Sheltered by the Millionaire(31)

       
           



       

Beth's eyes narrowed. "Who told you that?"

"Colby Richardson. We crossed paths at the restaurant last night."

"What did Whit say when you asked him for his side of things?"

"I said I...I mean, we talked about it." She chewed her bottom lip,  thinking back over their argument and trying to remember when things  really went off the rails. "He didn't deny it."

Beth nodded, but stayed silent.

Alarms jangled in Megan's mind. "You're trying to say there was a good reason for what he did?"

She thought back over the evening. It had been the perfect setup for a  proposal. He'd even asked her to move in on the drive over. He was  clearly serious.

Reflecting on how quickly things had spiraled out of control, she  started to question why she hadn't asked rather than just assume. At the  time it had seemed as if asking would have given him a chance to lie.  But now she wondered if she had subliminally sabotaged the evening  because deep down, she was afraid to trust any man again. Just as Whit  had accused her of doing.

She looked at Beth, guilt stinging over the way she'd jumped to  conclusions when Whit had done nothing but try to see and meet her  needs. Her eyes watered again and she didn't bother hiding the emotion  from her friend. "I should have asked him about the land purchases."

Beth hugged her close. "Sweetie, it's hard to push aside a lifetime of  insecurities. I understand that well." She angled back and smiled. "But  the risk is so very much worth it."

Megan eyed her friend suspiciously. "You wouldn't happen to know why he bought the wetlands?"

Beth shrugged. "You should be asking him."

"I'm asking you, because I think you know the answer."

"And if I did?" Beth replied enigmatically, "I think it would be wrong  for me to tell you. A relationship needs to be built on trust and if I  give you the easy answer, then you will have missed an amazing chance to  make things right between you."

Beth's words sunk in. Deep. As Megan looked back over her time with  Whit, once she'd gotten to know him, he'd been honest, thoughtful,  generous. Loving.

The way she'd assumed the worst and walked away had to have hurt him.  He had plenty of friends, but no family that had ever come through for  him. His father had let him down time and time again.

Even skipping out on bills.

And God, she'd accused Whit of being dishonest. She squeezed her eyes  shut and rested her head against the cool steel kennel. At every turn  since the tornado, she'd seen his quietly philanthropic spirit. He  wasn't the type to shout his good deeds from the rooftops. He didn't  seek thanks or accolades.

He was a good man.

And she'd messed up, big-time.

She'd been so afraid of getting hurt, she'd turned her back on the love  of a lifetime. As she peeled off her gloves, she made up her mind-she  owed Whit an apology. She was done being scared.

* * *

In his greenhouse, Whit dug his hands into the dirt and pulled the  catnip from its original pot. The plant had taken off, outgrowing the  small container. He'd come out here today to get his thoughts together.  About halfway through the night he'd gotten past his pride. Sure, he'd  hoped for more trust from Megan. But he'd pushed too much too fast. He  needed to back up and regroup.

He wasn't a quitter. He'd worked to build a better life for himself and  now he realized how narrow his view of success had been. It wasn't  about the house. It was about the people. He just had to figure out the  right way to win her back.

He dropped the catnip into a larger container and scooped more potting  soil around the exposed roots. He'd made a lot more headway with Megan  when he'd given her simpler gifts. But damn it, he'd thought buying the  wetlands for her and leaving them untouched was the right decision.

Damn it, he still did. He just needed to find the right time to try again.

The greenhouse door opened and he called out for the deliveryman, "You can leave the crate of plants by the door."

"I don't have any plants to offer." Megan's voice carried down the long walkway. "Can I stay anyway?"                       
       
           



       

The sound of her, here, where they'd shared such an amazing night, was  like water poured on parched soil. Incredible relief. Hope for new life.  But he needed to tread carefully rather than steamrolling her as he'd  done too often in the past.

Whit pulled his hands out of the dirt and grabbed a rag. "Did you leave something here last week?"

She walked toward him, every bit as gorgeous in jeans and a T-shirt as  she'd been in her lace gown last night. "I did, actually."

Damn, disappointment kicked through him. "What did you leave? I'll keep an eye out for it."

"You already have it in your hands, Whit." She stopped in front of him  and pressed her palms to his chest. "I left my heart here with you."

Had he heard her right? "Megan, about last night and the wetlands-"

"Wait." She tapped his lips. "Let me finish. It's important. I brought  something for you, but I need to say some things first. I want you to  know that I trust you. I know you have an answer and a reason for  whatever you've done. We may not agree, but I do respect your right to  do as you see fit. We are different, you and I. And that's a good thing  too."

"You really mean that."

He was stunned to his roots that she gave him her trust so fully. He'd  been so used to working like hell for everything in his life. He'd never  expected something so perfect, so incredible to land so smoothly in his  arms.

"Absolutely." She sounded so sure of herself. Of him. The constant worry in her green eyes was nowhere in sight.

"God, Megan, I l-"

She tapped his mouth again. "I'm still not finished. I need for you to  listen. I know I said some unforgivable things last night and I'm sorry.  I should have asked for your side of the story rather than assuming."

He held her with his eyes. "I haven't given you a lot of time to trust me. I realize trust has to be earned."

"And you've done that. More times than most people in this town know  and probably far more than I've realized." She stroked his face. "I  looked back and realized that you use your money and influence to help  so many people without ever taking credit."

He shrugged off those words. "It's easy for me to help. Doesn't put a dent in my bank balance. That's not a sacrifice."

She shook her head. "I think for a kid who was homeless a few times, it  probably is a lot tougher to let go of the security of extra money in  the bank than you let on."

God, she humbled him and amazed him and made him fall in love with her  all over again. "You see me through far nicer eyes than I deserve."

"And you see yourself through a much harsher lens than you should."

Relief shuddered through him as he began to accept that she'd given him  a second chance. He wrapped his arms around her waist, hauled her to  his chest and just held her, a simple pleasure he would never take for  granted again.

He nuzzled her hair, her cinnamon scent tempting his nose and giving  him ideas for something new to add to his garden. "What made you change  your mind? Who told you about my plans for the wetlands?"

"No one told me about your plans." She angled back to look at him. "I meant it when I said I'm here because I trust you."

"Megan," he said hoarsely. "I bought the tract of land to give to you.  It will stay just as it is as a tribute to how damn lucky I am to have  you in my life."

Her eyes went misty and then bright with tears. "Are you kidding? Oh my  God, Whit." She hugged his neck, kissed him, hugged him again, then  dabbed her eyes. "I'm so sorry for doubting you. Can you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive. You're here." He stroked along her back,  loving the way she felt in his arms. Loving her, period. "You said you'd  brought something for me. What is it?"

"Oh, right." Her tears vanished and she smiled mysteriously. "A couple  of things actually for your-our?-house." She reached into her purse and  passed him two silver picture frames. The first had a photo taken at the  ice rink in Colorado of him with Megan and Evie. The second picture was  of Evie on the sofa holding Tallulah, with Truffles, Pixie and Scooter  sleeping along the back, while Piper and Cosmo stood by the coffee table  set for a tea party.                       
       
           



       

A lump rose in his throat.

He hauled her close with a ragged sigh. "God, Megan, I love you so damn  much. The thought of spending another night wondering if I'd lost you  forever..."