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  Pathetic, she knew.

  She just couldn’t help herself. Plus, there wasn’t a time in her life when she had taken a leap, and now she felt like jumping across a canyon just to see if she could make it to the other side. If anything, the situation with Drew and his sister reminded Megan she needed to live her life at any cost.

  Drew’s evasiveness about the robbery and the stories in the paper didn’t feel right. She was dying to find out what that was all about but didn’t have a plan yet. She wanted to talk it over with Lillie, but Lillie was spending the day giving massages and doing a free yoga class to get her name out.

  “It’ll be okay,” Brandy said, bringing her out of her thoughts.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your date.” Brandy put a hand on her hip. “You’ll do fine.”

  “Oh, I know.” Megan looked away and pretended she didn’t have a care in the world.

  “If you know then why are you watching the clock like it’s counting down the last minutes of your life?”

  “I’m just a little nervous, but I’ll get over it.” She glanced at the clock again. Thirty more minutes and they would be closing.

  “Are you going to wear what we picked out?” Brandy asked from the opposite side of the counter.

  “I don’t think so. I mean, what do you wear to go out with a man like Trevor?”

  Brandy grinned devilishly. “As little as possible if you’re smart.”

  Megan smiled and rolled her eyes. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Let’s look around then,” she said, sashaying through the store.

  Megan followed behind and held up a pretty pink satin shirt. “How about this?”

  Brandy’s left eyebrow came up, causing her silver eye shadow to shimmer. She puckered her lips. “You’re not going on a date with just any man. This is Trevor Gaines.”

  Defeated, Megan slid the shirt back on the rack. This wasn’t helping her nerves any by making such a big deal out of what she wore. She bowed to Brandy in pretend awe. “What would you suggest I wear on a date with Zeus then?”

  Brandy clapped her hands and ran straight to a pair of skinny jeans and a black shirt that looked almost plain in the front but dipped low in the back. She picked the items too quickly, so she had already planned this outfit. “You could wear your black booties and some silver bracelets and this outfit would rock.”

  The outfit would knock any man to his knees, but was that what she wanted? Megan didn’t think she was ready for that. “I don’t know. It’s cold outside.”

  Brandy placed her manicured nails against her temples. “I don’t think he’s going to be taking you on a picnic in a park. You can wear a coat until you go indoors, then blow his socks off when you remove it.”

  The bells at the door jingled before she could respond. Both of them turned to find Drew with a scowl on his face. Megan looked at the clock and was surprised to find it was fifteen minutes past closing time.

  “You going to be much longer?” The fact that he wore a scowl and had his hands on his hips told her he wanted that answer to be no.

  “She’s almost done. She’s just getting her outfit together for her big date tonight,” Brandy said like a proud momma, holding up the shirt for Drew to see.

  Megan yanked the clothes out of Brandy’s hands and hid them behind her back. She smiled weakly. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  Drew’s face turned scary and his hands crossed over his chest. “What date?”

  “It’s nothing.” She waved him off and turned to Brandy with wide eyes, hoping she would keep her mouth shut. Again, her luck sucked.

  “Whatever,” Brandy said, grinning from ear to ear. “She’s got a hot date tonight with a very hot man. You know Trevor, don’t you?”

  “Uh huh,” Drew grunted.

  Megan glared at him. What exactly did he mean by that? That she couldn’t get a date with a hot man or that she wouldn’t want anyone else after having the great Drew Calloway? With renewed indignation, she took the clothes and moved behind the counter. “You can wait outside. I’m almost done.”

  He stood staring, his jaw clinching before stomping out of the store. Once they were alone, Brandy asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, you didn’t. Don’t worry about it.” Megan put the money from the day in a bag and put it in the office safe. There wasn’t time to deal with the paperwork and she wanted nothing more than to go home and get ready for her hot date. “Go ahead and go. I’m almost done.”

  “Okay then. Don’t do anything tonight I wouldn’t do.” She smiled. “So, that means you’re free to do whatever the hell you want and enjoy every second.”

  Megan laughed. “I will. Goodnight.”

  “Night.” Brandy waved as she pushed open the door with her backside and walked out.

  Minutes after Brandy left, Megan turned off the lights, locked up, and went straight to her car without looking in Drew’s direction. She didn’t have to look to know he was watching her; she could feel his stare on the back of her neck. Being irritated with Drew, she drove faster than normal and when she reached the house, Drew was hot on her heels.

  “You have to slow down on these roads or I’m going to give you a speeding ticket. Last time I’m warning you.” He was so close behind her, she could feel his body heat on her back.

  “Get out your pen then,” she said, not turning around as she unlocked the door and walked in, going straight to her bedroom.

  “I’m not joking, Megan,” he called from the living room as she slammed the door.

  “Whatever,” she muttered as she stripped off her clothes and jumped in the shower. The one good thing about being angry with Drew was it eased her nerves. Perhaps he still had some use.

  Once out of the shower, Megan took her time fixing her hair in sexy waves and put on much more eye shadow and eyeliner than she ever had before. She squeezed into the outfit and felt awkward not wearing a bra, but with the way the back dipped, she didn’t have a choice. She double-checked herself in the mirror to make sure everything was in place and nothing was falling out.

  Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and came eye to eye with Drew a few feet in front of her, holding a fist up to knock. Megan took a small step back and he inspected her head to toe then stood sideways so she could walk past. “Was there something you wanted?”

  He cleared his throat and she wanted to laugh. Yeah, she looked good. Damn good, as a matter of fact, and Drew could eat his heart out. She moved to the coffee table and transferred her wallet and cell phone to a smaller clutch and checked the time. Trevor would be there any minute.

  “You’re seriously going out with Trevor Gaines?” he asked, his arms crossed over his chest and his head cocked to the side.

  “Yeah, what of it?” she asked, pretending to inspect her nails, but instead watching him with her peripheral vision.

  “You know he’s a player, right?” Megan stayed silent. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it.” Drew smiled wickedly, causing her to squirm. “I guess I’m going to be the third wheel.”

  “What do you mean, third wheel?”

  “I already told you that you can’t be left alone, especially at night, until we find who has Laura, so I’m going to have to be your chaperone.” He rocked on the balls of his feet and kept a cocky smile.

  “The hell you are!” Megan yelled as she leaped from her seat to stand. “I’m going to be with a grown man. I imagine he’ll be quite capable to take care of me for a few hours. You’re not the only man alive who can do the job, buddy.”

  “I doubt his mind is going to be on your safety,” Drew spat, his eyes moving to her braless chest. She fought the urge to put her hands over her chest to cover herself.

  “You are not going.”

  “I’m going or you can cancel your date. Your choice.” They glared at each other. “When exactly did you decide to go on this little date, anyway?”

  “I’m not canceling my date and you are not go
ing.” Megan chose to ignore his last question.

  “Wanna bet?” Drew asked, still grinning. She wanted to slap the smile right off his face.

  Just as Megan was about to rip him a new asshole, there was a knock on the door. She tore down the wall and Trevor was standing on the other side, running his hands through his hair.

  “What’s it going to be?” Drew prodded, scratching the back of his head like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  Megan chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating her options. Okay, she was stuck. Could she forcibly deny him going with them? She doubted it. She wasn’t about to cancel her date, either. Rolling her eyes, she exhaled an exhausted breath. “Will you at least ride in your own car?”

  “Sure.” Drew sauntered to the door, looking very much satisfied as he slowly opened it, standing almost out of view, and let Trevor in.

  “Wow, look at you,” Trevor said, rubbing his palm across his gruff chin. Megan smiled and Drew made a disgusted noise. Trevor noticed Drew with surprise. “Oh, hey, man. Didn’t see you there. Am I interrupting something?”

  “No.” She grabbed her clutch and black leather jacket. “You ready?”

  “Um, sure.” Trevor watched curiously as Drew put on his coat and went to his car. “He doesn’t seem too happy to see me.”

  She put a hand up, stopping Trevor on the porch. “Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy, but he’s going to be following us. Police work and all. I understand if you want to cancel.”

  Trevor smiled and took a small step closer. “You two got something going on? It would suck to be pulled over every time I got into my truck for taking out his girl.” He ran his eyes up and down her, appreciating the view. “It might be worth it, though.”

  Megan smiled. He didn’t give her the creepy vibe she got when most men hit on her. She found it utterly refreshing that she was able to stand there and talk to him without becoming a bumbling idiot. “No, I’m definitely not his girl. There are just some things going on with his sister’s kidnapping that have them keeping an eye out for me.”

  He looked to Drew who was sitting in his car, his face set grimly. “Sure, I can handle it.”

  Trevor placed his hand on the small of Megan’s back and led her to his oversized four-door truck. Like a gentleman, he opened her door and held her hand, helping her into the seat before closing it and walking around. Did all bad boys open doors? If so, she might have to date them more often. Odd, though, she didn’t get that same zing through her when he touched her flesh like she got when Drew touched her.

  “Do you like sushi?” he asked before starting the truck and loud music blared from the speakers. He swiftly turned down the volume. “Sorry about that.”

  “No problem, and I love sushi.”

  They made small talk as they drove to the next town over and pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. She tried not to look in Drew’s direction as Trevor helped her out of the car, but it was impossible since Drew was pretty much right on top of them. When Trevor turned his back, Megan glared at Drew and tried to shoo him back.

  Inside the restaurant wasn’t any different. Thankfully, Drew didn’t sit at the same table, but he might as well have because he waited until they found a table then sat right behind Trevor, his eyes boring down on her.

  “Are you from Hope?” she asked after they ordered.

  “Yes and no. I was raised here as a kid, but as soon as I graduated, I went as far away as humanly possible.”

  “Really, where?” She could have guessed he moved away because his accent was just a touch different than everyone else’s around, and let’s face it, a man like him would have been the talk of the town.

  “I spent a few years in Europe, then came back to the States and went to college in Florida.”

  “Wow, I’ve always wanted to go to Europe.”

  “You should. It’s pretty freaking awesome.”

  The waiter brought the sushi trays. Trevor let Megan pick through the plate before getting his own. His easy use of the chopsticks impressed her. She thought she was the only person in Hope who actually knew how to use them.

  “What did you major in?” she asked, hoping this was proper date conversation. She happened to look over Trevor’s shoulder to find Drew faking a yawn. If Trevor would just turn away, she could flip Drew the bird. As it was, Megan rested her chin on her hand with her middle finger discreetly tapping her bottom lip in his direction.

  Sure, it was childish, but he deserved it.

  “I’m still in. I’m going for my master’s in microbiology.” Trevor didn’t look up to see the surprise on her face. Megan didn’t take him for the intellectual type, but it goes to show you should never judge a book by its cover.

  “That’s great,” she said in all honesty. “Are you planning on moving again when you’re finished? I’m clueless on the subject, but I wouldn’t think there’s not a market for that around here.”

  Trevor chuckled and shook his head, causing his long strands to fall across his forehead. “No, not really, but I’m staying. I’m going to open a bar with a micro-brewery. They have a lot of them in New Orleans.”

  “That’s fantastic. I’ve never been to New Orleans, but I hear it’s great.” It was on Megan’s list of places she would like to go one day.

  “You’d love it. It’s a completely different atmosphere than the bars around here. Here, the main point of going to a bar is to get drunk and laid. There, it’s more of people relaxing, having fun, and getting to know other people. I think the town is starting to come back to life, and I would like to do my part and have something different for people to do and enjoy.” When Trevor smiled, Megan swore she saw a halo over his head. Again, she was surprised by him. Not only was he smart, but he wanted to use his smarts to help the town.

  “Well, I’m part of the town’s restoration committee, so if you need any of my help, I’m in.”

  “Thanks,” he said genuinely. Trevor glanced over his shoulder and back to her. “What’s the deal with Calloway?”

  “It’s just police work.” Megan waved her chopsticks. They were having a perfectly good conversation and she hadn’t thought about Drew for a good two, maybe three minutes.

  “I can feel holes being burned in the back of my head.” He rubbed his head like he could really feel something happening.

  Megan took a drink and glared at Drew, who was on his cell phone. “I happened to witness his sister being kidnapped, and then they broke into my place with me still in it, so the police are concerned they’ll try again.”

  “Seriously? That sucks.” Trevor’s eyes widened. “Man, I don’t even know what to say about that, but I was talking about the way he’s been watching us like he’s going to tear my head off and shove it up my ass if I so much as shake your hand.”

  “Don’t worry about him.” Megan watched as a cute, petite waitress with long, blonde hair and big boobs went to Drew’s table and leaned over just enough to give him a clear view down her shirt. Drew laughed at something she said and the waitress rested her hand on his shoulder. Megan eyes turned to slits; she wanted to rip the waitress’s arm off and beat her with it.

  This was crazy. She’d been enjoying getting to know Trevor—even if she knew it wasn’t going to be anything romantic—but with Drew looming around, it was difficult to stay concentrated on her date. Megan needed to get over him and fast. He hurt her and she wouldn’t let him do it again. Moving on wasn’t the easiest thing to do when he was two feet away. “Do you want to go to your place?”

  Trevor and Drew’s heads whipped to her in unison. She wanted to laugh at the shock on both of their faces.

  “Uh,” Trevor cleared his throat. “Sure.”

  Megan winked at him and whispered, “Drew can’t follow us into your place.” Well, she hoped he couldn’t.

  “True. Check please.” Trevor snapped his fingers and Drew threw money on his table and walked out.

  Megan really hoped Trevor wouldn’t be expecting more because
he would end up disappointed. She had gone for years without having sex and wasn’t about to have two partners in one week. Not to mention she could very likely go invisible in the process.

  That was an experience she hoped to never happen again.

  By the time they made it outside, Drew was in his car with the engine idling. Megan could see his jaw clenching. He wasn’t the least bit happy with her, but he’d have to get over it. She was a big girl and could do as she damn well pleased, whether he liked it or not.

  Trevor did a two finger wave toward Drew that seemed like an apology. She didn’t understand what that was all about, but men as a whole were a mystery to her. Once in the truck, Trevor stayed quiet and by the look on his face, he was in deep contemplation. Megan wanted to scream because she knew Drew’s position in the police force was intimidating his actions. Regardless of what was going through Trevor’s mind, they stopped in his driveway.

  Taking the keys out of the ignition, he jingled them in his hand. “This is embarrassing, but would you mind waiting out here for a few minutes? I didn’t plan on company and I need to pick up a little.”

  Megan smiled. “Go ahead.”

  He leaned over and shocked her by giving her a quick kiss. “You’re a doll.”

  She sat in surprise as she watched Trevor get out of the truck and enter his house. What the hell was that? Did he just kiss her? Well, duh. He did. But what did that kiss mean? Was it a “thanks for being sweet” kiss or an “I can’t wait to get you in the house and blow your mind” kiss? Just as Megan had convinced herself the kiss meant nothing, there was a knock on her window, causing her to jump nearly out of her skin. Drew stood with his hands on his hips and anger in his eyes.

  She opened the door all of two inches. “Yes?”