Authors: Lesa Henderson
Alan erupted with a hearty laugh, while Cindy giggled before immediately turning to Megan to see if the fun at her expense had offended her.
Megan responded by playfully slapping Lee on the arm and giggling. “That’s not funny. It’s true…but not funny.”
By the time they were all finished eating, Megan’s anxiousness had completely dissolved.
Without inhibition, Lee laughed often. There was nothing whatsoever forced or unnatural about it. When he laughed, his eyes twinkled with an inner light. It affected Megan in a way she could not explain. It seemed to radiate from deep within him and she could feel it in her bones. It was a confident, joyful sound that resonated around the room. It washed over her, making her feel just like she was basking in the warm sunshine on a chilly day.
To Megan’s chagrin, Lee looked up and caught her staring at him. She could feel the color fill her face as Lee simply raised his lips in a gentle, knowing smile. A smile saying he could see things about her that others could not see. This brought her both discomfort and curiosity.
When everyone had eaten until they could hold no more, the foursome moved their party from the table to the living room where Lee kept them in stitches as he shared some of his childhood antics.
To Alan’s feigned embarrassment, Lee regaled them with animated details of some of his and Alan’s escapades in vet school. After that, it was tit-for-tat between the two old buddies, as they strove to see who could drum up the most ridiculous or embarrassing moment for the other one. As the two veterinarians competed with their most bizarre animal/doctor situations, they had the girls laughing so hard tears were streaming down their faces.
“But it wasn’t just at the clinic or school that we had situations,” Alan said. He looked at Lee to see if he knew where he was going but Lee shook his head.
“Remember Mrs. Hodges’ tomcat?”
“How could I ever forget Tom?” Lee asked, rolling up his sleeve and pointing to a long thin scar that had faded white on his forearm. He added melodramatically, “I’m marked forever.”
“I’ve never heard this story; what happened with Tom?” Cindy asked.
“Well…” Alan started, “Mrs. Hodges lived on the same apartment floor as we did.”
Lee jumped in. “She’d adopted a huge tomcat named Tom from off the street. We liked Tom. He’d come down to our apartment two or three times a week and meow to get in, we’d give him a treat and he’d stay for a while before heading back home.”
“Mrs. Hodges had never taken Tom to a vet to get checked out so Lee and I convinced her that she really needed to do so. Since her only mode of transportation was her daughter who’d come by to take her places, Mrs. Hodges convinced the kind young interns to take Tom in for her.” Alan pointed to himself and Lee.
Grinning, Lee said, “So, I picked Tom up in my arms and carried him to the car.”
“We got in and closed the doors. Tom sat in Lee’s lap as gentle as a lamb. Until—”
“Until he started the car!” Lee interjected.
“Tom became a wildcat, hissing, fur flying and claws extended as he started doing laps around the car.”
The girls gasped and then burst into giggles as Lee finished, “We were in Alan’s little two-seater and there was no place for us to go. We opened the doors at the same time and fell out on the ground. Tom made his escape and stayed hidden for two days.”
“It didn’t occur to us until later that perhaps we should have gotten a carrier for him,” Alan concluded.
Finally, Megan breathlessly exclaimed, “Stop! Stop it both of you—right now. I can’t take any more.” She was holding her side as she gave the order.
“Me either,” Cindy agreed, wiping her wet cheeks. She stood and retrieved Katie from the swing since all the laughter woke her.
“Okay.” Lee took pity on them. “We’ve monopolized the floor and I’m sure you girls are dying to share some of your most embarrassing moments.”
Megan and Cindy turned simultaneously, giving each other an incredulous glance, aghast at the thought. Their outraged expressions brought hearty laughter from the men, who seemed to be enjoying their discomfort.
“Oh, all right.” Megan relented after a few moments of silence while the men waited. “Cindy, you especially will get a kick out of this. Alan should appreciate it as well. You guys both know what a klutz I am, right?”
“Hey, I think I can testify to that,” Lee chimed in, with a tease.
“You be quiet!” Megan said, with mock sternness.
“Sorry,” he offered, but the teasing glint in his eyes belied his apology entirely.
Megan nodded, proceeding to recount the incident of running into Lee the first time they met. As she told the story, Lee would pipe in, helping her with a detail here and there. Together, they told the story so well they would have been mistaken for a couple who’d had years of practice in joint story-telling. Where one would leave off, the other would automatically resume. Nonetheless, when it was all said and done, laughter filled the room again.
“That’s our Meg,” Cindy quipped, “the Queen of Klutz.” She smiled and squeezed Megan’s arm. The comment was made with no offense intended and none was taken. It was a long-standing fact that Cindy gently teased Megan about. Alan rarely missed an opportunity to get in on it as well.
“I’m glad she’s a klutz. We actually met because of it,” Cindy explained.
“Really?” Lee seemed eager for more information. “Do tell,” he encouraged with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Cindy glanced at her friend with raised brows, obviously waiting for permission to proceed.
“Oh, go ahead. I know it’s killing you,” Megan affably agreed.
“Well, the first time Megan drew attention to herself—”
“I did not draw attention to myself,” Megan interrupted.
“The entire school’s eyes were on you.”
“Not the entire school, just those in the lunchroom. Besides they’d have been on you, too, if you’d dumped the entire tray of silverware on the floor,” Megan defended.
“Oh this is good,” Lee teased, with a wink in Megan’s direction.
Cindy continued, “It was the first day of school and we were both starting our freshman year. The cafeteria was already crowded, and being underclassman who didn’t know the ins and outs of high school yet, we were a little late to lunch and therefore some of the last in the lunch line.”
“As I recall, you were two or three people ahead of me,” Megan interjected.
“Right,” Cindy agreed. “Anyway, there was this long line where you go through and get your tray of food and then you exit. Placed next to the exit was a huge metal tray, for the return of your dirty silverware.”
Megan chimed in, “Evidently, I wasn’t watching where I was walking and I knocked the metal container over, emptying all of the silverware onto the floor.”
“All of it!” Cindy added. “It was incredibly loud, especially since it was a tile floor and it seemed like they just kept falling. It scared the life out of me and everyone else in the cafeteria. The whole place grew so quiet you could hear a pin drop and all eyes were on Megan.”
“I was just standing there, frozen to the spot with this truckload of silverware scattered all around me on the floor.”
Cindy took over again, “Then somebody started clapping and pretty soon everyone was clapping. You know…like
way to go! Good job!
”
“What did you do?” Lee turned to Megan.
Cindy piped up with, “I would have run from the room and I wasn’t even the shy one. But not Meg.” Cindy gave her friend a loving wink as they strolled down memory lane. “She just looked around at everyone laughing and clapping and said in her best Elvis voice,
thank you, thank you very much,
took a bow and began to pick up the silverware.”
“Cindy had mercy on me, put down her own tray and helped me pick it all up.”
“What could I do? I felt sorry for her.”
“I knew it,” Megan exclaimed in mock hurt. “I've known it all along. Our entire friendship has been based on pity.”
“It has not and you know it,” Cindy began to defend herself until they locked eyes. “Oh get out of here.” She waved her hand.
“Hey…” Alan interrupted. “What about that delectable Chocolate Éclair Cake I saw you making earlier?”
“I almost forgot.” She handed him the baby. “Here, you entertain your daughter and I’ll go get us each a piece.”
Alan gladly took Katie. As Megan rose and headed toward the kitchen to help her friend, she couldn’t help but see the apparent adoration Alan had for his wife and baby.
Megan and Cindy returned from the kitchen with a tray of dessert and coffee. Lee was sitting on the floor with Katie. Megan stopped short, nearly causing Cindy to collide into the back of her at the sight of Lee sitting Indian-style, with his dark head bent over Katie’s fuzzy blond one, as they played with child’s blocks.
Megan’s heart tightened in her chest, at the picture they made. This man was getting under her skin with no apparent effort on his part.
Friends! S
he admonished herself, silently.
We’re just friends,
she repeated, suddenly feeling as if her foolish heart needed to be reminded.
Over all, it was a wonderful evening. Megan enjoyed herself immensely, although she had grown rather quiet upon returning from the kitchen with dessert. Megan gave Cindy a goodbye hug at the door.
“Thanks for including me; I had a wonderful evening. I want to have you all over to my place soon.”
“Just let us know when and we’ll be there with bells on,” Cindy said, turning the front porch light on so Megan could make her way to the SUV. When she stepped out on the porch, she found Sir waiting in his usual spot.
“Come on, Sir, it’s time to go.” The Great Dane jumped to his feet and practically ran circles around her as they walked down the drive.
Chapter Ten
It was around midnight when Megan and Sir climbed into the SUV to leave the Wolff home. However, when Megan turned the key in the ignition, nothing happened. It was as dead as a doornail. Even after several attempts by Lee and Alan, it remained unresponsive.
“Let me drive you home,” Lee graciously offered.
Megan hesitated a moment but knew it was a logical choice. “Okay, thanks.”
On the drive to her cabin, conversation flowed between them with a natural ease. At some point, the conversation turned to the law firm where Lee’s father worked in Atlanta.
“The law firm originated with my mother’s father and his best friend. My father joined them about ten years ago. His name was added to the firm, as a partner, last year.”
“We did a lot of work with law firms. Which one is your dad with?” Megan asked curiously.
“Collins and Stevens, originally. Now it’s Collins, Stevens and Grainger.”
At the mention of the firm’s name, Megan drew a sharp breath.
“Is something wrong?” Lee questioned, turning to give her a look of concern. Megan tried to recover from her surprise quickly so she could answer truthfully, albeit evasively.
“I’m just surprised. It really is a small world. That law firm was a client of the firm I worked for in Atlanta.
“Really? It
is
a small world,” Lee agreed.
No kidding!
Trevor Raines was an associate at that very firm. It was entirely possible Lee knew the man. Her heart sank at the thought Lee might know Trevor, and in turn, learn of her relationship with him. It wasn’t plausible really, not given Trevor’s penchant for secrecy.
Still!
The chance filled her with trepidation and shame.
Lee attempted to carry on a conversation with her the remainder of the trip. Megan only answered in monosyllables, and looking back now, was unsure if she had even answered in the correct places. However, her hope that Lee had not noticed was fruitless.
As they stood on her front porch, after letting Sir inside, Lee gazed down at her in the moonlight.
“I have either said something to offend you, or something is troubling you,” he pointed out gently.
“Oh, no,” Megan assured him. “You have been very kind and thoughtful, not to mention, most entertaining.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. I’m just tired and have a lot of work ahead of me this week.”
“I would never intentionally hurt or offend you, Megan,” he assured her tenderly, his eyes glowing with sincerity. In spite of herself, she believed him.
She could only nod in response.
“I think someone has hurt you. Deeply,” he said, in almost a whisper.
As she stared up into his gray eyes, he reached down and cupped her face. She allowed her head to tilt and briefly rest in the warmth of his large palm, momentarily cherishing the strength and security she found there.
Lee removed his hand and Megan was surprised at how she longed for its return. Lee must have read the confusion on her face.
“I don’t want to take advantage of our friendship or rush you in any way.” He leaned down and gently brushed her forehead with his lips, whispering, “Sleep well, my friend.”
With that, he opened the door for her to go inside and then closed it softly behind her. Long after he was gone, Megan stood leaning against the door.
****
The next morning, Megan sat on her porch sipping coffee. As her mind wandered, she found herself thinking about the simple, innocent brushing of his lips across her forehead. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the touch of his hand against her face, hear his soft voice as he reached out to her, smell the fragrance that was all Lee. So many emotions; she didn’t understand them all but she couldn’t deny the odd fluttering in her chest. Needless to say, with those thoughts and the information Lee had shared about his grandfather’s law firm, Megan would have some difficulty concentrating on work. But, work she must, so she headed inside to begin her day.
Sometime after noon, Megan answered the insistent ringing of the phone. Her heart reacted as she recognized the deep masculine voice on the other end.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Lee immediately apologized.
“Actually, I need a break,” Megan assured him.
“I promised I would check your truck and give you a call.”
“What’d you find?”
“Loose battery cables.”
“That’s it?” she asked.
“Yeah. Anyway, I can pick you up after I leave the clinic at five and run you over to Alan and Cindy’s to get it…if you’d like.”
Before she had time to consider her actions, she found herself offering, “Why don’t I prepare us a nice dinner, and afterward, you can drive me over.”
“I’d like that, but I don’t want you going to any trouble.”
“It’s the least I can do and it’s no trouble,” she assured him.
“Okay, but let me bring the dessert.”
They set a time and she hung up the phone with a whimsical smile on her face. She turned to find a very inquisitive look on Sir’s.
“What are you staring at?” she asked, almost guiltily. With drool stringing from his jaws, the Great Dane cocked his head sideways, as if she should know exactly
whom
he was staring at.
Later that evening, Lee pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair. “That was delicious,” he complimented the two plates of spaghetti he had just polished off.
“It was quick, easy and took very little effort—hardly gourmet—but thanks for the compliment.” Megan removed the plates and placed them in the sink.
“It was very good. Just the right amount of seasoning.”
“I have the feeling you would say that about a bologna sandwich,” she teased.
“Hey, bologna is good,” he said, in mock seriousness.
Megan laughed and then asked, “Do you want dessert now, or would you prefer to wait a bit?”
“Let’s wait. I don’t believe I have room right now.” He patted his rock hard stomach.
Megan’s eyes followed his hand’s path and had to struggle to keep her pulse in check.
He certainly stays fit.
As if reading her mind, Lee explained, “I jog and lift weights.”
“Oh.” She could feel warmth rise in her cheeks as she realized she had been caught staring. Megan was able to lower her gaze from his expansive chest and muscular arms. As she did though, she found herself traveling down his legs before returning to his face.
Had she been staring again?
Mercifully, Lee changed the subject. “This is a great cabin.”
“I think so. I fell in love with it the moment I laid eyes on it, even in the condition it was in.”
“So you got a good deal on it?”
“Yes. I used the money from a trust fund my mother established for me after my father’s death. I bought the cabin, paid for the repairs and moved in.”
“How old were you when your father passed away?”
“Eleven,” she stated, matter-of-factly.
“I’m very sorry. That must have been difficult.”
Megan merely nodded.
Lee must have sensed her discomfort because he changed the subject again looking down under his feet. “Beautiful floor you have here.”
“Thank you,” Megan said, pleased he’d noticed. “I refinished those myself.”
For the next little while, Megan explained her purchase of the cabin and its restoration. Lee was very complimentary of the work she had done—all the stripping, sanding and refinishing of the floors, especially having done them by herself.
“I’m a resourceful girl,” she teased.
“I can see that. A man would be a fool to underestimate you.” Another compliment brought color to her cheeks. He either did not notice or pretended not to, as he stood, took a towel from her and began drying the dishes.
“Let me help you with these.” He gave her no chance to decline his offer.
As he stood next to her at the sink, she inhaled deeply of the scent that was all him and becoming very familiar to her. Occasionally, as she passed a dish to him to dry, their fingers would touch, sending a shiver up her spine.
After the dishes were put away, Megan and Lee ended up on the back porch, with a cup of coffee and the chocolate cheesecake Lee had brought. It was a cool evening and Lee had taken the liberty of lighting the chimenea that was situated next to the rockers for warmth. It was a rather nice commodity on cool evenings, such as this one. It added to the beauty of the evening with the stars out overhead and the mountains offering a silhouetted backdrop.
Megan grabbed her favorite afghan and sat wrapped in it with her feet tucked beneath her. She sipped her coffee slowly, enjoying the company of the man beside her. Sir made his way out to the back porch and lay at Lee’s feet, with his large head cushioned on Lee’s boots.
As he talked, Lee occasionally reached down to gently scratch Sir between the ears. He may not have known it, but he was making a life-long friend out of Sir. He wasn’t doing badly with Sir’s owner either.
Lee shifted their conversation in mid-stream by asking, “So, how much do you know about this big dog you have here?”
“Him personally or the breed?” Megan quipped.
“I walked right into that—the Great Dane Breed.”
“Well, after seeing an ad in the paper offering Great Dane puppies for sale, I did a little research,” she explained. “I know Danes are a crossbreed of the Irish wolfhound and the Old English Mastiff, originating in Germany. I’ve also been told they are called gentle giants because of their demeanor and size.”
“Yeah, well something the size of a small pony does not have to be aggressive or ferocious. Their size and bark is intimidating enough.”
“I’ve discovered that. Sir is indeed gentle, but he is also extremely protective and loyal.”
“Every Dane I’ve ever come across is that way,” Lee interposed. “They are also very fond of children, which makes them great family dogs.”
Family.
Now, there was a word she had not considered in some time. Once upon a time, she daydreamed about the day when she would wed and have children. She had thought Trevor was the man to complete that dream; little did she know that Trevor already had a family.
Megan snapped back to reality when Lee repeated his question.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“It’s okay; I bored Sir to sleep as well.” He gave her a mock-injured look.
“You are hardly boring,” she assured him and looked to find Sir not only asleep but snoring. Megan and Lee’s laughter filled the balcony and broke the quiet night air. Sir stirred briefly, peeping groggily through half-closed eyes, only to lay his head back down, when he realized he had missed nothing of importance.
Before either of them realized it, midnight was approaching. Megan was lost in conversation and completely unaware of how quickly the time had slipped away.
“Wow, time sure does fly when you’re having fun,” Lee repeated the old adage.
“It sure does, and we’ve yet to get my truck.”
“I apologize. Is it too late for you now?” Lee asked, standing and stretching.
“Are you kidding? Not with all the coffee I’ve been drinking.”
“Great. Then let’s go,” Lee said, reaching his hands out to her and Megan placed her hands in his. When Lee pulled her to her feet, he pulled a little too hard and Megan’s body made contact with his. The impact wasn’t enough to knock the breath out of her, yet she was breathless. She was close enough that his woodsy cologne stirred her senses and the brief contact caused her heart to beat faster.
“Sorry,” they offered simultaneously and then laughed. As Megan looked up at him, the laughter died on her lips and Lee grew quiet as well. As they stood staring at one another, it seemed as if everything stilled and grew quiet. Everything except her heart, hammering erratically in her chest.
After what seemed an eternity, and yet Megan knew it was a mere second or two, Lee cleared his throat, smiled and swept his hand toward the path to the car. “After you, my lady.”
Megan gave a nod of her head, as a lady to her knight, and turned, leading him back into the cabin.