It Had to Be Him(74)

If Casey liked him, then maybe he wasn’t the usual type Meg always picked. Casey’s approval made the decision easier. Maybe it was time to break the cycle and get over it. He’d changed, so maybe she could too.

“I’m sorry. What I should’ve said was that when it comes to Haley, we need to start making decisions together—especially something as big as getting a dog, Josh.”

He cringed. “Well, then maybe I’d better tell you the rest. About Eric. But first, I’d like to tell you what it was like for me growing up at the ranch.”

Josh opened up for the first time about his past. It was a subject he’d never wanted to talk about, so she’d never pressed. It had made it that much easier not to tell him about her past either.

She couldn’t imagine Josh as a skinny kid, getting beat up regularly. There were few who’d take him on now. No wonder he was so good about going to the gym and keeping fit. It must have given him a sense of control he never had as a kid.

By the time he’d finished his story she felt so sorry for Eric, there was no way she could be angry at Josh for taking the kid away from the pain and the bullying.

But keeping a kid and four dogs at the lodge while it was being renovated was no small thing and he should’ve at least called her. “Fine. Eric can stay for the summer. And one pup. I vote for the little pirate. But no more decisions like this without talking to me. Got it?”

“Yep.” He smiled so sweetly it weakened her defenses, as usual. “How about I lock the door and we finish making up?”

“Or, how about you go out there and make breakfast for that crowd while I take a shower and try to figure out how to find homes for those other three dogs before Haley gets too attached?”

“Or I can do that.” He stood and opened the door. “Thank you, Meg. I knew you’d understand. You have a big heart under all that bluster. It’s what I love most about you.”

She opened her mouth to deny it, but when he quirked a challenging brow, she stopped. He’d always seen right through her. That’s what had made her fall so hard for him when they first met. How he seemed to know her and understand her so quickly. Like no other man ever had. It’s why she’d let her defenses down for the first time and allowed herself to love him.

She rose from the bed and gave him a hug. Laying her forehead against his hard chest, she whispered, “That I didn’t kill you over this probably means I love you too.” She gave him a squeeze. “I might know for sure if you make me French toast.”

Chuckling, he gave her butt a light smack. “I’ll get a straight-up confession of love out of you yet. But I’ll take this one for now, even if it is French toast blackmail.”

She rolled her eyes at his bad joke, then crossed to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

She was all in now. Hopefully she hadn’t made a big mistake.

Again.





Because it was Saturday morning and sleeping in might be involved for those lucky enough to be able to, Meg waited until ten o’clock to set out on her mission to find the puppies a good home. She knocked on Tara’s front door, juggling the basket on her hip with two wiggling pups inside. Hopefully it hadn’t been the wine talking when Tara said she wanted a puppy last night.

When the door swung open, Tara stood before her in cute jogging attire and a little white towel slung around her moist neck. Her lips slowly tilted. “Josh brought all the puppies home? Is he still alive, or are you here for an alibi? Your brother Ben is more my type, but I guess I could be persuaded to say you and I spent the whole night together.” She reached inside the basket to pet the dogs.

Meg laughed. “You’d totally be my type if I were into women. Especially if you look this good after a run. That’s just not right.”

Tara smirked. “Lie to me. Butter me up so I’ll take a pup. I’m on to you, Megan.”

No lie. Tara was the prettiest woman Meg had ever met. It was just a bonus she was nice too. “Which one would you like? Or if you just can’t decide, why not take both?”

Tara grabbed the basket and then stepped aside, inviting Meg in. After leading the way to a living room right out of an interior decorating magazine, Tara took the dogs out and played with them on the shiny wood floor.

“I’d like to take both and then give one to Sarah as a gift. She wants one so badly, but I got the impression her husband holds all the power in their relationship.”

That was the understatement of the year. Ed was a downright bastard sometimes. “Yeah. Nice thought, but when Ed’s unhappy, Sarah pays for it.”

Tara frowned as she stroked the pup curled up in her lap. “I hate to hear that. Sarah deserves better.”