Time Out (9 page)

Megan didn’t
know a lot about horse racing or breeding, but she knew the
business had made a lot of people very wealthy. Evidently Nick was
one of those people. She found it interesting he wasn’t flashy,
like the wealthy men she’d dated in the past. He was comfortable
wearing torn jeans, scuffed cowboy boots, and riding around in a
dirty old pickup truck. He didn’t wear jewelry, perhaps because it
was an occupational hazard, but she suspected he just didn’t feel
the need to impress anyone. And that did impress her. A lot.

“There she is,”
J.T. said, getting up when he spotted his wife.

The elation on
J.T.’s face caused Megan’s usual cynicism to recede. Nikki and J.T.
had been together a long time, and they obviously still adored each
other. Much like Ty and Avery. Maybe soul mates did exist.

“Hi, Megan.
It’s so good to see you,” Nikki said, squeezing her hand. Nikki
tucked her head under her husband’s chin and wrapped an arm around
his waist. “When J.T. told me he was having lunch with you, I just
had to stop by and say hi.”

“I’m so glad
you did.” Megan realized she meant it. She was accustomed to
socializing with people who could help bolster her career, but
since moving to Nashville, she’d had the opportunity to spend time
with people she genuinely liked. It was a nice change of pace.

Nikki slid into
the booth while the waitress delivered their drinks.

J.T. asked,
“Does a pizza sound good, ladies? The chef is experimentin’ with a
new recipe he wants me to try.”

“Sounds great,”
Megan said.

“I’m in.” Nikki
smiled up at her husband.

“Great, just
give me a minute to tell him.”

“You’re so
lucky,” Megan said as she and Nikki watched J.T. cross the bar into
the kitchen. “That man is so crazy about you, Nikki.”

“I can assure
you the feeling is mutual.”

“What’s the
secret to your success? I mean, most Hollywood marriages break down
after a few years.”

Nikki laughed
as she gestured around the bar. “In case you haven’t noticed, this
isn’t Hollywood, sugar.”

“I know, but
the same rules still apply. Your career is so demanding, you travel
all the time, you live under a microscope. Ty too, yet you guys
have two of the strongest marriages I’ve ever seen. How do you do
it?”

“Are you asking
as a reporter or a woman?” Nikki asked, propping her chin in an
upturned palm.

“I don’t know,”
Megan said, smoothing her napkin in her lap. “A bit of both, I
guess.”

“It’s not easy.
We’ve had ups and downs, but the bottom line is simple: I couldn’t
live without that man in my life. I love making music. I love
touring and playing for my fans, but I love J.T. and Lauren more.
If I lost the ability to sing, I’d be okay as long as I had
them.”

Megan was
overcome with emotion, but she hoped her impassive mask hid her
true feelings. She took a moment to collect herself by taking a sip
of her soft drink.

“Is that what
you want for yourself?” Nikki asked.

“Um, I don’t
really do the forever thing. I tried once, but it didn’t work out
so well. I’ve decided I’m just not cut out for the whole
marriage-and-kids thing.” She never wanted to hurt another man the
way she’d hurt Brock.

“Is that so? I
heard you’re dating Shaw Carver. He’s a hottie.”

“I can’t argue
with that,” Megan said, laughing. “But it’s not serious. He’s knows
I’m only here for a short time.”

“How are things
going out at the ranch? My daughter tells me Nick’s given you a
hard time.”

“Things are
better on that front.” Megan hoped her expression didn’t convey how
much better. “He said he wants to get along, and I think I believe
him.”

“You can trust
Nick. He’s one of the good guys. He says what he means and means
what he says.”

“You really
think so?” If anyone could give Megan insight into Nick’s behavior,
it would be someone who had known him his whole life. “I can’t deny
his one-eighty makes me a little uneasy. He went from hating me to…
liking me in the span of twenty-four hours.”

“Maybe he’s
just decided to stop denying the truth.”

“What do you
mean?”

“I’ve seen you
guys together a time or two. You two have some serious
chemistry.”

Megan thought
about the kiss they’d shared last night. Combustible would be a
better description. “Maybe we should just have sex and get it out
of our systems.” Her face felt as if it was on fire when she
realized she’d said that aloud. To his aunt, of all people.

Nikki’s bright
blue eyes shone with amusement. “In my experience, chemistry like
that doesn’t fade with time. If anything, it gets hotter.”

“I don’t know
what to do about him,” Megan admitted, dropping her head into her
hands. “My gut tells me not to trust him, but my body is sending me
a different message entirely.”

“What have you
got to lose by taking a chance on him? You should see where it
might lead.”

“The last thing
I need is a friends with benefits arrangement. No matter how hard
both parties try to keep it simple, it inevitably gets complicated.
I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for anyone, least of all
Avery and Ty. They’ve been so good to me.”

“If you go back
to L.A. at the end of your contract without exploring this thing
with Nick, will you have any regrets?” When Megan didn’t respond
right away, Nikki asked, “Will you always wonder where it might
have led?”

Megan smiled.
“Yeah, I guess a part of me would always speculate about whether
the attraction would have just run its course, given the chance.”
She had to believe that’s what would happen because she broke out
in a cold sweat every time she considered the alternative.

“Then give
yourself permission to explore it. Be honest with him, set the
ground rules upfront. He’s a big boy. He can decide for himself
whether he’s interested.”

“You really
think I should?” Megan bit her lower lip as she pondered the
possibilities.
Did she really have the courage to suggest the
kind of arrangement she wanted, and would he agree to it?

“I definitely
think you should,” Nikki said, squeezing her hand. “Trust me,
you’ll regret the things you don’t do more than the risks you
took.”

Nick was awe-struck
when Megan walked into his father’s party. She was accompanied by a
cameraman, lighting technician, and makeup artist. She carried a
microphone, as did many of the correspondents who had come to
capture the party. The sight of her in a dark silver, floor-length
strapless gown, sparkling jewelry, and high-heeled strappy sandals
left him breathless and apparently speechless. Trey had to nudge
Nick’s arm to bring his attention back to their conversation.

“I’m sorry,
what were you sayin’, Trey?”

“I asked you
how many points Last Song has racked up so far this season, but I
have a feelin’ you couldn’t tell me if your life depended on it.”
He laughed. “That’s sayin’ somethin’ for a guy who’s been eatin’,
sleepin’, and breathin’ those horses for the past three years.”

“He, uh, has…”
Nick watched the cameraman set his equipment down on a nearby table
and whisper something in Megan’s ear.
What the hell?

Trey smiled.
“She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? I’ve seen her on TV a time or two, but
she’s even prettier in person.”

The other two
set their equipment down and left Megan and the cameraman
alone.

“Yeah, she is.”
Nick’s hands curled into fists when Megan’s face lit up at
something her cameraman said. She threw her arms around his neck,
her enthusiasm evident. A smile lit her face. “Excuse me, Trey. I
need a word with the lady.”

Trey slapped
Nick on the back and chuckled. “I’d just be careful which words I
chose if I were you, son. The first ones that come to mind are
usually the worst.”

“I’ll keep that
in mind,” Nick muttered.

Nick nodded to
dozens of people trying to engage him, but his attention was
focused on one thing and one thing only: Megan. “Glad you could
make it, sweetheart,” he said as he slipped a possessive arm around
her waist.

She looked up
at him, clearly caught off guard. “Nick…”

The cameraman
said, “Hey, you’re Nick McCall, right? Ty is your old man.” Without
waiting for confirmation, he turned to Megan. “We should ask him a
few questions. What do you think?”

“Um, I…”

“You seem to
have me at a disadvantage.” Nick tried to maintain his composure.
His jealousy was irrational. He had no claim on Megan. They hadn’t
even been intimate, yet he saw red whenever another man touched
her. “You know who I am, but I haven’t got a clue who you are. Meg,
aren’t you gonna introduce me to your… friend?” He looked down at
her, hoping she read his displeasure as a warning.

“Nick, this is
Cary, my cameraman.”

The other man
extended his hand. An unspoken warning was sent and received in
their eye contact before they shook.

“Why didn’t you
tell me Nick McCall was your boyfriend, Megan?” Cary asked.

“He’s not.”
Megan clenched her microphone with both hands, refusing to look at
Nick. “We’re just… uh… friends. Like I told you, I’m staying with
his parents until I can find a place of my own.”

“Cary, do you
mind if I have a word with Megan before y’all get down to
business?”

Cary looked at
Megan to confirm she didn’t mind being alone with Nick. “Take all
the time you need, boss.” He picked up his equipment and joined the
rest of their crew.

“You want to
tell me what the hell that was all about?” Nick faced Megan as he
shoved his hands in his pockets. He knew if he didn’t confine his
hands, he would pull her into his arms and kiss the glossy lipstick
off those full, pouty lips. He didn’t care if his friends and
family knew the nature of their relationship had changed. Hell, if
he had his way, he’d rent a billboard. One Shaw Carver would be
sure to see.

“What are you
talking about?”

“You and your
cameraman looked friendly. Too friendly for my liking.”

“I don’t have
to explain myself to you.”

“No, you
don’t.” Nick turned to walk away, but she grabbed his arm.

“Where are you
going?”

“If you won’t
tell me what’s goin’ on, I’ll ask him.”

Her breath
hissed through her clenched teeth as she glared at him. “He just
told me he and his fiancé, who happens to be a production assistant
at the station, are expecting a baby. Are you happy now?”

He gave her a
self-deprecating smile. “Gettin’ there. Did you tell Carver you’re
done with him?” That question had eaten away at him all day. After
their kiss, Nick knew he couldn’t let Megan and Carver get closer.
When she didn’t respond, he gripped her upper arm. “Look, after
last night-”

“Nothing
happened last night!”

Turning them
away from the guests mingling around them, he said, “Don’t give me
that. You can’t tell me you weren’t into me last night.”

She crossed her
arms, looking like a sullen child being forced to apologize to the
class bully. “It was one lousy kiss.”

He lowered his
voice as he leaned closer. “It was one incredible kiss. I could
taste you all night.”

Her eyes
fluttered closed on a sigh, and she pushed her palm into his chest.
“Don’t do this. Not here. I have to get through the night… to
interview your father… and…”

Nick almost
felt sorry for her. She was working so hard to hold it together,
but she was almost as close as he was to falling apart. “I have a
room upstairs,” he said.

Her eyes flew
open. “Why?”

He knew his
gaze was predatory as it roamed her body, but he didn’t care. He
wanted her to know what he was thinking, feeling, what she did to
him. He wanted her to struggle to maintain her professional façade
all night while she tried not to think about him. “I want you. You
want me. Before the night’s over, we’re going to figure out how to
make that happen.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

He had never
had to work so hard to wear down a woman’s resistance, but it would
be worth it. She would finally concede and abandon fighting the
craving clamoring to be satisfied.

“This is a bad
idea.”

“I don’t
care.”

“It can’t
evolve into anything. I’m moving back to L.A. no matter what
happens.”

“I don’t care.”
He did care, more than he would admit, but he had months to
convince her that her future was in Nashville, with him.

“Fine.” She
tilted her head back to look him in the eye. “As long as we
understand the ground rules.”

“Which are?”
His voice was low, and she sensed he was teetering on the edge. His
control was dangerously close to snapping, and when it did, he
would break every one of her damned conditions.

“No
relationship, just sex. We don’t date or go public with our…
affair. It happens behind closed doors. No one knows.”

“Are you out of
your mind?” If she thought for a second he wouldn’t stake his claim
while she shared his bed, she was delusional.

“That’s the
only way I’ll agree to it.”

Their eyes
locked and held. When it became obvious they were at an impasse,
Nick muttered a curse. “Fine, I’ll agree to your terms on one
condition.”

Megan looked
wary. “What is it?”

“You stop
seeing Carver.”

“But-”

“No buts. No
way in hell am I gonna let you keep seein’ him, or anyone else. As
long as you’re sleepin’ with me, you’re with me and only me. Is
that clear?”

She glared at
him but offered a sharp nod.

“Good.” He
slipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew a key card. Pressing
it into her palm, he said, “Room 1132. Eleven o’clock. Not a minute
later.”