Home at Rose Cottage (10 page)

“Change her mind. I notice she hasn’t left yet. Something around here must be interesting enough to keep her right where she is.”

“She’s on an extended vacation, that’s all.”

“People fall in love with this area all the time. Her grandmother did. You did. Maybe she will. Give her a reason to stay.”

“Maybe’s not good enough, not for Jessie,” Mike said, sticking to his guns. “She wants a mom. I don’t want her to get attached to Melanie and have that rug yanked out from under her.”

“I suppose you have a point,” Jeff conceded. “You do have to consider Jessie.” He gave Mike a sideways glance. “Seems a shame, though. I haven’t seen you this happy since you moved here.”

“Maybe I’m happy because you actually turned up today with some decent-looking plants,” Mike teased, hoping to divert Jeff’s attention.

“And maybe pigs fly,” Jeff retorted. “My plants are always excellent, and you know it. Your good mood doesn’t have a damn thing to do with me. It’s all tied up with that woman you claim you’re not the least bit interested in.”

“I never said I wasn’t interested,” Mike grumbled. “Only that it’s not going to go anywhere.”

“Seems like a waste not to give it a chance,” Jeff repeated. “Pam says—”

“Heaven protect me from whatever your wife has to say about my love life.”

“She says you’re just scared,” Jeff continued doggedly. “I can’t blame you, but you’re letting life pass you by.”

Mike sighed heavily. “Yeah, it seems that way to me, too.”

He didn’t realize he’d muttered the wistful words aloud until he heard Jeff’s hoot and saw the grin spreading across his face.

“Told you so,” Jeff gloated.

“Go to hell.”

“No way, pal. I’m sticking around to watch this one play itself out. It’s the most entertainment I’ve had in years.”

“Then you must be leading a very dull life.”

“Not half as dull as yours before you met Melanie,” Jeff reminded him. “Something you ought to consider when Jessie’s in bed tonight and you’re staring at the TV with nothing but a beer for company.”

Unfortunately, Mike had spent several nights just like that lately. Jeff was right. His life was boring. Melanie D’Angelo could change that. He just had to figure out if it was worth the risk.

He thought of the way she’d felt when she was in his arms, of the need that thundered through him. It was pretty damn irresistible, all right.

If only he understood what was holding Melanie back, if only she would open up to him about her past, maybe then he’d know if the pleasures outweighed the risks. Until that time, he needed to proceed with caution.

M
elanie stared at the tuna on rye on her plate, trying to figure out how anyone could manage to screw up such a basic sandwich. It had so much mayo and sweet relish in it, it was virtually impossible to taste the tuna. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was yet another of Brenda’s attempts to discourage her from coming into the café, or even from staying in town.

She was trying to work up some enthusiasm for finishing the tasteless sandwich when an unfamiliar man slid into the booth opposite her.

“Hey,” he said with an engaging grin. “You’re Melanie D’Angelo, right?”

She was still getting used to the fact that no one in this small town thought twice about approaching a stranger. If this man hadn’t been wearing a wedding ring in plain sight, she would have worried he was hitting on her, but there was nothing but simple friendliness in his demeanor. She nodded.

“Thought so. I’m Jeff Clayborne, a friend of Mike’s. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Clayborne? That was the name of the nursery they’d
gone to. And this was Mike’s friend. She couldn’t help wondering how Mike had explained their relationship.

“Oh? What exactly does Mike say about me?” she said just to see what sort of response it would elicit.

He grinned, evidently responding to the edginess she hadn’t been able to disguise. “No need to panic. It’s all been good. That’s why it’s been so intriguing.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that.

Jeff wasn’t the least bit put off by her silence. He gave her an intense look. “So, I was wondering if you’d like to come to dinner at our house one night. My wife’s dying to meet you.”

She stared at him blankly. “Why?”

“Because you’re the first woman Mike’s ever shown the slightest interest in,” he said candidly.

“So she wants to check me out,” Melanie concluded. “Why don’t you just tell her she has nothing to worry about? Nothing’s going on between Mike and me.”

Jeff regarded her with barely suppressed amusement.

Melanie frowned at his blatantly skeptical reaction. “Why is that funny?”

“Because you’re both in denial.”

“I’m not denying anything,” Melanie responded halfheartedly. “Mike took an interest in my grandmother’s garden. That’s it.”

“Really?” Jeff said, still not bothering to hide his skepticism.

“Yes, really,” she replied.

“Mike’s been driving past that house every day since he moved to town. If he was so fascinated by the garden, why didn’t he do something about it before?” Jeff challenged.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe he has a thing about trespassing,” she suggested sarcastically.

He laughed again. “That’s one possibility. Personally, I think my explanation makes more sense.”

A shadow fell over the table. “What explanation is that?” Mike inquired, his voice chilly.

Melanie’s gaze snapped up to meet his. She glanced toward Jeff. She noticed that there wasn’t the slightest hint of guilt in his expression at having been caught meddling in his friend’s personal life.

Mike slid into the booth next to her and scowled at Jeff. “Well?”

“I was just inviting Melanie to dinner at the house one night,” Jeff said easily, ignoring Mike’s question.

“Really? Did she accept?”

“Nope. As a matter of fact, she turned me down.”

Mike nodded approvingly. “Smart woman.”

“Well, I guess I’ll leave you two alone,” Jeff said. He winked at Melanie. “If you change your mind about dinner—or about anything else—let us know.”

“I won’t change my mind,” Melanie said with less confidence than she might have if Mike’s thigh hadn’t been pressed to hers. It was just about all she could think about.

When Jeff was gone, Mike scooted away from her as if the contact was too much for him, too. “I’m sorry if he made you uncomfortable. He and Pam have become good friends since I moved here. They think that gives them the right to poke around in my personal life.”

“It was no big deal,” she said.

He studied her intently. “You sure about that?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay, then. How’ve you been?”

“Fine. You?”

“Fine.”

They fell into an awkward silence. Melanie desperately wanted to break it but couldn’t think of a single thing to say. The only thing she really wanted to know was where he’d been and why he hadn’t come by the house for days. She already knew the answer, though. Mike was avoiding her. She could hardly blame him.

“Sorry I haven’t been by lately,” he said as if he’d read her mind. “I’ve had a big job to complete before the owners get down here next week. They want the landscaping finished before their housewarming party.”

Something that felt a lot like relief washed over her. “Will you make it?”

“If Jeff stops meddling in my personal life and gets all the plants over there,” Mike said.

“I suppose he meant well.”

“The same way your sisters meant well,” he replied. He met her gaze and held it for what seemed like an eternity. He seemed to be debating with himself about something. “Do you want to go out with me?” he asked eventually.

She swallowed hard under the intensity of his gaze. “On a date?”

“Call it whatever you want to.” He shrugged. “It’s just dinner.”

“I don’t know.” She managed to get the lukewarm response out, even though her libido was screaming an emphatic
yes.

“It wouldn’t have to be a big deal. And it definitely wouldn’t involve Jeff and Pam putting us under a microscope to dissect our every move.”

But it would be a big deal, whether Jeff and Pam were there or not, she thought desperately. It would be a very big deal. Because if she went out with Mike, if he so much as touched her, there would be no turning back.

Mike wasn’t sure what had possessed him to ask Melanie out, not after everything they’d both done to see that their hormones didn’t get the best of them. Maybe it was the vulnerability he’d seen in her eyes when he’d offered an explanation for why he’d stayed away. He’d realized then that his absence had actually mattered to her. He’d suddenly wanted to prove that he hadn’t been avoiding her, that he wasn’t some macho jerk who teased a woman, planted all sorts of ideas in her head, then never followed through.

Maybe he also wanted to prove the same thing to himself. Maybe he wanted to make a liar out of Jeff with his smug declaration that Mike was in denial about his feelings.

Maybe he just wanted another chance to kiss Melanie and make mincemeat out of all those rules she’d established. That was probably the one, he admitted to himself. He’d thought about little else since the last time he’d set eyes on her. All those rules and challenges were practically irresistible.

“Tonight,” he pressed when Melanie had been silent way too long. “Jessie can spend a couple of extra hours with the sitter.” He liked that. Knowing that Jessie couldn’t be left with anyone for too long would keep the evening short. There would be no danger of anything getting out of hand. Yep, that was a great plan.

Melanie nodded slowly, as if she got the implied message. There would be no hanky-panky, no dangerous lingering under the stars, lips locked, hands roaming.

“Okay, then,” she said at last. “Just dinner.”

Mike bit back a smile. She sounded so emphatic. “I’ll pick you up at six.”

“And have me home by eight,” she added.

“Or thereabouts,” he agreed. After all, even he wasn’t delusional enough not to leave himself
some
wiggle room. Just in case, he’d leave things a little loose with the sitter.

He glanced into Melanie’s eyes and felt his pulse scramble.

Maybe, just in case, he’d see if the sitter could spend the night.

Dinner was lovely. They were able to sit on the restaurant’s deck and linger over coffee.

True to his word, Mike had Melanie back at the cottage by eight, but then he suggested a stroll down to the river. She couldn’t seem to deny herself that much.

The moon shimmered on the surface of the water. A soft breeze stirred the balmy air.

“It’s beautiful,” Melanie murmured, caught up in the tranquility of the night.

“Beautiful,” Mike echoed, his voice sounding oddly choked.

Melanie turned and saw that his gaze was on her. Her own breath caught in her throat.

“Mike,” she whispered.

“Don’t talk,” he said, leaning down until his mouth hovered over hers. “Don’t say another word.”

And then he apparently forgot all about the rules and kissed her as if there was no tomorrow. Melanie thought she was going to go up in flames just from the simple touch of his lips on hers. It was as if she’d been waiting her whole life for this man. Doubts fled as passion stirred.

“I want you so much,” Mike whispered, his breath ragged. “I know it’s a lousy idea. I know we swore we weren’t going to let this happen, but I’m not sure I can go
another minute without making love to you.” His gaze searched hers. “How do you feel about that? Say the word and we’ll pretend this never happened.”

Pretend it had never happened? That would be next to impossible, Melanie thought as her blood hummed. The memory of his mouth on hers, of his hands skimming over her breasts, was forever seared on her brain. She’d known what it was like to want a man, but not to crave him, not like this. There was no way in hell she could go back fifteen minutes and pretend nothing had ever happened.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered at last. “Please don’t stop.”

He scooped her into his arms, and before she knew it, they were in her room, in her bed, and nothing else mattered. Not her own lousy choices in the past, not whatever secrets Mike might still be keeping from her. All that mattered were his tenderness and undisguised need for her.

It scared her how much she’d come to need Mike in such a brief time, but she had no idea how to fight the feelings. They simply were.

Someday she would need answers, but not tonight. Tonight all she needed was Mike.

His rough hands were gentle on her skin, the callused fingers wickedly clever as they manipulated the delicate buttons on her blouse until it fell away, exposing her lacy bra and bare flesh. His eyes turned dark with passion as he took his time surveying her before a deft flick of his fingers had her bra undone and she was entirely naked from the waist up.

His mouth captured the tip of her breast, his tongue circling the nipple until it was a tight, hard bud capable of sending shock waves straight to her toes.

He groaned and fell back on the bed. “It’s been too long. I’m never going to last unless we slow things down.”

Melanie reached for the hem of his T-shirt, sliding her fingers along the hard flesh of his abdomen before she lifted the shirt free of his jeans, then tugged it over his head. “I don’t want to go slow,” she said. “I want everything now.”

He grinned. “Impatient, huh?”

“Maybe it’s a female thing. Once we know what we want, we don’t like waiting for it.”

He cupped her cheeks. “And you know what you want where I’m concerned?”

“I want this,” she said at once.

“And nothing more?” he asked, his expression solemn. “There can’t be anything more.”

“I know that,” she said. “I’m leaving, anyway. All any of us has is the here and now.”

He regarded her skeptically. “That’s very philosophical, but is it the way you really feel?”

Melanie sat back, vaguely irritated by the string of questions. “Do you think I don’t know my own mind?”

“No, of course not, but I saw the way you were with your family. I know closeness must be what you want for yourself, and I can’t be anything more than an interlude.”

“You don’t have the right to assume you know what I want out of life,” she retorted, realizing even as she spoke that the argument was rapidly escalating out of control.

“Then tell me what you want.”

The request deflated her anger. Instead, an exasperated laugh escaped. “You want to have that conversation
now?
”

He tucked his hands behind his head and leaned back
against the pillows, looking relaxed and sexy as sin. “Yes, I think I do.”

“Are you crazy?”

He laughed. “More than likely. Heaven knows, I’ll probably be convinced of that in the morning.” He winked. “Then again, maybe you can convince me that you really do want a fling and we’ll both leave this bed satisfied.”

“You’re impossible.” She studied his expression. “But you’re not giving in on this, are you?”

“No.”

“What about getting home early?”

“Jessie’s fine. Tell me what you want, Melanie.”

She sighed heavily and fell back against the pillows next to him. “I wanted to make love to you. I wanted to know what it would be like to have you inside me, filling me up, making me scream.”

Mike swallowed hard next to her. Good. He deserved to be squirming about now.

“And long-term?” he asked, his voice ragged. “What do you want for the long haul?”

“I have no idea,” she said honestly. “I’ve been trying very hard lately not to think too far into the future. I’ve been discovering that there are advantages to living in the moment, to not having too many unrealistic expectations.”

Frustrated as she was, she found herself glancing at him. “What about you? What do you want long-term?”

“To make a decent home for my daughter,” he said without hesitation. “To do work I enjoy.”

“What about having someone to share it with?” she asked, voicing the one longing she hadn’t been able to push out of her own heart no matter how hard she’d tried.

“An unrealistic expectation,” he said tightly.

“Because you won’t let yourself trust another woman?”

He nodded. “I can’t. If it were only me, maybe I could take that chance, but I won’t put Jessie through losing someone else, just because I’d like to have someone to come home to at night.”

She propped herself up on her elbow and leveled a look straight into his eyes. “You know what I think? I think it doesn’t have anything at all to do with Jessie. I think you’re scared of getting your heart broken again. I think you’re the one who hasn’t recovered from not being important enough to your ex-wife for her to do anything necessary to get off the drugs and save your marriage.”