Romancing the Fashionista (6 page)

“I have a daughter,” Mel finally said as she calmly spread strawberry jam on her toast, trying hard to disguise the tension in her voice.

It pulled him up short but he was quick to recover, at least, he hoped he was. “That’s wonderful. Do you have a husband to go with the daughter, because I don’t see you wearing a ring?”

She took a delicate bite of the toast but he didn’t miss the tightness in her jaw that she tried unsuccessfully to conceal. “Nope. No husband and no ex. It’s just me and Bailey.”

Nolan smiled. Relieved he didn’t have an ex to deal with. “That’s even better. Tell me about her.”

It was then he saw a bit of her guard come up before thankfully she visibly relaxed and talked about her daughter. “Though some like to say my work is everything. They’re wrong. Bailey really is my life.”

Nolan nodded. “I can tell. I have to say, I’m really happy for you and maybe a little jealous too. You have something—no, someone—who gives you so much happiness and unconditional love. Not to mention a career that’s fulfilling. You are living your dream. It’s good and right.”

Mel shook her head, but couldn’t hide her blush. “If you say so. But the preteen years are here, so I’m just holding on. My mother has warned me that so far I’ve been lucky.”

They both laughed at that. It felt good to be sitting across from her sharing a laugh and some food. Felt like something he could be happy doing more of.

“Okay, enough about me,” she said. “Are you living your dream? I thought you’d be on the back cover of my newspaper as some star hitter. I’m really sorry it didn’t work out that way for you.” She sounded so sincere that he almost gave her the usual answer of “not in the cards”, but he
was
happy doing what he was doing.

Instead, he shook his head. “Don’t feel sorry for me. Things honestly could not have worked out better. None of that was my dream, it was the dream put on me by my parents, the school, society.” He took a sip of his coffee. “You know how this town is. It has a way of pushing you to go along to get along.”

Mel nodded as Nolan continued. “Yeah, but you got out. Now you live life on your own terms. You are the one in charge.”

She let out a low breath at that and rubbed her forehead as her phone buzzed with a message. She glanced at the screen. “But it’s exhausting. You don’t know who’s sincere and who’s not. My life is Bailey and my mom, the magazine and at times wrangling Lexi. They are the only constants. At least with what you do, you know where people stand and folks are not trying to friend you for what they can get out of you.”

Something in her expression gave him pause, and it stopped him from sharing more. “Yeah, I can understand how that can get to be a bit much.”

He watched as Mel finished her eggs, now more relaxed, she reached over to snag a bite of his pancake. “So tell me what you have been up to, doctor? I have to say, impressive, calling you that, if not a little surprising.”

Nolan pretended to choke on his coffee. “Is that your way of saying I was stupid in school, Ms. Mitchell?”

She blushed but in true form shrugged it off.

He grinned, happy to be on better footing. “Okay, it is odd given my history, but not so much as you and what you do. If anything I’d have thought you’d turn out to be the doctor. You were so good in science. But honestly, I didn’t need as much help as I was letting on. Half the time, me asking you for help was an excuse to be close to you.”

With that the rosy hue in her cheeks went deeper and he felt himself harden. God she was beautiful. Beautiful when she wasn’t even trying to be.
Thank goodness for the table.
Nolan fought for focus and control. “But seriously, I love what I do and plastic surgery, especially my work with those who are disadvantaged, has been really rewarding.”

“So what brings you back here now?” she asked.

Nolan paused. He really should tell her everything. That he’d be moving to New York and joining a private practice, but he wanted to have this time. He didn’t want to see that easy light fade from her eyes. He’d heard her earlier. She wasn’t looking for any possible attachments and he didn’t want this perfect day to end. “I came home for my parents. Bills are due and you can’t work for free forever. I have to help out.”

Mel nodded as the waitress came back with the check and she reached for it. Nolan snatched it away quicker than Mel could get it though, tilting his head to the side. “You really like to have the upper hand at everything, don’t you?”

“Sorry, it’s a habit.”

He stared at her, so self-assured and confident in her sexy glasses. She was a woman who took control and command in every situation she was in.

“Tell me, do you ever let a man take over and take care of you?”

She looked at him and it seemed like everything around them grew still and went to a quiet hush as the smile and the easiness left her eyes to be suddenly replaced by a deep sadness that cut straight into his soul. Her voice was slow and steady without a hint of mockery. “I’ve never had one make a sincere try at it.”

Chapter Eight

Brunch somehow turned into lunch and when they left the diner it was much later in the afternoon. Mel and Nolan walked the town a bit, chatting as old friends with the tingling possibility of becoming something more. Mel took a moment and let the feeling of that wash over her while, at the same time, she let the conscience on her shoulder war with it by telling her she was wasting her time by even having slightly meaningful conversation with the likes of Nolan Parker. If anything, she should only be checking out the way his nicely muscled ass filled out his well-worn jeans and admiring how his broad shoulders took up space in his sweater.

“So, we’ll check out the game for a few minutes?”

“What?”
Great. He’s talking, and I totally miss it by imagining how my ankles would look up by his neck
.

“Since we’re so close, why don’t we check out the game for a few before heading back to the hotel for dinner and the formal?”

Mel’s eyes went skyward in a dramatic roll.

“Is that for me, the game, or the formal?”

Mel smiled. “It’s definitely not for you. It’s just, I wasn’t into football then, and I’m definitely not into it now. And the thought of another night with our old crew honestly fills me with dread. Present company excluded.”

Nolan took her hand and she could tell he was being tentative but she went with it. Not pulling back, as they started toward the high school fields as he spoke. “I totally understand. I don’t know why I agreed to come to this thing either. If it weren’t for Ian, who I’ve hardly seen, I wouldn’t be here. I suspect it’s the same with you and Lexi. But now that I’ve reconnected with you, I can’t be mad.”

His words gave her a thrill she’d long ago forgotten as they stopped behind the blue bleachers. The bright lights of the field were now shaded by slats and sneakered feet. Nolan took both her hands in his and pulled her close to his body stepping forward. “We are probably both about fifteen years too old for this, but here goes.”

Mel swallowed then let out a much-needed breath, as she looked up into his dark eyes, in that moment, turning into every bit the emotional teen she used to be. “I’m sure you’re right.”

As if in slow motion, Nolan reached up and touched her hair, sweeping it out of her face and tucking it behind her ear, his fingers trailing down her neck. Mel felt so wound up, with one more crank she thought she could blow. “But I’m going to do it anyway, okay?”
Damn him, why was he asking a question he good and well knew the answer to?

All she could do was nod her reply.

And in one wondrously electric-charged connection Nolan took away her ability to think, breathe, do, be anything other than a twisted bundle of energy powered by the touch of his lips. When he pulled her body in close to his hardness, pressing against her center as he eased the pressure to sweep his tongue across her lips to gain entry into her mouth, it was as if all the bundled nerves unwound and burst into a brilliant ray of light. Mel couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from deep inside her that came up and out at the image of it.

Nolan pulled back. “Normally my kisses don’t have that effect on women.”

She grinned, blinking back irrational tears. “I’m sorry. Normally I don’t laugh during a kiss, but it was just too good.”

Nolan frowned. “Come again?”

She stepped back into his embrace and reached up. Touching his face, that delicious stubble she’d been dying to touch for so long was soft with the perfect amount of roughness. Mel leaned in, kissed the side of his mouth and licked, getting a leftover taste of breakfast syrup from the corner of his mouth. “Yes, good. It is really good and that makes me happy. Truth be told, I haven’t been this happy in a while. Thank you.”

Nolan wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her in even closer. “Well then, if you’re sure about that, let me continue to make you happy, Ms. Mitchell. I do aim to please.”

“You two gonna make out under the bleachers all day like teenagers or get a room? I suggest a room. Ours is free now, you know.”

They both looked up towards the voice as Lexi looked down and through the bleachers from where she sat. She once again had the cat-slash-canary grin, and Mel wanted to give her a smack.

“You have to give me credit. I didn’t interrupt you. Though it wasn’t just me who saw you two not so discreetly making out,” Lexi said.

Mel moaned.

“Oh, who cares, girl?” Lex continued. “We’ve come to make a splash, and so far you’re working up to a tsunami. Come sit by me for the second half, and we can take bets on what shade of green the good Mrs. Spencer hyphen Patterson will turn next.”

Mel looked up at Nolan, who was thankfully smiling and not put out by any of their childish antics. “I’m here for you to command,” he said with a grin.

At that, Lexi let out a whoop. “I knew he was more than just a pretty face!”

The three of them watched the rest of the game together, laughing hysterically as the old Timberettes took the field to try a routine with the current squad.

“Really? Like really,” Lexi said watching Ramona and crew. “There is a time to drop it like it’s hot and a time to keep that thing behind closed doors. Those ladies need to not only pass that torch, but burn that mother to ash.”

Both Mel and Nolan nodded, not finding fault with her logic. Mel was surprised to find she had gone a full two hours without checking her phone for messages. Too fast it was all over though, and they were heading their separate ways. Mel and Lexi to see her parents quickly before the formal, and Nolan to meet up with Ian. Once again, Mel felt hesitant as they were back in the hotel room getting ready for the last night in Timber Falls.

Her last night with Nolan.

Chapter Nine

“I tell you, I almost peed my pants when I saw you two kissing. It was like out of a movie or something.” Lexi beamed as she fluttered around the room in her panties and bra.

Mel turned from the mirror where she was applying her makeup and looked at her friend. “Okay, fairy glam-mama, simmer down a bit. This is not some fairy tale, and we’re not running off together. It was a nice afternoon and a nice kiss.”

Lexi stopped and looked at Mel deadpanned for a moment. “Yeah, a nice kiss that will probably tonight turn nice and nasty and end with your legs in the air, or better yet, you ass up, screaming, ‘Harder, Nolan, harder!’” She punctuated each harder with a solid thrust of her hips and had Mel throwing her coveted #10 blush brush at her.

“Would you hush your big mouth before he hears you?”

Lexi covered her mouth to stop a fit of laughter and came over and gave Mel a hug. “I’m so glad you came with me,” she said, now more serious. “I just wanted you to have a little fun and see you’re more than your work and Bailey’s mom. You’re Mel. Just you. Perfect and fabulous and my best friend.”

Mel felt her heart grow two Grinch-like sizes. Lexi was silly as all get out but she was sincere. Mel knew that despite her meddling, Lexi loved her. No matter what, she had her back and her best interests at heart. “Thank you. I am having fun, and it’s been a long time since I could say that. Though I’m still not promising any sort of relationship with Nolan.”

Lexi gave her a look.

“Fine,” Mel conceded. “Ass up wouldn’t be the worst thing that happened tonight. Maybe it could be his ass though.”

Lexi shook her head. “Look at you always having to be in control.”

But when they arrived at the formal, this time in the designated Placid room, all thoughts of legs and asses in the air were washed away as Mel saw Nolan dancing literally cheek to cheek with Ramona Spencer now Patterson. They were pressed up against each other like teens at a basement party as Ramona said something in his ear and swayed to a song that made all sorts of promises about what one night with the singer could do to a woman.

“Well, shit, what the hell is this?” Lexi said, bringing voice to Mel’s thoughts.

“I guess I should have gotten here earlier. Seems his dance card is filled.”

They stared at the two a little more as they looked uncomfortably right in each other’s arms, grinding to the heavy bass music.

“Fucking Ramona Spencer,” they said in unison, once again bringing up their old mantra.

Finally Lexi let off a sigh. “Drink?”

“Please.”

Mel watched as Lexi made her way to the bar, ogled by no less than five men who she knew had wives somewhere in this shindig. She shook her head as she grabbed a seat at an empty table and started the countdown clock on when she could get out of there. One drink and she was done.

“They look cozy, don’t they?”

Mel turned towards the male voice and saw it was the man she knew to be Ramona’s husband, Jim. She looked back at Ramona and Nolan and felt sorry for the guy. At least she had no real stake in this game. “No, not really. It’s just a dance.”

Jim shrugged. He was a good enough looking man, around fortyish with sandy blond hair, in good shape, and if he went lighter on the drink he’d be fine for a long while yet. Ramona did all right for herself, so why was she taunting him by grinding with Nolan on the dance floor? “Nah, Ramona always gets what she wants.” Mel noticed the slight edge of anger in his voice as Jim licked his lips in a way that had her longing to get out of there and heading for the nearest shower.

“I doubt that,” she said, leaning away from him.

Jim leaned back, obviously noticing her discomfort. “No, it’s true. It’s what I like about my girl. She takes charge. Goes after it and gets what she wants. We’re both that way. Aggressive. In the bedroom and out.” He leaned in again. “And a woman like you seems to be the type who knows how to get what she wants too.”

Mel
really
leaned back this time.
What the hell is this fool saying to me?
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh I’m sure you do, honey,” Jim replied as he glanced at Nolan and Ramona who, at that point, were looking back their way. Suddenly, Mel felt a little ill. Not about the idea of a threesome, though they weren’t her thing, but the idea of being in any sort of sexual situation with Ramona fucking Spencer filled her with revulsion. But then Mr. Spencer slash Patterson continued. “Hopefully if Mr. All American plays ball, it will be a quad.”

Mel almost choked.
Check, please!
She was more than ready to leave now. Mel was just about to tell Jim where to get off when he placed his hand at her neck in what could have been a sexy way if it wasn’t so tight and possessive. It was almost shocking in the way it stilled her. She was about to open her mouth to tell him off when a voice beat her to the punch.

“If I were you, I’d move my dirty hands before they got broken and go collect my wife.”

Instantly Jim lifted his hand. “Sorry, man. I was just making the lady an offer.”

“Does she look like she wants what you’re offering?” Nolan’s voice was low, steady and just a little deadly.

“Okay, I’m out.” Jim hopped up, took his drink, and scuttled to the other side of the room where Ramona looked more than a little put out. Nolan took the seat he vacated.

“I’m really sorry. I should have been waiting for you at the door, or at least run over as soon as I saw that ass hitting on you.”

Mel shook her head. “It’s not your fault, and you’re not my keeper. Besides, you had your hands full.”

Nolan let out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, I did. I can’t believe I got pulled into a dance with her. You know how she is with announcements. I wish I had gone to your room and picked you and Lexi up. I would have had an out then.”

Mel flashed him a heated look. “Is that what I am, an out?”

He frowned. “Jeeze, of course not.” Nolan ran a hand over his head. “God, I’m really screwing up what is supposed to be a nice night. Can we please let this bad energy go and start again?” The way he looked at her so sweetly with so much hope in his eyes let Mel know he was sincere and wanted to start again.

She smiled. “Sure, and hell, I’ve been propositioned by better and worse than the likes of him.”

Nolan grimaced. “Worse? You really need to hang with a better class of people.”

It was then that Lexi came over with their drinks and Ian in tow as the DJ announced a line dance. Mel looked at her friends. “Care to cut it up to some truly awful music?”

Nolan took her hand as she took Lexi’s with her other. “Sure. Tonight we’ll be young again.”

As they swayed together to the sounds of the old hit, Mel took a moment and focused in on being in Nolan’s arms, the feel of him as he smoothly and confidently led her around the dance floor. The delicious masculine smell of him, a combination of soap and fresh air, so unlike the men she was used to who somehow smelled like a mixture of spin class and Barney’s. The hardness of his chest didn’t feel in any way pumped up or trainer-induced as she leaned against him. She could feel his heartbeat slow and steady against her chest and wondered for a moment, before dismissing herself for being silly, if there could actually be something more.

But it was foolish. This was just one weekend—an anomaly in a lifetime of working weekends. This was not her real life, so she’d better take the time and enjoy it for what it was.

They laughed and danced with Ian and Lexi for the better part of the night in between the two of them bickering. When she and Nolan got up for another dance, they left Lexi and Ian arguing over their lists of top five hip-hop classics. The argument before happened to be top sci-fi movies. Mel was over the bickering and she knew the night would be over too soon. During a slow moment during an R&B jam Mel pulled back and looked up at Nolan. “You want to get out of here?”

He blinked down at her. She could tell he was surprised at her boldness but then he grinned and she could see he wasn’t really surprised but pleased. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask that all night.”

They made their way to the table and saw the top-five argument was still in full force, only up to number three. Mel leaned down to whisper in Lexi’s ear. “Leave the connecting door unlocked.”

Thankfully not her normal self, Lexi only gave a nod as Mel hugged Ian. “It was great to see you.”

“For real. It was cool, Mel. Don’t be a stranger. Fifteen years is too long between friends.” She smiled at that. It was nice to feel she did have a new friend in an old one.