Loe raamatut: «Meeting Megan Again»

Chapter One

O’Bannon’s Inn, Bed and Breakfast.

The sign was lettered in old-fashioned writing, and it hung from a wrought-iron frame. A delicate pattern of morning glories twined around each corner. Beneath it hung a second sign, saying Closed for the Season.

Tyler O’Bannon turned down a tree-lined driveway and saw a beautifully restored Victorian house standing on a small rise of land. There were at least two dozen cars parked in the small lot, and a leisurely game of horseshoes was being conducted in the middle of the garden.

He looked more closely, trying to see if he recognized anybody, but it had been a long time and he’d never known anyone in the family that well, except for Eleanor and Grady. The couple had been kind to him, but angry teenagers aren’t particularly receptive to kindness.

A wry smile tugged at Tyler’s mouth.

Receptive?

During the months he’d lived with the O’Bannons he’d been a major pain in the behind, with a chip on his shoulder the size of Mount Everest. Too proud for his own good and too stubborn to care.

Tyler parked his Mercedes between a pickup truck and a battered station wagon and got out. In his pocket was an information flyer about the reunion, along with two letters. One was from Eleanor, saying she’d been “feeling poorly lately,” and it might be her “last reunion, so won’t you come?”

The second letter was from a child, pleading with him to attend the annual family function. A postscript had been added by the kid’s mother, saying she was sure he wouldn’t be able to fit it in his schedule and not to feel obligated about coming. She’d even written, “I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I was your cousin’s wife….”

Not remember Megan?

Tyler practically snorted as he headed for the front door of the Victorian. Megan was the forbidden fiancée of his cousin, now his cousin’s widow. They’d met at her engagement party, and he’d convinced himself she was marrying the wrong man for the wrong reasons.

For a brief moment, Tyler paused, his hand on the polished brass handle of the vestibule door. He’d like to think he’d come to the reunion for Eleanor’s sake alone, but he had to be honest, if only to himself.

He wanted to see Megan again.

Maybe he just needed to be sure she was out of his system, and that things had worked out best for the both of them. She would have been miserable starting out with a penniless husband, and he would have been miserable knowing he couldn’t give her the things his cousin could provide.

Right?

“Right,” he muttered, knowing in his heart that he wasn’t entirely convinced. Shaking his head, Tyler walked through the vestibule into the central hall of the house and glanced around. High overhead hung two crystal chandeliers, lighting the foyer and broad staircase. And, some twenty feet away, a woman was talking to a young girl.

Megan.

And undoubtedly her daughter. For reasons he wasn’t willing to examine, Tyler was glad to see that Megan’s child resembled her, instead of his cousin.

“We can’t put Reece and Jessie in the same room,” Megan said firmly. It didn’t take a genius to see her patience was wearing thin.

“But they’re engaged,” the youngster protested.

“I don’t know where you get your ideas. Engaged people don’t always sleep together.”

“Aw, Mom. You’re so-o-o old-fashioned.” Kara rolled her eyes and Tyler couldn’t keep from grinning. He’d heard that, between television and the Internet, children grew up fast these days, and Kara was living proof.

“Fine. I’m old-fashioned.”

Tyler realized they were so deep in their discussion they hadn’t even noticed his arrival. He crossed his arms and focused his gaze on Megan. She’d never been classically pretty, but she had a special beauty that demanded a man’s full attention. Five-foot-three, with dark auburn hair and a body that was perfectly proportioned for her petite size. Snug-fitting jeans cupped her bottom and she wore a green T-shirt with O’Bannon Family Reunion printed across the breast.

“We have to assign Reece and Jessie separate rooms,” Megan insisted. “Put Reece’s fiancée in number four.”

Kara looked desperate. “We have to save that room. Because…uh, you-know-who might come.”

“He’s not coming, Kara.” Megan rubbed her temples as if they ached. “Tyler is a wealthy man now. He’ll probably think we want something from him. Besides, why would he come after all this time?”

“Because he was invited,” Tyler said, deciding it was the right moment to throw his two cents into the conversation.

“Oh, my gosh,” the youngster shrieked. “It’s him. See, I told you he’d come, Mom.”

The expression in Megan’s green eyes went from affectionately exasperated, to stunned. “Tyler,” she whispered.

“Yup, it’s me. It’s been a long time, Megan.”

“You don’t…that is, what are you doing here?”

“Don’t you remember? You invited me to the family reunion, and how could I resist such a cordial invitation?” Tyler pulled Kara’s letter from his pocket and waved it in the air.

“I’ll get him one of the shirts,” Kara cried happily. She disappeared down the hall.

Megan stepped away, putting the antique reception desk between them. She’d never expected Tyler to actually show up. He had kept in touch with Eleanor, calling on her birthday and sending gifts at Christmas, but he’d never visited. Not for years and years.

He’s a proud man, Grady O’Bannon always said when somebody asked about Tyler. And Eleanor would finish with, he’ll come back when he’s ready. Eleanor had never stopped hoping Tyler would become part of the family again; maybe her wish was finally coming true.

“Nothing to say?” Tyler asked.

“Plenty.” Megan hesitated. It might seem rude, but she needed to understand why he would attend a family reunion after so long. “Why are you here, Tyler? And don’t repeat that nonsense about being invited—you’ve been invited lots of times. And besides, you’re always welcome with Grady and Eleanor. You must know that.”

His gaze narrowed. “I know. I’m here because I’m worried about Eleanor. She wrote last month and it didn’t sound like her at all. It bothered me, so I wanted to check things out,” he explained.

Megan nodded. She understood why he’d come back; what she didn’t understand was why he’d stayed away in the first place. The O’Bannons were wonderful people—the kind of family she’d dreamed of having when she was a child and her parents were screaming and throwing things at each other.

“This one looks big enough,” Kara shouted, running back down the hallway. She waved one of the men’s black T-shirts in the air, then thrust it into Tyler’s hands. “We made them special for the reunion. Mom did the design.”

“Thanks,” he said. “You’re Kara, right?”

Kara nodded, suddenly shy. “I’m glad you came, Mr. O’Bannon.”

“Call me Tyler.”

“Okay, Tyler.” Kara appeared ready to explode with pleasure, then a shout from outside the house made her feet stir restlessly. “It’s my turn for horseshoes,” she said. “Do you want to come watch? Or if you want to play, I can teach you how. It’s real simple. You have to—”

“I’m sure Tyler wants to get settled first,” Megan intervened. “You can visit with him later.”

“O-o-okay.” Kara reluctantly headed out the door.

“I’ll show you up to your room,” Megan said, taking the key to room four from a locked cabinet. She glanced beyond him into the foyer. “Don’t you have any luggage?”

“In the car. I’ll get it later. Actually…” Tyler stopped, his eyes dark and intent. “After what you wrote, I wasn’t sure you wanted me to come.”

Guilty heat flooded her face. She hadn’t meant to sound unwelcoming.

Or had she?

An uneasy shiver crept through Megan and she looked away. Tyler reminded her of things she wanted to forget—of youth and making mistakes and having everything fall apart. Did Tyler know about Brad’s womanizing?

About everything?

She drew a ragged breath, wondering if she’d ever get over the sick feeling of her life spinning out of control—of her husband having one affair after the other and finally getting himself killed while driving his fancy sports car.

“You’re awfully pale, Megan? Are you all right?”

Tyler sounded genuinely concerned, and she forced a smile to her mouth. “I’m fine. And of course you’re welcome. I know Eleanor will be ecstatic. She often talks about you. Grady, too.”

“That’s nice.” He seemed embarrassed by the comment and Megan lifted her eyebrows. Apparently there were some things Tyler O’Bannon didn’t handle with aplomb.

“Well…your room is upstairs,” she said.

Megan walked up the broad staircase, all too aware of Tyler following close behind. Nothing had changed since the first time they’d met. He was still too intense, too overwhelming and complicated, while she wasn’t complicated in the slightest.

Heck, if she hadn’t been exciting enough for her husband, she certainly wasn’t any match for Tyler.

Fifteen feet down the hall Megan opened a door and motioned to the interior of the room. “This room has a private bath, so you won’t have to share.”

Tyler glanced around the room. As in the rest of the house, a scent of beeswax and flowers filled the air, along with glints of light from polished wood furniture and oak paneling. It was a sharp contrast to his condo in San Francisco, dominated by the prior owner’s passion for black and white. Though he disliked the stark decor, he’d never taken the time to look for a decorator.

But this…it felt like a home, even if it was really a bed and breakfast inn most of the time.

“It’s very nice, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of place Brad would have chosen,” Tyler murmured.

“No.” Megan swallowed, and her lashes drifted down, concealing her expression. “I bought the house after the accident. Brad never lived here.” She held out the room key, “I’d better get downstairs and check on things in the kitchen. But later we’re going to the park for softball, if you’re interested in coming.”

Tyler took the key, his gaze searching her face. “I’m interested.”

“Good. We’ll leave in about an hour, so you’ll have time to say hello to everyone. I’m sure Eleanor is anxious to see you.”

“Thanks.” He put his hand on her arm as she started to turn away.

Her eyes flew wide open and she stared at him. “Y-yes?”

“I just wanted to say…you have a beautiful daughter, Megan.”

“Thank you.”

For the first time since he’d arrived, Tyler saw a natural smile brighten her face. Whatever else, Megan was proud of Kara, and for a bittersweet moment Tyler wondered what it would be like, having a daughter of his own. Having a child with Megan.

Swearing silently, Tyler released Megan’s arm and stepped away. It was still there, the sexual attraction between them, along with the knowledge it wasn’t going anywhere. He didn’t belong with a woman like Megan. She was the princess in the fairy tale, but he wasn’t any prince.

“I’ll just take a look around, then come down,” Tyler said when Megan didn’t move. He needed a few minutes to collect his thoughts. At eighteen Megan had been both innocent and sweetly seductive.

She was different now.

The innocence was gone, perhaps understandably. But while Megan was as enticing as ever, the sweet seduction was gone as well. Shadows had replaced the sparkling fun in her green eyes—it was a loss that made him want to cry out in protest.

The door closed behind Megan and Tyler uttered another curse, this time aloud.

He crossed to the window and stared out at the garden. It was full of cheerful O’Bannons, laughing and playing, or sitting and talking. Kara was up at the horseshoe pit, taking aim at the post. After a moment of careful concentration she sent the horseshoe flying. It spun around the target and a flurry of congratulations followed.

Tyler’s frown deepened. He didn’t known anything about families and he was too old to learn. All the “what if-ing” in the world wouldn’t change things. Kara was another man’s daughter, and he was what he’d always been—an outsider. Not that he blamed anyone but himself. The O’Bannons had tried, it wasn’t their fault he couldn’t join their picture-perfect world.

Megan appeared in the garden and crossed to a woman sitting with her back to the house. She knelt and said a few words, then the woman turned, looking directly at his window. It was Eleanor.

She saw him, smiled brightly and waved, motioning with her hand to come down.

Tyler lifted his own hand in return. Eleanor was the closest thing he had to a mother. He should just forget about Megan and concentrate on finding out what was wrong with Eleanor. He might not fit in, but at least he could get the best doctors on the planet to take care of her.

With that thought, Tyler looked at the T-shirt Kara had given him to wear. He flexed the muscles of his left biceps, trying to decide if the short sleeves of the shirt would cover the tattoo he’d got while serving in the army.

He could just imagine Megan’s reaction if she saw that damned eagle.

“He said you wrote to him,” Megan muttered to Eleanor, still on edge from her encounter with Tyler.

Not that that was anything new. Tyler had always made her nervous. It was the way he had of looking at her, as if he had secret thoughts she could never understand.

Eleanor patted her hand. “Of course I wrote to him, Megan. You know, he’s such a fine man. I always knew he’d do well for himself. But it’s a shame he never married—he’d be so much happier with a wife and family.”

Megan’s fingernails dug into her hand. She adored her grandmother-in-law, but there were moments when Eleanor was purely difficult. Like now, when she got that matchmaking glint in her eyes.

“I don’t think Tyler is interested in wedded bliss,” she muttered.

“Maybe. But you know…I could tell he was attracted to you back then.”

Attracted? Megan automatically shook her head. Not a chance. Tyler didn’t even like her, much less have any warmer feelings.

“Tyler barely knows me,” she said hastily. “And I was engaged when we met.”

Eleanor took her hand and patted it. “Megan, you’re part of the family now, and you always will be. But Brad is gone. We don’t want to see you alone.”

The kind words made Megan sigh. She’d discovered there were worse things than being alone—things like having a husband who couldn’t be faithful, and who said it was your fault because you weren’t woman enough for him. Considering the alternative, she preferred being alone.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Grams.” Megan gave the older woman a hug. “I’m not interested in getting married again. I know you want more children around to spoil, but you’ll have to be content with Kara for the time being.”

“Maybe Reece and his fiancée are planning a family,” Eleanor said thoughtfully.

Megan doubted it. Reece O’Bannon might be taking a trip to the altar, but she couldn’t see him changing diapers and walking the floor with a teething infant.

“It doesn’t seem right,” Eleanor fretted. “I have three children, six grandchildren, and only one great-grandchild.”

“You’re just jealous of Carolyn,” Megan said lightly. “Because she’s ahead in the great-grandchild department.”

“Hmmph.”

Eleanor and Carolyn were twin sisters who had married twin brothers. They were devoted to one another, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t some healthy competition between them. Especially when it came to grandkids.

“Hi, Tyler,” Kara shouted from the horseshoe pit.

Startled, Megan looked up in time to see Tyler smile at the greeting. He’d changed from his suit into black jeans and the T-shirt Kara had given him. If Megan hadn’t known better she would have said he was just an average guy, not too different from the rest of the O’Bannons.

“Who am I kidding?” she muttered under her breath.

There was nothing average about Tyler O’Bannon. He was taller than she remembered, with broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and long, muscular legs. He didn’t carry an excess ounce of fat and he had the natural grace of an athlete. On top of that, he was blessed with naturally wavy black hair and the sexiest smile in human history.

“What’s that, Megan?”

“Nothing, Grams.”

The corner of Eleanor’s mouth twitched. “Of course not.”

Tyler walked toward them with an unhurried stride that still ate up the distance quickly. “It’s good to see you.” He hesitated a moment, then leaned down and gave Eleanor an awkward kiss.

A pleased pink flooded her wrinkled cheeks. “Sit down, Tyler, and tell me how you’ve been.”

“I’m more concerned about you,” he said bluntly.

His face had a determined, I’m-getting-to-the-bottom-of-things expression. It was the same expression Megan had found so intimidating nine years ago, and she wondered how Eleanor would stand up to it now.

“Oh…” Eleanor waved her hand about in a vague dismissing motion. “We older folks have our aches and pains. You mustn’t pay any mind.”

“Your letter—”

“Don’t fuss, dear.”

If Megan hadn’t been watching closely, she wouldn’t have seen the nearly imperceptible shake of Eleanor’s head, or the way her fingers tightened around Tyler’s much larger hand.

What did it mean?

Eleanor was such a strong woman. She worked long hours at the church, rarely complained, and was generous to a fault. If she had one shortcoming, it was her persistent effort to marry off the unmarried members of her family—an effort that extended to widowed granddaughters-in-law.

Megan sat back on her heels, a cold sensation rushing down her spine. What if something was terribly wrong with Grams? The thought was so disturbing that she stopped listening to the conversation. It was only when Eleanor asked whether Tyler liked children that her head shot up.

“Grams,” she said, a faint scolding note in her voice.

“Hush, dear. I was asking Tyler a question.”

“Please don’t get any ideas.”

“Now, now.” Eleanor gave her a benevolent smile. “Tyler and I are just catching up. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He sounded amused, but there was a wary glint in his eyes.

“None of that ‘ma’am’ nonsense. You call me Grams, just like Megan.”

“Grams,” Megan repeated firmly. She didn’t want to spend the family reunion fending off Eleanor’s matchmaking efforts, much less have Tyler think she was trying to land herself a husband. A rich husband, no less.

“Yes, dear?” Eleanor had a look of guileless innocence on her face.

“You…we have to talk,” Megan said to Tyler. She jumped up, grabbed his hand and dragged him away.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Megan stormed into the living room and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Of course there’s something wrong, or do you enjoy being grilled on your interest in fatherhood?”

“Oh, that.”

“What do you mean, oh that?” she demanded.

“Every Christmas Eleanor asks if I’ve met a nice girl yet. And then she says how nice it would be if I started a family. She’s just being polite.”

“No,” Megan said with a distinct lack of patience. “Grams thinks I should get married again, and since she’s so fond of you, she’s decided we’d be an ideal couple. And I’m not interested in getting married again,” she added hastily.

“Tell her.”

“It’s…complicated. I don’t want to upset her, not with her health so questionable.”

“Oh, yes.” Tyler rocked forward, his attention focused on Megan. She was really worried. “What exactly is wrong with Eleanor? You heard her brush me off when I asked, but I know something is going on.”

Megan sighed. “I don’t know. She claims she’s fine, but her color is bad and she’s losing weight. She hardly eats anything, even when I bring her favorite dishes over to the house. Heck, her mother-in-law is doing better than she is.”

“Yes…Grandmother Rose,” Tyler said slowly. “She turned a hundred last year.”

“That’s right. We had a big party for her. Invitations went out to everyone.”

He sighed. “I know. I sent a gift.”

“She would rather have seen you.”

Tyler wanted to believe it was true, that his presence would have been more pleasing than the flowers and fine jewelry he’d sent. But he didn’t belong with the family. Grandmother Rose wasn’t really his great-grandmother, she was a distant relation to him, like the rest of the O’Bannons.

He didn’t know what to say to them, and he usually ended up feeling like a buffalo stomping around in a field of clover. Now, after years of perspective and finding success in his life, he was perfectly willing to admit it was his own fault.

“Why didn’t you come, Tyler?” Megan asked. “Grams was so sure you’d come for Rose’s party.”

He couldn’t answer, couldn’t explain that he hadn’t wanted to see her so soon after Brad’s death. How could he reveal that the reason that had kept him away was the very same reason he’d come to the reunion?

And the reason was Megan.