“That’s what normal people do, not health-conscious workaholics. I’ll transfer the money back this afternoon.”
Not if he could help it.
She took the fork from his hand. “I should probably save you from your bad self.” Meg stole a big bite of his hash browns.
Next she started in on his pancakes, deliberately provoking him. She had to remember how much it annoyed him when she used to eat off his plate, but strangely, he kind of missed her little bad habit.
He slid the jam closer. “It’s strawberry. Your favorite.”
She met his gaze for a moment before she picked up his knife and dug into the jam. “That could’ve been just a really good guess. Strawberry is most everyone’s favorite. What’s my overall favorite thing for breakfast?”
“Coffee. Best not to talk to you in the morning until you’ve had at least one cup.”
“True.” She smiled and stuffed the last of his omelet into her mouth. “You have no idea what you’re missing by not drinking coffee.”
“Orange juice is better for you.”
He gave up all hope of getting any more of the best hash browns he’d ever had and slid his plate in front of her. How someone as small as Megan could eat as much as she did always amazed him.
Megan eyed his juice glass, so he handed that over too. Before she got any more big ideas, he chugged his milk. “Why not keep the money and buy a more reliable car?”
“My car’s fine.”
“But I owe you years of child support.”
“How about you leave right now and keep your money?”
“I’d rather you take the money, Meg.”
She wiped the plate clean with his toast and shook her head. “You abandoned us, so as of now, Casey’s lawyer thinks it’s best not to take anything from you until we work everything out.”
“I thought we weren’t going to do the lawyer thing.”
“Casey called him, not me. But maybe we won’t have to get lawyers involved. Maybe you’ll see what life in Anderson Butte can be like and decide to leave on your own.”
She banged the empty glass down and sent him a cocky grin. “Seriously, after seeing your colorful face in the mirror this morning, you must be having second thoughts about staying here.”
“Nope.” He’d been beaten and left for dead on some of his worse missions. A few punches from Megan’s father were child’s play.
She stood to leave, leaning her mouth so close to his ear her warm breath sent a jolt straight to his lap. “We’ll see. Thanks for sharing your breakfast.” She gave his shoulder a pat. “Do we still need to have that drink tonight, or did we just cover it?”
“We still need to talk about Haley.”
She let out a long sigh. “Fine.”
Meg turned to leave, but he hooked a finger in the back of the waistband of her shorts and pulled her against him. Leaning over her shoulder, trying to ignore how nice her hair smelled, he said, “Maybe two-stepping will even be involved tonight.”
She turned her head and cocked a brow. “You stomping on my feet isn’t my idea of fun.”
“I was hoping you’d lead this time.”
She flashed a smile the way she used to for a second before she shut it down. Maybe he was making progress.
“No dancing and no kissing, Josh. Let go. Haley has an appointment to see Ben in a few minutes.”
He spun her around to face him. “She’s sick?”
“She has asthma. It was getting better, but something about being here at the lake has triggered her symptoms again.”
“I had asthma. Grew out of it when I was in middle school.”
“Really?” Megan’s eyes softened as a slow smile lit her face. “Maybe Haley will grow out of it too, then?”
“Probably.”
“God, that’s such a relief. Gotta go.”
“See you tonight.” Guilt stabbed him square in the heart when he’d seen the worry Megan carried about the asthma. Something he could have maybe helped relieve if he’d been around. But how to get her to let him help her now?
While watching Megan’s curvy jean-shorts-clad butt disappear through the swinging doors, a plan to get her and Haley that new car took shape in his mind. He scooped up his dishes and took them to the sink. After rinsing them off, he placed the plates and glasses into the big stainless steel washer.
Casey popped up behind him and corrected his placement. “Where’d a guy like you get such good manners?”
By growing up in a group home and then living his adult life alone—except for his time with Meg. “I bought them on the Internet. Speaking of which, can I use your computer? The Wi-Fi isn’t working in my room. But that’s probably on purpose, right?”