Chapter 15
Several days quietly went by, and Megan had found herself going stir crazy. Her house was uninhabitable, and although everyone from Granny Lou to even Jessie offered to put her and Jax up until the repairs were done on her house, Colton wouldn’t hear of it. He had every reason in the book, pleading his case as the most logical host.
He used everything from it being easier to oversee repairs, given the proximity of her house, to Duke and the other animals missing them. She concluded that it was less about the animals and more about him needing her close. He had been hovering, waiting on her hand and foot, even had friends over to “visit” when he had to leave. She didn’t need a babysitter, but given the circumstances, she understood why he felt she did.
It had been a horrifying night, sheer terror as she felt her past closing in on her with nowhere to run but a closet. The investigation had finally closed as a gas leak from the furnace in the garage. The majority of the damage was isolated to that area and the two interior rooms that butted up against the garage.
The rest of the house was fine other than the smoke damage, which was easily repaired, considering. Her car, although in the driveway at the time, sustained damage from the heat of the blaze. Funny, her instinct was to run, but her means to do so wasn’t available to her – irony at its best.
So here she was, roaming from window to window, looking for cars that didn’t belong or strangers who were up to no good. Time certainly wasn’t on her side. If this was indeed a warning, or worse, an attempt on her life, it was only a matter of time before her number was up. He – or perhaps it was “they” – would be back.
She didn’t want to run. She loved her town, her shop, all of their friends. This community felt more like home than anywhere else. So did he. He was her heart, and she couldn’t bring herself to break it. Maybe she could stay. Maybe, she thought, she should tell him. He said he wanted to protect her, take care of her. Maybe he could
help her. But, would it be worth putting his life at risk too?
Construction was due to start on her house in the coming days, and she would be able to move back in by Christmas. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She had managed to settle in at Colton’s quite nicely, and her nerves had calmed, allowing her new perspective. It had been a random accident, the investigation confirmed it, and she was determined to keep her demons at bay, taking away the power they had over her. She had become her own worst enemy, turning nothing into a bunch of somethings.
Eventually, sometime soon, she would talk to Colton about her past. It was the final nail to be put in that coffin before she could truly leave it behind and move on. The nagging guilt of carrying such a dramatic secret was the source of her short comings. It made her anxious, fearful, and suspicious when there was nothing to worry about to begin with. Telling him everything would free her of that bondage that held her trapped in her own circumstance. For now, she was safe. More importantly, she was happy.
Happy had been a distant friend until now. She finally felt content, felt like she belonged, felt like she was wanted for more than her money and status. Colton made her genuinely happy and made her realize there was more to her than those things too. He was healing and exactly what she had needed at such a vulnerable time, allowing her the clarity to see her purpose and that she was fulfilling her destined role, here in McKenzie Ridge.
Sharing his bed each night made her happy too. She was done running. She was ready to start really living and own her new life. No regrets.
While Meg was working, Colton found himself sitting with his pets on his front porch, twiddling his thumbs for the first time in his adult life. He never sat alone on his porch, talking to his animals…bored. In a matter of just a few months, Megan turned his world upside down. He couldn’t even remember what it was like before her. She filled the gaping hole he had been carrying most of his life. She was his missing piece…she completed him.
Getting Meg back to work today was a good idea, he thought, but he couldn’t help but worry. It was hard to leave her, but he knew he couldn’t hover any more than he had. She was getting restless. He could see
it, feel
it even.
Something had not been right about the fire, despite the “accidental” nature. Her reaction was another issue. Sure, fear made sense, but she was absolutely spooked, petrified, like she had seen a ghost. Rather than run from the danger, she hid in the middle of it.
He pained for her, ached for answers. He would do anything to take that fear away. He waited his entire life for her, and he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He would take her demons, fears, anxieties, hurt, and pain and absorb every last bit of it for her. He knew the night they met, months ago, that she was special—she was his.
Colton had fallen harder each day since that first meeting. Love at first sight is such a cliché he didn’t think he believed in it, but he did believe in fast love. He was in so deep he ached for her. Everything she felt, he felt deeper.
He knew she had fallen for him but wouldn’t let him in entirely. She was afraid to. It wasn’t only obvious to him but to everyone. He saw it on their faces, in their words, in their hugs goodbye. She had a family here, and it started with Colton.
He would find a way to get through to her, get her to open up. He couldn’t have another night like the night of the fire. Colton had lived through enough loss in his life, and he was done with it.
He would do anything for that woman. He would chase her to the ends of the earth and back, over and over again. It made him sound weak, needy, and insecure, but Colton was anything but. His vulnerabilities were what made him strong and made him the right man for Megan. He loved her.
He couldn’t imagine a life absent of Meg. He wanted to love her forever. All Colton needed to do now was get through that stubborn wall of hers and convince her that she needed to love him forever, too.
Megan closed Blooming Grounds early to prepare for the ladies to arrive for a meeting. Colton stopped in to pick up Jax so the ladies could have their committee meeting in a kid-free zone. He noticed the bottles of wine and glasses set on the table. There was beer as well…Jessie.
He was glad she was cutting loose and having a relaxing night. He held her close, giving her a detailed promise of what was waiting for her at home. He lifted her off the ground while he gave her a preview by way of a steamy kiss that would blush the cheeks of just about anyone who may have walked in on them.
When he set her on the table, facing the front of the store, she noticed a man staring at her from across the street, causing her to gasp. She pushed Colton away and stood, frozen in place, shocked. Colton grabbed her shoulders and asked what was wrong. He turned the direction she was staring and saw a lone car pass by and wandering tourists.
“Meg, seriously, what is it?”
“Oh, sorry. I thought I saw someone standing there, but I don’t know where he went?”
Colton turned again. There still wasn’t anyone standing there, just the passersby and light traffic. Nobody was standing there, watching them. Perhaps she was having a flash back, he thought.
“I’m sorry, Colton. It must have been a shadow or something, I don’t know. I just thought I saw someone out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t mean to worry you!” She wrapped her arms around him and let out a deep breath. This really needed to stop happening, she thought.
“It’s okay.” He kissed her for reassurance. “You just need a break. Have fun tonight. I’ll see you later.”
With one last kiss, he propped Jax on his shoulders and went for the door just as the ladies started filing in. She wouldn’t be alone, providing them both relief.