Later that evening, Megan grabbed a jar of salsa from the fridge, emptying the contents into a large bowl in Nash’s kitchen. She was no Harper when it came to her cooking skills. And she also had no time to prepare for the unexpected party tonight. Especially considering her nerves were shot since Nash had invited her parents over tonight to attend a Blackshaw family dinner.
For the past couple weeks, they’d done okay with her going over to her parents’ house without Nash. She went for lunch when he was working. Stuff like that. While that understanding had kept the peace, Nash was adamant that her parents were coming over tonight. To Blackshaw land. For dinner with the Blackshaw family.
Dear God.
Megan heaved a long sigh and moved to the kitchen table, emptying the tortilla chips into another bowl.
“All ready?”
She smiled, turning to Nash. He leaned against the doorframe, looking gorgeous in his Stetson and Levi’s. “Yup. Ready,” she replied, moving to grab the bowl.
“I’ve got that.” He rushed in to snatch up the bowl.
She moved to grab the salsa.
“I’ve got that too.” He grinned.
She sighed again and gave him a look. “I’m four months pregnant, not injured. I think I can carry a bowl of chips and salsa.”
“Not when I’m around.” He turned, right as Gus barked at the front door. “I didn’t hear a knock.”
“Me neither.”
Nash shrugged. “Probably Gus being Gus.” Holding the chip bowl with his arm and the salsa bowl in his hand, he moved to the front door then opened it.
Megan was certainly glad she wasn’t holding the dishes. They would’ve broken all over the floor. Standing on the porch, totally unaware they had an audience, Jenny and the doctor were kissing. Not just any kissing. Like, kissing. Megan slapped a hand over her mouth, not to laugh. Oh, yeah, Jenny was saucy!
Nash apparently wasn’t as amused and cleared his throat.
Jenny broke away with a gasp. “Oh, Nash, I’m . . . I’m . . .”
“Making out like a teenager?” A blush crept over Jenny’s face. Nash gestured behind him. “Everyone is out back.”
Jenny rushed forward, not even looking Megan in the eye.
Clay on the other hand was cool and calm, offering his hand to Nash. “Thanks for the invite. I’m sure glad to be here.”
Nash returned the handshake, equally as cool and calm. “To kiss my mother?”
Clay smiled. “Yes, I do like to kiss your mother.” He held Nash’s stare the entire time and then strode by, not in any hurry to get anywhere.
When the back door closed behind him, Megan grinned at Nash. “That man has as much charm as you do.”
Nash snorted and closed the front door. He moved in front of Megan and frowned. “Take that back. Right now.”
Megan laughed. “Fine, you’re the only charming one around here.”
“Good.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “Regardless that he’s not as charming, I like him.”
Nash went to stride away, but Megan grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Wait. The world stopped turning for a second there and I thought I heard you say you like him?”
Nash shrugged. “He’s got balls. He can protect her.”
“Well, well, look at you being all grown-up.” Megan rose up on her toes, planting a good, long kiss on his lips for that. “I like him too. She seems happy.”
“She does.” Nash gestured at the back door. “Come on, Freckles, everyone is waiting for us.”
Megan followed him out, with Gus bursting out the door ahead of them. She immediately spotted the normal gang: Shep and Emma, Chase and Harper, and their puppy, Houdini, next to them, sipping drinks by the campfire. The moment Houdini spotted Gus, they were off playing together. Jenny’s face was still red, and she was drinking wine impressively fast, with Clay looking comfortable next to her. Megan moved to Harper and Emma, giving them both a hug. “Okay, so my food won’t be nearly as good as yours,” she told Harper.
Harper smiled. “There is a time and place for store-bought salsa and chips.”
Megan grinned at Emma. “She’s so good at making us feel better that we suck at cooking.”
Emma laughed. “I know, right?”
Harper’s grin suddenly faded, and she breathed, “Here we go.”
Confused, Megan turned around but then understood fully. Her parents walked toward them. Her mom carried a tray of cookies and tarts. Dad strode in next to her, his shoulders relaxed, his smile aimed in her direction. Mom went to Jenny, who made her way over to the food table with Clay. They smiled and chatted, while Dad ventured over.
Heat suddenly slid across her, raising goose bumps along her flesh. Nash. From behind, he wrapped his arm around her. Holding her close, he offered one of his hands to her father. “Clint.”
Dad hesitated for a split second. “You’ve got a gorgeous place here.” He returned the handshake. “Shame you’re selling it.”
Megan started breathing again.
“Change is good,” Nash said. “Next time we’re out at your place, I’ll bring the plans along for the new farm.”
Dad nodded. “I’d like that.”
Megan looked between them, waiting for the yelling to start. It never happened. Unbeknownst to her, they had obviously talked again and found some way to make peace. Truth was, she didn’t care how or when that happened.
Nash was there. Dad was there.
“Clint, honey, come and meet Clay,” Mom called, giving Megan a smile and wave.
Megan returned the smile, while Dad headed their way.
Harper spoke first. “Did we just enter The Twilight Zone?”
“Yeah, no kidding.” Emma glanced between Nash and Megan, her eyes huge. “You were friendly to each other. Friendly!”
“You know, ladies,” Nash said, placing his chin on Megan’s shoulder, “you don’t need to have all the answers all the time.”
Harper and Emma exchanged a long look, then they said in unison, “Yes, we do.”
Nash laughed and shook his head. “We found a middle ground.”
Megan piped up, then. “You found a middle ground?”
“Mm-hmm,” Nash said. “It turns out we have something in common.”
Megan’s heart was so full, she felt like it could burst right out of her chest. She turned in his arms, staring up into the strength of his gaze. “What’s that?”
“Making you happy.” He dropped a kiss on her lips.
Right as he went to deepen the kiss, Chase yelled, “Shit. The food!”
Nash was out of her arms a second later, running after Gus who beelined toward the food table. “Goddamn it!” he roared. “No, Gus. Noooooooo!”
Megan stood in a flurry of people running toward the table. This wasn’t the first time Gus had attacked the food table like a starving animal. The same thing had happened at Harper and Chase’s rehearsal for the wedding, where Gus destroyed the food she’d made by nosediving into the table.
Megan laughed a little, then, being the only calm one in the bunch, she stuck her fingers into her mouth and whistled. “Down!” she yelled.
Gus stopped and lay down, sending Nash rushing by him to slide along the ground.
Megan stared at the shocked expressions around her and burst out laughing. “You should see your faces right now.”
Shep started clapping. “I don’t believe that just happened.”
Everyone else joined in.
Jenny nodded, clapping super-fast. “She trained the untrainable dog.”
Nash looked utterly dumbfounded sitting on the grass.
Dad turned to Mom. “I don’t get what in the hell is going on.”
“You don’t have to,” Mom said. “Clap, Clint.”
He listened.
Megan smiled, tears in her eyes, knowing right here, right now, she’d found her perfect safe place for their baby.