“And you couldn’t tell me the truth.” Zeke scratched the stubble on his cheek. “That was the right thing to do. I’ll give you that. Wish you hadn’t hurt Meg in the process, that’s all.”
“Me too.” Josh joined Zeke at the workbench, leaning against it. “I understand if you’ve changed your mind.”
“Now, don’t be putting words into my mouth that aren’t there. I was only stating facts. And if you’ll recall, I gave you the job in the first place because I didn’t trust you and wanted to keep an eye on you. But, after what happened today, it does make a man wonder if you really have feelings for Meg. Because if you don’t, then I’ll have to ask you to leave town and let her and Haley be. Meg’s had some rough patches. She don’t need any more caused by you.”
“I love Meg. And I’m not going anywhere. I have Haley and Eric to consider. I may have failed with Meg, and I’m still hoping she’ll come around, but I won’t fail the kids.”
“That’s what I figured.” Zeke shrugged and sat down to work on his carburetor again. “The offer still stands, Granger. And just a piece of advice from an old man. Meggy is as stubborn as they come, but anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
The sharp click of a rifle cocking snapped Josh’s head around. Meg’s grandmother lifted her gun and pointed it straight at his heart. “You’re coming with me, boy. Now!”
With a sound-asleep Haley on her shoulder—and since when did Haley weigh so dang much?—Meg made her way down the long hall that connected the hotel with Casey’s living quarters. She’d checked Casey’s office first, and then the lobby, but she was nowhere to be found. It was her sister’s day off, so maybe she was at home for a change.
Meg held the pie box and to-go bags in one hand and Haley in the other. Just as Meg lifted her foot to kick in lieu of knocking, the door swung open. Casey frowned as she listened to someone on her cell phone. When she spotted Meg, her shoulders jerked in surprise. “She’s right here. I’ll take care of it.”
Meg said. “Take care of what? Who’s looking for me?”
Her sister crooked her finger and held the door open wider. “Why don’t you lay Haley on my bed?”
Meg followed Casey to her bedroom. After Casey lifted the covers back, Meg slipped Haley under them, then kissed her forehead.
When they were in the living room again, Casey asked, “So where’s Eric?”
“At the park playing soccer. Toby said he’d bring him by later. What’s going on, Casey?”
Her sister gave such an innocent shrug it had to be fake. “I just wanted to keep the kids so you could have the evening to yourself. I’ll let Toby know to bring Eric back here. Now let’s get you and your dinner on your way home.”
Meg let herself be dragged for a few feet until it hit her. “How did you know this was my dinner? Who were you talking to when I showed up?”
“Aunt Gloria.” Casey stopped pulling and huffed out a breath. “She was worried about you, that’s all. Now get going, would you?”
Something was up.
“Is it Dad? Have you heard something?”
Casey crossed her arms. “No. But before you hear it from someone else, I should probably tell you that after I heard Josh’s side of the story I let him have a room.”
Hot fury ripped through Meg’s veins. That’s why Casey was trying to get rid of her? “How the hell could you do that to me, Casey?”
Utterly betrayed for the second time that day, she turned to leave.
But Casey was quicker and wrapped her long arms around Meg’s shoulders to stop her. “I didn’t do it to you, I did it for you. I didn’t want you to push him away like you’ve done to every man who’s cared for you.”
Meg turned to face her sister. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Casey sighed. “You’d never fully commit to the men you dated, so of course they treated you the same. Or you’d pick a guy so wrong for you, it was for the best when he’d leave. You push men away so they can’t hurt you first. You’re not the hard-ass you like people to think, Meg.”
“I committed to Josh and look what that got me.”
“Then you must love him enough to give him a second chance. He was just doing his job and you got caught up in that. Josh loves you, and I don’t want to see you throw it all away because you’re afraid to be hurt.”
“How can you say that after your nasty divorce? I hated how badly Tomas hurt you.”
Casey nodded. “I hated how much he hurt me too, the cheating bastard. But I don’t regret marrying him. I have my boys I wouldn’t trade for the world. And we were really happy for a while. The best thing I took away from my divorce was it made me realize I’m strong enough to deal with whatever life throws at me. I’m responsible for my own happiness. If you push Josh away, will that make you happy?”