.”
Megan’s jaw dropped. Her pulse was drumming in her ears. A look around the table revealed she wasn’t the only one in shock.
“What did you say?” She wasn’t even aware of asking the question.
Ramona’s eyes were bright with laughter. “Ean and his friends, the partners of the law firm of Craven, Bolden and Arnez, are the new owners of the Trinity Falls Town Center.” Ramona gestured toward Ean. “Ean is the majority owner. The town council members and I are confident that Ean and the other owners have the best interests of the town and the center’s businesses in mind.”
Megan managed to close her mouth. She turned to Ean. “Was this the reason for your business meeting Monday?”
“Yes.” Ean’s olive eyes were blank.
Megan wanted to curl into the fetal position, pull a blanket over her head, hide under the table. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Ean’s tone was cool as he stood. “Thank you, Mayor McCloud.”
“Thank you, Ean.” Ramona sent Megan an empathetic look as she reclaimed her seat.
Ean looked around the table, but avoided Megan’s eyes. He feared he’d get lost in her gaze and not find his way back. “I realize this announcement comes as a surprise.”
“You’ve got that right,” Tilda barked. “Why didn’t you tell us you were planning this stunt?”
Ean pinned her with a look. “I wasn’t obligated to discuss my decision with you.”
Tilda’s eyes widened. “Sounds just like a damn lawyer.” Her response was a low grumble.
Grady’s frown was more perplexed than antagonistic. “We let you become a part of this group. It would have been common courtesy to let us know what you were planning, so this wouldn’t come as a surprise.”
Megan leaned forward, setting her elbows on the table. “We didn’t let Ean join the association, Grady. Every business in the center is invited to join the group, although each business has the right to decline our invitation.”
Doreen nodded. “For months, we’ve been trying to figure out an answer to this ownership problem. Instead of jumping down Ean’s throat, we should be thanking him for coming up with a solution.”
The glow of pride in his mother’s eyes eased his temper.
“Hold on, Doreen.” Belinda’s voice claimed Ean’s attention. “So, does this mean you’re not running for mayor?”
“Oh no. I’m still running for mayor.” Doreen turned to Ramona. “Nothing personal.”
Ramona returned Doreen’s smile. “Same here.”
“Ean.” Megan raised her voice above the cacophony of private conversations. “What plans do you and your partners have for the center?”
The store experienced sudden and complete silence. Ean met Megan’s gaze. Her eyes held an important question. It showed she understood the significance of this business venture. It also meant she was willing to treat him as a professional regardless of what was happening in their personal relationship.
He missed her so badly. And it had only been one night. Does this get any easier?
Ean cleared his throat. “My partners and I have discussed the business center and our roles in it at length. We recognize that most of these businesses are family-owned companies that have served this town for generations. We want to preserve that.”
Belinda shrugged. “So what does that mean to me?”
Ean looked at each association member in turn, settling his gaze on Megan again. “It means we’re rolling back rents to what they were prior to the town taking over the center.”
A startled silence descended on the table as though all of the air had been sucked from the store. Then a collective gasp rose, followed by a round of applause.
Through it all, Ean kept his attention on Megan. Her expression swept from puzzlement, to shock, to amazement and finally joy. She sprang from her chair. She took a step forward as though to embrace him. He knew the moment she remembered they’d broken up. The pain in her eyes matched the ache in his chest. Ean looked away.
Grady swept him into a surprise bear hug, which lifted him from his feet and realigned his spine. “Ean, my man, you are A-OK in my book. A number-one OK in my book! This is the best news I’ve gotten all year! The greatest Christmas gift I could ever get ever!”
That quickly Ean morphed from an interloper, who’d overstepped his boundaries, to the accessory store owner’s best friend. The older man released him. Ean gasped for air. He saw Megan grinning and wiping tears from her eyes. Tears of happiness, as well as laughter?
The image was bittersweet. In his mind, Ean had pictured himself making this announcement, then sweeping Megan into his arms. Instead, Grady had squeezed the life from him.
Damn it! He’d never done anything to cause her to mistrust him. He missed her so damn badly. But, apparently, their relationship had existed only in his imagination.
About an hour later, Ean was asking himself for the fourth time, Why am I putting myself through this?
He glanced at Megan seated beside him in his silver Lexus coupe. Her seat belt was secured across her slender body. After the meeting, they’d accompanied Doreen to her front door. They wished her a hasty “good night” before rushing back through the biting cold to his car. He checked his mirrors before pulling away from the curb in front of his mother’s house.
He would drive Megan home before continuing to his town house. Ean had taken Megan home from the bookstore so many times in the two months since he’d returned to Trinity Falls. He’d enjoyed her company in the past. Tonight it was torture. In the quiet, warming confines of his car, with the darkness surrounding them, Ean sensed her beside him. He tugged his gaze from her elegant profile. He smelled her soft powder fragrance. He tasted her skin with his mind.
Torture.
But it was only three blocks. Ean tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He could handle this, as long as they remained quiet.
“I owe you an apology.” Megan’s voice broke the merciful silence. “I should have realized that you weren’t meeting with your former bosses for yourself. You were meeting with them for the center.”
“Apology accepted.” Ean halted his car beside the Stop sign. With the roads empty, he continued through the intersection.
“I’m serious, Ean. I’m very sorry.”
Ean’s throat muscles flexed. “So am I, Megan. I’m sorry you didn’t trust me.”
“It’s not that I didn’t trust you.” There was a muted rustle as Megan shifted in her passenger seat.
“So what was it?” Don’t look at her. Don’t reach out to her. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel.
“I was afraid the partners would make you an offer you couldn’t refuse.”
“Just as I said.” Ean’s lips curved in bitter amusement. “You didn’t trust me to keep my word.”
“Ean, I was—”
“But I didn’t just give you my word. I gave you a rental contract, a lease agreement and membership in the local business association.” Ean clenched his teeth to stop his words. What good would they do? They’d gone over this before.
The car was silent for several minutes. Ean braked at another Stop sign, then breathed in relief as he steered his Lexus toward Megan’s block.
“You’re right to be angry.” Megan’s words wobbled with emotion. “I should have believed you. I shouldn’t have allowed my fear to confuse me.”
Ean tried to harden his heart against Megan’s sorrow. He couldn’t. But he couldn’t dig his way out of his own hurt and disappointment, either. Ean parked his car in her driveway.
He wrenched the emergency brake into place before turning to face her. “I thought we were more than bed partners.”
“We were!”
“I told you I was thinking of a future with you. Did you think I was lying?”
“I was confused.” Her voice cracked. Her tears broke free.
Ean turned away before he started crying, too. He shoved his driver’s-side door open and stepped out of the Lexus. He barely noticed the burst of cold air that wrapped around him as he circled his car.
He pulled open the passenger door and extended his free hand. “Come on.”
The feel of Megan’s small, gloved hand in his made him want to hold on forever. Ean released her and stepped back as soon as she was steady on her feet. He fisted his hands to keep from tracing the tears rolling slowly down her cheeks.
Megan swiped away her tears, then looked at him. “Please. Give me another chance, Ean.”
The entreaty in her wet chocolate eyes pierced his heart like an ice pick, over and over and over again.
Ean swallowed twice before attempting to speak. He opened his mouth, then swallowed again. “I can’t keep proving myself to you.”
“You won’t need to.”
How he wanted to believe her. “You’re ready to trust me this time?”
“Yes.” Megan wiped more tears from her cheeks.
Ean ignored the cold and returned Megan’s regard for a long, silent moment. It would be so easy to pull her into his arms and cover her mouth with his own. His body wanted to touch her, to taste her again. But his heart hadn’t healed from the wound of her distrust.
He stuffed his gloved hands into his jacket pockets. “You’ve said that before.”
Megan blinked, long and slowly, then squared her shoulders. “I understand. It’s my turn to prove myself to you. And I will.”
She walked past him to her front door. Ean watched her enter her home. She’d left the light on in her foyer as usual. He stared blindly at her house before getting back into his car.
Damn it! He’d taken her at her word when she’d said she believed he was home for good. She’d lied. Now she was claiming she could prove she trusted him. What could she possibly do to convince him that their relationship was more than just sex? Really, really great sex.