Viking King (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors, Book 1) (4 page)

“I figured.” Megan lay next to Amber as Guardian cuddled down between them. “God, the sun has barely risen. Did you two sleep at all?”

Amber grinned as she patted the dog. “Oh, here and there.”

Megan shifted onto her side facing Amber and yawned. “Let’s go back to sleep.”

Amber lay on her side as well. “Not all that tired.”

Megan shut her eyes. “Then go cook breakfast.”

A weighty silence passed and she cracked open an eye. Amber was staring at her.

“What?” Megan mumbled.

“I’m worried about this guy Veronica just met.”

Not ‘I’m worried about Sean because I keep tugging at his heartstrings’. But Megan knew better. Eyes again closed, she said, “Veronica can take care of herself.”

“Veronica’s playing the same game you did.”

Megan didn’t take the bait but focused on breakfast. “I seem to recall you had a talent with pancakes.”

“He’s pressuring her to do things she has no interest in. Apparently he’s been in the business for years and truly sees star potential in her,” Amber said, a frown apparent in her voice. “But we both know that’s not the direction she should go in.”

She got where Amber was going with this. Megan should have never pursued real estate because Nathan did. “I was a lot younger than Veronica is now. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. If she wants this go with it, sis.”

Yet Megan was concerned as well. Veronica had made no mention of this guy to her and after their brief conversation last night about her being a lawyer…

“I know you’re worried too,” Amber said softly.

Megan put a hand to her forehead and opened her eyes. “If there’s one thing that’s been proven time and time again with us three, when it comes to men we’re going to do what we want to do.”

“True.” Amber continued to pat Guardian. “But that doesn’t mean we stop worrying about each other.”

“Of course it doesn’t.” Apparently there would be no more sleeping. Megan swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I’ll talk to her while she’s here.”

“I’m sorry to put this on you but you’re the only one she’ll listen to.”

Her little sister truly had no idea how much Veronica had changed the past few years but there was no point in concerning her. “It’s okay.” Megan looked over her shoulder. “Now that I’m officially up, pancakes?”

Amber patted the bed. “Sure. Lie back down. I’ll take care of it.”

Megan shook her head and padded into the adjoining bathroom. “No. I’m up. Couldn’t really sleep anyways.”

“You all right, sis?”

Megan braced her hands on the granite top sink and stared at her red-rimmed eyes and drawn skin in the mirror. “Yeah, I’m good. Be better with pancakes.”

A brief silence ensued before Amber responded. “You got it.”

When Guardian sat next to Megan, she knew her sister had left. With a deep breath, she met the light blue eyes staring up at her. “Shower time, sweet girl.” She nodded at the door. “Go follow Amber. You know she’ll spoil you rotten.”

Guardian shifted as though excited to follow Amber but kept her eyes trained on Megan.

With a quick ruffle on her head, she nodded at the door. “Go on now or you’ll miss out.”

That’s all it took. Guardian bounded after Amber. Megan smiled and hopped in the shower. Regrettably it did nothing to clear her stressed and far too tired mind. Veronica didn’t overly worry her. She’d feel her sister out like she always did and see where she was at. No, what continued to eat at her was the manuscript, the Viking Naðr and all the odd things that had been happening lately in regards to it.

Megan closed her eyes as the hot water met her chilled flesh. While her practical side continued to search out a logical explanation for all this, another side was all too aware of what else had been happening. More and more, especially since she began working on the boat, she’d been experiencing a physical reaction when she ‘heard’ the Viking’s name on the wind. Heck, when she even
thought
about him.

A faceless man.

It was almost as if she had forgotten about someone she’d been in love with and was only just remembering him. The bouts of arousal were intense but the growing sense of heartache more so. She didn’t get emotional often if ever so what Sean saw last night in the garage was a rarity. But in her defense, all that had been happening was getting to be a bit too much.

And if she was going to be truthful with herself, that her ex had bought a house across the bay didn’t help things any. Getting as far away from Nathan as she could was a good move. But now he was close again. That definitely threw her off kilter. Add the manuscript and Naðr to the whole mix and forget it; she was working hard to keep  mentally stable.

In record time she’d showered, pulled on jeans, a white turtleneck sweater, practical boots and headed downstairs. The smell of bacon already wafted through the house, a cozy addition to the pinks and purples of the sun cresting the bay. Guardian bounded over and danced around her as she accepted a steaming hot mug of black coffee from Amber.

“Morning, sister,” Veronica said from behind her newspaper.

Megan shook her head and slid onto a barstool at the kitchen island. “Wow, you’re
both
up. Amazing.”

“How could anybody sleep in this house last night?” Veronica lowered the paper and rolled her eyes before sipping coffee.

“Say no more,” Megan murmured into her coffee mug.

Amber issued a wide, toothy grin. “Not my fault Megan’s million dollar house doesn’t have sound proof walls.”

“Like I said, say no more,” Megan reminded then gave Amber a pointed look. “There’s a loft above the garage. If you and Sean are keeping Veronica up all night, consider it yours this visit.”

Amber scrunched her nose. “It’s drafty and smells like the stuff you use to tarnish your boat.”

“Varnish.”

“Whatever.”

Megan arched one brow while lowering the other, a look that no sister dare challenge. “If you’re set on being inconsiderate then that’s your new home away from home, Little Dove.”

“When you whip out that nickname you’ve got me by the throat.” Amber hung her head then continued cooking. “Done. I’ll take the loft.”

Veronica smirked then hid behind the newspaper again. The three of them were settling into being around one another as easily as they always did.

“I’m not used to seeing you read the newspaper,” Megan commented to Veronica.

Veronica shrugged one borderline bony shoulder, folded the newspaper and set it aside. “Oh, just catching up on the local news.”

Megan hadn’t been so successful for no good reason. A bit of the ‘old her’ kicked in as her eyes flickered between the two. Amber was flipping the pancakes before the batter bubbled and Veronica’s OCD,
obsessive compulsive disorder
, was lacking in her not-quite-perfect folding of the paper.

They were hiding something and she’d bet it had to do with what Veronica had been reading. Megan stood and wiggled her fingers at her sister. “Give me the newspaper.”

Veronica breathed heavily through her nose. “Bad idea, sis. Why not do breakfast first?”

“Newspaper.” Megan nodded at it. “Now.”

“Hell,” Amber said and shut off the griddle.

Megan took the paper from Veronica. No need to flip it open. Everything she needed to see was right there on the front page. Nathan shaking hands with who-the-heck-ever. The caption above it read… “Local billionaire buys Winter Harbor oceanfront property.”

She’d no sooner released a steady stream of curses when a knock came at the front door and Guardian started barking. Tongue in cheek, furious, Megan strode down the hallway fully expecting to see Mema Angie. A dear friend eager to explain what was going on and how they might fight it. Yet when she swung open the door, ready to vent on someone who would sooth her with scones, she got someone else entirely.

Nathan. Her ex-husband.

Though every muscle in her body urged her to slam the door in his face, she stood there stunned and motionless.

Good thing for sisters.

“Are you
kidding
me?” Veronica held back Guardian.

“Get the hell out of here.” Amber tried to shut the door.

Nathan’s foot met the door jamb as he stared at Megan. “Ready to talk now?”

Megan hadn’t actually seen him in person for nearly three years and was embarrassed by her immediate response. This guy didn’t deserve a gawking stare. He deserved a punch in the face.

She shook her head. “You need to go. Now.”

“I’ve been trying to call you for days, Megan.” Though his words were passionate, his eyes were deadly calm. “I take it you saw the newspaper.”

He’d changed little in the looks department but then she knew that by the newspaper article she’d just seen. “It’s safe to say everyone in Winter Harbor has.”

“There’s more to this.” Nathan’s eyes flickered between her sisters then down to Guardian before meeting her eyes again. “I remember how much you once loved Viking history. Has that changed?”

Megan might have imagined a thousand different words coming from his mouth but not those. And while she still wanted to slam the door so hard it chopped off his perfectly aligned nose, she was far too interested in what he’d said. “Talk fast or this door shuts.”

Amber and Veronica made sounds of frustration.

“Viking treasure.” Nathan’s eyes remained locked with hers. “Off your shore. I’ll let you lead the first team down.”

“He’s full of shit,” Veronica said.

“I second that,” Amber said.

“Not gold.” Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “But genuine artifacts.”

“How do you know?” Megan said.

“We talk alone and I’ll tell you more.”

“Heck no,” Amber said.

Guardian growled.

“I think the dog sees through your crap, Nathan,” Veronica said.

Amber put a hand on Megan’s shoulder. “Don’t fall for it, sis.”

“I totally agree.” Veronica put a hand on her other shoulder. “Don’t.”

Megan clenched the doorjamb as she looked at Nathan. “You’ve had divers offshore?”

“You aren’t the only one who loves sea treasure, Megan,” he said through clenched teeth. But he soon masked his aggravation and smoothed his features. “Yes, I’ve had divers exploring the Maine and New Hampshire shorelines for years now.”

“And?”

He tilted back his head slightly and looked down his nose at her, a gesture she recalled far too well. “And we’ve found stuff but nothing like what’s in the waters in front of your house.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Veronica said. “This one was always good at saying what you wanted to hear.”

“Boy, was he ever,” Amber echoed.

But Nathan had already grabbed her attention and well he knew it.

“Wipe that smug look off your face and walk around back,” she said softly. “I’ll meet you on the deck.”

Before he could answer she shut the door and leaned her forehead against it.

“
What
are you
doing
?” Amber said.

“Damn,” Veronica muttered.

Still, their hands were on her shoulders, a never ending support system.

Though it felt like her legs were sinking into the floor, Megan knew she could only ever show them strength.
That
was her role.
That
was what they expected of her. They needed someone stable and that had always been their oldest sister.

So with a deep breath, Megan pulled away from the door and strode down the hallway. She shouldered into a jacket and grabbed her coffee. “Veronica, keep Guardian from barking. Amber, keep cooking.”

Not giving them a chance to respond, she stepped out onto her spacious back deck into the chilly air. Megan chose to lean against the railing overlooking the bay rather than sit when Nathan joined her. As she suspected he would, Nathan stood a few inches too close. He nodded at the ocean. “It’s several thousand feet out.”

“Tell me exactly what you found,” she said.

“Tell me exactly why I should.”

Jackass.
Megan met his eyes and clenched her jaw. “Tell me or get the hell out of here.”

His steely gray eyes held hers for a long moment before he spoke. “They’re late ninth century artifacts. Even you know that’s a groundbreaking discovery.”

Her heart leapt. Viking artifacts were few and far between in these parts. They’d been too busy setting sail for closer conquests such as the British Isles and Ireland. “I want proof.”

Nathan’s level gaze never left hers. “Yet I’m the one with
all
the bargaining power.”

Regrettably, that might be true. But she’d turn him down if he didn’t handle this transaction correctly. Or so she kept telling herself. Megan rested her arm on the railing and kept his gaze. Yes, she’d love to look away but not once in all their years had she done such and wouldn’t start now. “What do you get out of this.”