Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4) (7 page)

At first Ryan didn’t hear Orlando until he repeated it
again. “Uh, yeah, she was cool with it.  Hey, um, what do you guys think this
is?”  He handed the paper to Jon and Orlando got up to look.

“Looks like a sonogram to me,” Orlando answered.  “Regan
had them done at different stages of her pregnancy.”

“Yeah, so did Gabby,” Jon chimed in.

“I wonder why Megan has this and who does it belong to?”
Ryan absently asked not expecting an answer from his friends since they
wouldn’t have a clue.

Jon shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe it belongs to a family
member.  Does her brother have kids?”

“Oh, yeah, he does have a kid. I think he and his wife had
a baby a couple of months ago,” Ryan said trying to remember.

Orlando handed the paper back to Ryan and said, “Then this
doesn’t belong to her brother.  It’s dated three years ago unless they have
another kid you don’t know about.”

“No. They only have the one child.  Megan has never been
pregnant. I would’ve known if she were pregnant.”

“Ryan, it could belong to anyone, she was a nursing
student when you met,” Jon reminded him.

Ryan released a relieved breath and smacked his hand to
his forehead. “Right! This is probably part of her old school work.  Wow,
that’s a relief.”

“Why are you relieved she isn’t pregnant?” Orlando asked. 
A minute ago you wanted a kid.”

“Damn, Orlando, how would she be pregnant for three years?
As a former history teacher that shit would have made the books for sure,” Ryan
said laughing.

Defending himself Orlando said, “I’m speaking in general. 
Last night did you use a glove?”

“No, I didn’t.  I know what you’re thinking, Megan
wouldn’t do that.  She just got assigned to the ER as a full-time nurse and our
marriage is sitting on shaky ground.  She’s not trying to have a baby right now.” 
Ryan leaned back in the chair. “I’m a little hungry.  Why don’t I throw some
burgers on the grill?”  He got up and went into the house leaving Jon and
Orlando outside.

Jon shook his head. “Poor guy just can’t buy a break.”

“What do you mean?  He seems a lot more cheerful than
normal.”

“He loves Megan and willing to do anything for her.  I
hope she isn’t messing with his head.”

“Jon, I’m lost,” Orlando said as he pulled the grill away
from the garage. “She apparently wants the marriage to work. They are working
on the same page, to me.”

“Three years ago…Orlando, think about it.  Ryan was on
trial for attempted rape.  It is possible that sonogram could belong to Megan.”

“Okay, if that is the case, where is the baby?  She
wouldn’t be able to hide that.”

Jon shrugged his shoulders. “That’s the mystery.  Megan’s
mother is a real bitch and controls her life.  I bet if Megan was pregnant
then, her mother had something to do with terminating that pregnancy and
without Ryan’s knowledge.”

Orlando frowned. “Damn, Jon, those are strong
allegations.  I wouldn’t let Ryan know you think Megan would keep something
like that from him. That shit would tear him apart.”

“I have a feeling something is going on with her, and it
has to do with that sonogram.  If it had any date on it other than around the
time of his trial, I would dismiss it.  But that is no coincidence.”

“Let it go, Jon.  We get too involved in the lives of the
guys at the firehouse as it is.  We need to take a step away from this and let
Ryan handle it,” Orlando suggested.

“He’s family, Orlando.  I don’t want to see him get fucked
over by Megan’s conniving mother.”

“Me either, but he loves Megan! If we start filling his
head with doubt about her and it’s not true, he could lose her forever and not
to mention it would ruin your relationship with him.  Leave it alone, man.  We
need to chill and mind our own business for once.”

Jon’s lips thinned. “You know I don’t back down from a
fight, Orlando.”

Orlando filled the base of the grill with charcoal and
squirted lighter fluid over it.  He turned to Jon and said in a quiet voice. “I
know, but this isn’t your fight.  Ryan has to do this.  He’s an intelligent guy
and if he isn’t satisfied with that sonogram being a part of Megan’s old
schoolwork, he’ll investigate on his own.  We strictly need to be here for him
and nothing else.”

Ryan came out of the house carrying a tray of raw
hamburgers on a platter.  Jon whispered to Orlando. “I’ll stay out of it for
now.  But if that witch Iona reaches for his throat, I’m personally going after
her.”

“If that happens, I’m there with you,” Orlando replied.

Chapter Eight

The public library was the only place Megan would agree to
meet Emin.  She first declined to meet with him then it hit her that he may
have information.  If Iona had persuaded him to help plan to destroy her
marriage, she might be able to talk some sense into him.

The children’s puppet show taking place in the kid’s wing
of the library had loud giggling spilling into the quiet spaces.  Some people
grumbled about the noise while other found the sweet sounds of the children’s
voices refreshing.

Megan turned round and gasped.  She knew a man of power
when she saw one. She couldn’t help but blush as the transformed man who was
once pudgy and clingy hurried towards her. It was still hard to believe this
was Emin wearing a well-tailored Armani suit, carrying himself with a sense of
purpose.  The Emin she dated clung to her coattails and always required
validation.  When he kissed her, he had to know if it was pleasurable or too
wet and lippy.  She didn’t even know what ‘lippy’ meant considering his lips
were thin.  Thank goodness she never slept with him.  She could imagine he
would ask questions the entire five minutes it would take for him to reach an
orgasm.

Five minutes
she chuckled. She had no idea what
type of lover Emin was.  He could be excellent and make a woman levitate or
bore her to tears.  She had no way of knowing and had no plans to find out
despite what her mother wanted.

She’d met Emin at sixteen and couldn’t wait for the
captivating age of eighteen to reach freedom. When she finally turned eighteen
she couldn’t contain her excitement. At first she was giddy, enjoying her
freedom and thinking of possibly building a relationship with Emin. But
something was missing with him. Maybe it stemmed from the fact that he failed
to stimulate her.  The first time Ryan touched her on the arm she felt the
electrifying shocks ripple through her body.  She wondered if he had felt them
also.  He must have because he didn’t hesitate to ask for a second date after
the first one.

Another reason she knew Emin wasn’t for her was because
she didn’t regret sleeping with her lab partner in college. A fact she never
revealed to Emin.  It was a one-night drunken mistake that she couldn’t take
back if she wanted to.  She didn’t sleep with another man until Ryan.  By that
time, she was 21-years old and living in her first apartment.

“Megan, thank you for meeting with me,” Emin said showing
straight white teeth.

“Sure.  This meeting will benefit the both of us,” she
said lowering her eyes from his gaze which held a sexual undertone to them. 
Damn!
Mom has gotten to him already
.

“I can never say it enough, but you look beautiful.  How
do you do it every day, Megan? Do you get out of bed looking this way?”

Suddenly, she felt embarrassed by the way she looked. She
wore slim-fitting black slacks and her favorite white button down shirt. Her
hair wasn’t as stylish as the night before.  Ryan had managed to ruin the
style, and she wasn’t wearing much makeup.

“That was corny, Emin. You’ve seen me look a lot worse. 
Remember the all-nighters we pulled cramming for finals?”

“Yes, I remember.  I also remember your lab partner that
had a huge crush on you.  Whatever happened to him?”

Megan shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sure he’s around,
somewhere.  Now…”

“I always thought you would end up with him.  I was
surprised when you dumped me for Ryan and not him.  The guy was a black
Adonis.  Hell, you tried hard not to show your attraction to him whenever he was
around.  But, I knew you wanted him more than you ever wanted me.”

“Crud.” She mumbled. “That is not what I want to talk
about, Emin.”

“I’m sorry; my mind tends to wander to the past at time. 
Anyhow, I feel odd talking here, Megan.  Shouldn’t we go somewhere more private
than a library?  I mean we have a lot to discuss.”

Megan held her hand up to stop him. “No, Emin.  This is
the perfect place for us to be.  I know what I’m about to say will seem like
deja vu again but this time it’s my mom’s fault and not mine.”

He placed his hands on his hips. “What are you talking
about, Megan?  Iona had me believing this was a done deal.  My parents are
cutting their vacation short to come home to plan a traditional Armenian
wedding.”

If she wore a wig, she would flip it. She took in a few
calming breaths and fussed. “Oh, my God.  What idiotic crap has my mother
filled your head with?”

Emin rubbed his forehead.  The arm of his suit jacket slid
back revealing the expensive gold Rolex residing on his wrist. “She asked me to
expedite your divorce papers because she said you are eager to end the
marriage.  She also said you’re interested in us rekindling what we had. 
Megan, she promised we would get married this time.”

Megan listened to the hurt laced in his tone.  If it
weren't a crime to strangle her mother, she would.  Emin had a heart of gold
and for her to do this to him was wrong on so many levels.

“I never said anything like that to Mom.  She hates Ryan
and will do anything to turn people against him.”

“You must see something in him that no one else does. 
When I talked to him, I feared for my life.  He was rude, abusive and I failed
to see that kind, loving person that you want to stay married to.”

That sweet innocent undertone took a harsh turn.  Megan
narrowed her eyes but kept her voice low. “You confronted Ryan at work.  How
did you expect him to react?  He doesn’t know you from the man on the moon and
you’re talking about me like we have something going on; of course he took the
defensive road.  Besides, I did not ask you to talk to my husband.  In fact,
we’re not getting divorced.  That’s why I asked you to meet me here.”

“Megan, most women want me for my money. I know you aren’t
interested in my money or my status.  I’m going to hold onto the divorce papers
not because Iona is on my ass, but because I plan to woo you away from Ryan. 
You are not happy and it shows, sweetheart.  Plus, I’m not the same man I was
before.  I know what it takes to please a woman and how to fight for what I
want.  What started out as a strong friendship years ago will turn into the
best thing that ever happened to me. You will be the woman to give me beautiful
children one day.”

This asshole is crazy
.  Did he really believe she
would agree to a marriage without love?
Dumbass!
He caressed the side of
her face with the knuckles of his fingers.  She cringed moving her head.  What
came next shocked the hell out of her. He drew her close to him until she
smelled the richness of his cologne. Emin kissed her hard crushing her lips against
his teeth. He released her and Megan stumbled against the shape edge of the
wooden bookshelf. Her back hit it hard. She knew that would leave a bruise. He
quietly left the library. 

Megan shook with a revolting anger.  She looked up and saw
her next door neighbor staring at her from across the room holding her phone in
one hand.  Lolita shook her head and turned away with a disgusted look.  Megan
dropped her head saying, “This day can’t get any worse.”

Megan hurried to her car.  She rolled down the windows to
let out the heat and to inhale the fresh air.  She was running out of options,
she would have to tell Ryan about the miscarriage and about what happened with
Emin today. If her mother and now Lolita, who was probably at the library with
her son, got to him first or she definitely would have a hard time explaining
these events.

Megan parked her car on the apron of the driveway after
she saw Ryan playing basketball with Orlando and Jon.  The worn hoop hung over
the opening of the garage.  Ryan would bounce the basketball around with some
of the neighborhood boys  who thought they were future NBA superstars or play
by himself.  It was a way for him to relieve his stress and keep in shape when
he wasn’t pumping iron.

“Hi guys,” she greeted with a strained smile.  They
stopped hustling and turned to greet her. Orlando hugged her first followed by
Jon. The smell radiating from their sweaty bodies made her nose crinkle and her
eyes water.  Ryan stood by the garage with the basketball perched between his arm
and hip. He didn’t appear too upset.  She looked in the yard next door. 
Lolita’s car wasn’t in the driveway either.

Ryan wiped his drenched face with his t-shirt that was
lying on the ground. All three firefighters were shirtless, showing off their
perfect bodies and giving the teenage girls and women outside heart flutters
and hot flashes in the process.

He bounced the ball on the ground. “I saved you two
hamburgers.  They’re in the microwave if you’re hungry.”

“I’m starving.  Thank you,” she said feeling the guilt
take her over.  She went into the house and to the kitchen.  Ryan’s cell phone
was on the counter ringing.  Megan peeked at the phone.  “Dammit! It’s Mom
calling him.”  She swiped her finger across the screen to cancel the call and
clear it from the call log.  “She wants to play dirty? Two can play that
game.”  She took out her cell phone and dialed it waiting for her father to
pick up.  “Dad, I need to talk to you and it can’t wait.”

“What has your mother done now?”

“Ryan is home and I don’t want him to overhear our
conversation.  Are you somewhere I can meet you in like an hour?”

“I’m at the office.  You can come here if you want.”

“Thanks, Dad.  I’ll see you shortly.”

Megan took the food out the microwave and put it in the
fridge.  She loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the mess Ryan had made in the
kitchen.  His cell phone rang again. Wiping her hands on a dishtowel she picked
it up; the number was unknown.  Her heart pounded hard against the walls of her
chest.

Ryan walked in the kitchen. “There’s my phone.  I wondered
what I did with it.”

Her hand shook as she handed it to him. “Yeah, it was on
the counter.  Are Orlando and Ryan gone?”

He looked at her and asked. “Yeah, they’re gone. Megan,
what’s wrong? You’re shaking.”

“Nothing, really.  Mom and I got into it again and I can’t
shake it off.  Ryan, she might try to call you.  Just ignore her call, please.”

“Why would she call me?  I’m the last person she wants to
talk to.”

“She’s pissed at me because I told her to stay out of our
marriage.”

“I’m not for her damn drama so it won’t be hard for me to
ignore her calls.  So, did you find a marriage counselor for us to meet with?”

“Um, not yet.  Hey, you want to go to a movie tonight?
This is your last night off before you return to the station tomorrow.  I have
to run out for a minute.  It shouldn’t take me more than a half-hour at most.”

He filled a glass with tap water and drank it down.
“Sounds like fun.  I need to take a shower.  Lock up when you leave out.”

“Enjoy your shower.”  He started to leave and she called
after him. “Ryan, wait.  I have to tell you something.”

He stopped and turned around. “What is it and can it wait
until I take my shower?”

She shook her head. “No, it can’t wait.  I have to tell
you this before I fall completely apart at the seams.”

“I knew there was something going on with you. What the
hell is going on?”

The tears started to fall from her eyes before she could
tell him the story.  “Something happened to me.  I never told you because you
were under so much stress dealing with the stuff going on at the school and
with your trial coming up.”

The color drained from his face as he stared at her. “What
happened to you?”

“Ryan, I found out I was pregnant shortly after we got
married.  I was waiting for the right time to tell you.  I wanted everything to
be perfect but then all hell broke loose with the accusations from that girl
and you going to jail for a week.”

He staggered against the counter. “What?  That sonogram I
found in the garage was yours? Dammit, Megan, I don’t care what I was going
through you should have told me.  What happened to the baby?  Did you abort
it?”

“No! I would never do that.  I had a miscarriage three
months into the pregnancy.  I couldn’t handle the stress.”

She pulled a chair away from the table and sat down before
she fell.  Ryan came over to where she was.  He knelt down and held her hands.
“God, Megan, it was wrong to keep that from me.”

“That wasn’t my intention. Everything just blew up at one.
I honestly tried to stay calm and be strong for you at the same time while I
finished my nursing program.  Then you joined the fire department and that put
me over the edge.” She stopped to slow her sobs as he wrapped his arms around
her bringing her close to him. She continued. “One morning I woke up and there
was blood.  I didn’t know what was going on so I called my mom.  She took me to
the doctor where he confirmed I’d miscarried.”

Suddenly he pulled away from her and walked over to the
sink. Megan waited for him for him to yell or throw something.  He didn’t. 
Instead, he braced his frame against the sink with his head hung low.  She
thought she heard a slight sniffle come from him.  Ryan loved kids despite his
awful upbringing.  He always said he wanted to prove to himself he could be a
better parent than his parents were.  His kids would never know what it was
like not to be hugged or told how much they were loved.

“Ryan, please says something,” she said in a soft voice.

“This is my fault.  I am the cause of your miscarriage,
Megan.”

“No, you weren’t.  I have to believe it wasn’t meant to
be, Ryan, and nature took care of it. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything when it
happened, I just didn’t want to add to what you were already dealing with.”

“I put you through hell during that trial and you never
questioned if I was guilty or not. Then you go through this all alone because I
was too damn involved in myself to give a shit about anything else going on
around me.”  He turned his head to look at her. “Why do you want to stay with
me?  You should hate my fucking guts and agree with Iona that I’m a loser.”