It Had to Be Him Page 6

  Another movie star? What were the chances?

  The guy smiled at him and hustled his boys out the door.

  Josh shook his head, then moved to the counter. “Brad Pitt, huh? And I could have sworn I saw Ashton Kutcher yesterday.”

  The lady, petite, brunette, and so fragile-looking she reminded Josh of a fairy, blinked her eyes. “You must be mistaken, sir. Why would people like that visit here?” She even had a squeaky little Tinker Bell voice.

  He threw his thumb over his shoulder. “That man who was just here with his two kids . . .”

  When the shopkeeper blanked her expression in a poor attempt to lie, Josh forged ahead. “I wondered if you knew Megan’s daughter, Haley? And if you could suggest something she might like?”

  She shook her head. “Meg’s an Anderson. Her father owns the whole town and if we want to keep our jobs, we can’t help you. You might as well leave.”

  “I just want to buy Haley a gift.” Josh raised his hand to run it through his hair, and the little woman flinched as if he meant to hit her.

  What had Zeke and the mayor told these people? That he stole little kids and beat women just for fun?

  The timid woman chewed on her lower lip as if debating. “Haley likes to draw and color. That’s something a father should know about his daughter. Now please leave.”

  He read her name tag. “I appreciate the information, Sarah. I’m just looking for a chance to be Haley’s father. Have a nice day.” He swallowed back his rising temper as he headed for the door.

  That did it. Time for a much-needed showdown with the local law.

  He headed toward the biggest of all the buildings around the town square. As he crossed the grassy park in the middle, he spotted Casey. She was just starting up a set of big stone steps while glancing at her watch.

  Increasing his pace, he moved behind her. “Worried I won’t be gone when Megan gets back?”

  Casey jumped as if startled, then slowly turned around. “Why are you still here?”

  He surged ahead and held the door open for her. “Need I remind you this is a free country? Or does our great nation’s Constitution not apply to Anderson Butte?”

  Casey huffed past him and started down a long hall. “Maybe you should go debate that issue with my father.” She held out a hand. “The mayor’s office is right down there.”

  “Maybe another time.” Like when hell freezes over.

  “Or, you can come with me to my brother’s office and we’ll get you on your way.”

  “Option B sounds safer.” But he wasn’t going anywhere. Unless it was in a body bag. Which might be a real possibility with this crowd.

  Casey led the way. The sheriff was on the phone when they entered his office. He motioned them inside as he listened to someone who was shouting at him loud enough to hear across the room; Josh couldn’t make out many of the words, but “Granger” and “ass” came through loud and clear. After a few moments the sheriff said, “Gotta go, Dad.”

  He hung up the phone and pulled a piece of paper from a file. “The bill for your trespassing charge.”

  Josh accepted the paper, although he’d never been arrested or charged with trespassing.

  The fine was ten thousand dollars. Before he could protest, the sheriff pushed another slip of paper across the desk. “The trespassing fine along with the hotel, medical, and parking violation adds up to sixteen thousand dollars. You can transfer the funds directly to Megan’s account by close of business today, or you can get in your truck and never come back. Your choice.”

  He picked up the little slip of paper with Megan’s bank account number on it and couldn’t help his grin. “Not bad. This move may have actually worked if I thought all that money was going to your corrupt little town coffers rather than to Meg.” Josh grabbed his cell from his pocket and called up his online banking app. “But instead you’ve solved a problem for me. Now I know how to give Megan the funds I owe her. And, Casey, let’s go ahead and make this an even twenty thousand. I may need to stay at the hotel three or four more days until I find a permanent place to live.” He hit the “Transfer” button and then flipped the screen around for them to see. “You can call and verify the funds if you like.” He stood, stuffed his phone back into his pocket, then picked up all his receipts. “I’m looking forward to settling in. See you around, neighbors.”

  The stunned looks on their faces almost made up for being shot.

  Meg stopped scrubbing at the sound of a boat approaching. Zeke, as promised and right on time. After spending most of the day cleaning the old house, she’d hardly made a dent.

  She tossed her brush in the sudsy water bucket, then stood and stretched out her weary back. Then she made her way down to the rickety dock. Zeke had offered to help her decide what needed to be done first. There was plenty to choose from. Hopefully that bank loan she’d applied for online from her bank in Denver—a bank not under her father’s thumb like the one in town—would come through soon.

  After grabbing the rope Zeke threw out, she tied off his boat, hoping the cleats would hold. “Hey there. Careful, the wood is rotting in a few places.”

  Zeke hopped out with the grace of a man half his age. “You missed all the fun in town today with that man of yours.”

  “He’s not my—is he still there?”

  Zeke chuckled. “Yep.”

  Josh was tenacious when he wanted something. “Haley’s still with Grandma though, right?”

  “She is. Doubt that boy be dumb enough to step foot on Ruth’s land again without permission.”

  She counted on that. “Okay, so let me give you the grand tour.” As they walked toward the big two-story log cabin, she gave him the executive summary. “As you saw, the dock’s crap and needs to be replaced, but that’s something I can do myself. I need to move some walls and make suites. The roof’s questionable, the plumbing moans a bit, I need to add three new baths, and the kitchen needs a total remodel. I’ll refinish all the wood floors myself. I’m not sure yet, but if I can clean up the original baths and make them shine, we might just call them vintage.”

  Zeke chuckled. “Vintage, huh? I suppose that’s what you could call me too.”

  “Maybe. If we could shine you up enough.” Meg slid her arm through Zeke’s. “You sure you want to be helping me like this? My dad’s not going to like it.”

  “Hell, Meggy, I’m not afraid of your father like everyone else in this town. An old widower with no children doesn’t have anyone to help spend all the money I’ve saved from these celebrities who hand it out like candy. If I never worked another day, I’d be just fine.” Zeke pulled a big flashlight from the tool bag he carried. “Now to get under the house and get dirty.”

  Megan’s phone signaled an incoming text, which she ignored. “I’m right behind you.”

  “You hate spiders, but can’t bring yourself to kill them. Never understood that about you. Answer your beep and I’ll be right back.”

  “Thanks.” Relieved she’d avoided the creepy crawlspace, she tapped her cell’s screen and cringed.

  It was from Josh.

  You can fly a helicopter? How do I not know this about you, Wonder Woman?

  Confused, because she expected him to be angry after his pain meds wore off, not cracking jokes, she typed, What do you want, Josh?

  I want you to talk to me while we go for a helicopter ride. I’ll pay the full fee. Amusement parks have nothing on the rates Anderson Butte charges.

  He’d told everyone he wasn’t leaving until he saw her and Haley. The seeing Haley part wasn’t happening. Talking to him when he wasn’t drugged up was probably inevitable.

  She’d have to look into those whiskey-colored eyes again. And if he smiled at her as sweetly as he’d done when he first saw her in the clinic, it was going to hurt. But at least the meeting would be on her terms for a change. In the air. In an environment Josh couldn’t control.

  Yeah, maybe the perfect venue. And she’d have the added benefit of scaring the
crap out of him.

  Meet me behind the clinic in a half hour.

  Josh crossed his arms and leaned against his truck as he waited for Megan, detesting the pit forming in his gut. He hated that he had to keep up the lies, even if for just a while longer. Hopefully the story he’d come up with would convince her to give him a second chance.

  He was deep in strategy mode when she slipped quietly next to him, leaning against his truck and crossing her arms too. “Pondering how to make your next million, Josh?”

  The sight of her made his heart roll over in his chest. She’d pulled her hair up into a cute ponytail and she had on a little pink T-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. Her new, curvier hips were just a bonus. But she wouldn’t look him in the eye. Not a good sign. She was obviously still hurt and angry with him.

  He couldn’t blame her.

  He’d just up and left her when she’d been pregnant with their child. He didn’t deserve to be taken back, but he hoped to God he’d find a way to make her see how sorry he was for it.

  “Nope. Those days are behind me. I was just thinking I was glad that helicopter has doors on it. That way you can’t tilt me out and be rid of me.”

  “Zeke has a smaller helicopter like that. Too bad I didn’t think to borrow it. You ready?”

  “Yep.” Maybe he shouldn’t be giving her any ideas.

  He stood aside as Megan circled the helicopter, preparing it for flight. “Thank you for meeting with me, Meg. I appreciate it.”

  She stopped mid-stride and finally met his gaze before glancing at his arm. “Well, if we’re being nice to each other, then I’m sorry my grandmother shot you. Let’s go.”

  He climbed inside and buckled in. Mimicking her moves, he slid his sunglasses on and then placed the headset that dangled in front of him over his ears.

  Megan’s tinny voice sounded through the speakers. “Hang on.”

  The helicopter rocketed straight up with so much force, all the air whooshed from his lungs. “What the—”

  “You want to stop? Okay.”

  They plummeted toward the hard pavement of the parking lot at breakneck speed.

  So this was her game. She was trying to scare him. Fine. He’d play along. He was a seasoned pilot himself, so he knew the maneuver wasn’t as dangerous as it might appear. Meg really did have some serious skills, just as Ben had said.

  He grunted out a “No!”

  “Make up your mind, Josh.”

  Megan stopped their descent less than six feet from the ground before they headed straight up again.

  As they zipped out over the water, he grabbed the handle above the door. “I thought we were being nice.”

  She huffed out a breath. “What do you want, Josh?”

  He loosened his grip on the handle as they flew over the tops of tall pines on the other side of the lake. “I’d like to apologize to you and to meet Haley.”

  She turned to look at him. “Take off your sunglasses and say that again.”

  “That’s a big-ass mountain just ahead. Don’t you think you should—”

  “Then you should make it quick!”

  He yanked off his glasses so she could see into his eyes. Like it’d do any good. He was trained to cover a lie, but in this case he wouldn’t have to. “I’m sorry, Meg. I screwed up. And I want to meet my daughter. Now turn.”

  She frowned as she tilted them so steeply to the right his head thunked against the door. His body strained against the seatbelt, pulling some impressive Gs.

  Megan was quiet for a few moments before she said, “You can’t just pop into Haley’s life, charm her, make her fall in love with you, and then be so busy working you ignore her and make her feel insignificant—like you did to me.”

  What was he supposed to say to that?

  When in doubt, grovel.

  “I’m sorry I made you feel that way. It wasn’t intentional. How much have you told Haley and your family about me?”

  Megan maneuvered them into a slower, more reasonable turn. “When you refused to come home with me that last Christmas, I realized you weren’t committed to our relationship. So I didn’t tell my family anything. Haley hasn’t asked about you yet.”

  “We lived together. How is that not committed?” Suddenly they were in a narrow canyon no more than forty feet wide. “You’re kind of low, don’t you think?”

  Ignoring him, she flew deeper into the canyon and over a raging river just a few feet below. “People in committed relationships spend holidays together and meet each other’s relatives. You stayed home and worked.”

  “Growing up with a bunch of kids who tried their best to ignore December twenty-fifth didn’t exactly groom me for the ‘happy family Christmas’ experience you had.” But the truth was, by that Christmas his case was going south and he might never have seen her again. He didn’t want to make things worse by sharing the holidays with her and then leaving her.

  The canyon narrowed by the second and for the first time he was genuinely concerned. Ready to take the controls if he had to, he said, “Meg, seriously. What the hell here?”

  “Just a few more seconds.”

  The canyon walls, along with the river, got closer and closer, but then suddenly the walls disappeared and there was nothing below but a deep valley. Around them were 360 degrees of cliffs and trees, like they were in the middle of a deep, wide hole. Megan swung the copter around to face the way they’d come.

  An amazing waterfall plummeted as far as the eye could see below them. Millions of tiny rainbows glinted in the fading sunlight as the water cascaded over the cliff.

  Meg slowly maneuvered them over a large, jutting ridge and landed. When she shut down and they hopped out, the roar of the waterfall replaced the engine noise.

  Josh dug out his cell and snapped pictures as Megan moved beside him, refusing to look at him again.

  He tucked his phone away. “Is this the part where you push me off the ledge and tell everyone I slipped?”

  “Don’t tempt me, Josh.” She crossed her arms and sighed. Then her voice changed to a tone of quiet reverence as she said, “I’ll bet fewer than fifty people have ever seen this. You have to know it’s here because it’s not obvious from above and most pilots won’t brave the canyon. Zeke showed me this when I was a little girl. It’s my favorite place on earth. So, see? I was being nice.”

  “It’s incredible. Thank you for nearly killing me so I could see it too.”

  Meg smirked as she climbed onto a big rock. “The nearly killing you part was the highlight of my day.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” He sat beside her. Just being close to Meg always made it easier to draw a full breath. God, he’d missed her.

  But now it was showtime.

  “I’m sorry I panicked at the thought of being a father. I want to make things right by you and Haley.” He hated that he had to say that to maintain his cover. He’d been overjoyed at the thought of being a father, and being a part of a family.

  “We’ve managed just fine without you.” She drew her legs up, wrapped her arms around them, and laid her chin on top of her knees, in full protective mode. “Haley needs consistency and to know she’ll always be loved no matter what. I give her that. You made it clear you didn’t want us. You have no right to come back and disrupt our lives.”

  “Haven’t you ever made a mistake you regret so much you can’t sleep at night until you make it right?”

  “Yes.” Pain flashed in her eyes before she closed them. “You’re the mistake I regret almost every day. I hate how I got suckered into thinking you were a good man who loved me but just worked too much.”

  He’d always been that man. “After we broke up, I realized I’d screwed up the best thing I’d ever had. So I quit my job and did some serious soul-searching. I decided to go back to the beginning to get it right. And now I’m hoping you’ll give me the chance to do the same with you and Haley. I want to be part of her life . . . and yours.”

  Meg stared straight ahead, her teeth w
orrying her lower lip for a few moments before she said, “So I’m just supposed to forgive you? Like my feelings don’t matter? Forget it. But what does the going back to the beginning part mean?”

  “I wanted something different, a job that would leave time for the people in my life. I’m going to go back to school to get my master’s in counseling. I want to work with troubled kids.”

  Meg finally looked at him. “You gave up the job you loved? And all that money?”

  “Yep. I’m going to sign up for classes in the fall.”

  A glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes. “In Denver?”

  “Wherever you and Haley are. I can do some of it online. I plan to be a real father to her, Meg.”

  “You can’t just move here and expect me and Haley to forgive and forget, Josh. Go back to Denver with all your shiny shoes and leave us alone.” Megan unwrapped her arms and jumped off the rock. “Get in. It’s time to go.”

  Dammit. He’d known it wouldn’t be easy to convince her to give him another chance, to regain her trust in him, but that hadn’t gone well at all.

  He had to find another way.

  Meg’s heart pounded as they strapped in and took off in silence. She could’ve flown out the safer way above, but the canyon was faster and she wanted him out of her life as quickly as possible.

  It’d just be an added bonus if the flight path scared him again in the process.

  She hated the pain she’d heard in his voice when he’d asked if she’d ever made a mistake she’d deeply regretted. She’d made more than her share of mistakes in the past, but she couldn’t let Josh threaten her hardened defenses against him. She needed to stay strong for Haley’s sake.

  When she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, he sat there so perfectly calm it made her even angrier.

  Once they were out of the canyon, he asked, “What would it take to prove to you I’ve changed, Meg?”

  “It’s too late. I’ve seen your true colors. You aren’t capable of being the kind of man I need.”