Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch #3)(39)

Megan did her best to make small talk, as if the encounter with Conner’s former girlfriend hadn’t happened. She’d meant to mention that she’d ended things with her Nashville beau. Now there seemed to be no point in bringing it up.

Deciding to skip dessert, they left the restaurant an hour after they’d arrived. The night was cold and moonless, with powdery snowflakes blowing on the wind. Still damp from the wine spill, Megan huddled into her coat as Conner walked her to the Jeep and offered an arm to help her inside.

He didn’t say much until they were back on the highway, headed south to Branding Iron. “I’m sorry,” he said. “This isn’t how I wanted our evening to turn out. If I’d known Ronda May was working at that restaurant, I’d have made different plans.”

“It might have saved me from a wine dousing. But it wouldn’t have changed anything else,” Megan said. “She made it clear to me that she wants you back. She even warned me not to get in her way. Sooner or later, you were bound to hear from her.”

“Listen to me, Megan. Ronda May isn’t calling the shots. Whatever we had, it’s over and done with. I was happy when she found somebody else.” He drove in silence for a few moments. “You’re not saying anything. Don’t you believe me?”

“It doesn’t matter whether I believe you or not,” Megan said. “This issue is between you and Ronda May, and I can’t be part of it. Whatever the two of you decide, I need to back off until it’s settled. I hope that makes sense to you.”

“Damn it, there’s nothing to settle. We broke up. It’s over.”

“Not according to Ronda May.” Megan took a deep breath, wishing she could erase tonight from her memory, as if it had never happened—wishing they could start over, have a wonderful evening, and maybe even fall in love. But that was not to be.

“You know I’m right,” she said. “You need to resolve this. And we can’t be together again until you do. Now take me home.”

They were coming into Branding Iron. Conner turned off the highway, onto Main Street. The Christmas lights glowed overhead, but the magic seemed to have gone out of them.

“I hope you know that I didn’t want tonight to end this way,” he said as he turned onto her street.

“If it’s any consolation, neither did I.” Megan unbuckled her seat belt as he pulled the Jeep into her driveway. “Don’t call me until you’ve settled things—one way or another. And I won’t be calling you. Good night, Conner. No need to walk me to the porch.”

As he braked, she opened the door, climbed out before he could help her, and strode, head down, toward the house. Conner didn’t go after her. But he waited, headlights on, as she mounted the porch. Only when he could see that she had the front door safely open did he back into the street and drive away.

*

Megan walked in to find her family sitting in the living room, watching a Christmas special on TV. Her mother gave her a startled look. “You’re home early, dear. And, oh, my, what on earth happened to your clothes?”

“Nothing.” Megan shook her head. “Just an accident with some wine. I’ll be fine, but I’ve got a splitting headache. I’m going to take something and get ready for bed.”

“How was your date, Megan?” Daniel had been over the moon about her going on a real date with his idol.

“I’ve had better. Enjoy your show.” Megan headed for the hallway before her brother could ask more questions.

“Soak your jeans in cold water,” her mother called after her. “That’s your best chance of getting those wine stains out.”

Megan made it to her bedroom, where she stripped out of her damp clothes and pulled on her pajamas. After rinsing her jeans in the tub and leaving them to soak in a pail of cold water, she returned to her room and sank onto the edge of her bed. Tormented by questions, she buried her face in her hands.

She’d done the right thing, refusing to step between Conner and his former girlfriend, she told herself.

But had it been the smart thing?

Maybe she should have taken a page out of Ronda May’s book and stood up to the woman in the restroom.

Maybe she should have fought for Conner, instead of walking away and leaving him open to Ronda May’s manipulation?

What if her high-minded decision had cost her the man she’d fallen for—the man whose passionate kiss she was already aching to feel again?

She’d lied to her mother about having a headache. Now, as if in punishment, she could feel a real headache coming on. In the bathroom, she gulped down a couple of Tylenols, crossed the hall again, and crawled into bed. Maybe in the morning, after a night’s sleep, everything would come clear. Right now, nothing in her life was making sense.

She was drifting into sleep when the jangle of her phone, which she’d left on the nightstand, shocked her awake.

Conner? That was her first thought as she groped for the phone and checked the caller ID. But, no, the call wasn’t from Conner. It was from Derek.

Megan hesitated. She’d broken up with Derek, in part, because she’d wanted to pursue things with Conner. Now that had changed.

It would be like Derek to keep trying. All she’d need to do was take the call, apologize, and they’d be right back on track.

With Derek, she would have love, security, and respectability, wrapped up and tied with a pretty red ribbon.