by Calinda B
"Thanks, dear," she smiled. Grabbing his father's arm, his mom glanced around the room as if looking for something. Or someone. "So, have you been able to catch up with anyone you know?"
Simon breathed out, "Mom," at the same time his father drawled out "Evelyn."
Looking at them with wide eyes, she feigned shock. "What? I mean, there are quite a few of your college friends here," she paused for effect. "And, of course, the Ford's are here also. They wouldn't miss this for anything. You're practically a son to them. Um, I think our Melanie is here as well."
His father interjected, "Evelyn, don't start with the boy tonight. He knows what he's doing."
Simon knew his parents meant well. They loved him and wanted what was best for him. To them, that was Melanie. Good thing he felt the same way.
His mother threw his father a look, "I'm sure he does. All I'm saying is, I believe Melanie has decided to come home for good, but I can't be sure. Simon, dear, you should find Melanie and see if she's here to stay and done with all that military stuff," she said with a huff, her hand floating in the air as if swatting away something distasteful. "I just hate that she went away for so long. I just hope she's home to stay. Her mother misses her. So do I." Her voice had taken on a soft tone, which was unlike her. If he didn't know her so well, he would have almost fell for it.
Simon and his father both rolled their eyes at his mother's not-so-subtle attempts at pushing him towards Melanie. Simon couldn't help but give a low laugh. From the look on his face, Simon knew his father wasn't buying it either.
Plus, he didn't need anyone to push him. The decision to claim her once and for all had been made the moment he realized her contract was up. It had pissed him off to no end when her parents told him she'd extended for two years to accept her dream assignment.
But now, that was over. His woman was home.
When she left to board her plane that day, the hardest thing he'd done was to stay away from her and keep things simple, allowing her to dictate how much she needed from him while she was away. The way she'd looked at him with those big hazel eyes and her heart on her sleeve while in his arms had tempted him beyond anything else. He gladly would have accepted everything she was offering.
But he couldn't. After she'd left, he'd gotten the courage to speak with his father again about his intentions toward Melanie. And then he'd spoken with her father the next day. They'd both given their blessing, but they'd both asked him to give her time. Convinced him it was best to allow her to live life away from him. Give her time to be certain what she felt at eighteen was the real thing, and not puppy love.
He'd fought against every word. He knew what he felt for Melanie was real. Hell, from the moment he met her as a child, he knew she was supposed to be by his side. Even as he tried to fight his feelings and treat her only as a close friend, it never seemed to work out the way he wanted.
Gruffly, he responded, "Mom, she's home for good."
Looking up at him through her dark-colored lashes, he noticed the twinkle in her eyes and knew she got the response she'd been hoping for.
"How do you know? Have you talked to her?" she peppered him with questions.
Take a deep breath, he looked over at his father and nodded once. His dad grabbed his mother's hand, pulling her away from their son. "Come on sweetheart, I think we need to mingle more. Let's leave him alone. He'll handle it from here."
He watched them walk away with a smile on his face. But he couldn't help shaking his head when his mother looked up at his father as if he held all the answers in the world. "Are you sure? Because he's been doing a piss-poor job of it so far. It's about time he got his head out of his ass and made that girl my daughter-in-law."
They all meant well. He knew this, but it didn't make the pushing and prodding any easier to swallow. Both sets of parents wanted them together and had given him their blessing. He'd gladly take it, but he needed to do this his own way. He'd given her the space she needed to find herself. That time was over. Ready or not, he was coming for her.
Taking a deep breath, he tracked his gaze across the large room until he spotted her again. The time may not have been right for them before, but now that she was back, there would be nothing to stop him from claiming his woman. She was his and had always been his. Now it was time he showed her.
3
Melanie saw him stalking toward way and knew her plan to avoid him was now officially over. Tempted to turn tail and run, she forced herself to stand still waiting for him as he approached her. Taking in his form, she couldn't help but admire how good he looked tonight. His blond hair was brushed back from his strong forehead. His predatory walk resembled a lion stalking its prey. Deep blue eyes caught her gaze and never let it go. As others tried to stop his progress, he'd simply throw them a word or two, shake his head and continue walking in her direction.
All she could see was him. Everyone else in the room seemed to melt away, leaving only the two of them. She'd seen pictures of him while she'd been away, of course, but having him live and in-person was something else. His lips were the perfect size and she'd always dreamed of him using those lips to kiss her most intimate places. If only it had been more than wishes and dreams.
She could feel her breathing hitch in her chest as her heart fluttered to life. God, had she ever stopped loving him? No. She didn't think so.
Plastering a smile on her face as he stopped in front of her, she lifted her chin. Standing five feet seven inches, she was usually more than a half a foot shorter than him on normal day. With her heels on, her height increased a few inches, bringing her closer to eye level. Although, even with that, he still had her by more than four inches.
"Melanie. You finally decided to stop running?"
Leave it to Simon to open his mouth and say the exact wrong thing to her. Why couldn't he be nice? He hadn't seen her in forever and those were the first words out of his mouth. She shouldn't have come here. Tonight wasn't turning out the way she expected.
Annoyance was clear in her tone, "Simon. Still a man-whore?" Smiling after she made that comment, she went to turn and walk away when he grabbed her arm.
"Why do you keep leaving me when I'm not ready for you to go?" His harsh words made her stomach clench.
Stopping in her tracks, she turned to look at him. Surprised by the anger that washed over her, she had to take a few deep breaths. How had he made this about him in less than five seconds? This wasn't her fault. It was how he'd treated her. In her mind, he'd never realized she was there until she'd left. Then again, the only reason he missed her is because she was no longer at his beck and call.
"You really are something else. Maybe I keep leaving because you don't know how to say the right words to keep me here." Pulling her arm out of his, she walked away as fast as she could. Tears were welling in her eyes as she made her way through the crowd. He never understood how his words hurt her. Would it have killed him to say that he was happy she was back?
She wasn't running away. Well, not really. Melanie made the best decision she could at the time and didn't regret what she'd done. Her time in the Marines had been just what she needed. Being on her own had given her a level of independence she never would have gotten if she'd stayed at home. Her parents were amazing and loving, but she was their only child. And even the Quinn's always wanted to protect her. Melanie was the daughter they never had. Even Steven, Simon's brother, acted like a big brother to her. Based on the number of times he ran off any boy who tried to talk to her, she was shocked that she hadn't been a social pariah.
And then there was Simon. She'd never gone on a date with any guy during her high school years. Well, other than Simon. But he'd always made it seem as if it were his duty, rather than something he truly wanted.
There was only one time she can remember when she thought things had started to change. They'd been in the private theatre at his parents' house watching one of the newest releases. She'd turned to him when a particularly sad scene had finished to find him
staring at her. The look in his eyes had shocked her. Butterflies had taken up in her stomach. Her lips had fallen open as her breath had shortened. Their eyes met and neither of them could look away. Then it happened. Leaning in, he'd captured her lips in a soft kiss. At that moment, she'd fallen deeper in love with him. He was it for her. Her heart knew it.
After that one time, he hadn't kissed her again and she thought she'd done something wrong. The next time she did anything with a guy was when she arrived at her first duty station, Camp Pendleton, California. It was the furthest she could get from home and still be close enough to get to her parents within a few hours if something happened. She should have never gotten out. Being this close to Simon wasn't good for her soul.
"Melanie, stop walking away from me," his voice called out to her as she made it to one of the side hallways.
His long stride allowed him to catch up to her before she got too far. Grabbing her by the arms, he stopped her forward motion and pulled her body up against his. His raspy tone reached out to her, grabbing hold of her emotions and she could feel her body melting into his. Her back flush against his front, she reveled in the feeling of being this close to him. It had been so long since he'd held her in his arms. Closing her eyes and enjoying the moment, she wanted this to never end. She needed this. Needed him.
"My mouse is all grown up. I've missed you," he said in a soft voice, his breath skimming along her skin.
Did the man know how to apologize when he said something stupid? Probably not. This was as good as she was gonna get.
His lips pressed against her temple and her entire body shuddered with intense longing. Only Simon could make her feel this way. Only his presence could reduce her to a bowl of pudding in a matter of seconds. It was amazing that after all these years, her reaction to him had not diminished. If anything, it became stronger.
"Simon..." she pleaded with him. For what, she didn't know. To let her go. To give her more. To love her.
"Don't leave yet. I want to talk with you," he said, turning her around to face him.
Her eyes must have held a look that gave away what she was feeling, because Simon gasped, whispering her name. Grasping her face within his hands, he rubbed his thumbs across her skin. "Mouse. You've come home to me."
His whisper soft words hypnotized her. Her only thoughts were of him. Anticipation skittered along her skin as she readied herself to feel his lips on hers. Heat pooled in her stomach as she held her breath, waiting for the moment of truth.
Please, her mind called out to him. I need to know if this is real.
Just as he was leaning his head down, milliseconds away from bringing his lips closer to hers, his father called out his name into the microphone while standing on stage. They broke away as if they'd been caught doing something bad.
Breathing heavily, they pulled away from each other and stood in the hall for another two heartbeats. Then they heard his name again.
"That son of mine is around here somewhere. Although given a choice, I'm sure he'd rather be anywhere else," he said with humor as laughter filled the room.
Melanie was the first one to take a step back. "You'd better go. This is your moment."
"Come with me. Share this with me." Stretching out his hand to her, he waited for her to place her hand in his larger palm.
More than anything, she wanted to go with him. Allow this moment to be shared between the two of them. But there was still so much left to be said between them. Too many years had passed with hurt feelings never being discussed or resolved. Mainly hers.
One second, one hug in a private hallway would not solve their issues. It would take much more than that to solve their issues. There wasn't enough time and there were too many other things on the agenda. Namely, him getting up on that stage with his father.
Shaking her head at him, she looked into his eyes and smiled at him. Placing her hand on top of his, she slowly pushed his hand down. "Not tonight. But you go ahead. This is your moment Simon and I'm very proud of you."
"Are you?"
"I am. I've always been proud of you. Even when I wasn't your biggest fan."
Simon's head cocked to the side as he half-listened to his father introduce him to the crowd of people in the next room. He began extolling his virtues as a young entrepreneur ready to take on the world. Melanie watched Simon as he shook his head.
"Are you ready for all that?" she asked, motioning with her hand toward the other room.
"Sweetheart, I was born ready. I've been preparing for this since I was five years old."
Looking over his right shoulder, she noticed her mother standing behind them and nodded in her direction. Her mom's frantic motions for them to stop talking and get Simon on stage would be laughable if the situation wasn't so important. "You'd better go on up there. Leave it to your dad and he'll come searching for you."
Placing his hands in his pockets, he smiled at her, showing her that peek-a-boo dimple in his left cheek. "Yeah. I think he wants this evening over more than I do. Him and mom are headed out to the cabin for a well-deserved vacation."
"I heard. I think my parents are meeting them in a couple of weeks. Dad has a few more things to wrap up before they head out." Time was up. Evelyn Quinn joined Melanie's mother at the entrance and both were giving her the look.
"I'm sure there'll be time for us to catch-up later. Go. Everyone's waiting for you," she plastered on a smile.
"Are you still waiting for me?" he challenged.
Was she? If she were, she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of knowing it. How would it look for her to fall for him again? After everything that happened? No, she wasn't that naïve or stupid.
"No. I'm not." Three of the hardest words she'd ever said.
Turning away from him, she walked into the women's bathroom. She needed space. Hearing his footsteps as he made to follow behind her, she was grateful when the mothers' intercepted him.
"Oh no you don't. You need to come with us. Your father has been stalling for too long already," Evelyn said.
"Another minute or two and he'll start telling everyone how you were potty-trained before you were two years old," Janice tacked on.
"Or that you rode a bike without training wheels at four," Evelyn said with another laugh as they pushed him into the other room.
Melanie rested against the door of the bathroom and took several deep breaths. This was why she'd stayed away for so long. Just being near him was enough to make her forget everything else. She thought she was over him. She still loved him as much as she did when she'd walked away from him six years ago. Denying how she felt wouldn't make it so.
She needed to get the hell out of here. Now.
Her parents would understand her decision. Gathering herself, she exited the bathroom. Standing at the entrance to the ballroom, she saw Simon at the podium with the microphone in his hand. His father and mother were standing on either side of him, his older brother stood next to their mother.
Melanie really was quite proud of Simon standing up there next to his family, accepting his legacy. Lips trembling as she tried to hold back the tears, she ducked behind the other guests and made her way around to the front exit.
Thirty minutes later, she arrived at her parent's home. Pulling off her heels as she walked in the door, Melanie gave a huge sigh of relief as she locked the front door. It felt good to be at home, but tonight had been a whirlwind of emotions. Walking through foyer and main living room, her eyes took in the home she'd known for most of her life. Memories assailed her as she walked on the hardwood floors. Christmas when she was ten years old, when Simon and his family had come over. He'd shyly walked up to her and shoved a haphazardly wrapped gift in her hands. Turned out, it was the go-to gift for pre-teen girls that year.
Or when she she'd turned thirteen and had thought she was so grown-up. Her first birthday that consisted of boys and girls. Simon had joined the festivities, but halfway through, Melanie had seen Brittany hanging on his arm and smiling up at him w
ith her brace face. Not fully understanding why she was upset—but knowing that no other girl should be wrapped around Simon's arm—she’d stomped over to the two of them. In all her teenage angst and fury, she'd told Brittany to get away from Simon or she'd punch her in the face.
Simon appeared shocked at the outburst and a slight smile curved his lips. Turning to Brittany, he pulled her arm from his and smugly told her, "I told you I belonged to Melanie." Walking away from them, he'd strolled over to where a group of guys were talking and joined in the conversation. At the time, she didn't quite understand what Simon meant by his comment to Brittany. Looking back on the situation now, she knew what his words meant.
How had he known at fourteen, what she hadn't figured out until a couple of years later?
Walking into the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of water. This was where she and Simon had made a special cake for her parent's anniversary when she was sixteen. Every good memory, every poignant moment in her life until she was eighteen involved him. Was it any wonder she'd fallen in love with him? How could she not?
Melanie made her way upstairs, passing the family portraits and other pictures from summer picnics and birthdays. The Quinn's played a prominent role in over half of them. Their lives were so intertwined, it was difficult to separate the two families.
Once in her large bedroom, she placed her shoes on the floor or her walk-in closet. Removing the gown from her body, she hung it up on the silk padded hanger, and placed it at the front of her closet. She'd make sure it got to the cleaners. Grabbing her toiletries, she headed to her bathroom for a shower. Her ereader was awaiting her and she had plans to watch the latest episodes of her show.
Glancing at the clock, she noted that it was a little after nine. Still early. Just then, the front face of her cell phone lit up, announcing a call coming through. Noting that it was her mother's number, she swiped the screen and picked up.
"Hi Mom."
"Hey sweetheart. Home safe?" Noise in the background muffled some of her mother's words. They must still be at the event.