The next afternoon, Megan’s thoughts kept returning to the previous night. She’d spent the morning catching up on laundry and looking at baby names on the internet, a daunting experience she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to repeat. Today was her day off, and there was no way she was spending the day alone. She was stupidly, blissfully happy and couldn’t keep a smile off her face as she left her apartment and strode down Main Street. The perfect day greeted her, and damn if she didn’t want to start skipping down the road.
She’d been dreading having to tell Nash about the baby. But it’d been okay. He stepped right up, which she knew he would. Though the totally unexpected part had been how sweet he’d been. Not once had she ever seen that side of him before. She wanted to trust and believe in it, and once she let herself, everything clicked into place. He was right—they needed to give this a real shot. Because truth was, they were good together. Hell, they could even be great. What Megan felt for him was rare, she’d always known that, and she wanted to explore the intensity between them. But slowly, to make sure all of this was good and healthy and made sense.
One step at a time.
She waved to a couple who always came into the Spurs on Thursday night for dinner. Another block down the road, she reached the restaurant set in one of the historic buildings along Main Street. She passed beneath a sign that had THE KITCHEN written in iron letters on a reclaimed wood background and quickly entered.
The restaurant had been recently gutted and rebuilt. Wooden beams ran the length of the ceiling. Circular tables were spread throughout with dark gray fabric-covered chairs. Two crystal chandeliers lit up the space surprisingly well. And the back wall was a cabinet full of wine bottles.
This afternoon, the restaurant was busy but quiet compared to Kinky Spurs’ dinner crowd. Everyone talked with soft voices. Apparently, a five-star meal had special silencing powers. The only two people sitting at the dark wood bar were familiar faces, and exactly who Megan had called earlier to meet her here today. Her two best friends.
Harper, chef and owner of the restaurant, gazed at Megan with her warm hazel eyes and smiled. Megan had known Harper since they were in grade school. But since Harper was twenty-six years old, a year younger than Megan, they hadn’t become close until Harper began working at the Spurs. Harper’s recent decision to quit Kinky Spurs to open this restaurant was bittersweet to Megan, who was damn proud of her friend but missed working with her. “Well, look who it is, Miss Preggers, who forgot to . . . um . . . I don’t know . . . tell us she was pregnant!” Harper mused.
Megan laughed, realizing that when Nash went to talk with Shep and Chase last night, they must’ve spilled the news to Harper and Emma. She slid onto the stool next to Emma, feeling a relief that everyone knew now. “I figured I needed to tell . . . you know . . . the father first.”
“Wrong.” Harper grinned. “But I forgive you because I am so excited. Oh my God.” She leaned over the bar and threw her arms around Megan. “A baby!”
Emma’s arms joined Harper’s, squeezing Megan tight. “You and Nash are going to make the cutest babies ever!” Emma was naturally pretty with long brown hair and stunning green eyes that needed very little makeup to be spectacular.
“One baby,” Megan countered. “There’s only one in here.” She placed her hands on her belly.
“Okay, the cutest baby ever, then!” Emma smiled. She worked in marketing for the Blackshaw Cattle Guest Ranch, which always meant girls’ lunches without too much grief from her boss—her boyfriend, Shep. “But you and Nash are together now, right? So that means maybe some more babies in the future?”
Well, didn’t that pique her curiosity? “Did Nash tell you we were together now?”
“Nope,” Emma said then shrugged. “But I know Nash. He’s wanted you forever. And I know you. You would want to do what’s right for the baby. So . . . am I right?”
Megan nodded. “You’re right.”
“Wow,” Harper breathed, leaning against the bar, with her chin propped up on her hand. “I’m seriously in shock. I never, and I mean never, thought you two would get together.” She laughed softly and shook her head. “I actually thought you might kill him before that could happen.”
“I wouldn’t rule out my killing him yet,” Megan said with a laugh. They had a long way to go. While gentle Nash had made an appearance last night, cocky Nash was always close by. “You should have seen him last night. He was unusually sweet.”
Harper fetched a glass of lemonade, a drink that had been Megan’s favorite lately, and set it in front of her. “Nash has got a whole lot of sweetness in him,” Harper said with a gentle smile. “He just forgets that sometimes, I think.”
Megan nodded.
Emma turned on her stool to face Megan better. “Catch us up. What all happened last night?”
Megan’s stomach rumbled loud, and they all laughed. “I really need some bad-for-me food before I have this conversation,” she said.
“A burger and salad, good?” Harper asked.
“Yup, that’ll do.” Megan’s mouth watered at the very thought of all that grease. She’d blame her love of grease on the baby, but she had always loved burgers. Now she just really loved burgers. “Cheese and bacon and anything else you can think of to make it greasier is what I’m looking for,” she called, as Harper moved to the computer at the end of the bar.
Harper’s shoulders shook with her laughter. She hit some buttons on the monitor before she returned with her expression more eager than Megan had ever seen it. “Lunch is on its way,” she said. “Tell us everything.”
Megan took another long sip of her lemonade, gearing up for this conversation. “He was all, We’re going to be fine. Let’s finally be together. Be happy,” she said with the straw between her teeth. “I think this baby is making me all soft because I melted right there on the spot.”
“You guys are going to be so good together,” Emma said. “We’ve all told you that forever.”
“Yep. Exactly.” Harper nodded.
Megan glanced between her two good friends, admitting a truth. “It’s no secret that we have feelings for each other. But then Nash fights with my dad, and all those things seem so complicated.”
“This feud between the families is stupid,” Harper stated snippily. “Both Nash and your dad need to get over themselves. I don’t get why they hate each other so much anyway. Chase and Shep don’t seem to care about your dad at all.”
Megan agreed with a nod. “Well, that’s because Nash and my dad are a lot alike. Both are stubborn, hot-headed, and protective of their families.”
“Which gets neither of them anywhere,” Emma said with a roll of her eyes. “I’ve told Shep a thousand times, this feud between the families has to stop. The saddest part is that you’re the one stuck in the middle.”
Yeah, and that was what truly sucked. Megan swirled the straw, moving the ice around the glass, reeling in the raw and unruly emotion flooding uncontrollably through her. For the few weeks after she’d been with Nash, they had fallen back into their normal banter. During the next couple weeks, she had begun to get . . . emotional. And that wasn’t her. Ever.
The pregnancy had caused all this, she was sure of it.
When she got control of her emotions, she said steadily, “I wish they would both stop fighting long enough to look at me standing there, seeing how much I care about them.”
When things got silent, real silent, Megan glanced up, finding Harper and Emma staring at her. “What?” She laughed awkwardly, suddenly feeling like a spotlight was shining directly on her head.
Emma’s lip was pouty. “My heart hurts for you.”
Harper nodded softly. “It shouldn’t be this way at all. Have you told Nash how his fighting with your dad affects you?”
Megan shrugged. “Again, it’s complicated.”
“It can’t be that complicated,” Harper said gently.
“Yeah,” Emma interjected. “I mean, everything is fixable, right? Nash will do the right thing where it comes to you and your father.”
Megan smiled, wishing, hoping that were true. But she didn’t live in a land where everything was rainbows and sunshine. The dark days of the feud were still there, even with Nash’s father’s passing. “Either Nash or my dad will have to throw up the white flag. And I honestly can’t see either of them doing that.” She forced another smile, not wanting to get too far ahead of herself. “I guess for now, we’ll have to see how all this plays out.”
Harper and Emma nodded.
That’s when a waiter sidled up next to Harper carrying a plate with the burger and salad. “Thanks, Marcus,” Harper said, taking the plate from him and setting it in front of Megan.
“Oh, my God.” Megan’s mouth watered when she picked up the huge burger.
“Wait,” Emma squeaked.
Megan turned her head. “Yes?”
“Are you going to talk to Nash about the feud and stuff?” Emma asked.
“Food first,” Megan muttered, focusing back on the burger. “Then I’ll figure everything out later.” She bit into the burger, and the flavor exploded in her mouth. She shut her eyes and moaned, with Harper and Emma’s laughter surrounding her.
A woman had her priorities.
* * *
Later that evening, Nash rode Bentley back to Shep and Emma’s farm after ending his day at the guest ranch. His thoughts were on Megan and the baby. He’d learned from his days as a professional bull rider that happiness was temporary. Dreams came and went, and all a man was left to do was roll with the punches. Though Nash held out hope that this step forward with Megan was permanent. He finally had what he wanted. Her.
All he had to do was not fuck it up.
When he arrived at the farm after his workday ended, Gus took off around the back of the house, and Nash spotted Chase’s truck parked next to Shep’s. He untacked Bentley, leaving his equipment in the small barn, then gave Bentley a hose down. Nash wouldn’t mind a hose down himself. By Megan. The thought stayed with him as he opened the gate to the paddock and a wet Bentley entered. Nash removed his halter, and the gelding didn’t give Nash another look, moving quickly toward Fiona and Tadgh, Shep’s horses.
Nash slid the lock back into place on the gate then rested his arms on the top of the metal bars. He’d never seen goats, a cow, sheep, and a donkey get on so well. He supposed that since these animals, except for Shep’s horses, all came from abusive situations, this was the best place they had ever known. The world needed people like Emma’s late grandmother and Emma, and Nash was glad to know them.
“Come on, Nash. Dinner.”
Nash glanced over his shoulder, finding Shep near the side of house, waving him forward. Nash hadn’t been expecting dinner at their place tonight. Curious, he made his way toward Shep. “Why are you being so nice to me? What do you want?” he asked seriously.
“This isn’t me,” Shep said with a sly smile. “This is all Emma. Come on. You’ll see why.”
Nash followed Shep, and the moment he made it into the backyard, he completely understood. Megan sat at a picnic table covered with platters of grilled veggies, sausages, and salad. Next to her sat Emma, and across from Emma were Harper and Chase. They were all laughing. He also noticed Gus was playing with Chase and Harper’s black Labrador retriever, Houdini, who was growing by the day, even with his diabetes. Gus seemed to be a little gentler with the pup, always lying down when playing instead of charging toward him.
Nash turned and smiled at Shep. “Introducing Megan to the family already?”
Shep’s mouth twitched. “The girls were out today.” He glanced at Nash then and leveled him with a knowing look. “I’d say it wasn’t planned, but I have no doubt Emma’s trying to make you both comfortable.”
“That’s good of her,” Nash said.
There was only love in Shep’s eyes when he replied, “She’s a good woman.”
Nash glanced back at the group, and Megan’s gaze connected with his. Held. The sweet smile she gave him warmed dead parts in his chest. She used to glare daggers at him whenever he looked at her. He couldn’t help but wonder why she was so agreeable now. Sure, the baby played a part, but she was so open to him that it made him pause a little. If she liked him this much, why had she been holding back for so long? He should probably find that out.
Chase and Harper greeted him, but Nash stayed focused on Megan. “Hi,” he said to her, cupping her chin. Without pausing, and knowing he’d get a reaction, he dropped his chin and pressed his lips on hers, feeling the shock ripple through her in her tight mouth. He kissed her harder, making a bold statement. If they were doing this, they were doing this. Obviously, Emma was doing her part by inviting them to dinner, including Megan in the family. Besides, it felt good to finally kiss Megan openly in the way he’d wanted to for so long.
When he broke the kiss, she slowly opened her eyes, and the surprise in her expression faded away to a dazzling smile.
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hey.” He grinned.
“Okay, so that happened,” Harper said with a laugh. “Now can we all stop looking so surprised and eat?”
Nash glanced at the group, finding everyone watching them. Emma’s mouth was hanging open. He laughed. “Yes. Let’s eat.” He dropped down next to Megan. “Looks amazing, ladies.”
Like most meals when it came to him and his brothers, there wasn’t much talking through the first bite of the meal. The girls chatted about the baby and shopping and baby names. Nash smiled through all that. He liked hearing how excited Megan was. He’d never seen this side of her. She was always so guarded around him. She spoke openly and easily. And he found her voice so damn relaxing.
Until the conversation took a hard-right turn.
“When are you going to tell Ma about the baby?” Shep asked, shoveling some veggies into his mouth.
Nash glanced at Megan for that answer.
She shrugged. “Soon.”
The tightness in her voice had Nash sliding his hand across her bare thigh beneath the picnic table. “We’re in no rush.”
Megan looked sideways and gave him a grateful smile, telling him he’d said the right thing.
Yeah, that was all he had to keep doing. Not fuck things up.
“If you ask me, I think that’s fine,” said Harper, shaking salt onto her veggies. “Take this time for yourselves because once your parents find out, heads will roll.” She paused, placing the salt shaker down to reach for the pepper. “Well, maybe not all heads, just Nash’s.”
An awkward pause settled among the group.
“What?” Harper stopped midway through using the pepper. “It’s true. There’s no sense pretending that’s not going to happen.” She added more pepper to her veggies.
Chase shook his head slowly and shoved some sausage in his mouth, obviously avoiding the conversation.
Next to Nash, Megan relaxed. She began laughing. And so did everyone else at the table.
“My head will be fine,” Nash finally addressed the comment. “A baby is good news.”
Emma agreed with a nod. “Jenny will be thrilled.” Emma turned to Shep, bright-eyed. “Oh, my God, I can totally picture your mom’s face right now.”
Shep nodded. “She’s been waiting a while.” He looked at Megan. “Prepare yourself that she might hover a bit.”
“That’s okay,” Megan said with a soft laugh. “My mom will be happy too, and she’ll be hovering alongside her.”
Nash noted she held her breath, obviously having more to say. He squeezed his hand on her thigh again. “Your father will be happy too.”
She looked at him, eyes soft, and she nodded.
“After he decapitates Nash,” Harper said under her breath. “I bet he’ll be real happy.”
Nash glared at Harper. She shrugged his look away, always one to tell it like it was. Most times he appreciated that about her. Just not now.
“My dad loves babies,” Megan interjected, drawing Nash’s gaze to her. “He’s really gushy with them.”
At that, Shep lifted his brows. “I’m having a hard time picturing your father being gushy at anything.”
Megan moved her sausage around her plate with her fork. “I think that’s because you don’t really know him.”
Chase lifted his head then and stared at Megan. “We’ll fix that,” he finally said. “Once the dust settles, we’ll have a dinner and get the families together.”
Megan gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. “You actually think that’s even possible?”
“Of course I do,” Chase said firmly.
Shep piped up then and gave Megan a smile. “You’re family now, Megan. We’ll make this work.”
“I say, it’s about damn time,” said Emma, lowering her beer back down to the table. “This feud is stupid. I mean, seriously, how your fathers ever expected you not to like each other is really ridiculous.”
“Right?” Harper stabbed her zucchini with her fork. “It’s time for everyone to move on.”
Megan turned to Nash then, and he smiled. “See? Like I said, everything will be fine.”
She had doubts. He understood why and deserved those doubts. He did hate her father. But to have Megan, Clint Harrison came with the package.
Megan turned back to the group, glancing from face to face. “Well, I . . .” Her voice hitched, tears rose in her eyes. “Dammit. I’m going to cry. I’m sorry.” She grabbed her napkin off the table and wiped her eyes. “This keeps happening.”
Emma and Harper reached forward, touching Megan’s arms, sympathy on their faces.
“It’s understandable. You’re pregnant,” Nash announced. “Doesn’t that make you emotional?”
Megan slowly turned to him, teary eyes narrowed.
“You did not say that, Nash Blackshaw!” Harper exclaimed.
“What?” he asked, glancing between the angry women.
Emma crossed her arms. “Are you going to mansplain pregnancy to us now?”
Shep cleared his throat and rose. “We need more drinks.” The traitor was gone into the house before Nash could say anything more.
He studied the women glaring at him. “I thought that happened . . .” Nash said. When their glares intensified, he turned to Chase. “Anything to add?”
Chase pointed to his plate with his fork. “I’m eating.” But the twitch of his mouth gave him away. The bastard was enjoying this.
Nash sighed and took a lesson from his brother. He dropped his head to his plate and started eating again.
When the women turned to each other, cooing over Megan, making her feel better, Nash took a quick look at Chase. His brother winked at him, a small smile curving his mouth.
Nash shook his head and focused on his plate. Maybe silence was the best thing of all when it came to girl talk. Besides, that way it gave him more time to watch Megan laugh. He really loved her laugh. And that smile.
Damn, that smile undid him.