Someone to Trust Read online

  “Oh, no,” Megan assured him. “You have been very kind and thoughtful, not to mention, most entertaining.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive. I’m just tired and have a lot of work ahead of me this week.”

  “I would never intentionally hurt or offend you, Megan,” he assured her tenderly, his eyes glowing with sincerity. In spite of herself, she believed him.

  She could only nod in response.

  “I think someone has hurt you. Deeply,” he said, in almost a whisper.

  As she stared up into his gray eyes, he reached down and cupped her face. She allowed her head to tilt and briefly rest in the warmth of his large palm, momentarily cherishing the strength and security she found there.

  Lee removed his hand and Megan was surprised at how she longed for its return. Lee must have read the confusion on her face.

  “I don’t want to take advantage of our friendship or rush you in any way.” He leaned down and gently brushed her forehead with his lips, whispering, “Sleep well, my friend.”

  With that, he opened the door for her to go inside and then closed it softly behind her. Long after he was gone, Megan stood leaning against the door.

  ****

  The next morning, Megan sat on her porch sipping coffee. As her mind wandered, she found herself thinking about the simple, innocent brushing of his lips across her forehead. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the touch of his hand against her face, hear his soft voice as he reached out to her, smell the fragrance that was all Lee. So many emotions; she didn’t understand them all but she couldn’t deny the odd fluttering in her chest. Needless to say, with those thoughts and the information Lee had shared about his grandfather’s law firm, Megan would have some difficulty concentrating on work. But, work she must, so she headed inside to begin her day.

  Sometime after noon, Megan answered the insistent ringing of the phone. Her heart reacted as she recognized the deep masculine voice on the other end.

  “I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Lee immediately apologized.

  “Actually, I need a break,” Megan assured him.

  “I promised I would check your truck and give you a call.”

  “What’d you find?”

  “Loose battery cables.”

  “That’s it?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Anyway, I can pick you up after I leave the clinic at five and run you over to Alan and Cindy’s to get it…if you’d like.”

  Before she had time to consider her actions, she found herself offering, “Why don’t I prepare us a nice dinner, and afterward, you can drive me over.”

  “I’d like that, but I don’t want you going to any trouble.”

  “It’s the least I can do and it’s no trouble,” she assured him.

  “Okay, but let me bring the dessert.”

  They set a time and she hung up the phone with a whimsical smile on her face. She turned to find a very inquisitive look on Sir’s.

  “What are you staring at?” she asked, almost guiltily. With drool stringing from his jaws, the Great Dane cocked his head sideways, as if she should know exactly whom he was staring at.

  Later that evening, Lee pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair. “That was delicious,” he complimented the two plates of spaghetti he had just polished off.

  “It was quick, easy and took very little effort—hardly gourmet—but thanks for the compliment.” Megan removed the plates and placed them in the sink.

  “It was very good. Just the right amount of seasoning.”

  “I have the feeling you would say that about a bologna sandwich,” she teased.

  “Hey, bologna is good,” he said, in mock seriousness.

  Megan laughed and then asked, “Do you want dessert now, or would you prefer to wait a bit?”

  “Let’s wait. I don’t believe I have room right now.” He patted his rock hard stomach.

  Megan’s eyes followed his hand’s path and had to struggle to keep her pulse in check. He certainly stays fit.

  As if reading her mind, Lee explained, “I jog and lift weights.”

  “Oh.” She could feel warmth rise in her cheeks as she realized she had been caught staring. Megan was able to lower her gaze from his expansive chest and muscular arms. As she did though, she found herself traveling down his legs before returning to his face. Had she been staring again?

  Mercifully, Lee changed the subject. “This is a great cabin.”

  “I think so. I fell in love with it the moment I laid eyes on it, even in the condition it was in.”

  “So you got a good deal on it?”

  “Yes. I used the money from a trust fund my mother established for me after my father’s death. I bought the cabin, paid for the repairs and moved in.”

  “How old were you when your father passed away?”

  “Eleven,” she stated, matter-of-factly.

  “I’m very sorry. That must have been difficult.”

  Megan merely nodded.

  Lee must have sensed her discomfort because he changed the subject again looking down under his feet. “Beautiful floor you have here.”

  “Thank you,” Megan said, pleased he’d noticed. “I refinished those myself.”

  For the next little while, Megan explained her purchase of the cabin and its restoration. Lee was very complimentary of the work she had done—all the stripping, sanding and refinishing of the floors, especially having done them by herself.

  “I’m a resourceful girl,” she teased.

  “I can see that. A man would be a fool to underestimate you.” Another compliment brought color to her cheeks. He either did not notice or pretended not to, as he stood, took a towel from her and began drying the dishes.

  “Let me help you with these.” He gave her no chance to decline his offer.

  As he stood next to her at the sink, she inhaled deeply of the scent that was all him and becoming very familiar to her. Occasionally, as she passed a dish to him to dry, their fingers would touch, sending a shiver up her spine.

  After the dishes were put away, Megan and Lee ended up on the back porch, with a cup of coffee and the chocolate cheesecake Lee had brought. It was a cool evening and Lee had taken the liberty of lighting the chimenea that was situated next to the rockers for warmth. It was a rather nice commodity on cool evenings, such as this one. It added to the beauty of the evening with the stars out overhead and the mountains offering a silhouetted backdrop.

  Megan grabbed her favorite afghan and sat wrapped in it with her feet tucked beneath her. She sipped her coffee slowly, enjoying the company of the man beside her. Sir made his way out to the back porch and lay at Lee’s feet, with his large head cushioned on Lee’s boots.

  As he talked, Lee occasionally reached down to gently scratch Sir between the ears. He may not have known it, but he was making a life-long friend out of Sir. He wasn’t doing badly with Sir’s owner either.

  Lee shifted their conversation in mid-stream by asking, “So, how much do you know about this big dog you have here?”

  “Him personally or the breed?” Megan quipped.

  “I walked right into that—the Great Dane Breed.”

  “Well, after seeing an ad in the paper offering Great Dane puppies for sale, I did a little research,” she explained. “I know Danes are a crossbreed of the Irish wolfhound and the Old English Mastiff, originating in Germany. I’ve also been told they are called gentle giants because of their demeanor and size.”

  “Yeah, well something the size of a small pony does not have to be aggressive or ferocious. Their size and bark is intimidating enough.”

  “I’ve discovered that. Sir is indeed gentle, but he is also extremely protective and loyal.”

  “Every Dane I’ve ever come across is that way,” Lee interposed. “They are also very fond of children, which makes them great family dogs.”

  Family. Now, there was a word she had not considered in some time. Once upon a time, she daydreamed about the day when sh
e would wed and have children. She had thought Trevor was the man to complete that dream; little did she know that Trevor already had a family.

  Megan snapped back to reality when Lee repeated his question.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized.

  “It’s okay; I bored Sir to sleep as well.” He gave her a mock-injured look.

  “You are hardly boring,” she assured him and looked to find Sir not only asleep but snoring. Megan and Lee’s laughter filled the balcony and broke the quiet night air. Sir stirred briefly, peeping groggily through half-closed eyes, only to lay his head back down, when he realized he had missed nothing of importance.

  Before either of them realized it, midnight was approaching. Megan was lost in conversation and completely unaware of how quickly the time had slipped away.

  “Wow, time sure does fly when you’re having fun,” Lee repeated the old adage.

  “It sure does, and we’ve yet to get my truck.”

  “I apologize. Is it too late for you now?” Lee asked, standing and stretching.

  “Are you kidding? Not with all the coffee I’ve been drinking.”

  “Great. Then let’s go,” Lee said, reaching his hands out to her and Megan placed her hands in his. When Lee pulled her to her feet, he pulled a little too hard and Megan’s body made contact with his. The impact wasn’t enough to knock the breath out of her, yet she was breathless. She was close enough that his woodsy cologne stirred her senses and the brief contact caused her heart to beat faster.

  “Sorry,” they offered simultaneously and then laughed. As Megan looked up at him, the laughter died on her lips and Lee grew quiet as well. As they stood staring at one another, it seemed as if everything stilled and grew quiet. Everything except her heart, hammering erratically in her chest.

  After what seemed an eternity, and yet Megan knew it was a mere second or two, Lee cleared his throat, smiled and swept his hand toward the path to the car. “After you, my lady.”

  Megan gave a nod of her head, as a lady to her knight, and turned, leading him back into the cabin.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next Sunday morning, Megan sat with Cindy and Alan in church. Lee, arriving a few moments behind her, filed into the pew next to them. As he took his seat, he and Megan smiled warmly at one another. Out of the corner of her eye, Megan caught her best friend nudging her husband in the side, causing him to grin and nod as well.

  Following the service, Lee offered to take them all to Chatley’s Bed and Breakfast Inn. “Come on; as my treat, consider it an act of gratitude for all you’ve done.”

  “You’ll absolutely love the place, Cindy,” Megan promised. “The food is out of this world.” It really didn’t take much to convince the other couple and soon they were all on their way.

  Megan rode to and from Chatley with Lee in his truck while Cindy, Katie and Alan followed behind in their car. Soon, what started, as a nice gesture became a wonderful habit for the foursome and baby Katie. They always enjoyed themselves and were all becoming very fond of Lee’s aunt and uncle, who seemed to love the weekly visit by the group.

  Megan began looking forward to Sundays, with great anticipation. However, she was concerned it was more than just the church services. She felt as if she was learning a great deal from Pastor Dan’s teaching, or as Cindy put it, having her mind renewed. Megan also really enjoyed the wonderful time spent at the Inn and the camaraderie that was shared between the couples. However, she was finding it was the thought of spending time in Lee’s company that created the anticipation.

  Just knowing she was going to be seeing him and spending time with him never failed to make her weekends brighter. As well as being a great conversationalist, with a wonderful sense of humor, he was a good listener. She was beginning to cherish Lee’s friendship and the time they shared.

  While their talks were always interesting, there were also times during the half-hour drive across the mountain that she and Lee would sit in complete and amicable silence. These quiet times were never strained or uncomfortable. The more time she spent with Lee, the more she wanted to and the more she questioned how he made her feel.

  Times like when his eyes caught and held hers in a penetrating gaze, causing her breath to catch in her throat. She felt as if this strong, gentle man could see into the depths of her soul. Try as she might, Megan could not escape the intensity of his stare.

  Nor, could she escape the way his touch made her feel. If his hand accidentally brushed hers, or he took her hand to help her in or out of the truck, her skin tingled. If he leaned in close to share a thought, a shiver ran through her. The feelings Lee was evoking frightened her. Megan didn’t want to feel what she was feeling. She vowed long ago to never let a man get close to her, to never open herself up for the kind of pain she experienced with Trevor or watched her mother go through when her father left. Unfortunately, she seemed helpless to avoid it. Like a moth drawn to the flame, she was drawn to Lee’s warmth.

  On one hand, she wanted nothing more than to open her heart to him; while on the other, she was terrified of trusting him, or any man, ever again. As the weeks went by though, she began to realize that something was drawing them together. Or was it someone? Was God putting Lee in her life?

  ****

  Several weeks later on a ride back from lunch at the Inn, without realizing it or even knowing how the subject came up, Megan began to share her father’s betrayal with Lee. Excluding Cindy, Megan had never spoken of the incident with anyone else.

  “The three years following the conversation I overheard between my parents passed with relative smoothness. It was almost as if the incident never happened. Almost. Looking back now, I can see it was an unspoken thing between my parents, and of course, one I never mentioned. They didn’t know I had overheard them and I think I wanted so badly to believe everything was okay that I convinced myself it hadn’t happened. Consequently, life resumed as usual, as did our family relationship. I idolized my father, Lee, and in turn, he made me feel as if he adored me. He treated me like a princess.”

  “I’m sure your father loved you very much, Megan,” Lee offered sincerely.

  Much to Megan’s dismay, her eyes moistened and she kept dabbing at the corners attempting to keep the tears from escaping. Not quickly enough, it would seem, for Lee not to notice. Within an instant, he was pulling his truck to a safe place off on the side of the road.

  He turned in his seat and took both of her hands, holding them in his larger ones. At his gentle nod, Megan cleared her throat and continued.

  “Shortly after my eleventh birthday, I began to sense all was not as it should be. The tension in the house was tangible, and as the days passed, it seemed only to intensify. My mother did her best to shield me from the currents surging beneath the surface but…” Megan shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.”

  “But you knew something was wrong,” Lee surmised correctly and Megan nodded.

  “Just as before, my dad began working late at night, not coming home until well past my bedtime. My mother and I began having more meals without him than we shared with him. Then, he began to travel on weekends.”

  Looking back now as she recounted the events for Lee, Megan didn’t know how her mother tolerated it for as long as she had. Perhaps, it was her love for her husband and for the sake of her daughter that Megan’s mother had held onto the marriage with the tenacity of a bulldog. At what cost to her pride and self-esteem? Unfortunately, her mother had been fighting a losing battle, and eventually, her pride would no longer allow her to hang on to a husband who wanted to be with someone else.

  Megan finally spoke again continuing her story. “One afternoon, I slipped home early from playing at the neighbors, and once again, overheard raised voices coming from my parents’ room. It was the last argument I witnessed. My father left that day.”

  Lee was gently making a circle in her palm with his thumb, offering silent comfort while paying close attention as her past poured out of her.


  “I don’t know how my mother found the strength to offer comfort to me when her own heart was shattered. I remember praying every night for my father to come home but he never did.” Megan grew very still.

  “Six months after he walked out of our home, he was in a fatal car accident. My last memory of him is standing beside his casket, holding my mom’s hand, as we grieved over his lifeless body. I still find myself struggling with what could have been and never will be.”

  “I’m sorry, Megan.” His compassion was her undoing, causing the tears to stream down her face freely. She hated herself for crying in front of him, yet again.

  What’s wrong with me? She felt like such a baby!