Page 36 of Megan's Mate
“I can handle it myself.”
Colleen lifted one snowy brow. “Perhaps you can.”
“How come I have to wear a dumb tie?” Kevin squirmed while Megan fumbled with the knot. Her fingers had been stiff and cold ever since her talk with Colleen.
“Because it’s a special dinner and you need to look your best.”
“Ties are stupid. I bet Alex doesn’t have to wear a stupid tie.”
“I don’t know what Alex is wearing,” Megan said, with the last of her patience. “But you’re doing as you’re told.”
The sharp tone, rarely heard, had his bottom lip poking out. “I’d rather have pizza.”
“Well, you’re not having pizza. Damn it, Kevin, hold still!”
“It’s choking me.”
“I’mgoing to choke you in a minute.” She blew her hair out of her eyes and secured the knot. “There. You look very handsome.”
“I look like a dork.”
“Fine, you look like a dork. Now put your shoes on.”
Kevin scowled at the shiny black loafers. “I hate those shoes. I want to wear my sneakers.”
Exasperated, she leaned down until their faces were level. “Young man, you will put your shoes on, and you will watch your tone of voice. Or you’ll find yourself in very hot water.”
Megan marched out of his room and across the hall to her own. Snatching her brush from the dresser, she began to drag it through her hair. She didn’t want to go to the damn dinner party, either. The aspirin she’d downed an hour before hadn’t even touched the splitting headache slicing through her skull. But she had to put on her party face and go down, pretend she wasn’t terrified and angry and sick with worry over Baxter Dumont.
Colleen might be wrong, she thought. After all, it had been nearly a decade. Why would Baxter bother with her and Kevin now?
Because he wanted to be a United States senator. Megan closed her eyes. She read the paper, didn’t she? Baxter had already begun his campaign for the seat. And an illegitimate son, never acknowledged, hardly fit the straight-arrow platform he’d chosen.
“Mom.”
She saw Kevin’s reflection in the mirror. His shoes were on—and his chin was on his chest. Guilt squeezed its sticky fingers around her heart. “Yes, Kevin.”
“How come you’re so mad at everything?”
“I’m not.” Wearily she sat on the edge of the bed. “I’ve just got a little headache. I’m sorry I snapped at you.” She held out her arms, sighing when he filled them. “You’re such a handsome dork, Kev.” When he laughed, she kissed the top of his head. “Let’s go down. Maybe Alex and Jenny are here.”
They were, and Alex was just as disgusted with his tie as Kevin was with his. But there was too much going on for the boys to sulk for long. There were canapés to gobble, babies to play with and adventures to plan.
Everyone, naturally, was talking at once.
The volume in the room cut through Megan’s aching head like a rusty saw. She accepted the flute of champagne Trenton II offered her and did her best to pretend an interest in his flirtation. He was trim and tall and tanned, glossily handsome and charming. And Megan was desperately relieved when he turned his attentions on Coco.
“Make a nice couple, don’t they?” Nathaniel murmured in her ear.
“Striking.” She took a cube of cheese and forced it down.
“You don’t look in the party mood, Meg.”
“I’m fine.” To distract him, she changed the subject. “You might be interested in what I think I might have walked in on this afternoon.”
“Oh?” Taking her arm, he steered her toward the open terrace doors.
“Coco and Dutch.”
