Free Time Out by Cheryl Douglas Page B

into her
hands. “My gut tells me not to trust him, but my body is sending me
a different message entirely.”
    “What have you
got to lose by taking a chance on him? You should see where it
might lead.”
    “The last thing
I need is a friends with benefits arrangement. No matter how hard
both parties try to keep it simple, it inevitably gets complicated.
I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for anyone, least of all
Avery and Ty. They’ve been so good to me.”
    “If you go back
to L.A. at the end of your contract without exploring this thing
with Nick, will you have any regrets?” When Megan didn’t respond
right away, Nikki asked, “Will you always wonder where it might
have led?”
    Megan smiled.
“Yeah, I guess a part of me would always speculate about whether
the attraction would have just run its course, given the chance.”
She had to believe that’s what would happen because she broke out
in a cold sweat every time she considered the alternative.
    “Then give
yourself permission to explore it. Be honest with him, set the
ground rules upfront. He’s a big boy. He can decide for himself
whether he’s interested.”
    “You really
think I should?” Megan bit her lower lip as she pondered the
possibilities. Did she really have the courage to suggest the
kind of arrangement she wanted, and would he agree to it?
    “I definitely
think you should,” Nikki said, squeezing her hand. “Trust me,
you’ll regret the things you don’t do more than the risks you
took.”

Chapter
Six
     
    Nick was awe-struck
when Megan walked into his father’s party. She was accompanied by a
cameraman, lighting technician, and makeup artist. She carried a
microphone, as did many of the correspondents who had come to
capture the party. The sight of her in a dark silver, floor-length
strapless gown, sparkling jewelry, and high-heeled strappy sandals
left him breathless and apparently speechless. Trey had to nudge
Nick’s arm to bring his attention back to their conversation.
    “I’m sorry,
what were you sayin’, Trey?”
    “I asked you
how many points Last Song has racked up so far this season, but I
have a feelin’ you couldn’t tell me if your life depended on it.”
He laughed. “That’s sayin’ somethin’ for a guy who’s been eatin’,
sleepin’, and breathin’ those horses for the past three years.”
    “He, uh, has…”
Nick watched the cameraman set his equipment down on a nearby table
and whisper something in Megan’s ear. What the hell?
    Trey smiled.
“She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? I’ve seen her on TV a time or two, but
she’s even prettier in person.”
    The other two
set their equipment down and left Megan and the cameraman
alone.
    “Yeah, she is.”
Nick’s hands curled into fists when Megan’s face lit up at
something her cameraman said. She threw her arms around his neck,
her enthusiasm evident. A smile lit her face. “Excuse me, Trey. I
need a word with the lady.”
    Trey slapped
Nick on the back and chuckled. “I’d just be careful which words I
chose if I were you, son. The first ones that come to mind are
usually the worst.”
    “I’ll keep that
in mind,” Nick muttered.
    Nick nodded to
dozens of people trying to engage him, but his attention was
focused on one thing and one thing only: Megan. “Glad you could
make it, sweetheart,” he said as he slipped a possessive arm around
her waist.
    She looked up
at him, clearly caught off guard. “Nick…”
    The cameraman
said, “Hey, you’re Nick McCall, right? Ty is your old man.” Without
waiting for confirmation, he turned to Megan. “We should ask him a
few questions. What do you think?”
    “Um, I…”
    “You seem to
have me at a disadvantage.” Nick tried to maintain his composure.
His jealousy was irrational. He had no claim on Megan. They hadn’t
even been intimate, yet he saw red whenever another man touched
her. “You know who I am, but I haven’t got a clue who you are. Meg,
aren’t you gonna introduce me