The City Girl's Homecoming

Then she and Tim had broken up. Since the breakup had been friendly, Megan had believed she would remain friends with his family. She’d been wrong. She’d made excuses for them when they stopped returning her calls. But when her birthday came and went without acknowledgement, she’d realized they’d well and truly cut her from their lives.

She’d decided that the best way to deal with the painful situation was to make a clean break. On impulse, she’d written the names of the forty-nine other states on slips of paper and placed them in a hat. She’d pulled out North Carolina and had begun her job search there. Last month she’d been hired by Daniel Sutton, turning his one-man law firm into a one-man-and-one-woman firm. Sutton Law Office was very different from the five-hundred-lawyer firm where she’d worked before. It was a change, but not an unpleasant one.

While they ate, Megan and the Whitaker sisters chatted about Furever Paws, the animal rescue the sisters had founded on their property. The shelter, which was run mostly by volunteers, provided a necessary service in the community. Lost or unwanted pets were housed until new families could be found for them. The shelter held adoption fairs providing opportunities for the humans and animals to meet.

Once they’d eaten their cake and finished their sweet tea, Megan was able to steer the conversation to the reason she was here—their finances. She pulled a file from her leather bag and then looked from one sister to the other. Life had taught her that there was no such thing as sugarcoating bad news. Since Birdie and Bunny were going to be hurt, there was no use in beating around the bush.

“Well, ladies, I’m afraid what I have to say isn’t good. Your brother Greg has been embezzling from you.”

Bunny gasped and clasped her hands together against her chest.

Birdie shook her head. “Are you sure? I can’t believe Gator would do that to us. Can you, Bunny?”

“No.” Bunny’s voice was barely over a whisper, but Megan heard the pain there.

Even though Megan had expected this response, her heart still ached for them. Bunny didn’t want to believe anything bad about anyone, and Birdie had a blind spot when it came to her baby brother. Nothing he did would ever be wrong in her eyes. Even now, faced with evidence of his crimes, she still referred to him by the family’s old, affectionate nickname.

Megan had the proof that he’d been stealing from them for years, but whether she could convince the sisters to do anything about it was anyone’s guess. Still, she had to try. Bunny and Birdie were more than her clients. They were her friends. They were friends of the community. They cared about everyone and everyone cared about them.

“I have proof,” she said, passing over copies of the documents to each of them. Neither sister touched the stacks of papers. They barely looked at them. “This is the information from the forensic accountant I hired. I have time to go through everything now and answer any questions you have.”

“I’m sure you do. We just aren’t ready to think about any of this right now,” Bunny said. “We need time to process what you’ve told us.”

“I understand that, but it’s important that we act sooner rather than later.”

“We know, but we have other things to deal with right now and can’t handle another.”

“Like what?” Megan knew the news must be hard for them to grapple with, but putting off thinking about it wouldn’t do them any favors—not when they were at risk of losing their home.

“Rebekah,” Bunny replied immediately, and Birdie nodded.

“What about her?” Rebekah was the director of the animal shelter and one of Megan’s new friends.

“There’s something going on with her,” Bunny replied. “She seems a little run-down and tired these days. I came upon her the other day and she looked positively ill.”

“I saw her a few days ago and she looked fine to me,” Megan said, hoping to end this discussion so she could get the sisters back on track.

“Do you think it could be stress from dealing with Grant?” Birdie asked as if Megan hadn’t said a word. “That nephew of ours is such a perfectionist. He might be putting pressure on her.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Bunny said. “We should talk to him and make sure he knows how much we like Rebekah and how pleased we are with her work.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Megan said. “But what are we going to do about your money? If Greg continues to steal from you, you’ll be in big trouble. It’s possible that you could lose everything, including your home, the rest of your land and the animal rescue.”

At that bit of grim news, the sisters stopped talking about Rebekah and Grant and gave her their full attention. Birdie looked at her sister and then back at Megan. “Go on.”

“I’d like to set up a trust that would protect your property and money that your brother currently doesn’t control. Once we gain control of the rest, we’ll be able to protect that, as well. And if neither of you is interested or feels qualified to act as trustee, I’ll hire one for you.”

The sisters shared a long look. “That would be all right,” Birdie said finally.

“Great. I’ll take care of that right away. Now, the second thing we need to discuss is whether or not you want to bring criminal charges against Greg.”

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine putting my baby brother in jail,” Birdie said.

“Your baby brother is robbing you blind,” Megan pointed out. “If we hadn’t caught him in time, you could have ended up on the street.”

“Still...we need time to think about that.”

“Good enough.” At least she’d gotten them to take the first steps to protect themselves in the future. “Take your time and consider what I’ve told you. In the meantime, I’ll get busy setting up the trust. I’ll make sure that your brother doesn’t have the ability to make financial decisions for you any longer. Your assets will be protected, although I can’t promise we’ll be able to get any of your money back. No doubt it’s already gone.”

“Okay.” Birdie picked up the documents Megan had given to them and tried to hand them back.

“Those are your copies,” Megan said. “I have my own. Read them over at your leisure. If you have any questions, I’m always available to answer them.”

“Oh, there’s no need for that, dear,” Bunny said. “We trust you. It’s good to know we’re in such good hands.”

Megan didn’t bother to tell the older woman that it was that kind of blind trust that had landed them in the mess they were in. At her age, she wasn’t likely to change. But since Megan was trustworthy and her boss Daniel was as well, she knew the sisters truly were in good hands. No one else would be able to harm them anymore.

Megan stood and grabbed her briefcase.

“Don’t tell me you need to leave right now,” Bunny said.

“I’m afraid so. Thanks again for lunch. It was wonderful.” Megan walked beside the sisters to the front door. Before Megan stepped onto the shady porch, Bunny gave her a hug. Surprised, Megan froze. It had been a while since she’d been the recipient of such open affection. Pushing down unexpected emotions, she returned the hug, then walked to her car. As she drove away, she hoped the sisters would take her advice and bring criminal charges against their brother. Family was a precious thing, and anyone who took advantage of their siblings deserved to be punished.

As she headed for her office, her thoughts drifted back to Cade Battle. He was probably the best-looking man she’d ever seen, and undoubtedly the grumpiest. Still, he’d been kind to Bunny so she knew he couldn’t be all bad. Not that it mattered. He clearly didn’t like her.

And she couldn’t help wonder why it bothered her so much that he didn’t.

Chapter Two

As Cade turned from the driveway onto the road, his stomach growled in protest. He’d looked forward to lunch with the Whitaker sisters all morning. Birdie and Bunny were fabulous cooks and baked the absolute best desserts. While he’d been knocked around as he fought to get the pig into his truck, it had been the thought of the delicious meal waiting for him that had kept him going. And then Ms. Susie Sunshine in her power suit had come along and ruined it all.

Cade had seen her around town a few times over the past month. Who could miss her? Tall, with a curvy body and a stunning face, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. Their eyes had met and locked on one of those occasions and his mouth had gone dry. He’d ignored the reaction. It had only taken one look at her impeccable makeup, gorgeous hair, perfectly manicured nails and stylish clothes to instantly know the type of woman she was. He’d once been in love with her type. He’d been left heartbroken by her type. He needed to avoid her type.

She had city girl written all over her. There wasn’t the slightest doubt in his mind that she’d moved to Spring Forest because she was running from something. Perhaps she thought that a change of scenery would fix whatever was wrong with her life. But once she’d recovered from her broken heart or lost job or whatever it was that had sent her here, she’d hightail it out of North Carolina so fast she’d leave a trail of smoke behind her.

Just look at her clothes. She dressed as if she was still living in the city. He knew she was a lawyer, but Daniel Sutton was, too, and he didn’t walk around wearing three-piece suits. No, he dressed like he was a member of the community, not someone who was passing through on the way to someplace better.

Cade had made the mistake of believing his former fiancée could be happy living a quiet life on the Battle Lands Farm. Deadra had sworn that she loved him and that sharing her life with him was all she wanted. Then she’d left him for a slick Chicago lawyer and hadn’t looked back. He’d been fooled once by a pretty city woman. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Despite knowing the danger she presented to his emotional well-being, there was something about Megan Jennings that appealed to him. He’d heard her gasp when Little Piggy had charged him, and knew it was because she’d been afraid for him. Though clearly her fear was rooted in her concern for a fellow human and not him specifically, her reaction had warmed his heart. It didn’t change the fact that she was a city girl. And it certainly didn’t mean he would let down his guard with her. Still, it was proof that a caring heart beat beneath that designer suit.

Frowning, Cade turned on the radio, hoping the music would erase all thoughts of Megan and the sound of her laughter from his mind. It didn’t work. Despite the singer’s voice and the sound of the drums and bass, he could still hear Megan’s sexy alto voice. Just hearing her say his name had been enough to set his imagination racing in the wrong direction. And he could still picture her sparkling eyes. But none of that mattered. He didn’t have time for a woman, even if he met one who would be happy living here. He had plans.

Cade switched off the radio and drove the rest of the way home in silence. When he reached the farm, he signaled and turned into the driveway beneath the iron sign announcing the Battle Lands Farm. Rather than stopping at the front of the house, he continued to the back to where the barns were located. The pig, which had been relatively quiet, suddenly began to snort and move around as much as it could in the truck bed.

The back door of his father’s house opened and he stepped outside. Although his dad was in his midfifties, he was still strong as an ox. With his father’s help, it would be a lot easier to get the pig out of the truck than it had been to get it in.

“So, this is our new guest,” his dad said, with a smile. Reginald Battle took being a good neighbor to new heights. If there was someone he could help, he did without hesitation. If he couldn’t help, he didn’t rest until he found someone who could. Never once in his life had Cade seen his father reject anyone’s request for assistance. While their farm wasn’t an animal rescue, they constantly took in animals that the Whitaker sisters were unable to accommodate. The pig was just the latest in a string of goats, chickens and geese that had come to reside on their farm. This was their first pig. And given how difficult it was to get it into the truck, Cade hoped it would be the last.

“This is him.” Cade shook his head and grinned. “Bunny called him Little Piggy.”

Reginald roared at the name. “She didn’t think that one through.”

“Not at all. Anyway, I want to get this pig settled in the barn. This little trip has set me behind on the work I planned to do for the day.”

“Then let’s get this one into his new home.”

Cade backed the truck up to the barn, and then he put the ramp in place. He and Reginald exchanged looks and at his father’s nod, Cade lowered the tailgate. The pig wasted no time in going from the bed of the truck into the barn. Once they got the pig inside, Cade heaved a sigh of relief. His father had already filled the feeding troughs with food and water. Reginald always claimed being a good neighbor didn’t cost a thing, but Cade knew that wasn’t true. In this case, it cost valuable time on top of maintenance costs, such as extra feed. Battle Lands Farm was profitable and could easily absorb the cost. Cade, on the other hand, got the same twenty-four hours as everyone else, so he would have to work faster and harder to make up for lost time.

“So, how are your plans going?”

“Not bad.” Cade was developing a farm-to-table business. He’d convinced his father to go organic several years ago, believing it was better for their customers as well as the environment. The business was what he should be focusing on instead of how sweet Megan Jennings smelled. “I’ve just finalized the marketing plan and I’ve determined how much produce I’ll have available for this year’s trial. I’m also working on a delivery schedule. But, none of this will make a bit of difference if I don’t have any customers. Then I’ll end up selling everything to grocery stores again.”

“I know you don’t like doing that.”

“No.” Cade worked hard to produce the best fruits and vegetables. He wanted the people who ate that food to get the best flavor and the maximum amount of nutrients. That meant dining on the food within a day or two of it being harvested, not after weeks. In order to accomplish that, he needed to have local clients in the restaurant business who shared his vision. He would continue to provide produce at the farmer’s market that was held at the Granary’s parking lot from late spring to early fall. But he wanted to move the business in this other direction, as well. Until he had enough clients for his farm-to-table produce, he would continue to supply grocery chains.

“It’ll work out. I’m sure of that. Once you put your mind to something, Cade, you always find a way to make it happen. You’ll figure this out, too.”

Cade appreciated his father’s support. Of course, it would be easier to pull this off if his mind was focused on his plan and not the very beautiful and oh-so-wrong for him Megan Jennings.

* * *

When Megan was finished with her meeting at Whitaker Acres, she returned to her office. The drive had enabled her to clear her mind. There was something so peaceful about driving on roads that weren’t so congested that traveling three miles took nearly half an hour. The scenic countryside was an extra added bonus.

She loved this little town. Only about twenty miles from downtown Raleigh, it was an easy commute to the state capital. And though it had the requisite chain stores, the town possessed a charm and personality all its own. The downtown had many small businesses that made Spring Forest unique. Snap Pop Candy Shop, Whole Bean Coffee, and Mimzi’s Ice Cream, all within walking distance of her office, had been major selling points in her decision to take the job. There was something about the small town that gave her a sense of home. It felt familiar even though she’d never been here before.

She parked her car at the back of the converted craftsman house that served as the Sutton Law Office building and went inside.

Emma Alvarez, the office manager and Daniel’s fiancée was at her desk when Megan arrived. She looked up. “How did it go with Bunny and Birdie?”

“Only time will tell. Right now they’re in denial. Birdie can’t believe that Gator would steal from them. I tried to show them the proof we have, but they wouldn’t even look at it. I left copies with them. Hopefully they’ll read the files and decide to press charges.”

Emma patted Megan’s hand. “You’ve done all you can. That’s all you can expect of yourself.”

“I know.” Megan was silent for a moment.

“What else happened?”

Although they hadn’t known each other long, Emma was pretty attuned to Megan. There was no sense trying to deceive her. “I met the grumpiest man in town.”

“Who?”

“Cade Battle. I think he’d intended to stay for lunch until I got an invitation. Then he suddenly didn’t have time. He was just this side of rude.”

“Rude? To you? Why?”

Megan shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“As good as the sisters cook, missing lunch is no more than he deserved.”

“True.” Emma’s diamond solitaire sparkled on her left ring finger, catching Megan’s eye. “It’s getting close to the big day.”

Emma nodded. “I can hardly wait.”

“I bet.” Megan knew firsthand the excitement that came with planning a wedding. And she knew the disappointment that came when the wedding was called off and the couple didn’t become a family. She really hoped Emma and Daniel managed to pull it off. They were good people and deserved to be happy.

Emma glanced at the clock and shut down her computer. “I need to get going. It’s time for me to pick up the girls.”

Emma had initially been hired by Daniel as a nanny for his three daughters. Once he realized how organized she was, he’d asked her to become his temporary office manager, working from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Somewhere in there, they’d fallen in love. Emma kept the same hours so she could be available for her soon-to-be stepdaughters.

“See you tomorrow,” Megan said, walking to her office at the back of the building. The office was so different from the one she’d had at her New York firm. That one had been outfitted with expensive furniture. Original artwork had hung on the walls. This one was simply decorated and had a homey feel to it. While her New York office had been designed to impress clients, this office was designed to make her clients feel comfortable.

Megan updated her case files to reflect her meeting with the sisters and then put a reminder on her calendar to follow up with them. That simple task had her once more thinking about Cade Battle and the way he looked with his shirt off. He was definitely well built. There was something about him that appealed to her on a basic level. She quickly slammed the door on that thought reminding herself that he didn’t like her. After returning calls to other clients, she turned off her computer and headed for the Main Street Grille.

It was only a couple of blocks from the office, so she decided to walk and return for her car after she’d gotten her order.

As expected, the Grille was doing brisk business. The food, burgers and sandwiches for lunch with typical pub offerings added to the dinner menu was anything but typical. The burgers were juicy and flavorful. The corned beef on a Kaiser roll and pastrami on rye tasted as good as the sandwiches she’d bought at her favorite deli in New York.

She looked around. The tables and booths were filled with families enjoying a night out together and a yearning grew within her. Two children near her laughed, the sound mingling with boisterous conversation. Someone bumped into her and she looked around.

“Sorry,” a man’s voice said.

Megan looked up and into Cade’s face and her silly heart skipped a beat. His eyes swept over her and her skin began to tingle as if he’d actually touched her. She’d never had such a strong reaction to a man and the intensity of the feeling surprised her.

“I didn’t see you standing there,” Cade said. A hint of something she didn’t recognize flashed in his eyes for a moment only to be replaced by coolness and indifference. He stepped away from her. Disappointment settled in her stomach.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “It’s crowded in here.”

He nodded then looked around as if searching for someone. Clearly he was uninclined to continue the conversation.

“Do you come here a lot?” Megan asked. It seemed foolish to be standing there and not talk. After all, they might not be friends, but they weren’t strangers any longer.

“Often enough.”

That was vague. What, did he think she would stalk him by hanging around here on a regular basis hoping to see him? That wasn’t likely. Megan refused to chase a man, no matter how handsome he was or how much faster her heart beat when he was around.

Although Megan liked the food, she didn’t dine here often. She rented a house in the historic part of town about a twenty-minute walk from the office. Although small, the house had a very nice kitchen. Most days she cooked dinner for herself and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Crockett. The older woman had mentioned having a hankering for a steak and fries from the Grille, so Megan had decided to grab the food here today. She considered letting Cade know he was safe from her, but decided against it. Instead she marched to the counter and gave her to go order. Once placed, she stood by the front window and waited for it, refusing to look at him again. The seconds seemed to crawl until her order was ready. When her name was called, she ran to the counter and grabbed the brown bag and headed home.

* * *

Cade watched as Megan Jennings took her bag and left. Though he told himself not to stare, he couldn’t keep his eyes from focusing on her curvy backside as she strode from the restaurant. After their brief encounter, she hadn’t looked in his direction once, choosing to look out the window instead. Not that he wanted her attention. He didn’t.

The last thing he wanted was to have Megan Jennings anywhere near his life. She was a city woman through and through and he didn’t need that kind of trouble. When he decided to have a relationship again, it was going to be with a nice country girl. Someone who loved the farm life as much as he did. So why was his mind suddenly filled with thoughts of Megan?

“Who’s the girl?”

“Nobody,” Cade said, turning to his brother. Chase must have arrived while Cade had been distracted by Megan. “Let’s grab a table.”

“It didn’t look like nobody,” Chase said as he slid into the booth.

“Nobody important,” Cade clarified.

Chase laughed. “Really?”

“Yes. I only met her today. So whatever you’re thinking, forget about it.”

“What I was thinking is that it looks to me like a city girl has gotten your attention. Not that I have a problem with that.”

“You’re not the one who was burned.”

“True. But from the way you were staring, it doesn’t look as if you’ve learned your lesson.”

Cade didn’t bother telling his brother just how wrong he was. Cade had learned his lesson good and well. He’d never let a girl like Megan near his heart again. “Forget about her. I’m sure you didn’t come all the way to Spring Forest to harass me. Let’s eat.”

* * *

Megan arrived at home and changed out of her work clothes into a pair of green cotton shorts and a coordinating floral top. Green had been her mother’s favorite color and Megan wore something in that color every day to honor her mother’s memory. Some days Megan missed her family so much her heart actually ached. Wearing green helped her feel closer to her mother.

Megan grabbed the bag containing dinner then walked across the street to her neighbor’s house. Mrs. Crockett had been widowed many years ago and had never remarried. Most people believed the elderly woman was weird or crazy, and consequently no one ever visited her.

The day Megan moved into her house, she’d witnessed the woman holding a conversation with one of her sixteen cats and dogs. Megan could have turned her back on the other woman like everyone else in town had chosen to do, but she hadn’t. She recognized loneliness when she saw it. So instead, she’d approached the woman and introduced herself. Mrs. Crockett had smiled broadly and introduced each of the animals by name. Then she’d invited Megan in for a glass of sweet tea. In no time flat they’d become fast friends, and Megan brought her dinner each night.