“Talk to you later, bro,” Mel said with her fakest cheerful tone, the same one she used on the grumpiest senior patrons at the library. She thrust the phone receiver into her dad’s hands, then kissed both of her parents on the cheek before racing back into the house and out the front door.
She couldn’t handle this. Not today.
The right thing would’ve been to end things with Adam and move on with her life. Their deadline was looming anyway, and he’d made it clear from the start that this was only temporary for him, but she’d grown so addicted to having him close she wasn’t sure she could let him go.
Walking would help. It always did. Sunshine prickled her skin, and a warm breeze cooled her heated cheeks. The air was filled with the smells of freshly mowed grass and fertilizer and the sounds of kids playing basketball. Thankfully, there’d be no Bryant family dinner next Sunday, since her mom and dad were going to be in Indy to prep for Mel’s birthday party and now James’s welcome-home celebration.
Ugh. James. He meant well, but this was her life, her mistake to make. Her connection with Adam felt like a once-in-a-lifetime bond. If she didn’t explore that, Mel would regret it forever. And yes, Adam’s reputation preceded him. He’d earned the title of bad boy honestly, with his serial dating and womanizing. They’d spent two incredible nights together now, and she hoped to continue that at least until her brother came home. Originally, she’d been terrified of dying a virgin. Now that she’d been with Adam, she feared losing her one shot at love, of not being enough for him, of never being enough for someone else ever.
They had two weeks left until James came home. Two weeks until reality would return and smack them all upside the head. Two weeks for her to spend all the time she could with Adam and figure out if he’d meant what he’d said about not doing love…or if there was a possible future between them.
…
Monday had Adam watching the clock.
Which was weird because he’d never had a problem keeping his mind on the job before. But now his thoughts were filled with Mel. What he’d told her that first morning they’d woken up together hadn’t been a lie. She was truly amazing. Kind, sweet, passionate. Adventurous, too.
The grin he’d struggled to suppress all morning broke loose. Why, just last night she’d cracked open that Cosmo sex book of hers—the surprisingly naughty one from her coffee table—and asked him to try some “variations” with her. He loved how open and trusting she was with him—her eagerness, playfulness, responsiveness. Most of all, he loved how a jaded player like him had learned some new tricks, too, after all these years. With Mel.
My Mel.
But he didn’t love her. He didn’t do love. That had always been his motto, his mantra.
Sure, he liked her. A lot. More than he’d ever liked another woman.
But love? Nah. No. Wasn’t possible. He’d been careful.
He shook off the crazy thoughts and frowned down at the Hemi V8 he was still rebuilding. Besides, she wasn’t “his Mel.” Never would be.
God, what was happening to him? Mel deserved a man who could provide her with the kind of life she deserved, take care of her. A man who would be able to give her his whole heart. Adam wasn’t sure he even had a heart to give anymore, his had been so battered. In the past, he’d never worried about it, but now he found himself wondering if he could be that kind of man for Mel.
More importantly, would she even want him to try?
Adam wasn’t sure. He’d made his position on their project clear at the start, and Mel had never mentioned changing their deal or taking what they had between them to the next level. He’d agreed to help her find a guy, someone she could date and possibly marry one day. Adam doubted he’d ever marry. Not after the disaster he’d witnessed between his own parents. And sure, the union between the Bryants was different, which gave him an inkling of hope, but yeah. He didn’t feel comfortable asking at this point.
Dammit. He set his tools aside, his fingers coated in thick black grease. Then there was the fact that he’d been playing phone tag with James since Sunday morning. The guy suspected something, Adam was sure. And if that wasn’t an omen of how stupid it was for him to wish for more than he deserved, he didn’t know what was.
The phone at Victory Vets rang again, as if on cue, and Adam clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm. He hated acting like such a coward, but he couldn’t blurt out that he was sleeping with James’s little sister over the phone. That would definitely end their friendship and put Adam’s entire future in jeopardy.
Luckily, Miguel answered the call instead. When he glanced over, Adam shook his head, and Miguel came up with yet another excuse about him not being available. It was BS, but James could sniff out a lie at twenty paces. All the more reason to keep his distance, until he and Mel got their situation worked out.
With a sigh, Adam looked at the clock again, counting down the minutes to lunch. Mel had left him with a kiss and smile early that morning, asking Adam to meet her at the new sushi place on the town square as he’d walked out her door. He’d happily agreed; the only thing throwing him was her mention of it being a “date.”
The wise thing to do would be to take her to lunch today and make sure they were both on the same page. This was temporary. Just practice. She’d move on, and he’d go back to the way things had been before. Adam rubbed the aching spot on his chest. It shouldn’t bother him, but it did. For a man who’d lived most of his life on the wrong side of the tracks, having a brief respite from the gutter only made it that much harder to return.
“Dude.” Miguel slapped Adam on the back as he walked past. “Time for a lunch break.”
He wiped his hands on a grimy towel nearby. He’d drive himself nuts if he kept in his own head much longer. After scrubbing up, he grabbed his wallet from the office safe, then headed down the block. Mel was waiting for him when he arrived. Without thinking, Adam leaned in to kiss her, only to have her pull away fast. His gut knotted with unexpected hurt.
“Sorry.” Color swarmed Mel’s cheeks. “We don’t want people to gossip, right?”
“Right,” Adam mumbled as he followed her inside Fukiyama’s. The bells above the door jangled merrily, and every eye in the place seemed to turn in their direction at once. The restaurant was decorated nice enough, with white linen tablecloths and cheesy artwork on the walls. About three-quarters of the seats were full. An assortment of Point Beacon’s elite stared at them—the mayor and his wife, the high school principal and her assistant, the bank manager. Adam’s gut clenched. Part of him wanted to turn tail and run for the safe cover of Victory Vets. Most of these people had had run-ins with his family at one time or another over the years, or else they’d given the Fosters their charity.
You’re a respected business owner now.
The hostess led him and Mel over to a quiet booth in the back of the place, and Adam kept his head down and his mouth shut as they took their seats. Several people called out greetings. Mel answered them back. Adam did not. He’d learned a long time ago that keeping your mouth shut and your profile low saved a lot of heartache in the end. If only he’d listened to his own advice where Mel was concerned.
The waitress came and took their orders, and he sat back at last, allowing some of the tension in his shoulders to relax. He should enjoy this time together. They were getting near the end of things, so he should cherish what they had left. Nothing should spoil this lunch. Not the prying eyes of their small town. Not thoughts of James. Not even his own damned insecurities.
Adam smiled over at Mel as the server retuned with their drinks—iced tea for her and a soda for him. Mel smiled back, and his whole world brightened. There might be hell to pay later for them being together, but right now Adam couldn’t bring himself to care. All that mattered was her happiness. And if Adam had to swallow his pride and his fear to make that happen, then that’s what he’d do.
No matter the cost.
Chapter Twelve
“I’m stuffed.
” Mel pushed her plate away and sat back. “Ugh, I’ll be lucky not to end up facedown in the stacks this afternoon for a nap. And now that you know I’m a sushi addict, please remind me not to overindulge next time?”
She stopped and bit her lip. Assuming there is a next time.
Thankfully, Adam didn’t miss a beat. His feet tangled with hers beneath the table. “I can think of lots of other things to keep you awake in the afternoon. I bet there’s all sorts of hidden alcoves in that library, perfect for a sexy rendezvous.”
“Oh, there are, but my job is to keep the place quiet and orderly.”
He chuckled, sending ripples of awareness though her whole body. “Don’t worry. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
“I know.” She grinned and straightened, detangling her feet from his. “We should get back. Lunchtime’s nearly up.”
Adam paid the bill, despite Mel’s insistence they split it, then they walked outside. Tourist season was in full swing, even here in the middle of nowhere, and the local craft festivals were bringing in bargain hunters from far and wide. Mel took Adam’s arm and walked him down to the end of the building and around the corner, giving them a modicum of privacy.
After a quick glance around, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Sweet, hot, and a tad risqué given the situation, Mel was breathless when she finally pulled away. Her words came out soft and panting. “Are we still on for tonight?”
He gave her a quizzical stare. “What did you mean when you called this a date earlier?”
“Oh, nothing.” Liar. Mel could tell herself until the cows came home she was still in control of her emotions where Adam was concerned, but it wasn’t true. Hadn’t been since that first kiss in her foyer. She’d set out to seduce him, but her feelings for him went so much deeper now. She hadn’t expected her heart to get fully involved so fast, and despite the ticking time bomb of her brother’s return and the side-eye looks they’d gotten from the townsfolk inside, she wasn’t ready to give Adam up. Not yet.
Not until their deadline.
“You’re still planning to date other people,” he said.
It wasn’t a question, and her pulse stuttered. For a brief moment she thought she saw a flicker of pain in his blue eyes, but it disappeared so quickly she might’ve imagined it. Besides, she was too scared of the answer she might get if she asked him if he wanted them to be exclusive now, if he wanted to try to have a real relationship with her.
“Sure. Yeah,” Mel said, stepping away from him and smoothing a hand down the front of her snazzy pink-and-white sheath dress with the shorter skirt and the boatneck top. Not something she ever would’ve worn before, at least not without a nice cardigan atop it, but then she was a different person now, wasn’t she? Yes, she was. She forced a confident smile she didn’t quite feel. “That’s what we agreed to, right?”
“Right. Just confirming we were still on the same page.” He exhaled slowly, his warm breath fanning her face, a hint of a frown around his lips. “I’ll meet you at Clem’s after work. But I don’t want to be out late. Okay?”
Nodding, Mel blinked hard at the sting in her eyes. This was the mess she’d created, her deal. He’d been clear about his rules going into it, so she couldn’t really be surprised he was still going along with her original plan. Adam had agreed to help her with her search for a guy, and he would keep his word because he was steadfast.
It was one of the things she loved most about him.
She swallowed hard. He’s not yours to love.
Mel did her best to look excited about the evening ahead. Distance. That’s what she needed. To put some space between herself and this man who had her so torn and twisted she didn’t know if she was coming or going. If he didn’t want to be with her after James came home, she’d quit him cold turkey, painful as it would be, because that’s what he wanted. In fact, maybe she’d take baby steps now. Starting tonight. “Okay.”
“Well, aren’t you two cozy?” Lilly said, crossing the street to join them. Adam moved away, and Mel missed his warmth immediately. Her best friend raised a brow. “But there’s nothing going on, right?”
“Right.” Mel turned on her heel and took off down the sidewalk toward the library, Adam and Lilly trailing beside her. “We met for lunch. As friends, to catch up. Last time I checked it’s a free country. You got a problem with that?”
Lilly held up her hands, shooting Adam a quick glance. “No problem at all. I do need to see Mr. Fixit here, though, if you don’t mind. Car issues.”
“Oh, uh, sure.” Adam stopped and started backing toward his garage. “Can you stop by Victory Vets later, though? Busy day. Engine rebuild and all. I’ll work you into the schedule.” Adam gave Mel a wave, his smile awkward. “See you tonight.”
Mel watched him walk away before returning her attention to her best friend. “We’re going to Clem’s after work. You want to come?”
“No.” Lilly kept pace beside Mel’s brisk steps as they ate up the block between Fukiyama’s and the library. “But I think we need to have a talk.”
“About what?”
“James called me last night.” Lilly’s scowl and rigid posture proclaimed that the conversation hadn’t been filled with glitter and rainbows.
They stopped at a small courtyard outside the library and took a seat on a wrought iron bench the local Lions club had installed the year before in honor of Point Beacon’s fallen veterans and first responders. Mel was late already, but being head librarian did have its perks.
Lilly frowned down at her hands, seeming out of sorts. She was usually the life of any party, always happy and breezy and ready for fun. But today, the corners of Lilly’s pink glossed lips slanted downward, and her dark brows were knit. “Mel, you know I love you and only want the best for you, right?”
“Sure.” Mel nodded, her concern growing. “What’s wrong?”
“Adam’s a fun guy, but this thing between you two, I’m worried.” Lilly shook her head and stared out across the courtyard. “I don’t want you to get hurt because you got in over your head. Believe me, I know what that’s like, and it’s not fun.”
Mel narrowed her gaze on her friend, sensing this had just as much to do with what had happened between Lilly and James all those years ago as it did with what was going on with Mel and Adam. “I hate that you’re worried, Lils, but I can take care of myself.”
“He’s helping you with more than dating advice, isn’t he?” She met Mel’s eyes, then looked away again. “Don’t answer that. I can tell. You’re my best friend, and Adam’s great, but he’s not the kind of guy who’ll settle down. There’s no way this can work. You’re nice and sweet, and he’s…not. You’re too different.”
Mel bristled. “As my best friend, I’d think you’d be more optimistic.”
“It’s because I know you so well that I say this.” Lilly’s tone turned earnest. “Once a player, always a player, Mel. I’m sorry to say that, but it’s true. He’s not looking to settle down and get married. He’ll never be interested in anything long-term.”
“And you think I am? Look, Adam was up-front with me from the beginning about what we were doing.” Mel crossed her arms. She’d thought the makeover would help with people making assumptions about her life and her feelings, but apparently not. “I went in with my eyes open, and I’m not expecting any more from him than he’s willing to give. We have an agreement. Nothing more.”
Never mind those words hurt to say, the lies cutting like razor blades.
She might’ve gone into this with her eyes open, but along the way her heart had opened, too. Now there was no closing it, not without a lot of anguish. When she was with Adam, she felt comfortable, like she belonged. Perhaps down the road maybe the sparks between them would cool and she’d meet someone else, someone she felt the same connection with, no matter how impossible that idea sounded.
Lilly exhaled slowly. “You wanted to make changes. I get that. I do. But thinking he’ll ask you to take thi
ngs to the next level is setting yourself up for disaster. I can already see you’re falling for him. From the way he was holding you and kissing you on the corner, you two are well past the friendship mark. Please heed my advice, okay? I’ve been where you are, and it didn’t end pretty. If you keep walking the same path you’re on, you’ll only fall harder and deeper, and it will only hurt more when it’s over.”
Mel gave a mirthless laugh. “God, why is everyone so concerned about me? I’m not an idiot. I’m well aware of Adam’s reputation. I spent too many years tagging along after him not to know what he’s really like. But did you ever stop to think I want to sow some wild oats, too? This is the first time I’ve gotten beyond a first date with a guy in months. I don’t know where any of this is going to lead, but I can tell you that I can handle it, regardless of what James might have told you.”
Truth was, if Adam gave her even the slightest inkling he wanted a future with her, she’d be all over that like white on rice. No sense denying it anymore. She’d been in love with him for over a decade. He ticked all the boxes on her wish list and more. But Mel wasn’t stupid. And she wasn’t naive, either, despite her lack of relationship experience.
“Your brother doesn’t want you to get hurt,” Lilly said. “Neither do I. You have so much to offer the right person.”
“Really?” Mel gave her friend some serious side-eye. “Are you going to give up photography and write greeting cards instead?” Lilly chuckled, and the tension between them dissolved. “I’m not sure about the whole ‘so much to offer’ thing. I mean, I’ve been sitting on that shelf for a while now, and I’ve never been enough for anyone. Sometimes I wonder if I ever will be.” Lilly started to speak, but Mel raised a hand, cutting her off. “No. Please, listen. I’m not saying Adam won’t break my heart. What I am saying is I love you, and James, too, but you guys need to mind your own business and let me get on with things, yeah?”
“But—”
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