Page 40 of Dangerous Lies

“Sweetie, a blind, deaf mule would realize the two of you have feelings for each other.”

Megan let out a watery laugh, but the weight pressing on her chest remained. “I kissed him. We haven’t talked about it, and things have been weird ever since. Then today, his family saw us together at the police station and…” She bit her lip. “I’m not responsible for Oliver’s death, but I was there when it happened. That’s a history you don’t just move past.”

Nana sat beside her, taking her hands in her own. “No, you don’t move past it, honey. But you can move through it.” She gave Megan’s fingers a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to pretend those memories don’t exist, and neither does Jax. The past is part of who we are, but it doesn’t have to define where we’re going. You know that better than anyone.”

Megan nodded. She was a firm believer that your past didn’t determine your future. People could make different choices. Better ones. “So, you think I should be honest with him?”

“Yes. Love, even when it’s complicated, even when it’s messy, is still a gift. If Jax is meant to be in your life, you’ll find a way. And if he’s not…” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind Megan’s ear. “Then you’ll still be okay.”

Megan swallowed past the lump in her throat and hugged her grandmother. “How do you always know the right thing to say?”

Nana chuckled. “It comes with age, along with the creaky joints and the gray hair.” She rose and collected her tea, kissing Megan one more time. “Goodnight, sweetie.”

“Night.”

Nana shuffled out of the living room, leaving Megan alone with her thoughts. The fire crackled in the hearth, the flames licking at the logs, twisting and flickering in an almost hypnotic rhythm. She stared into them and her mind drifted, as it often had this week, to the night Oliver was killed. A rush of fear came instinctively, but this time, she didn’t fight against it. She let it wash over her. Let herself become immersed in the memories.

The dark country road. The blur of the forest flying past.

Oliver, jumping out from behind a tree, wild-eyed and frantic.

The slam of her brakes.

When he’d climbed into the car, he’d smelled of hay and sweat, his hands trembling as he gripped the dashboard.

Drive. He’s going to kill me. Drive!

His panic had been overwhelming. Megan tried to remember everything he’d said, but it was a jumble. Still, there was something—something buried deep in her memory. A crucial detail just out of reach. She could feel it, hovering on the edges of her consciousness, but no matter how hard she tried, couldn’t pull it free.

A hand landed on her shoulder.

Megan screamed, springing from the couch like a startled cat. She whirled to face her attacker with fists raised.

Jax stepped back, his palms facing outward in a pacifying gesture. The firelight flickered along the hard planes of his face. “It’s just me.”

She pressed a hand to her chest, her heart hammering against her ribs. “Good grief, Jax. You scared the daylights out of me.” She forced her other hand to relax. “I almost punched you.”

His lips twitched. “I noticed. All those self-defense lessons have paid off.” He tilted his head. “I called your name three times. What were you thinking about?”

Her shoulders slumped. “The accident. There’s something about it I can’t remember, and it’s bugging me.” Megan bent to retrieve the Bible that had fallen to the floor, along with the blanket, when she’d launched off the couch. “I was watching the fire and didn’t hear you come in at all. Sometimes flames can have a hypnotic effect.”

Jax took the Bible from her, smoothing out a creased page. He smelled of the cold outdoors and something distinctly him. Water droplets peppered his hair, darkening the strands.

Belatedly, Megan heard the rain hitting against the window panes. She shivered, thinking of the men guarding her property. “Walker and Logan are on duty tonight. They don’t need to stay out in the rain. I’ll tell them to come into the kitchen.”

She moved to go around Jax, but he caught her hand.

“Don’t. They're okay. They brought clothes for the weather.”

His touch sent a shock wave of heat through her system. When he didn’t let go, Megan stepped closer, tilting her head up to look at his face. He was breathtakingly handsome. She studied each strong line, from the masculine curve of his upper lip to the sweep of his cheekbones. And then his gaze clashed with hers. The stormy blue held a mix of emotions she couldn’t decipher.

Without a word, he cupped her face. His thumb traced her cheek and then his fingers slid into her hair. He tilted his head until their foreheads touched. “Megan…”

“Shush. I know.” She stepped closer into the circle of his arms. Jax didn’t need to explain. She’d already figured out that he cared, but his family hated her. He didn’t have any more answers than she did.

And right now, for just this one second, she didn’t care.

She wanted to forget about everything. The threats on her life. The accident. The men guarding her property in the rain and her grandparents sleeping in the next room. Instead, she focused on the beat of her heart and the feel of Jax’s hand on her waist. His breath whispered against her lips. She tilted her face toward his and, a second later, was lost.

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