Sheltered by the Millionaire(10)

* * *

Ice skating.

Megan never would have guessed the mega-wealthy, smooth operator Whit  Daltry would plan a night of ice skating and burgers. Granted, they were  the best burgers she'd ever eaten. But still, the laid-back quality of  fun appealed to her.

He'd also taken Evie into account, something else that set him apart  from other men who'd asked her out for a date-except wait, this wasn't a  date. She didn't have time for dating.

Right?

She sat on a bench by the outdoor skating rink, eating the last of her  sweet potato fries and watching Whit lead her daughter carefully as she  found her balance on the children's skates. Moonbeams and halogen lights  created the effect of a hazy dome over the crowded ice, which was full  of people getting into the Christmas spirit early. His patience was  commendable. A person couldn't fake that. He genuinely had a knack with  kids.

Megan could see her daughter's mouth moving non-stop as she chattered  away, her breath puffing clouds in tiny bursts. Whit nodded  periodically. Other skaters whipped past, but he kept up the slow,  steady pace with Evie, making sure to keep her safe.

She stopped and tugged his hand, so cute in her puffy pink snowsuit  next to Whit, who towered over her in his blue parka. He knelt,  listening intently. Then he stood, scooping her up and skating faster,  faster, faster still. Evie's squeals of delight carried on the wind,  mixing with music piping through the outdoor sound system. Megan's heart  softened, a dangerous emotion because this could be so easy to get used  to, to depend on. To crave.

Him.

She exhaled a very long stream of white vapor. She needed to steel  herself and tread warily. She ate three sweet potato fries. Fast.  Feeding her stomach because she couldn't address the deeper hunger.

Whit and her daughter circled the rink twice before he skidded to a  stop in front of Megan's bench. He held Evie confidently. Her cheeks  were pink from the cold, her little girl's smile wide and genuine for  the first time since the twister tore apart their lives.                       
       
           



       

Megan scooted over on the bench to make room for them to join her. She  patted the chilly metal with her gloved hand. "You're very good at ice  skating for a Texan."

Whit lowered Evie to sit between them. "My parents moved around a lot  when I was growing up, all over the U.S., actually. I spent some time  ice skating on ponds because we couldn't afford the admission to a  rink."

That explained why his accent wasn't as strong as others who lived in  Royal. But she'd assumed he still came from a privileged background  because he fit so seamlessly into the elite Texas world typified by the  TCC members. She tried to picture him as a kid fitting in at all those  new places. He'd earned all that confidence the hard way. She understood  that road well.

"What other skills did you pick up over the years?" Megan passed her daughter the box of fries.

"You'll have to wait to find out." He stretched his arm along the back of the bench and tugged a curly lock of her hair.

"A man of mystery." Had she actually leaned into his touch? The warmth  of his arm seared her through her coat and sweater and the temptation to  stay right here burned strong.

"Just trying to keep you around."

Evie dropped her fry and looked up with worried green eyes. "Where's Mommy going?"

"Nowhere, sweetie." She gathered her child close to her side, love and  the deep importance of her role as Evie's mom twining inside her. "I'm  staying with you."

Her daughter continued to stare up at her. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

Evie looked down at her ice skates, chewing her lip before turning to  Whit. "You said I could pick somethin' from the gift shop."

Megan gasped, ducking her head to meet her daughter's eyes. "Evie! You  shouldn't ask Mr. Daltry to buy you things. He's already been very  generous with this trip for the kitties and then entertaining us with  ice skating."

He squeezed Megan's shoulder. "It's okay. Evie's right. I offered,  downright promised. And a person should always do their best to keep  their promises."

Megan raised her gloved hands in surrender. "Sounds like I'm outvoted."

"Yay!" Evie giggled.

Whit hefted her up, keeping his balance on the ice skates. "Did you have something already picked out, kiddo?"

She bobbed her head, pigtails swinging around her earmuffs-which she  had instead of a hat so she could still wear her tiara. "I wanna get the  snow princess costume so I can freeze the monsters."

Megan's stomach plummeted. This night may have felt like a magical  escape from real life. But she couldn't afford to forget for a second  that her everyday reality and responsibilities were still waiting for  her once this fantasy weekend was over.

This night was all she could have with Whit.

* * *

The more time he spent with Megan on this trip, the more Whit was  certain he should take his time with her, get to know her. Win her over  gradually once they got home.

For now, here in their cozy ski chalet, he needed to keep his distance.  He needed to bide his time. Rushing her tonight could well cost him all  the progress he'd made. Megan wasn't the type to be interested in a  one-night stand, and quite frankly, he couldn't imagine that once with  her would be enough.

The chalet was a three-bedroom in Vail, with a full sitting room and  kitchen that overlooked a lake. He'd originally gotten three bedrooms to  assure Megan that he respected her privacy, while still leaving their  options open. But that timetable had changed.

He'd just finished building a fire in the old-fashioned fireplace when  Evie's bedroom door opened and Megan stepped out. Her hair was loose and  curlier than normal around her face after their evening at the windy  ice rink. She still wore her jeans and green fuzzy sweater, no shoes  though, just thick socks. Her toes wiggled into the carpet as if she was  anchoring herself in the room. Finally, he had her alone and today of  all days he'd resolved to bide his time.

It would take all his restraint to keep himself in check.

Tucking aside some extra logs to keep the fire burning for a few more  hours, he stepped behind the wet bar and pulled out a bottle of  sparkling water. "Would you like something to drink? The bar is stocked.  There's juice and some herbal tea..."                       
       
           



       

"Any wine? Preferably red." She slid a band off her wrist and tugged  her hair back to gather it into a low ponytail. "One glass won't  incapacitate me."

"Oh, sure," he said, surprised. He scanned the selection and found a  good bottle from a reputable California vineyard. He poured a glass for  her, water for himself. He passed her the crystal glass.

She savored a sip and smiled, sinking down in the middle of a pile of  throw pillows on the sofa. She could have chosen the chair, but she'd  left room for him to sit, even sweeping aside one of the pillows to  clear a space. Intentional or not? He kept his silence and waited while  she gazed into the fire for a long moment.

"Thank you for everything, Whit. For bringing us here, for going to so  much trouble to arrange such a special evening for Evie too." Megan  tucked her legs to the side, the flames from the fire casting a warm  glow on her skin. "It was an incredible way to end an already wonderful  day."

As she shifted, her socks scrunched down to her ankles, revealing a  tiny paw print tattoo. How had he never noticed that before? Did she  have others hidden elsewhere on her body? His gaze fixed on that mark  for an instant before he took his tumbler and sat in the leather chair  beside her.

Was that a flicker of disappointment in her eyes?

"No trouble at all," he said. "This has been a nice change of pace from eating alone or playing darts at the club."

"You aren't fooling me for a second." Her green eyes twinkled with mischief. "Your life is much more fast-paced than that."

"If you're asking if I'm seeing anyone, the answer is no." Although the  fact that she would ask gave him hope he was on the right track playing  this cool, taking his time. "You have my complete and undivided  attention."

Her eyes went wide and she chewed her bottom lip. "Really?"

He angled back, hitching a booted foot on his knee. "That was  impressive seeing you in action today. You were amazing interviewing the  foster families and sifting through all that paperwork. I had no idea  how much detail went into ensuring the animals are safe and well cared  for."

"I'm just doing my job, a job I'm very happy to have. I get to do the  work I love in an environment that is flexible about letting my daughter  join me. It's the best of both worlds and I intend to be worthy of  keeping the position."