Right Here Waiting Read online

  “We’ll definitely go in your car.” She didn't mind driving at all.

  She grabbed her keys off the coffee table and followed Josh out the door, locking it behind them. Out of habit she looked around for Blade, but she didn't see him anywhere. She felt a sting of disappointment, which was quickly followed up with relief.

  Harry’s was already filling up with the locals when they arrived. Because she wasn’t feeling very social, they chose a booth in the very back.

  She didn’t even bother to look up when the waitress came over to take their orders. “I’ll have a beer.”

  “Oh my God!” the waitress exclaimed. “Is it really you, Megan? It has been ages since I saw you last. I never thought I would see you around these parts again.”

  She looked up and at first, she didn’t recognize the woman. After a moment she remembered who she was. It was Karen Rodgers. At one time, she and Karen were like sisters. It all changed when Karen stole a sweater from another girl at school and pinned the blame on her. After the incident, Megan was known around school and Hidden Oaks as a thief.

  She forced a smile. “It’s nice seeing you again, Karen.” Megan didn't really mean it.

  “We’ll have to get together before you leave town.” That was the last thing Megan wanted to do, but she knew she needed to be polite.

  She was about to tell Karen she didn’t think she would have time when the girl turned all of her attention on Josh, as if she just noticed him sitting there.

  “And who have we got here?” she asked, all but drooling all over Josh. He didn’t seem to mind all the attention she was giving him at all. He seemed genuinely interested in her.

  “I’m Josh,” he said, holding out his hand and shaking hers. “And who is this beautiful woman I’m having the honor of meeting?”

  The way they were acting with each other made Megan sick. Karen finally wrote down their orders and moved on, leaving Megan feeling relieved.

  She slid down in the booth when she saw Alex enter the bar, hoping he wouldn’t see her. She was out of luck. He spotted her instantly and came walking over to the booth. He looked from her to Josh, taking in the scene before he spoke.

  “I thought you weren’t going to do any dating while you were in town? At least that was the impression I got when I asked you out.” She felt heat rise in her cheeks.

  “I’m not on a date, Alex.” She wasn't used to being in this position. New York was so big when she turned down a date with a guy her chances of running into any of them while out with another, whether it be a male friend or date, were slim to none.

  “Well, than who is this you're with? He looks like a date to me.” She hated how Alex just jumped to conclusions. It wasn't as if she were still his girlfriend. What they once shared was great, but they were young then. He really wasn't her type.

  “This is Josh. He’s my co-worker and a really good friend of mine from New York. He came here to help me work on a project for the ad agency we work for. We’re just relaxing after a day’s work.”

  Alex’s expression softened. "Good to meet you, Josh," Alex said. The men shook hands.

  She wished Alex would leave until she saw Blade enter the bar and start looking around as if he were here to meet someone. “Why don’t you join us?” she asked on impulse.

  Alex seemed surprised, but accepted her offer. To her disappointment, her plan didn’t work. Blade spotted them and didn’t let Alex’s presence stop him from sauntering over to their booth.

  “Do you mind if I join the three of you?” he asked, removing his cowboy hat. What was he up to?

  Before she could open her mouth to say anything, Josh said, “Not at all. Have a seat.” What was going on?

  Instead of Blade sitting next to Alex, which would have been easier, Josh jumped up and moved to the other side to sit with Alex, leaving the space next to her available for Blade. Blade sat down and slid his arm around her, pulling her into his embrace.

  She tried to move away, but in the small booth, there was nowhere to move. Not wanting to cause a scene, she laid her head on his shoulder.

  Karen returned with beers for her and Josh. “My, my, my,” Karen said, eying the four of them. “What do we have here? Don’t you think this is a bit awkward, Megan?”

  “What are you talking about, Karen?” she asked, feeling her temper rise.

  “This little scenario. You come here with one man,” she said, holding her hand out in Josh’s direction. “Now you have your ex-boyfriend, Alex and the man the whole town knows you always had the hots. How many men do you need, Megan dear?”

  She wanted to jump out of the booth and rip all her hair out, one strand at a time. Blade must have sensed it because he tightened the arm which was still around her.

  “Karen, enough,” Blade told her sharply. “I came here to have a beer and to relax a bit. I’m quite sure Alex would also like a drink.”

  “I’ll have a beer as well,” Alex said, not bothering to look in Karen’s direction. Karen walked off in a huff.

  Megan was seething with anger. “I would love to just rip the little bitch’s hair out.”

  “Don’t let her get to you, darling.” Blade stroked her cheek with his thumb. She flinched under his touch.

  “If she’s anything like she used to be, she’ll be spreading it all over town I’m dating three men at the same time.”

  “She hasn’t changed at all since I’ve known her,” Alex said, confirming her worst fears.

  “Too bad because you probably won’t be around here long enough to hear any of them,” Blade commented.

  She looked at him. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ll probably be back in New York by the time Karen’s vicious rumors make it full circle.”

  She came here to forget about Blade and her problems. Now Blade showed up and brought up her problems.

  “How can I go back to New York? You won’t sign the document.”

  “I have an appointment with the attorney to sign it tomorrow afternoon.”

  Here he was pretending to care and now he was letting her go. Was it true? He got what he wanted from her and he was letting her go now? He no longer wanted her. Her heart sank.

  “I think this is our cue to leave,” Josh told Alex.

  “What about my beer? It hasn’t even come yet.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll buy you another one later. Right now there’s something I want to show you,” Josh told Alex as he practically dragged him out of the booth by the arm.

  She tried to stop them, but Josh ignored her. He dragged Alex away from the booth and out of the bar. Alex protested the whole way.

  * * *

  Blade thought she would be happy, but he couldn't deny the hurt look he saw in her eyes. It seemed as if everything he did when it came to Megan was wrong. When was she going to make up her mind?

  “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” she said, trying to step over him to make her escape.

  “No, Megan,” he said, blocking her retreat. She sank back down in the booth in defeat, but wouldn’t look at him.

  “Darling, you’ve done enough running. It’s time for you to stay and talk things out with me. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I know, you’re staying on the ranch and I’m going back to my life in New York City.”

  He forced her to turn and look at him. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

  “What do you mean? You just said you were going into the attorney’s office tomorrow afternoon to sign the document.”

  “Yes, I did, but you’re not returning to New York alone, Megan.” He wore a smug expression.

  “I know. Josh will be going back with me. We’re shipping the equipment back. He’s going to return the rental van and we’re driving back in my car.”

  “That wasn't what I meant. I’m going with you.” What made him decide to go with her?

  “You don’t need to. I’ll be fine, Blade.”

  “The arrangements have already bee
n made. Josh has a flight booked for one month from now and I’ll be going with you in your car.”

  “Since when is Josh going back to New York by plane? He never told me any of this.”

  “Of course he didn’t. I told him not to.” What was going on here? Blade and Josh were now keeping secrets from her?

  “How could you do this? When did you and Josh have a chance to talk without me knowing about it?”

  “I sent him an email this afternoon.” This explained a lot.

  “Was this why he suddenly was on the Internet and wanted to email our boss?”

  “Yes. He was requesting a flight back. When you were in the bedroom getting ready to go, he checked his email and your boss booked his flight. He emailed me the information and let me know the two of you were getting ready to come here like I asked.”

  “You mean this whole evening was planned?” She couldn't believe the two men managed to pull this off.

  “How else was I going to get my woman alone on a date to talk to her?”

  “I’m not your woman.”

  Blade laughed. “We’ll see,” he said and before she could respond. He tilted her chin up, and looked deep into her eyes before claiming her lips with his.

  She surprised him when she didn’t push him away. Instead, she leaned into him and deepened the kiss. She breathed in the scent of him.

  “Catching up on lost times?” a female voice called out over the country music pumping from the jukebox.

  They both pulled apart and looked up to see Karen standing at the table with two beers.

  “Karen, just put the beers down and go,” Blade snapped at her.

  “Why? So you can go back to what you were doing before I interrupted you?” she asked as she set the drinks down on the table.

  “Just go,” Blade growled, “before I report you to your boss.”

  “Okay, I’m going,” she said, turning around and walking away, swaying her hips as she went.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  After drinking six beers, she regretted it. What was she thinking?

  She wasn’t used to drinking, so she was really feeling the effects of it. How was she going to get back to the ranch? She didn’t think she could drive her car in this condition.

  As if reading her mind, Blade said, “You’re not driving your car tonight. I’m driving you back to the ranch in my truck.”

  She allowed him to guide her out of the bar and out to his truck. There was no way she would have made it there on her own.

  She leaned her head on his shoulder on the way back to the ranch. “I don’t want to sleep in the cabin tonight,” she whispered.

  “Do you want to sleep in your parents’ bedroom?” he whispered back.

  “I want to sleep in your bed.”

  “Are you sure?” Under different circumstances, he would have been jumping for joy.

  “Yes. I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

  “What about other nights?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t want to be alone tonight.”

  “You know I’m here for you when you need me. You never have to be alone.”

  “I’ll be alone when I go back to New York,” she whispered. She snuggled closer to him. Her eyes closed and she was asleep.

  * * *

  Blade stroked her cheek as she slept. How long did she feel she didn't have anyone in her life? Did she feel this way since the day she left on her eighteenth birthday? A feeling of guilt washed over him. If he only knew exactly where she was in New York, he could have gone to her. Maybe he should have hired someone to track her down.

  He asked her parents for her address on several occasions, but they always felt it best to give her the space she requested. He couldn't blame them though.

  Who was there to hold her and comfort her when she was sad? Who was there to see to it she was safe in the big city? Was anyone there for her? He knew if anyone was, it should have been him.

  It would be him from now on, he vowed. He pulled the truck up the gravel drive and cut the engine. He glanced over at Megan. She was still sleeping. He didn’t want to wake her up.

  He stroked her cheek with his thumb. She looked beautiful and peaceful as she slept. He watched the rise and fall of her breasts as he tried to figure out the best way to get out without waking her up.

  He opened the truck door and breathed in; filling his lungs with the cool night air. Somewhere in the distance he could hear the lonesome howl of a wolf. He got out carefully, not waking her. She slumped over, but continued sleeping.

  He closed the truck door as quietly as possible before walking around to the passenger side. He carefully opened the truck door and slid her out, scooping her into his arms.

  Blade managed to get her into the house and upstairs to his room. He gently laid her down on the bed and removed her shoes and socks before pulling the blanket over her.

  * * *

  The next morning she awoke and stretched. She remembered very little from the night before. She slowly opened her eyes.

  The first thing she saw was Blade and her head was resting on his chest. How did she end up in Blade’s bed?

  The last thing she remembered from the night before was dancing with Blade and ordering another beer. How did things get this far? Did she have sex with him again? God, she hoped not. She couldn’t remember if she did or not. She thought hard about it, trying to recall. This only caused her head, which was already throbbing, to hurt even more.

  She tried to sit up, but her head was swimming and the movement made her feel light headed. She was stuck right where she was.

  She worried about what Blade thought about her. He already thought she was a slut. Could his opinion of her have gotten any worse after last night?

  She needed to get up. She couldn’t stay here in Blade’s bed. Josh must be worried sick about her and they needed to get a lot of work done on the project they were working on.

  She made another attempt, but without success. The movement caused Blade to wake up.

  “Where are you trying to go?” he asked sleepily. “It’s still kind of early.” As if to prove his point, he yawned and pointed at the clock on the night table.

  “Josh and I still have a lot of work we need to get done on the project we’re working on.” Suddenly a new problem occurred.

  Blade must have known something was wrong because he asked, “What is it?”

  “I need to go to the bathroom.”

  “Why do I have a feeling you need to do more than the usual business in there?”

  “Maybe because I do,” she said as she tried to get up again, but fell back down.

  “Wait right there and don’t move,” he said as if she had any other choice.

  He climbed out of bed and came around to her side. He pulled her into a sitting position and onto her feet. The whole room began to spin and she needed to hang onto him just to keep them from going out from under her.

  He helped her into the bathroom and stayed right by her side as she threw up. He kept an arm around her the entire time, holding her hair back and stroking the back of her head. She knew she looked a mess. She felt embarrassed.

  When it was all over and he was leading her back to the bedroom, she told him, “I need to get my shoes and socks on so I can get back to the cabin.”

  “The only place you’re going is back to bed,” he told her as he led her over to the bed. He helped her get back in.

  She was drenched in sweat. This was the last time she would drink so much. She knew she should have stopped after the one beer.

  Blade disappeared into the bathroom and a few minutes later, he returned with a cool, wet washcloth. He placed it on her forehead.

  “What am I going to do now?” She couldn't stay holed up in his room.

  “I would suggest you stay in bed for the day.”

  “I can’t.”

  “What other choice do you have?”

  He was right. She couldn’t even sit up on her own without the room spinn
ing. There was no way she’d be able to walk out to the cabin on her own.

  “I’m sorry Blade.” Why couldn't she have stopped at one beer?

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “I look a mess and I’m stuck in your bed.”

  “You look beautiful, as always.”

  “But I have responsibilities I need to take care of. This must be an awful inconvenience for you.”

  “Darling, don’t worry about it,” he said as he climbed back into bed next to her and pulled her into his embrace. She was too sick to stop him. “As far as I’m concerned, this is your bed too. You’re right where you belong.”

  He held her, and brushed away the few strands of hair falling across her cheek. She fell asleep there in the comfort of his arms, feeling safer than she felt in a long time.

  * * *

  A few hours later, she woke up. She was surprised to see Blade was still in bed with her. What about the ranch? Why wasn’t he up working? She never meant to disrupt anything around here.

  Her head still hurt and she felt a little sick to her stomach. Other than that, she felt fine. She needed to get up.

  She studied Blade as he slept. He reminded her of a statue of a Greek God. His body was perfectly sculpted and muscular.

  She allowed her eyes to roam and look his body up and down. Her hands, which were still resting on his chest, longed to explore it.

  She bit her lip as she tried to decide if she dared let her hands roam or not. As if having a mind of their own, her hands began to glide over the expanse of his solid chest.

  She was surprised and jumped back, retracting her hands, when she saw a lazy grin spread across his face. How long had he been awake? Did he know she was checking out his body? Her cheeks burned bright red with embarrassment.

  His eyes opened and they were dark with passion. “Why did you stop?” he whispered.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have crossed the line,” she said, turning away from him.

  He pulled her back into his embrace. He left her no other option than to look at him. “Why are you apologizing?”

  She squirmed, trying to pull away from him, but he kept a strong grip on her. “Please let me go.”