Page 8 of Megan's Mate
“Now that’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time.” He stroked a callused finger down her cheek.
“But you have to wait until I get big.”
“It’s always wise to make a man wait.” This from Lilah, who slouched on a sofa, her head in the crook of her husband’s arm, a baby in her own. “Don’t let him rush you into anything, Jenny. Slow is always best.”
“She’d know,” Amanda commented. “Lilah’s spent her life studying slow.”
“I’m not ready to give up my girl.” Holt scooped Jenny up. “Especially to a broken-down sailor.”
“I can outpilot you blindfolded, Bradford.”
“Nuh-uh.” Alex popped up to defend the family honor. “Daddy sails the best. He can sail better than anybody. Even if bad guys were shooting at him.” Territorial, Alex wrapped an arm around Holt’s leg. “He even got shot. He’s got a bullet hole in him.”
Holt grinned at his friend. “Get your own cheering gallery, Nate.”
“Did you ever get shot?” Alex wanted to know.
“Can’t say that I have.” Nathaniel swirled his whiskey. “But there was this Greek in Corfu that wanted to slit my throat.”
Alex’s eyes widened until they were like saucers. From his spot on the rug, Kevin inched closer. “Really?” Alex looked for signs of knife wounds. He knew Nathaniel had a tattoo of a fire-breathing dragon on his shoulder, but this was even better. “Did you stab him back and kill him dead?”
“Nope.” Nathaniel caught the look of doubt and disapproval in Megan’s eyes. “He missed and caught me in the shoulder, and the Dutchman knocked him cold with a bottle of ouzo.”
Desperately impressed, Kevin slid closer. “Have you got a scar?”
“Sure do.”
Amanda slapped Nathaniel’s hand before he could tug up his shirt. “Cut it out, or every man in the room will be stripping to show off war wounds. Sloan’s really proud of the one he got from barbed wire.”
“It’s a beaut,” Sloan agreed. “But Meg’s is even better.”
“Shut up, Sloan.”
“Hey, a man’s gotta brag on his only sister.” Enjoying himself, Sloan draped an arm around her shoulders. “She was twelve—hardheaded little brat. We had a mustang stallion nearly as bad tempered as she was. She snuck him out one day, determined that she could break him. Well, she got about a half a mile before he shook her off.”
“He did not shake me off,” Megan said primly. “The bridle snapped.”
“That’s her story.” Sloan gave her a quick squeeze. “Fact is, that horse tossed her right into a barbed wire fence. She landed on her rump. I don’t believe you sat down for six weeks.”
“It was two,” she said, but her lips twitched.
“Got herself a hell of a scar.” Sloan gave her butt a brotherly pat.
“Wouldn’t mind taking a look at it,” Nathaniel said under his breath, and earned an arched-eyebrow look from Suzanna.
“I think I’ll put Christian down before dinner.”
“Good idea.” C.C. took Ethan from Trent just as the baby began to fuss. “Somebody’s hungry.”
“I know I am.” Lilah rose.
Megan watched mothers and babies head upstairs to nurse, and was surprised by a quick tug of envy. Funny, she mused, she hadn’t even thought of having more babies until she came here and found herself surrounded by them.
“So sorry I’m late.” Coco glided into the room, patting her hair. “We had a few problems in the kitchen.”
Nathaniel recognized the look of frustration on her face and fought back a grin. “Dutch giving you trouble, darling?”
“Well...” She didn’t like to complain. “We simply have different views on how things should be done. Oh, bless you, Trent,” she said when he offered her a glass. “Oh, dear, where is my head? I forgot the canapés.”
