Read See Megan Run for Free Online Page A

him again. The
way his dimple peeked out with every bite of food. The way his
teeth sank into the meat made her shiver. God, she’d had to force
herself not to watch the unorthodox erotic display.
    "I wouldn’t know." Her voice sounded guarded
even to her own ears. "I forgot to update you. My mother is
marrying his uncle. We’re going to be ex-kissing cousins in every
sense of the phrase."
    "Hmm, still avoiding the subject of the ex.
Why am I not surprised?"
    Megan laughed. "Why do I talk to you?"
    "I make you feel like you’re not a control
freak without a sense of humor."
    "I am not a control freak. I resent the
implication."
    "How many times did you dial the private line
and hang up before it rang?"
    A zillion. "I have to get ready for
dinner."
    Lynne laughed. "And that’s why you love me.
Now go get a social life, so I can have one. I can’t get laid
unless you are happy."
    "How is that?"
    "Well, when you are like this you call and
obsess and obsess. I can’t function under those circumstances."
    "By function, you mean…"
    "See, this is what I’m talking about."
    Megan laughed. "I’ll call you tomorrow."
    Megan tossed the phone on the bed and got
ready for dinner. Instead of heading straight for the dining room,
she snuck into the kitchen, needing an extra few minutes away from
her mother after a grueling afternoon. Jane had already changed
into slacks and a charcoal gray shirt. The "kiss the cook" apron
had faded, but the memory of buying it for Jane was as fresh as the
one of standing over the counter drinking coffee this morning.
    Had she been missed? Not that she suspected a
big hometown welcome, but still, her return home had been a
blip.  Aren’t I contrary?  Megan brushed the thought
aside when the pungent tang of garlic reached her, followed by
something sweet. The smell thickened the air and made her stomach
tighten from hunger. She moved farther into the room, thinking how
much the kitchen was Jane’s domain. The only room in the house
where Jane’s opinion held weight. Strangely, her mother preferred
to do her own laundry, changing of the bed sheets, the general
cleaning. But when it came to cooking, Nicole didn’t even attempt
to boil water.
    Jane flexed her hands in the dough, spreading
it on the smooth cutting table. Then Megan noticed the tin already
filled with pie crust sitting on the island.
    "I hear you and your mother went shopping
today."
    Megan moved to the sink and turned on the
faucet. She snatched her hands back when the water scalded her
skin. Without looking up, Jane moved the cold dial up. "I figured
since I’m here…"
    Jane scoffed. "You can start by spooning the
cherries into the pie crust. It’s the covered pot."
    Megan lifted the apron off the hook by the
stove. Before she could think to do it herself, Jane had the tray
filled with pie crust in her hands.
    "You remember how to do it?"
    How long had it been? Very long, but when the
flimsy tin touched her fingers, "Yes, I remember."
    Jane nodded and went back to her own work.
Megan placed the tin on the counter and began filling the crust
with the syrupy fruit. Funny, she hadn’t realized there were some
things she missed about home other than her father. Nostalgic
memories assailed her, of summers spent making sandwiches with cold
cuts, because it had been too hot to turn on the stove. Winters
staying warm over a simmering pot of gravy for a pot roast stew.
She steadied her breathing as the emotions overwhelmed her. Jane
seemed to sense her mood and let the silence thicken like
blackberry molasses. It took another moment longer for the tremble
in her hands to ease.
    Concentrating on not overfilling the pie,
Megan answered the unasked question. "I had a good time. I found a
dress that fits the wedding colors and fits me without too many
alterations needed."
    "And it doesn’t hurt to be nice until the
house is signed over to you, right?"
    The dig didn’t go unnoticed. "Correct,
because it’s hard for me to believe that