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He touched his finger to her chin and tilted her face toward him. "You believe me?"
4 'Of course.''
His mouth straightened. "Every time I think I understand you, you surprise me."
He took her hands in his and pulled them away from his chest. When she would have protested, he glanced significantly to the freshly washed windows at the front of the office. She nodded her understanding. Anyone coming by could have seen them. A wave of embarrassment swept over her as she thought about how they'd been standing so closely together. Then she forced her head higher and squared her shoulders. She'd done nothing wrong, she had nothing to hide. Colleen's never-ending threats had done the reverse of what her sister had intended. Instead of being cowed by her harsh words, Megan felt stronger.
"I recognize that stubborn tilt to your head, Miss Bart-lett," Justin said, holding out the chair for her. "What are you planning now?"
She picked up her reticule and shawl and set them on the corner of his desk, then took the seat he offered. He went around to his chair and sat down.
"I was thinking brave thoughts," she admitted. "You know, defying Colleen, that sort of thing."
"Good for you. Tell me what else happened at this meeting of hers?"
"They want you fired, and one of them is going to have her lawyer look at the contract."
He shrugged.
"Don't you care?" she asked. "I thought this job was important to you. You said you came back because you have something to prove. If you lose your position, they'll have won."
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. "They can't win, Megan. I've accomplished what I set out to do. I've made peace with some of the townspeople, I've faced my ghosts. Leaving wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."
It would be to me, she thought, and realized she didn't want him to go. A dangerous line of thinking, she told herself. Things were different between them. They couldn't go back to where they'd been before. But she still didn't want
him to go. Not yet. He might have made his peace with some people in the town but not with her. She and Justin still had something between them. They needed time to settle it.
"Let me take Bonnie," she said impulsively. "If you don't have her with you, they won't have anything to complain about."
"No," he said sharply. "You've always cared too much about what other people think. Since Mrs. Dobson smoothed the way, I find your willingness to take Bonnie now a little too convenient."
"That's not fair," she said, springing to her feet. "I was willing to take her, but you didn't give me a chance to say so. I might be concerned about what others think, but you've always been very quick to judge me. I didn't instantly say yes. Is that so awful?" She curled her fingers into her palm. "I'm a businesswoman. I spend most of my day at the store. My concern was for the child, not myself. I see now that she enjoys being in the store and visiting with people. But I didn't know that before. Mrs. Dobson is teaching her her numbers. I've started her with her letters. I was worried about her. Of course, you won't believe that, will you?" she asked bitterly. She glared at him. "You still think I'm the girl you left seven years ago. You still think I'm a fool and afraid, but you're wrong."
He leaned back in his chair. "A very nice speech. If only it were true. You've always been ruled by what other people think."
Not five minutes ago she'd been thinking about how much she cared for him. Now she wanted to scream in frustration. "You're not listening to me. I want to take Bonnie. I don't care what Mrs. Greeley, my sister or the entire town has to say about it. She's just a little girl. She needs a home and food and caring. I can provide those things for her."
"She already has them."
His quiet words doused her temper. Megan moved next to the desk and stared down at him. She thought about Mrs. Greeley's ugly accusations and her own sister's uncharitable attitude. No one understood why Justin had taken in the child. Megan had thought it had something to do with his and Bonnie's both being fatherless and growing up in a town
that didn't want them. Perhaps that's how it had started, but it wasn't that way anymore.
