Dare to Hold (Dare to Love 4)

He locked up the house and set the alarm before joining her in the bedroom. She’d already washed up, changed into a nightie, and climbed into bed. Scott slid in beside her, pulling her tight against his hard body, holding her until she fell into a fitful sleep.

* * *

The beginning of the week passed slowly, the damned baby doll never far from her thoughts. Scott offered to stay home with her, but she insisted he go to work and get used to his new job and let the guys see him pulling his weight as boss. He needed to do that for himself and for Tyler, and Meg didn’t want to grow to rely on him any more than she already did. The house was alarmed, Rick sat outside, and Meg was as safe as possible. For now.

By the time Wednesday arrived, Meg was edgy from a combination of boredom and angry frustration. Mike had made her a prisoner in Scott’s house, unable to live her life, and she resented him for that. The Ashtons had invited Meg to meet at their Palm Beach country club. She explained she was bringing Scott as her friend and as her bodyguard because she wanted them to understand just how serious a threat their son posed to her and her baby. She pressed her hand against her growing belly protectively, nervous now that she had to leave the safety of the house.

She dressed in a pair of knit leggings and matching top, a gray and white outfit that was true maternity wear. It seemed as if her small belly had popped overnight, her baby making its presence well and truly known. A flutter of excitement filled her along with a healthy dose of trepidation. The thought of a baby was way different than the reality, and now she’d get a feel for how Scott would react when he noticed her body’s changes.

He’d asked her not to give up on him, and she’d felt the intensity and seriousness in his tone and his actions. Ever since Sunday night, he’d been back to the Scott who’d barreled his way into her life and made her the center of his world. She just didn’t know if it would last, and she didn’t need the added emotional stress.

Scott drove them north to Palm Beach, where the Ashtons lived, and the long ride passed in tense silence. The tension wasn’t between her and Scott, however; it was Meg’s nerves that had completely overtaken her. It didn’t help when they pulled up to the front of the club, an imposing structure with white pillars and lush palm trees surrounding the building. She felt way out of her league.

Valets were waiting to take their car. Scott accepted the ticket before walking around the car, toward her. He always took her breath away, and today was no different. He’d showered and shaved, so not only did he look good, he smelled delicious, his musky scent calling to her body and arousing her despite the time and place.

He’d dressed up in a pair of black slacks and a pale blue long-sleeve button-down dress shirt. Blue was clearly his favorite color, and it had quickly become hers because of how the color set off his gorgeous eyes. He also wore a black sport jacket, his holstered gun hidden at his side. Though she hated the idea of the weapon, she felt so much better knowing he was with her and armed. She didn’t want to think the older couple would set her up by bringing Mike, but anything was possible. Mike was tracking her or following her somehow, and today’s meeting wouldn’t go unnoticed. Her stomach flipped painfully at the thought.

“Are you okay? You didn’t say a word on the drive up,” Scott said, his big hand cupping her elbow as he joined her.

“No,” she said honestly. “But I have to do this.” She pulled in a deep breath of air.

“Well, you’re not alone.” He pressed his forehead to hers, the gesture both tender and intimate, and her entire body flooded with warmth and heat.

“I know.” She pulled back and managed a smile to reassure him. “Let’s get this over with.”

He studied her face, as if making sure she really was ready, before nodding. “Okay.”

A little while later, introductions complete, they were seated at a small round table, facing the older couple. Lydia seemed nervous, which ironically put Meg more at ease.

“Thank you for meeting with us,” Walter said. He had gray hair and, now that she allowed herself to really look at him, kind eyes.

Meg swallowed hard. “You’re welcome.”

Lydia leaned forward in her seat. “How are you feeling?” she asked Meg.

“I’m fine. I was pretty lucky early on. The morning sickness wasn’t that bad, and now I’m feeling good.”

The older woman nodded. “That’s good.” She paused before speaking. “I wanted so badly to carry a child.” She smiled, but her eyes appeared sad. “It wasn’t meant to be for us, but we were lucky enough to be able to adopt.”

Meg didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent. Beside her but beneath the table, Scott reached over and clasped her hand in his. He always knew when to offer silent support, as if he could read her mind or her moods.

“I’ve always been hands-on with children’s charities, and it made sense to me to adopt a baby that not everyone else would want.” Lydia wrapped her heavily jeweled fingers around a cup of hot tea, as if needing the warmth. “Mike had fetal alcohol effects,” she explained. “We didn’t know what the impact would be on him long term, but we thought we were equipped to handle it.”

As if sensing she needed his strength, Walter reached over and took his wife’s hand away from the cup, covering it with his own. Meg watched them, surprised. She hadn’t expected a loving couple, and both her heart and her mind told her this wasn’t a performance for her sake. The affection between them was real.

“I take it Mike was … more than you anticipated?” Meg asked gently.

Lydia’s eyes filled with tears and she nodded. “He didn’t have the physical problems sometimes associated with a mother who drinks, but he had the behavioral issues. As time went on, things got worse. And with the inherited addictive tendencies, when he started drinking at a young age and hanging out with the wrong kids…” She shook her head. “We tried counseling, out treatment, in treatment…” She trailed off, her voice catching.

“I had no idea,” Meg said. “When I met Mike, I didn’t notice anything wrong. He was working construction. I met his friends… There were no warning signs. Until he lost his job, and then he changed.”

She recalled that night, the first display of temper, and she shuddered. He hadn’t hit her then. In fact, he’d never laid a hand on her until she’d told him about the baby, but the sudden shift in his mood had been terrifying.

“Losing a job is something that happens often, I’m sorry to say,

” Walter said.

“He did get another one quickly, so I didn’t think much of it. Except he was laid off pretty fast from there too.” Meg took a sip of water. “He used to say you wouldn’t help him because he wouldn’t be the person you wanted him to be, that your expectations were too high. Then again, he found my expectations too high, and all I wanted him to do was pay his share of the rent and come home at night instead of partying with his friends.”