He needed to look at it from her perspective. It was his fault she didn’t trust him. He’d just up and left her. Then stayed away for three years, without sending a dime to help raise Haley. He was probably expecting too much, too soon. Maybe when he could tell her the truth they could start over.
But he hoped to God she hadn’t been serious about sleeping with frickin’ Toby!
After hours of aimless driving, he was so tired all he wanted was to flop face-first into bed. But overwhelming concern made him aim his truck down Meg’s grandmother’s driveway. He parked next to Meg’s car and got out. She’d had a crappy day and their argument couldn’t have helped.
He’d probably get shot again if he wasn’t careful, but he needed to be sure she was all right.
After softly closing his truck’s door, he tested the handle on the guesthouse. It was locked, for a change. He got some tools from his truck, quickly picked the lock, then stepped inside. Walking toward the open door to the bedroom, he pulled up short. A sliver of moonlight shining through the mostly closed curtain showed the bed was made and empty. Haley was spending the night with Casey, so had Megan decided to spend the night with Toby after all?
A whole new wave of anger surged through him. Not caring if Grandma heard him, he slammed the front door, and then his truck’s door, before peeling out of the driveway.
He’d been willing to grovel, do whatever it took, but he drew the line at Meg sleeping with other men. If she wanted Toby then she could just damn well have him.
Whatever.
Hope she had a good time.
Not bothering to keep his speed in check, he circled the lake and then pulled into the driveway of the lodge.
He got out, cursed the unlocked front door, then stepped inside the darkened home. Not bothering to turn on the lights, he went into the kitchen and yanked the refrigerator door open. He needed a damn beer. Or three.
He grabbed a bottle, twisted the top off, and drank half of it in one pull before heading for the living room to watch ESPN. Hopefully box scores would remove the image of Meg and Toby going at it that was etched on his brain.
A small lamp in the living room cast its glow on Meg, curled up in a tight ball on the couch. She’d fallen asleep still clutching a candy wrapper in her hand. A pile of tinfoil on the coffee table next to her head indicated she’d been there for a while. When upset, chocolate was her go-to cure.
Her bare legs peeked out from beneath one of his T-shirts. Why her wearing his shirts was sexier to him than any of her fancy underwear was a mystery he’d yet to solve.
She must’ve been trying to wait up for him like she used to do whenever they needed to talk.
Relieved she hadn’t slept with Toby, Josh put his beer bottle on the coffee table, switched off the lamp, and lifted her into his arms. He’d let her have his bed and he’d sleep on one of the twin beds down the hall.
Her eyes slowly blinked open. “Hi. Are you still mad?”
He nodded as he carried her toward the bedroom. That she’d asked him to be nothing more than an end to her sexual drought still pissed the shit out of him.
“I’m sorry, Josh.” She laid her hand on his cheek. “I thought you didn’t want me so I was embarrassed. I’d never just use you, because I care about you.”
“Okay.” He pulled the covers back and tucked her in much like he’d done with Haley the other day. “Night, Meg.”
He turned to leave, but she grabbed his hand and tugged until he sat on the bed beside her. The last thing he wanted to do was stay and discuss his damn feelings. Telling her that wouldn’t do any good. She’d say her piece anyway.
“In the past when I’ve annoyed you, you’d grumble and maybe even growl at me, but you’ve never yelled at me. My father has yelled at me my whole life and I hate it. That you never did was one of the things I used to love about being with you.”
He’d been trained to hold his temper, especially under duress. It was the one time he’d failed. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m glad you did. You’re so even-keeled I sometimes forget you can be hurt too.”
“You agreed to give me a second chance, Meg. That can’t include other men.”
“I haven’t been with anyone else since you, Josh. So we’re good there.” She squeezed his hand. “After you left earlier, I realized what I really needed from you was . . .” She stared into his eyes for a moment, then looked away. “Never mind. It’s late.”
No one else since him?
Slowly tilting her chin so she had no choice but to look into his eyes, he said, “What do you need, Meg?”