Overwhelming guilt for snooping poked at her conscience, so she quickly shut the phone down and put it back in her purse.
When her phone beeped with a text, she reached for it. Ryan, finally. Maybe she’d get some news about her dad. Josh is going to help. I’ll let you know.
She tapped back. Thanks.
She started to put her phone back when it beeped again. He was just doing his job, Meg.
Yeah, and part of that job was to play intense mind games with people. When necessary. And to lie so well that his girlfriend, who lived under the same roof, had never known he had a whole other life. How could she have been so freakin’ blind?
But worse, that instant mutual attraction she thought they’d both felt had been one-sided. The one thing that had made her let her guard down for the first time with a man. One who understood her and yet accepted her for who she was.
He probably had a complete file on her. How could she not have fallen for a guy who seemed to like all the things she liked, loved to do the same things she loved to do? Who understood her so thoroughly? He’d played with her mind just like he did with the criminals he dealt with.
What did she really know about him? Was he the intense guy like in Denver or the laid-back one of the last few weeks? Anyone could be mellow for a few weeks. But not everyone had the ability to lie like that.
The kids returned with the boxed pie. Haley said, “Can we go home, Mommy?” She rubbed her eyes.
Nap time.
They’d ridden over in Josh’s truck, so they didn’t have a car. She glanced at her phone to check the time. He was probably done clearing out his stuff by now.
“Let’s go see if Aunt Casey can give us a ride.”
Aunt Gloria appeared and held out a paper to-go bag. “For later. No one should have to cook dinner after a day like you’ve had.”
Grateful tears threatened to spill over, but Meg blinked them back. She accepted the bag and the hug her aunt offered.
While she wrapped Meg in her arms, Gloria whispered, “Don’t judge him by the other scumbags you’ve dated. He’s different. You know you’re still my favorite niece, Anderson blood or not, and that I love you, right?”
Not Aunt Gloria too. It was nice her aunt still loved her, but couldn’t anyone be on Meg’s side and understand how deeply Josh had betrayed her trust in him?
She could only nod, for fear she’d fall apart. She mouthed a “thank you” before she took Haley’s hand and headed for the door with Eric trailing behind.
As they crossed the park, a soccer ball zipped across their path. Eric trapped it with his foot, added a little hop and a flip, and then launched the ball like a rocket back to the kids on Toby’s soccer team who were practicing their drills. A wistful smile lit Eric’s face as he watched the ball sail through the air.
“Wow. That was fantastic, Eric.” Meg smiled despite her black mood. “Did you play on a team back home?”
He nodded. “I used to. Until . . .”
Until his whole life had been turned upside down.
As hers had in the last few days. They had that in common.
Toby had obviously seen Eric’s fantastic pass, because he was jogging in their direction, his whistle bouncing off his chest. “That was impressive, dude.”
Toby nodded at Meg, then turned to Eric. “We could really use a guy like you on the team, bro.”
Eric’s face lit up as he turned to Meg for permission. “Can I stay and play?”
“Absolutely.” She turned toward Toby. “Can you give him a ride home when you’re done?”
“Yep.” Toby grinned and threw an arm around Eric’s shoulder. “Come meet everyone, buddy.”
That was the life Eric deserved. Soccer practice with great coaches like Toby encouraging him. Aunt Gloria was right. Meg needed to find a way to keep Eric longer than just the summer. Unfortunately, that would involve more dealings with Josh.
Tears burned her throat again as she picked Haley up and started for the hotel. She needed to hold it together. At least until she got home. When she was alone and Haley was asleep, then she could fall apart.
Josh hung up Ryan’s office phone after speaking to Watts. In the middle of Josh explaining the charges to Ryan, the sounds of a hysterical woman echoed outside of Ryan’s office. Sue Ann burst through the door with black mascara streaks running down her face. “You”—she pointed to Josh—“are the reason my husband is in jail. Figures Meg would bring trouble with her.” She planted her hands on her hips. “She’s going to have to deal with me this time.”
Ryan sighed. “Sit down, Sue Ann.”
Her fury switched to Ryan. “How can you ask me to sit in the same room as . . . him? He and Megan need to get their sorry asses out of town before I grab my gun and chase them both out myself!”