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Thoughts trickled through his head. Should he give up on locating Bobby Ray and let the authorities do it? He could turn over his research and let them have it while he explored, really explored what this could mean with Megan. But that wasn't him, and he couldn't let his family down like that. They were depending on him, and in truth, he'd always hate that he didn't go and find that asshole. It would be something that would always grate on his nerves. Plus, he owed it to his parents. While their death had made him a very wealthy man, he wouldn't live on that wealth as he had intended if he didn't do everything in his power to let them rest in peace.
Holding Megan close, he twisted so they lay on the sofa, him on top of her. He kissed her softly then pulled out of her with a groan and quickly stood and walked toward the bathroom to get them a washcloth. "Stay there, hon; I'll be right back."
When he reentered the living room, the sight of all that thick auburn hair splayed across the pillow on the sofa made his heartbeat skip. Taking in the sight of her voluptuous naked body, her skin creamy and smooth, her tummy flat but not so much so that her hips bones protruded, her long shapely legs stretched out, she was simply everything he'd ever wanted, physically. The fact that she cooked, was funny, seemed sweet and caring and a little bit lonely sealed the deal for him. They were so much alike and yet so different.
Changing his mind about the washcloth, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his bathroom. He set her on the counter, reached into the shower to warm the water and then knelt to undo the bandages which had spots of blood on them from her standing in the kitchen cooking.
"You must have broken open one of your cuts from standing in the kitchen this afternoon. I think you better take it easy for a day or two to let these begin to heal."
"I'm not used to sitting around; I normally don't have the time for it."
Tossing the used bandages in the wastebasket, he kissed her lightly on the lips. "Now you do."
He lifted her once again, delighted when she gave a little squeal, then stepped into his large shower. For the first time since he'd built this house and insisted on this lavish shower, he was extremely happy he had it. Dreams can come true if you let them.
* * *
Megan began making a pizza for them, and he needed to talk to Dawson about it all. He was honestly torn about what to do about her. He felt horrible leaving her here, but that had been the point all along. He didn't count on having feelings at all; he'd simply felt sorry for her. But now he was afraid his feelings had turned into so much more than just liking her, and that made it more difficult. She was in such a vulnerable position right now. She'd lost her house, and she was being targeted and clearly had no one to turn to, so he needed to remember that before he fell deeply in love with her because her feelings could change once life returned to normal. Why did that hurt so much?
"Meg? Honey, I'm going to step out to the garage and pack up my bike for tomorrow. You okay for a bit?"
Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, he watched as she forced a smile before replying, "Sure."
Nodding, he walked out the back door and through the attached garage. Darkness had set over the mountain now and the lights from the buildings and houses at the bottom of the hill shined like stars from below. He paused for just a moment to admire the view. One of the best things about living up here was his view, both in terms of security and in terms of breathtaking—morning and night.
Continuing on to the garage, he pulled his phone from his back pocket and called his brother.
"Yeah."
He chuckled. "Hey, Daws, you got a minute?"
"Yeah. How's your houseguest?" There was laughter in his voice.
"Been talking to Emmy?"
"Yeah." Chuckling on the other end of the phone made him smile.
"So, then you know. But it’s also the reason I'm calling. I feel like I have a bit of a dilemma here. She's vulnerable right now, has no one, and it seems like anyone who's ever been in her life has just up and left. Now it looks like I'm doing the same, and I don't mind telling you it's sitting hard in my gut. I don't want to let her down, but I don't want to let you and Emmy down either."
A full-on belly laugh sounded on the other end of the phone and it both grated his nerves and made him chuckle in return. Dawson always saw the humor in every situation.
"So, you've fallen for her. Emmy said as much, and I must say I'm so fucking happy you're moving on from that crack whore you're married to. Get that bitch out of our family once and for all, Ford."
"I didn't say I'd fallen for her—”
"Right, you didn't, but you have, or this wouldn't be a dilemma."
Sitting in the driver's side of the old Jeep, he gripped the steering wheel with his free hand and closed his eyes as he rested the back of his head against the back of the seat.
"You can't admit it yet?" Dawson chuckled again. "Damn, Ford, you've got it bad, and you're trying to ignore it. Emmy said she's beautiful, sweet, smart, and funny. What the hell is wrong with you? You can't possibly still be carrying a torch for the boney bitch you're married to. Please tell me that isn't the case."
"Of course, I'm not carrying a torch for her. I can't stand the thought of her at this point. And it has absolutely nothing at all to do with her."
"Then who does it have to do with? Falcon wants you to be happy just like the rest of us."
Inhaling deeply, he opened his eyes and imagined his dad standing in front of the Jeep looking at him, a crooked smile on his face telling him he was being a fool in so many ways right now. "I guess it's happened so fast that it seems wrong or weird or something."
"Please remember that I asked Sylvia to marry me on our third date. Dad asked Mom to marry him on their second date. Sometimes it happens fast. There's no perfect time frame in which a person is supposed to fall in love. And you'll hate yourself if you don't go and bring Bobby “Fucking” Ray in to be tried for killing Mom and Dad. And, if she can't stand that you go and bolts or wants to not see the truth of the matter, she isn't the right one for you. So, now what?"
