“No, I wouldn’t. When I first started playing professionally, I did have a thing for her, but it was more like I had her on a pedestal. Not anymore. We’ve always been friends, but nothing more. However, I did hug her, but do you know why?”
“You’re still in love with her?”
He smiled. “No, but I am in love with you. She’s getting married as soon as the U.S. Open is over and is going to retire to start a family.”
“Really? She can do that?” She should’ve guessed the television was wrong. They’d been wrong about her before, so it only fit.
“Her husband-to-be is well off, and they’re moving to the west coast. She’s going to take care of him while he works.”
“Wow. I don’t know of any husbands that would do that. Even Elise is workin’, and Chuck is well off.”
He took her hand. “If we got married, you could do that, too, if you wanted to.”
“But how would we eat?”
“I’m loaded, remember? Not only do I have my money, but I have money from both sides of the family, even if Mom spends all of hers. I’ll never be without money, and we could both retire and travel if you want. You could be a kept woman. Or we could start a business, just for fun. I kind of like that idea, actually.”
“I don’t understand that. I’ve never known anyone like that. What about your mother? Won’t she cut you out of the will if you hang around me?”
“Never.” His smile filled his face. “I’ve got her right where I want her.”
The plane started to take off, and Melody grabbed onto anything she could, out of terror. She closed her eyes, but felt John’s lips on hers. He thrust his tongue into her mouth while caressing her sides and back with his hands. Forgetting the takeoff completely, she returned the favor, nibbling on his lips and rubbing his arms. As soon as the plane leveled off, he backed away from her.
“What just happened?” she asked, opening her eyes.
“We took off.”
“I mean to the plane.”
He started to laugh. “We took off. The plane, that is. Didn’t you feel it?”
“Nope. I was…uh…distracted.” She winked and grinned. “I like flyin’ now, if that’s how takeoffs feel.”
As soon as the plane leveled off, the flight attendants brought them meals, setting them up on a table. John reached over and unbuckled Melody’s seatbelt and helped her to her feet, then walked her to the table. They sat and ate steak, a baked potato and a salad, talking the whole time.
“So, do you like kids?” he asked.
“Sure. But, like I told you before, I don’t think I’d be good with kids.”
He grinned. “I think you’d be great.”
She had to change the subject, because he was thinking of things she didn’t want to deal with. “Are you ready for the game tomorrow?”
“I hope so. It’s a tough one, but that’s to be expected. It never fails.”
“Do you have to practice when you get back?”
He grinned and raised one eyebrow. “Not really. I can if you want, but I don’t want to overdo it for tomorrow.” A smile covered his face. “Do you have plans?”
She sat back and studied him. “What are you askin’ me?”
“What would you like to do? Want to go to bed?”
“Considerin’ I got a lot of sleep…” She looked over at him again, feeling her stomach sink out of fear. “That’s not what you were askin’ me, was it?”
“It’s whatever you want. I’ll never push you for anything.”
She leaned forward, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but, it’s just that…” She bit her lip and sat back. “You’ll never understand this.”
His gaze met hers, and she felt like he was seeing into her soul. “You’d be surprised what I understand. Like I told you, I’d never push you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.”
“But we’re not married!”
“I know.” He smiled, cutting the steak on his plate. “If we were married, would this be a hurdle?”
“Sex?” she whispered. “Is that what you’re worried about, that I couldn’t…I wouldn’t…”
He took a bite while nodding, just staring at her face.
“It’s scary enough, but marriage? I know I’m not ready for that. Is that what you’re worried about?”
He put his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm, calmly staring at her. “Does marriage frighten you?”
“Considering I just found out my parents didn’t have a happy marriage and my mother strayed, yeah, I have to say it frightens me. What do you think? Your parents are goin’ through the same thing.”
He reached over and held onto her hand. “But I’m nothing like my parents and you’re nothing like yours. Here’s my theory. If we talk everything out, and actually spend time together, unlike my parents, it would work. Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t know. Every couple I know fights all the time and just yells. Even my brother and his wife. Marriage is a huge step, and if you’re talkin’ about you and me, I just don’t know. I haven’t even known you that long.”
“Remember, I have to work fast. That’s what Rob taught me. Otherwise, girlfriends forget about you and they move on without you.”
She felt trapped, not understanding what he was thinking. He wanted to get married…but did she love him enough to spend the rest of her life with him? He was a wonderful man…but would he be a good father to their kids and be nice to her after the honeymoon wore off? She decided to watch him for a little while longer before she could honestly say she wanted to stay with him and stay in New York. He was nice to her now…but what would he be like down the road when things got rough?
~~~~~
Chapter 12
Rob and Art met them at the door as soon as they pulled into the driveway. It was raining and Melody was soaked.
“Where have you been?” Art asked. “We’ve been waiting for you so you can practice. You said you’d be back hours ago!”
“It’s raining and they’ve been calling for rain all day,” John said calmly. “It’s tough to play tennis in the rain. I could hurt my knees or something.” He went into the small bathroom on the first floor, walked out to Melody and threw a towel over her head.
“Thanks,” she said, then began drying her hair.
“But your court has been dry,” Art said. “We’ve enclosed it and put a roof over it, using that button you had installed when you first built this place.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot,” John answered with a smile, drying his hair. “Relax. I’m here now, and can practice. I was only to get an hour in today anyway, because I worked out this morning before I left.”
“Before you left? What time was that?” Art asked.
“Let it go,” Rob murmured. “There’s more at stake here than you know.”
Art faced Rob. “But we’ve been keeping the reporters at bay all day long for him.”
“Let it go.” Rob turned to John. “Did you have fun?”
John smiled at Melody. “I saved her life…again. If I wouldn’t have been there, she’d have died.”
“Is that true?” Art asked Melody.
She put the towel around her neck and finger-combed her hair. “Well, yes, sir, it is true. My father…uh, I mean the man I thought was my father, had a shotgun to my head in the woods.”
“A shotgun?”
“Yes, sir. And this time, he was ready to pull the trigger. He thinks I’m evil, but that’s another story.” She handed her towel to John. “I’m sorry John wasn’t here, but he did save my life and I’m indebted to him for that.”
Art stared at her. “What an interesting life. How do you cope? Your own father?”
She shot him a grin, moving her hands away from her hair. “It’s a very long story. Now, I think John needs to practice, right?”
“Sure, but Cody’s gone home.”
“I’ll play,” she said. “Am I allowed to?
”
“Sure,” John said. “I don’t want anything stressful before the game tomorrow, so that’s fine.” He glanced at Rob, who was nodding with a grin.
“I’ll get your luggage,” Art said. “Where’s Ted?”
“Oh, he’s driving Melody’s car back from West Virginia,” John said. “It was a punishment for him driving her to the train station and telling her she wasn’t allowed to be near me.”
“He did that?” Rob said. “You haven’t played this well in years, because you have your focus back, thanks to Melody.” He turned back to her. “We all know about the greeting card fiasco. That wasn’t you, was it?”
“No, sir. They put my head on a naked body. I’m nothin’ like that woman.”
Rob smiled. “I figured as much. You didn’t strike me as the type to do that.”
“Unbelievable,” Art muttered, heading toward the door. “This is worse than a soap opera.”
Melody walked toward the door as well, but John stopped her. “Not your job.”
“But my suitcases are out there.” She pointed so he’d understand.
“So are reporters. You’re staying here and not going out until I say so.”
“I’m bein’ held hostage?” she asked.
John smiled and followed Art, heading toward the door. “Just till I get back inside. Then we’ll talk about it. Deal?”
“Yep.”
Rob walked with her into the huge living room and sat down with her. “What happened?”
“Oh, nothin’ good, that’s for sure. I really didn’t fit in once I got home, and tried to make it, but was abused in more than one way. The scariest part is when my father—well, I thought he was my father—tried to shoot me more than once. He was nuts. He’d just gotten out of jail and blamed me for everything bad in the world. If John wouldn’t have showed up with my real father and my aunt when he did, I’d be dead in a river.”
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine, but I don’t know what I’m gonna do now.”
“I think John has plans for you,” he said, lowering his voice.
“I’m sure he does. He was talkin’ about marriage on the way up here. Is that wise? Could I really fit in here? I mean, his mother took out a lawsuit against me for breakin’ up her marriage and defamation of character.”
“Nancy did that? For how much?”
“Twenty million.” Melody muttered. “Like I even have that much money.”
“Wow. What did John say to that?”
“He called her and she’s droppin’ the suit. I don’t know what he said to her.”
Rob just smiled. “I do. He’s been pulling things like that for years against her threats, and it always works. Usually, he threatens to put her through the ringer in the newspaper, saying she was an unfit mother, but this time, I’m pretty sure I know what he pulled, and no mother would ever want to hear something like that.”
“What do you think he said?”
Rob grinned, then zipped his lips with two fingers. “I’ll let John tell you.”
John walked up to the couch, with all suitcases in the foyer. “What will I tell you?”
“What did you threaten your mother with?” Melody asked.
John looked toward Rob and started to laugh. “Let’s say she’ll never bother either of us again after that conversation. I’ll tell you when we have time. I have to go practice so I can get rid of my entourage.” He glanced toward Art and Rob laughed.
“I get it. It’s date night,” Rob said, standing up. “We’ll make this quick and tomorrow morning we’ll finish up with a light practice. Deal?”
“Yep.” John helped Melody to her feet. “Do you have any shorts with you?”
“Yes. I have everything I own with me, here and in the car.”
“How about a dress?”
“Not really. Do I need one? I’m just hittin’ the ball around, right?”
“You don’t need it for tonight, but I’ll take care of it.” He walked with Melody slowly up the stairs, making a phone call along the way. “Dawn, it’s John. I’m back in town. I need a dress for Melody for tomorrow’s game, so she’ll stand out as the most beautiful woman there.” He listened then started to laugh. “Okay, besides you, because you’re doing me a favor. Can you get her a dress, size…” He stared at Melody.
“Size two, or a four. It depends on the dress.”
“Did you hear that?” John smiled and winked at Melody. “Yep. Heels, the works. Size…” He looked over at Melody.
“Seven,” she said.
He returned back to the phone. “I want her to look like the model she is. I want every man to wish she was with them.”
“Why?” Melody whispered as they reached the top of the stairs.
“You’ll see.” He turned back to the phone. “When you get back here and drop off the things, uh, Melody and I are having a date, so I need you to find out where Ted is and you two can go home after he drops off the car. The night shift can take care of things.” He inched Melody against the wall and gave her a light kiss. “Uh-huh,” he said over the phone, then wrapped his arm around her waist. “I see. Goodbye.”
His lips met hers as he turned off the phone and stuck it into his pocket. The passion filled her heart and she felt her stomach do flip-flops. She put her arms around his back and pulled him closer. Their tongues explored each other’s mouths, their lips heating up the air between them.
Melody had never felt so loved before, feeling so right with each kiss and every shallow breath. He’d stolen her heart and made everything tingle.
John finally backed away, but rested his forehead on hers, capturing her gaze and stealing her soul with his eyes. “Stay with me?” he whispered. “Don’t ever leave me again?”
“I…I don’t know what to say,” she answered, also in a whisper. “I don’t feel right bein’ here. It’s not my home.”
“I want to talk to you about this, but they’re waiting for us downstairs. Want me to help you get dressed?”
“Considerin’ I forgot my suitcase, I don’t think so. I have to get it.” She turned toward the stairs, but he stopped her.
“I’ll get it. Which one?”
“I’m not sure.”
He brushed his lips against hers. “Not a problem. I’ll be right back.”
She walked into the guest bedroom, went into the bathroom and took off everything but her bra and underwear.
“Nice body,” John whispered, walking into the bathroom, as soon as he dropped her suitcases in the bedroom.
She covered her chest, even though she wasn’t naked. John chuckled, moving her arms away. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything, but I can see why they wanted you for a model.” He looked closer at her cleavage, then pointed at her chest. “You have a scar. What happened?”
“Oh.” She lowered her head. “That was from a cigarette burn when I was about thirteen. Daddy didn’t want me to develop and wanted me to know it was wrong.”
John’s face turned sad and confused, looking into her eyes. “Like you can stop that? How sick of a man was he?”
“Terrible. When I hit puberty, he’d make me sit on the toilet for days, naked. It was sick. Elise finally helped me hide that problem.”
John pulled her to his chest and held her. “I really want you to talk to someone about this. I can’t even imagine how you made it, even though you’re a strong person. But this is nuts.”
She felt the tears fill her eyes. “I know. If you want me to leave because you think I’m damaged goods, I understand.”
He stood back. “Damaged goods? Why would I ever think that?” He studied her face for a moment, wiping away her tears. “Did he rape you?”
“No, never. No one was ever allowed to touch me, as punishment. Now I know what it was for, but at the time, it made no sense why I would be punished.”
John circled his arms around her again. “You’re not damaged goods, but a prize for some lucky man. Don’t ever forget t
hat, and I want you to know you’re very loved.” He stood back and looked at the scar again, rubbing his finger over it. “You know, that woman on the greeting card had no scar, and that one’s very obvious. Your lawsuit just became more credible.”
“Should you be touchin’ me like that?”
He moved his finger from her chest, and put both his hands on her waist, stroking her sides. “I’d like to touch you more, but not tonight. It’s going to be on your timetable. I’m here for you, and after we practice and send the entourage home, I want you to tell me everything you went through in your life. I want to know what I’m dealing with.”
She never wanted him to know, but if she didn’t tell him, he’d never be able to trust her again. She was suddenly scared of what he must think about her.
He dropped his hands, then turned and walked out of the bathroom, but smiled as he faced her once again. “I’ll meet you outside in five minutes. Think you can do that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“No sirs with me, Melody. Ever. We’re equals.”
She smiled. “Right. I’ll be there.” As soon as he left the room, she opened her suitcases and found some clean clothes. She threw on an old pair of shorts and a t-shirt, along with socks and sneakers. After pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she ran down the stairs and out the back door to the tennis courts, where temporary walls and a roof surrounded the court. Melody stopped and stared, not quite sure what had happened.
“I thought I understood, but this is amazing!” she said.
John was stretching on the court and just laughed. “Get ready to play. I’m in a hurry. I have a date.”
She warmed up, stretching out her muscles. “Oh, a date, huh? What’s her name?”
“She’s hot. Red hair, green eyes, and a beautiful body. I should introduce you sometime.”
Rob had been sitting on a chair on the side and started to laugh. “If you don’t want her, John, you could always give her to me. I’d treat her right.”
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