Every Yesterday (Boot Creek) (16 page)

Blinking her eyes against the sun, Megan turned over and picked up her phone off of the nightstand.

Nine fourteen.

And a reminder.

The spa. This was the morning she, Angie, Katy, and Flynn were all meeting at the spa for a day of pampering. Good lord, she’d set the thing up. How could she have forgotten?

She looked over at Noah, tan all the way to where the sheet covered his lower half. That had been one night to remember. Somehow waking him and shooing him away so she could meet the girls at the spa seemed tacky.

She slipped out of bed and quietly got dressed.

I can’t just leave him.
She grabbed a piece of paper from the hall, jotted a quick note, and then tiptoed back into her bedroom.

He hadn’t moved.

She laid the note on her pillow and left.

Holding her breath until she made it all the way out to her car, she let out a sigh of relief. She had just enough time to still make it to the spa on time. If she hurried.

Thank goodness the other girls were riding separately. That would have been awkward as heck if someone had called with him lying there right beside her in bed.

No. The girls did not need to know that she’d slept with the best man. Before the wedding? Nearly a complete stranger? No, ma’am. That was a little tidbit of information that she’d keep to herself. He’d be gone next week, and that would be that.

She’d planned to stop and pick up some supplies while she was in Raleigh this morning before meeting up with the girls, but those plans had been chucked after that first toe-curling kiss from Noah. And if she showed up late, it was going to be hard as heck to keep her night with Noah from the girls.

Pushing her car to make up some time, her wheels squealed out of the turn on the on-ramp. She loved driving her VW. It handled like a dream. Kind of like Noah last night. She smiled. Satisfied and ready to see him again.

She pulled into the parking lot with just a couple of minutes to spare. Thank goodness she hadn’t gotten a ticket. She’d deserved one fair and square, but it would have put her late for sure.

She checked herself in the mirror. Her lips were swollen from way too many kisses, and her cheeks were red. Whisker burn from that sexy scruff. A small price to pay for one heckuva night.

Hopefully she’d be able to hide it from the girls until after the facials. Then she could blame the products.

Katy pulled into the lot just as Megan was getting ready to open the door. She waved and waited for her.

“Glad I’m not late,” Katy said. “Derek was in one amorous mood last night.”

“Must have been the full moon.” Whatever it was, she hoped there was more to come.

“Can’t believe how fast the days are going,” Katy said. “Can you believe the wedding is almost here?”

“No. For the longest time it seemed so far off. Now I feel like it’s snuck up on us.”

“I’m so ready for this day. I need to relax,” Katy said.

As soon as they walked into the spa, a herd of red-lipsticked, white-coated, clinician-looking types practically attacked them.

Angie and Flynn were already sipping mimosas. “Hey!”

“Looks like y’all have a head start on us,” Katy teased.

They were led back to a room that had already been set up for their group. Up to six people could get facials, manicures, and pedicures at one time in the luxurious room. On one wall stacked stone reached from floor to ceiling in soft weathered tones of tans and blues with water trickling down into a pond.

The room glowed with soft light, and Megan felt a little like she was in the middle of this weird water ballet as the white-coated women all seemed to descend at once—leaning them back in their plush leather chairs and clicking on the lights and steam machines.

She closed her eyes. Last night things with Noah had gotten steamier than this facial. As the aesthetician cleansed, exfoliated, and lathered luxurious creams into her skin, Megan couldn’t help but smile with Noah Black still on her mind. She wouldn’t soon forget last night.

Her chair was electronically moving to the upright position. When she opened her eyes, the other girls were being moved too. Flynn on her left and Angie on her right, they all had pink glowing skin.

“Do y’all feel as relaxed as you look?” Flynn asked.

“I hope so,” Angie said. “And we haven’t even gotten to the massages yet.

A new crew of four white-coated women filed into the room. They filled the footbaths with warm water and blue foamy suds then pressed the buttons on the electronic panels on the massage chairs.

“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Angie said as the rolling massager made her arch and ebb like a possessed woman. “I totally should have put one of these on my bridal registry.”

“We should go in on one together,” Megan agreed. “We can keep it at my shop.”

“Or the inn,” Katy offered.

“Or the B&B,” Flynn said. “I think we’d fight over it. Maybe this isn’t a good idea. Megan, what did you do to your leg? That looks painful.”

“What?” Megan twisted her hip. A swatch of turquoise paint looked like a gnarly bruise. She’d roll with it, only as soon as the pedicurist massaged that lotion into her leg, it was going to disappear. Awkward.

“What’s wrong?” Angie leaned forward in her chair.

“It’s nothing.” Megan hoped they’d let it go. “Y’all relax.”

“That is not nothing.” Flynn’s forehead creased in concern. “It’s got to hurt like heck.”

“It’s paint. I must have missed it when I was in the shower.”

“Paint?” Flynn and Angie both leaned forward.

“
Stop speculating.
” Megan knew they’d leap to conclusions. At least they hadn’t noticed her lips. The kissing would be way harder to explain away. “I was working on a project.”

“That’s great!” Angie reached across and grabbed Megan’s hands. “You have so much talent. I’m so excited that you’re painting again.”

“It’s not like that. I’
m not.
”

“But you can. I mean. It’s a start. Right?” Angie looked so hopeful. But either way this story was going to disappoint. She wasn’t going to paint. And she wasn’t going to be with Noah. So she just let it go, closing her eyes and hoping they’d do the same.

“This is quiet time.” Megan looked at the gal who had pulled her rolling chair up to start on her pedicure. “Right? Tell them to be quiet and enjoy this.”

“Enjoy,” the woman said softly. “Your friend is a little bossy.”

“Oh, great. My own girl is turning on me.” But Megan was glad because the joke seemed to get everyone focused on relaxing instead of her.

A few minutes later, Katy said, “Megan, I didn’t know you were an artist. I mean, I knew you were a craftsman, but the painting . . . I hadn’t heard that.”

“It’s old news,” Megan said.

“Is not.” Angie turned to Katy. “That mural on the side of the building at the intersection of Cabot and Main. Megan did that.”

“You’re kidding? That is so pretty.”

“And paintings. She even won some art shows. Used to even sell some pieces.”

“I had no idea. I’m so impressed. You’ve got to show me your work,” Katy said. “We should display some of it at our place. For the retreat.”

“That would be perfect,” Angie said. Her voice was rising the way it did when she got excited.

“Y’all slow down. I’m not painting again.”

Angie leaned over to Katy. “She only paints when she’s totally in love with someone or something. A guy broke her heart. Hasn’t painted since.”

“If you think you’re whispering, you suck at it. I’m sitting right here.”

“I just thought she should know.”

“The two are not connected.”

“Nothing is that coincidental, Megan. We all know you were absolutely heartbroken. Kevin was your muse. Or he stole your muse when he left. Whatever it was, he stole your gift to the world.”

She wasn’t having this conversation. That was old news. She’d moved on. All of that was fine right where she’d tucked it safely away. Not to be tempted or destroyed again. “Lord, Angie. Don’t be so melodramatic. It’s not like I was making a living at it. The candle business is what I was meant to do. Let it go.”

Flynn had her eyes closed, and her head leaned back, but it didn’t keep her from jumping in on it all. “Someone’s touchy,” she sang.

Megan couldn’t believe she’d missed that paint. Good lord. And Noah hadn’t mentioned it either. Probably because he put it there. Not that she hadn’t deserved it.

“It’s probably the wedding that has inspired you,” Angie said. “Weddings are so romantic. Besides
he
was a long time ago.”

“We’re not saying his name again.”

“I didn’t.”

“I know. I’m just saying. Maybe.”

“Maybe it’s the wedding, but it wasn’t a painting like you think. It’s just a little project.” And that wasn’t a complete lie. It kind of was the wedding that had inspired her, because it was Jackson’s surprise wedding gift to Angie that had kicked off that whole chain of events. And Noah asking her to be a part of it. And spending time with Noah hadn’t been half bad either. Probably because they both had the exact same values and views on life and relationships.

Megan peeked over toward Angie, who was staring at her with a knowing look. Angie knew her so well.

“You know, Megan, Jackson was saying that Noah couldn’t quit talking about you the other day.”

Megan’s hopes soared. Only she wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like she was looking for anyone. She was completely happy the way things were. “He’ll be in California next week. Don’t be silly.”

“Yeah, besides,” Flynn added. “I think Noah was out on the prowl last night. So he must not be interested in Megan. He never made it back to the inn.”

Megan felt like a squirrel in the middle of a highway, unsure of which way to dart. “How do you know?”

Flynn’s hands moved with her words as she began to explain. “Well, he wasn’t there when I went to bed. And he wasn’t there for breakfast with the other guys.”

“Maybe he got up early. Went for a run or something,” Katy said.

“I guess it’
s possible,
” Flynn said. “But don’t you think the guys would have said something if that was the case?”

“He could’ve been over at Jackson’s,” Megan said.

“No,” Angie said. “Jackson would have told me. I talked to him last night and he was already in bed. He didn’t mention anyone else being there this morning either.”

Quit trying to cover for him. You’re just looking guiltier.
She picked up the color-key chart for the nail polish colors, hoping no one would notice that just-been-laid look about her. Because right now she felt like it was written all over her face.

“We don’t have to pick colors, remember? We’re all getting the same thing,” Flynn said.

“Yeah, I was just looking. To look.”
To hide. What I want is to crawl in a hole and hide. I can’t believe I slept with him. I don’t even know him. And he’ll be gone next week. What was I thinking? Am I crazy?

“Ford is really nice,” Flynn said, out of the blue. “I’
m glad I
’m walking down the aisle with him.”

“You’re welcome,” Angie said.

“I’m glad you’ve found the perfect guy, Angie. I think I’m going to quit looking for a while. I feel like I’m trying so hard that I’m scaring the good ones off.”

“You have been a little ummm . . . overzealous,” Angie said with kindness.

“I know. I was thinking about that last night. I just want what you and Katy have so badly.”

“It’ll come. In the right time. You’re so busy getting the B&B back up and running. It’s not the best time for a relationship for you right now. Things have a way of working out at the right time. Be patient.”

“I’m trying,” Flynn said. “Y’all have to help remind me of that.”

“We will,” Megan said. “I will anyway.”

“I knew you would. Aren’t you always the one who reins us back in? You’re lucky to be so happy by yourself. To not need anyone.”

She didn’t. But she sure was thinking it might be nice to have someone around. If that someone was like Noah. But then again, how many Noahs were out there in the world? And then of those, how many were near Boot Creek? Slim pickings at best.

Angie spoke up. And Megan knew that she would. “Flynn, calming down and not trying so hard does not mean that you give up the dream of finding your soul mate. It will happen. Look at me. And I have a child. I really didn’t think I’d ever find someone who could love me and Billy the way I wanted. And then there was Jackson.”

“And Derek. I was in the middle of a meltdown when I bumped into him. So, not the right timing, but I think fate will bring you together if it’s right. No matter what. You just have to be open to what the world is putting in front of you.”

“How do you even know when it’s right, though?” Megan asked.

“You’ll feel it,” Angie said.

Katy’s voice was soft, dreamy. “His kisses will send your every nerve ending tingling like a sparkler, and you won’t be able to think straight. Your insides will be like the inside of a snow globe and your cheeks will hurt from you smiling—all the way from your heart to your lips. It’s incredible.”

“Sounds impossible.”

“Don’t be a Debbie Downer,” Angie said.

“You’re going to have yours one day. I’m telling you. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will find love and you will not deny it.

“We’ll see.” Megan wasn’t going to jump into that express line.

“Me too?”

“Definitely, you too, Flynn.”

Megan remembered exactly how Noah’s kisses had felt. Emotion shuddered through her just at the memory. “His kisses will make me feel like a sparkler?”

Angie swatted at Megan’
s arm.
“Stop laughing. You’ll see. Okay, maybe not like a sparkler, but, like, tingly. And fabulous. Oh, you go ahead and laugh. When you’ve really been kissed, you’ll know it.”

She bit her lip. She contemplated spilling the truth, but the truth was she could identify with that stupid sparkler reference. “I kissed Noah last night.”

“What?”

“He was with you? That’s where he was? All night?”

“Oh, my gosh. And you let it go this long without saying anything?” Flynn could catch flies in her mouth it was dropped open so wide.