Page 51 of Second Chances
Chapter 20
Josh was an early bird, but today all he wanted to do was stay snuggled up in the tangle of sheets and blankets with Megan. He was tired from the night of lovemaking but felt full of energy as he watched Megan sleeping peacefully. As he sat up, she rolled over, as if her subconscious was trying to stay as close as it could to him. He pulled the quilt up over her shoulder, kissed her on the cheek, and climbed down from the loft completely naked.
There were still some red coals in the fireplace and he stoked them before adding a couple extra birch logs, their bark sizzling and crackling as the embers turned to flames. He opened the door and called Timber, who looked up sleepily from the couch. Usually, Josh carried Timber up the ladder and into the loft to keep him company, but last night he had his hands full with Megan – all of her.
Timber waded through snow that was deeper than his shoulders, did his business and turned quickly to come back into the cabin.
Josh lit the burner on the stove and put the kettle on to boil. He knew that Megan was a coffee snob, and probably had the staff to make her the best cappuccinos around, but she was going to have to live with the instant stuff today.
He climbed back into the loft and crawled under the sheets, grateful for Megan’s warmth. She murmured in response to his touch and when he wrapped her in his arms, she nestled into her position like a little spoon.
The snow had stopped sometime overnight and the sun was rising over the horizon, casting a pre-dawn pink glow across the sea of white sparkles. Josh had everything he needed here, with her.
He felt Megan twitch and stretch, and she gripped his biceps as she hugged into him even closer. She rolled within the grip of his arms, so they were face to face. “Good morning,” she whispered.
“Good morning,” he whispered back and kissed her gently.
“Is it still snowing?”
“It’s stopped. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.”
“Only you would say that a cold, snowy day could be beautiful,” she said and tried to snuggle further into Josh’s embrace.
“You just wait,” he squeezed her tightly and kissed her again. “When you see how the snow sparkles in the winter solstice sunshine, you will get it.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Megan placed her hand on Josh’s cheek. He could feel himself growing hard with desire again and wanted to take her one more time before they left, but he held back. He pushed her hips away from his and rolled onto his back, the question he had been asking himself for the past few weeks on his mind.
“Megan Brittle, what are you going to do once Sugar Peaks Café is running and making millions?”
He hated asking, he hated the underlying question, “When are you leaving?”
“Actually, I was kind of thinking of sticking around for a while,” she replied. “If all goes well with the café, I want to talk to Charlotte about opening up a brewpub. I got the inspiration from Charlie.”
Josh couldn’t believe what he was hearing, the woman he was falling in love with was planning on staying in his town. “A brewpub? Fancy. You think that Chance Rapids is ready for hipster beer and a pretentious atmosphere?”
“Hey,” Megan swatted at Josh’s arm. “There’s nothing wrong with a little change every once in a while.”
“Megan, I think that it’s a great idea, and if you don’t do it, someone else will. It’s just been hard, seeing all the change in this town, with all the rich folks buying up the land around the ski hill, the atmosphere here really changed. I mean, what local has the money to have a $70 steak up at the Mountain Bistro, or buy an $800 Gore-Tex shell? They bring a certain distance to the town, a divide if you will.”
“A divide. I haven’t noticed that.”
“I mean, how could you? You have nothing to compare it to. You’re actually a prime example.” Josh propped his head up on his elbow, unsure if he should continue, “How long have you owned that house? And you’ve never mingled with anyone in town, you have your staff buy your groceries, you drive your fancy car right through the downtown and over the bridge and don’t participate in the local community.”
Megan seemed lost for words. He could see her eyes searching his, as though she were trying to figure out if he was insulting her or not. He wasn’t.
“I’m going to be involved now,” she replied and ran her fingers down his chest.
“And that’s great, but what happens if the economy turns again like it did in 2008. The first things to go are vacation homes, you’re a businesswoman, you will close down your shop and leave Chance Rapids in your rear-view mirror.”
Megan tried to kiss Josh again, but he felt himself getting riled up and pulled back.
“Josh is there something you’re trying to tell me?” she asked, reaching for his hand.
He sighed. He didn’t want to come across like an asshole, but he also didn’t want to get hurt. Again. “Meg. I swore I would never get involved with someone from across the bridge. Someone who will inevitably pick up and be gone as soon as she’s bored with the town, or of her small-town boy toy.”
Megan sat up, clutching the blankets to her chest, “Is that what you think this is?” she gasped. “That I’m using you. For sex?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he replied. Then backtracked, “Not for me, I mean. It’s just, I’ve seen it happen here.” He didn’t want to bring up Freddie’s name and his heartbreak.
