Laugh Like You've Never Cried (Summer Lake 5) (3 page)

***

A
fter he'd talked to Ethan, Michael decided he had time for a quick bike ride before meeting the gang for breakfast. He wouldn't get his full hour in, but he could at least do the short circuit out along the river and back down by the public beach. He pulled on his cycling shorts and grabbed his helmet then headed out. It was weird to do this on a Saturday morning without Ethan, but the boy was off having fun. He'd been all excited about going fishing with Scot. It was good for him to be getting out and doing stuff without his old dad in tow the whole time. Michael climbed on his bike and set off down the street. He'd be able to set a good pace while he was out on his own. He should make the most of it.

Half an hour later he was coasting back down the hill towards the public beach. There was hardly anyone there yet. He could see one figure walking a dog, but that was it. He brought his bike to a halt and leaned it up against a tree. He loved to walk the beach when there was no one around. He wandered down to the water's edge and started skimming stones out across the lake. It was like a mill-pond this morning.

As he threw a stone, a dog came running down the beach, barking and wagging. Michael bent to stroke him as he went crazy around Michael’s legs. “Hey, fella! It's nice to meet you too.” The dog barked and barked and seemed to be grinning at him as he jumped around his legs. “Calm down, mate!” Michael laughed. “What do you want? You want me to throw for you?” He picked up a stick and threw. The dog barked happily as he chased after it and brought it back. He dropped it at Michael's feet and sat panting expectantly, waiting for him to throw it again. Michael grinned. “Don't you have a two-legged of your own to do this for you?” He looked around but couldn't see the dog's owner. He threw the stick again and laughed, watching the dog wiggle as he ran. He didn't have a tail, so instead he was wagging his bum as he went. He really did seem to be grinning as he came back with the stick in his mouth. He dropped it at Michael’s feet. Michael wasn't sure what breed he was, but he was beautiful, black and gray on his body with white and tan on his chest and nose. He had those blue eyes that sometimes made dogs look crazy, but just made this guy look smart.

Michael picked up the stick and teased as the dog jumped for it. He barked and barked and jumped trying to get it. Michael laughed when the dog put his paws on his chest and barked at him. He wasn't being aggressive. It was more as if the dog was talking to him, telling him to get the hell on with it and throw the damned thing.

He heard a shout from behind him. “Ollie! Stop it! Get down, boy. Leave him alone.”

Michael had to laugh. He knew that voice. He threw the stick and the dog chased after it while he turned to look at Megan.

“I'm so sorry. Are you....” Her voice trailed off when she realized who he was. She met Michael's gaze. “I...I...I'm sorry. He can be a bit wild. He didn't hurt you?”

Michael laughed. “I'm fine. We're having fun.”

The dog came back and dropped the stick at his feet again. Megan looked embarrassed. “Ollie! Bring it to me.”

The dog gave a short bark at her then started wagging around Michael again. Michael squatted down and made a big fuss of him. “Thank you,
Ollie.
I'm very pleased to meet you, boy.” He looked up at Megan, her cheeks were red. “So, this is Ollie, huh?”

She nodded, but said nothing.

“Well, he seems pretty friendly to me. And now we know each other, don't we boy.” He threw the stick again and walked over to Megan while Ollie chased after it. She was wearing baggy jeans again and another shapeless sweatshirt. He was dying to know what she would look like without them, or even just in something more flattering. When he reached her, she looked up at him. She really was tiny; she only just came up to his shoulder.

“I...I...I'm sorry,” she said. “But I didn't lie. He's not normally friendly with strangers at all.”

Michael smiled. “He must like me then, huh? And you know, they say dogs are the best judges of character. Since Ollie's prepared to give me a chance, I think you should too.”

Her eyes widened. He couldn't make out what color they were. Kind of hazel, brown, and green, and gold flecks all shimmered together. “What do you mean?” She looked as if she was ready to run off again, so Michael quickly dialed back the joke he'd been about to make.

“I mean, last night I said I'd like to walk you home and make a new friend, so why don't you give me the chance to do that this morning? I'm headed to meet the gang for breakfast at the Boathouse. Come with me, let me walk you home afterwards.”

She shook her head. “I...I...I can't, thank you. I have to get Ollie home. Give him a bath, and...and...”

Michael smiled. “It's okay, that's two excuses, you don't need to wrack your brain for more. I get it. You think I'm pig ugly and you don't want to be seen out in public with me.” He gave her a forlorn look.

***

“D
on't be silly! You're incredibly good looking—and you know it!” Oh no! Megan hoped that she hadn't really just said that out loud. Michael's grin confirmed that she had. It also confirmed that she was right, that this was a man who could never in a million years be described as pig ugly, and that he was fully aware of that fact.

She watched him bend to make a fuss of Ollie who was wagging around his feet again, waiting for him to throw the stick. Traitor! Michael threw it then straightened up. His smile softened.

“Sorry Meggie. I kind of set you up with that one to see what you'd say.” He winked at her and she could feel her heart race in response. He was so sexy! And the crazy part was that he made
her
feel sexy. Not sexy enough to know what to say though. She just stared at him, at his lips, and at that dimple.

“So which part would be worse?” he asked. “Coming out for breakfast with me, or letting me walk you home?”

She thought about it. “Coming out for breakfast. I'm not good at being around a lot of people.”

“Okay.” He rubbed his chin, pretending to be thinking really hard. “So, how about I come pick you up at lunch time, and you come out on the boat this afternoon? That's only a few people. Missy and Dan, and Ben. You know all of them, and Leanne from last night too. Then I'll walk you home afterwards.”

Megan shook her head. “No. It's very kind of you, but no thank you. I can't.”

“Why not?”

Good grief! He wasn't going to let her off the hook easily, was he? She wasn't about to tell him that he made her so nervous she couldn't think straight. Wasn't about to say she found him far too attractive to spend an afternoon with him and his friends. “I...I...I....” Oh no! He really did make her nervous. She'd conquered the stammering thing years ago and here she was back to it. She took deep, calming breaths and centered herself as she had learned to, before trying to speak again. He was smiling at her, waiting patiently. He didn't look like he was about to laugh at her stutter, if anything he felt like he understood and was silently encouraging her. She took one more deep breath then said, “I can't because I'm working this afternoon, but thank you. It's very kind of you to offer.”

He took a step towards her. She froze as she craned her neck to look up at him. The goosebumps were racing down her spine, just as they had when he'd leaned on the back of her chair last night. “It's not kind of me Meggie, it's self-serving. I want to spend some time with you, get to know you. One way or another it's going to happen. I'm just working through possibilities till I find one that you'll go for.”

She didn't have any words for that. What could she say? She had no point of reference. Men didn't talk to her like that. Certainly not men who looked like Michael.

He threw the stick again for Ollie. “So, how about I try another possibility? Since you're not big on groups of people, let me take you out to dinner tonight. Just you and me. We can go to Giuseppe's and sit out back. No one sits out there now that the nights are cooler. I'm not going to quit till you say yes to something.”

Go out for dinner with him? Just the two of them? Like...a date? Surely he couldn't mean that?

He took the stick from Ollie and held it up. “She won't answer me, Ollie.” The dog barked and wagged around him. Michael winked at her again before squatting down to talk to Ollie. “So how about
you
answer me, mate.” He grinned up at her. “Last night it seemed that what Ollie here thinks is important to you. So how about we let him answer for you?”

Megan looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

His eyes were shining with mischief, the dimple next to his smile was back as he answered. “Will you do what Ollie says?”

She nodded slowly. Not sure what he was up to. Ollie was sitting facing him, one paw on his knee.

“Okay, Ollie.” She couldn't help but smile as he looked the dog in the eye and addressed him in all seriousness. “I need you to help me out here, mate. Do you think our Meg should let me take her out for dinner tonight? Gimme one bark for no, and two barks for yes.”

Megan smiled and shook her head.

Michael grinned up at her. “Let's see what he says, shall we?” He looked back at Ollie who put a paw on his shoulder and gave two short, sharp barks.

Megan's heart started to race. Could she do it?

Michael stood up. He was beaming. “What time shall I pick you up then? You can't back out on me now. You have to abide by the word of Ollie.”

She smiled in spite of herself. Why not live a little for once in her life? Every girl deserved one night out with a handsome man. It looked like tonight was her night. Why not go for it and enjoy it? She met his gaze and her heart started to race again. “Eight o'clock?”

He frowned. “Let's say six o'clock. That gives us two more hours before I walk you home.”

“Okay.” She couldn't quite believe it, but she was going out to dinner with him. And he wanted to go earlier rather than later. She didn't know what else to say, so she started walking back up the beach.

Michael threw the stick so that Ollie raced ahead of them. He smiled at her. “He's a good dog. What breed is he?”

She had to smile that he didn't know. “He's a bit of a mutt, but mostly he's Australian Shepherd.”

Michael grinned. “Of course he is. That's why he likes me.”

“I wasn't making it up last night, you know. He's not normally very friendly. That's why I bring him down here early before there are many people around.”

“I'm glad he's making an exception for me then.”

They were back at the parking lot now. She could see a bike leaning against a tree. That explained the cycling shorts he was wearing. The shorts that she had to make a conscious effort to keep her eyes from straying down to. They showed off...everything. And from the first time her eyes landed there, she knew he had a lot to show off!

“I'm glad too.” Oh no! She'd said it out loud again. There went that dimple as his smile grew bigger. “Ollie! Come here, boy.” She avoided Michael's gaze as she bent to get Ollie's leash back on. “I...I...I need to get him home and get ready for work.” She straightened up to meet green eyes smiling down at her.

He put a hand on her shoulder and she almost keeled over as the shock of his touch went rippling through her. “Be ready at six then, Meggie. I'll be looking forward to it.”

All she could do was nod and scurry away.

M
ichael stacked his bike in the rack outside the grocery store. He couldn't stop smiling. He hadn't expected Megan to agree to go out with him so quickly. He was delighted that she had. There was just something about her. She was awkward, and klutzy, and all kinds of shy. He couldn't wait to get her laughing, to see her relax, and really get to know her. He headed into the store with a big grin on his face.

“Michael Morgan! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at breakfast with everyone?”

He turned around. “Hey, critter! Tell me you didn't hunt me down to remind me?” After seeing Megan on the beach, he'd completely forgotten about meeting the others for breakfast.

Missy laughed. “I did not. I just needed a few things so I popped over and let Dan take Leanne on ahead.” She raised her eyebrows as she looked at his cycling shorts. “Are you going to get changed before you come over, or do you plan on parading that thing all around town?”

Michael laughed. “I thought I'd come like this, see if any of you ladies want extra breakfast sausage.”

Missy rolled her eyes. “Put it away! Though I'm sure Leanne would take some, if it's on offer.”

“In that case, I'll go home and change first.”

“You're really not interested?”

“I am not.” He grinned now. “And I've got a bone to pick with you.”

Missy eyed his shorts again with a laugh. “As long as it's not that one!”

“That's not a bone, darl'. That's a sleeping giant.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes again. “Get over yourself! I need to get out of here, and so do you. Tell me what I've done wrong this time, and let's get going.”

Michael bagged the apples he'd been getting when Missy had found him and they started walking to the checkout. “You let me suffer last night. You could have told me that Ollie's a dog.”

Missy grinned. “That didn't take you long. I know you like a challenge, so I thought I'd leave you to figure it out for yourself. How did you do it?”

“I just got lucky. I took the bike out early and Megan was walking him on the beach.”

“So you're really interested in her?”

Michael nodded. “Really interested. She's coming out for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, good. I've been wanting to get to know her properly. Is she coming this afternoon as well?”

“No. She's working this afternoon. And I don't mean she's coming out with all of us tonight. I mean I'm taking her out—on a date. We're going to Giuseppe's, so make sure you lot don't come over there, okay?”

Missy wrinkled her nose at him. “Wow! You? On a real date? I'm shocked and stunned.”

He pursed his lips. “So am I, mate, but I don't know. There's just something about her.”

“Go for it, hon. She seems really nice. I'm just surprised, I guess. She's a bit quiet and shy for you.”