The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

pylon with sunglasses. His fists squeezed tightly around the steering wheel and he forced himself to fight for calm. Not easy, when all he wanted to do was push his way past the guards, stomp onto the estate and turn the place upside down if he had to, to find Megan.
    Megan.
    God.
    He scrubbed one hand across his face and felt the scrape of whiskers against his palm. Hell, he hadn’t even shaved. Hadn’t been able to think about anything or anyone but his wife, since the moment she’d walked out of the house two days ago.
    He should have chased her down. But by the time he’d been able to coax his nearly paralyzed body to move, she’d driven off into the night and he’d missed his chance. Missed the chance to tell her he loved her. Needed her. Would not live without her and she’d just have to learn to live with it.
    “Great. Good plan,” he told himself, disgusted. “Sure to win the heart of any woman. Start telling her what to do.”
    He was in bad shape. But he’d have been much worse off if he hadn’t gotten a telephone call just an hour ago. Charlotte, Megan’s cousin, had phoned him and asked just one question. “Do you love her?”
    As soon as he’d convinced her, Charlotte had invited him to the estate and assured him that she’d get him past the guards. All he had to do now was be patient. It wasn’t easy though. Not when he was so close.
    Finally, one of the guards nodded at him, opened the gate and allowed Simon’s car to pass through. Anticipation rattled around inside him as he followed the drive, headed for the small stone cottage Charlotte had described. What if Megan wouldn’t listen?
    He pushed that thought aside.
    She had to listen.
    Had to believe.
    With her back against the gnarled surface of a tree trunk, Megan stared at the vineyards, stretching far into the distance. Plucking a blade of grass from the blanket beneath her, she shredded it methodically and let her mind race where it would. Naturally, it went straight to Simon. His image rose up in front of her. His scent wafted around her, competing with the strong earthy scent of the garden. And everything inside her yearned to go to him. To throw herself into his arms and feel him holding her close.
    How would she ever bear to be without him?
    “You’re not an easy woman to talk to.”
    Her eyes flew open and she shifted a quick, disbelieving look over her shoulder. Simon. Here. And not looking very pleased about it. His features were grim and shadowed by at least a day’s growth ofwhiskers. He wore jeans, a wrinkled white pullover and black sneakers. As he came closer, she could see the spark of something dark and dangerous in his eyes. She pushed herself to her feet, determined to have this confrontation on equal footing.
    “We don’t have anything to talk about,” she said softly, letting her gaze feast on him. Had it really only been two days? It felt like weeks, months, since she’d last seen him, touched him.
    “That’s what you think.”
    “Simon—”
    “You had your say, Megan.” He stopped a foot away from her.
    So close and yet still so very far away. Her heart ached, and her fingers itched to smooth his rough jaw. He looked as frustrated and exhausted as she felt. “Simon…”
    “Uh-uh. My turn.” He kept a tight grip on a folded newspaper in his right fist. “Two nights ago, you didn’t give me a chance to talk. You just laid down your rules and walked out.”
    “It had to be that way,” she argued and felt the first sting of tears fill her eyes. But she refused to let them fall. She’d cried enough over the last couple of days and wouldn’t do it again now. In front of him. At least, she thought, maintain a little dignity.
    “According to you.”
    “According to our deal,” she reminded him. “Remember? The no-scandal thing?” She choked out aharsh laugh that scraped her throat and hurt her heart. “Well look around, Simon. Scandal Central.”
    “You think I care?” Simon stepped in closer, until she was no more than a breath away. Damn it, he’d been wanting nothing more than to talk to her for two long days. Now that he was here, with her right in front of him, talking about doing the right thing and scandals, he just wanted to grab her and shake her. And then kiss her senseless. “Do you really think I give a good damn what’s happening to your family right now?”
    She sucked in a breath and drew her head back.
    He shook his head in frustration. “That came out wrong. Of