It Had to Be Him(33)

Megan finally let that smile bloom. “The winters get long here and most everyone can throw a mean game of darts. We’re going to put everyone’s name in a bucket and draw for the order to shoot. Nice of you to give a car away, Josh.”

Crap! Was everyone related to Meg in this damned town?





Meg moved another inch forward. The press of people in the stuffy bar meant Josh was standing entirely too close to her. The heat pumping from him warmed her back.

With a new car at stake, everyone huddled around the metal Pabst beer bucket as her uncle Brewster dug out the ninth person’s name to try their hand at winning it. The good thing was, because most of the Grants frequented a bar just outside of town, there’d be a good chance one of her relatives would win the car.

When her uncle had called earlier and told her what her man was up to, she’d quickly amended the rules for the evening. No way was she letting Josh hand her a car. She might not have much, but she still had her pride. And then there was the lawyer part about not taking anything from him.

“It’s Toby!” Uncle Brewster called out.

Everyone moved aside to give him room to throw. Toby shot her a cute grin, matching his earlier one on the lake. “If I win, I want the car and a kiss from you, Meg.” Naughty comments along with loud laughter cheered him on.

Before she could tell him no, Gloria, rocking one of her typical bowling shirts, called out, “Older women have more experience. Sure you don’t want to save that kiss for me, Toby?”

“I was saving a kiss for you too, Gloria. After I hit bull’s-eye number eleven.” That drew an even bigger laugh from the room. Toby was the worst dart shooter in town.

Josh’s arm slid around her waist, pulling her against his solid chest. His warm breath on her cheek sent a cool shiver up her spine. “Who’s Toby?”

She tilted her head back so she could see his face. “The first guy I ever slept with.”

Josh’s jaw twitched as he watched Toby throw his first dart. When it barely connected with the bottom of the board and everyone moaned, Josh’s eyes locked with hers again. “Are you still sleeping with him?”

She pulled out of his embrace and turned to face him. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no. Men aren’t a high priority for me right now. And I’m not taking a car from you, Josh.”

While everyone else crowded by the bar to see who’d go next, Josh pulled her off to the corner. “I want you both in a car with air bags and antilock brakes, not some—”

Brewster’s booming voice called out, “Granger, leave my niece alone so she can get up here and throw some darts!”

Josh narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t being reasonable, Megan.”

“Probably not.” She answered his scowl with her best smirk. Teach him to try to pull tricks on her. If they were going to live in the same town all summer, she had to establish a few rules.

She made her way to the line and picked up the first dart. Just as she drew her arm back, her father called out, “Wait!”

When had he gotten there?

Her dad scanned the crowd, sending them his “don’t mess with me” scowl. “Are you asking me to believe nine of you couldn’t throw ten bull’s-eyes? Or is this a way to help Megan win a car and then sell it for cash to fix up the house? I’ve warned you all about this! She needs to learn to stand on her own.”

She hadn’t even thought about taking the car and selling it, but now that she studied people’s guilty expressions, maybe they had all been missing on purpose. Well, except for Toby. He was just bad at it.

It made her heart go a little gooey to think they’d all do that for her. And pay fifty bucks apiece on top of it.

“We were just having fun, Dad. I’ll skip my turn, we’ll return entry fees, and Josh can keep his car.”

Her father whirled on her. “Nope. You and I are going to throw until someone misses. The chances of you beating me are slim, but I’ll be fair. Winner gets the new car and the entry fees too. They were all going to throw their money away anyway.” He turned to the people gawking. “Does anyone have any objections?”

Aunt Gloria said, “I do, but it won’t do any good to say so. Good luck, Meggy. I’m outta here.”

Gloria had always been her favorite aunt, even though she wasn’t married to her uncle Brewster anymore.

When the rest remained silent and looked away, Dad glanced at his brother. “How much is in that pot there, Brew?”

“A grand.”

Her father stepped aside and held his hand out. “Ladies first.”

Damn him. He always ruined everything. God, she wanted so badly to beat him and embarrass him in front of everybody, but he’d probably just find another way to make her miserable if she did that. Or she could walk out and leave him standing there like a fool. But that would have consequences too. What she wouldn’t give to be anything other than an Anderson at the moment.