Realizing his breathing had sped up, he inhaled softly through his nose and slowly exhaled as he opened his eyes. “Now,” he said, “we practice our swing.”
With his hands encompassing hers, he guided her to pull the club back, then helped her swing it forward. He didn’t know if he was helping her at all, and quite frankly, he didn’t care. It was all about the way it felt to have her in his embrace.
Melanie couldn’t feel anything different in her swing. The only thing she felt was the heat rolling off of his body as he surrounded her.
“Let’s try that again,” he said. Then he went through the same exercise.
Melanie wasn’t getting this at all. How could she when every cell in her body was on high alert? Was she feeling a true attraction to Gage? Or was it just her long suppressed need to be held? Not sure which it was, and for the moment not really caring, she savored the feel of him.
“Now let’s try hitting the ball for real,” he said.
“Okay.”
Still guiding her hands, he led her through the swing, connecting with the ball. It rolled down the green, towards the bridge, and right into the water. Seconds later, Gage stepped away from her. His absence left her feeling surprisingly bereft.
“That didn’t go quite as I’d planned,” he said with a laugh.
Melanie turned and faced him. She wasn’t thinking about her golf swing, or the ball that had fallen into the water. No. Her mind was in complete turmoil. She’d liked the way it had felt to have his arms around her. And was there a hairline crack in the walls around her heart? She hoped not, because the thought of those walls crashing down terrified her. And as she gazed at Gage, his gray eyes steady on her, his wide smile warm and open, her fears only grew.
“I…” she began. “I’ll grab the ball.” She turned away and hurried to the water’s edge, taking a moment to gather herself before plunging her hand into the water and fishing out the ball.
She could do this. She could have fun on a date without it leading to her heart being crushed. She was strong. She could completely resist any attraction she might be feeling toward Gage.
Standing, her back to Gage, she drew in a lungful of air, held it for a moment, then exhaled. Plastering a smile of confidence onto her face, she turned and held up the ball. “Got it!”
Gage laughed. “Great. Then you can try hitting it again.” His smile seemed to falter. “Without my help this time.”
Of course without his help. She didn’t know what would happen if he stood so close to her again, and she didn’t want to find out.
Gage watched Melanie as she strode back to the starting point. Her slender hips swayed, her blue eyes sparkled, and her beautiful smile dazzled. Maybe she’d ask for another lesson. And he would eagerly give it. Or maybe she would tell him to back off, that she wasn’t interested in him, not when the memory of his dorkiness was clear in her mind. She was out of his reach and obviously not interested in him. She’d given no indication that his close presence had affected her one iota. If he thought otherwise, he was fooling himself, letting himself be tricked by wishful thinking.
“Here goes,” she said as she drew the club back then swung it forward. The club connected with the ball and it shot forward, this time making it over the bridge and stopping a few inches from the hole.
“That was much better,” he said.
She grinned. “It wasn’t a hole in one, but I’ll take it.”
They walked together to the end of the bridge, but Melanie stayed slightly ahead of Gage. Was she giving him a subtle message? Like, that she didn’t want to hold his hand? If so, he was paying attention.
“You go first,” she said. “Since your ball is closer to the hole.”
“All right.” One stroke later he’d sunk his ball into the hole.
“My turn.” After a gentle tap, her ball went in as well. “Two strokes, just like you.”
“Guess my lesson helped.” The comment was off-hand, but when he looked at her, a spark of energy passed between them.
Melanie quickly looked away. She’d felt something just then, something she wasn’t prepared to feel. “Yeah, but we’ll see how I do on the next one.”
The more focus she put on the game, the less likely she would have to think about Gage and her growing attraction to him.
They took the few steps to begin the next hole. Gage went first, and the ball ended up near the hole.
“Okay,” Melanie said. “Here goes.” She took her time lining up her shot, then swung. The ball coasted down the green and went right past the hole. “Dang it.”
“Hey, we have four holes left for you to practice on.”
Scowling slightly, she finished the hole. On the next two holes she did even worse, although Gage did fine.
“I’m not liking this game all that much,” she said with a frown.
“That’s because you want to be perfect at everything.”
That was certainly true and she wasn’t afraid to admit it. “Of course. Don’t you?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, but sometimes there’s a learning curve you have to climb.”
“I like to skip that part,” she said with a smirk.
He laughed. “Just two holes left. Let’s see what you can do.” He gestured for her to go first.
She set the ball down, carefully lined up her shot, tried to think positive thoughts, then hit the ball. It sailed down the green and rolled right into the hole. She couldn’t believe it. A hole in one. Happiness cascaded over her, and without thinking, she threw her arms around Gage. His arms slid around her waist. Realizing what she’d done, she pulled back slightly, their faces inches apart, and before she knew what was happening, he pressed his lips to hers.
Too shocked to react, Melanie forgot that she was supposed to be guarding her heart, and she sank against Gage, her eyelids fluttering closed. It felt so good to be held in his strong arms, to feel like she was cherished, attractive, wanted. Something she’d sorely missed after Kyle had chosen another woman.
The memory of Kyle made her eyes snap open. She couldn’t risk her heart. Not after all she’d been through. Jumping out of Gage’s arms, she stared at him, her mouth still tingling from his powerful kiss. A kiss she’d enjoyed. Too much.
As she gazed at his handsome face, his gray eyes steady on her, she knew only one thing. Gage represented danger. Danger to her heart.
Danger she had to avoid at all costs.
Chapter 15
That was the most amazing kiss Gage had ever experienced. Ever. He had to make Melanie his. Whatever the cost.
Smiling, he looked at her, but at the expression on her face—shock, fear, regret—his smile vanished. Obviously it wasn’t the most amazing kiss she’d ever experienced. Going by her reaction, it was the worst kiss she’d ever experienced. Feeling like a fool and a complete loser, Gage was shaken. He’d thought he’d made progress with her, that there had been a connection between them. Clearly, she didn’t agree.
“I’m…I’m sorry,” he said, though in truth he wasn’t sorry at all. Still, he had to make amends. If he didn’t, he was certain he’d never have another chance with her. “I shouldn’t have done that. Please accept my apologies.”
She looked everywhere but at him, making him feel even worse. She couldn’t even stand to look at him. He must disgust her. Why? What was wrong with him?
She finally met his gaze. “I…Please take me home.”
“Of course.”
They walked past the final hole, turned in their clubs, then drove home in silence. Gage was furious with himself that he’d blown it with her.
When they reached her house, she jumped out of his car before he had a chance to come around and open her door. Even so, he walked her to the front door.
“Thank you for going out with me tonight,” he said. “I…I had fun.” Especially when I kissed you.
She nodded, her body language conveying her eagerness to be away from him.
“Will you be at practice tomorrow?”
he asked.
Slight panic filled her eyes, but that was quickly replaced by resolve. “Yes. Of course.”
That was a relief. “Okay. I, uh, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“All right. Good night, Gage.”
“Good night.”
Melanie went inside and locked the door as if that would lock him out of her heart. She felt bad for making him take her home when they were so close to finishing their game, but she had to put some space between them. She needed time to analyze her feelings.
“How’d it go?” Ashleigh said from the couch.
“Oh. Hey.” Should she spill everything to her sister? Making her way to the couch, she knew she would. If she couldn’t tell Ashleigh, who could she tell? “It was…interesting.”
Ashleigh shifted to make room for Melanie, who sat beside her. “Interesting, huh?” Her eyes sparkled. “What does that mean?”
“Gage, well, he kissed me.” Why was that the first thing she mentioned? What about their delicious dinner and then all the fun they had in the batting cage and playing miniature golf? The kiss was a fluke, the last thing that had happened, the thing that had made them end their date.
Ashleigh’s eyes were wide. “Really? He kissed you?”
Keeping her expression neutral, Melanie nodded.
“And? How was it?”
Amazing. Too good, actually. Lifting her shoulders in a shrug, Melanie let her lips curve slightly upward. “It was fine.”
Looking disappointed, Ashleigh frowned. “Just fine?”
“Yeah.” She’d told her sister what had happened. That didn’t mean she needed to spill all of her feelings too. She wasn’t even sure how she felt.
“What led up to this ‘just fine’ kiss?”
This was easier. Melanie told her all the things they had done, ending her narration at the point just before Gage’s golfing ‘lesson’. “He, uh, he showed me the best way to swing a golf club.” At the memory, desire pulsed through her and her face heated.
Ashleigh’s eyebrows rose.
“What?” Melanie asked.
“You’re blushing. What are you leaving out?”
She described the way Gage had taught her, standing close behind her, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his hands over hers.
Smirking, Ashleigh said, “So he basically hugged you from behind for several minutes.”
“Basically, yeah.” Heat surged through her at the memory.
“And you let him?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, he was helping me improve my swing.”
“Yeah. At mini golf, Mel.”
“What’s your point?”
“Sounds to me like it was just a ploy to touch you.” She smiled. “Go, Gage.” She paused a beat. “Is that when he kissed you?”
“No.”
“So how did the kiss happen?”
One side of her mouth lifted in a smile. “I guess I got a little over excited when I hit a hole in one and I threw my arms around him.”
“Oh.” One eyebrow arched. “Go, you.”
“It wasn’t like I was trying to get him to kiss me.”
“You said it wasn’t that great of a kiss anyway, so what does it matter?”
“I didn’t say that.” Too late, Melanie realized her mistake.
“Aha! So it was good?”
Grinning, Melanie said, “It’s not the worst kiss I’ve ever had.”
“But not the best either?”
Melanie’s thoughts went to Kyle, the man she’d been crazy in love with, the man she would have married in a heartbeat if he’d proposed. The man who had demolished her heart. “How did things go with Avery?”
Ashleigh sighed, like she knew she wouldn’t get anything else out of Melanie. “It went great. We painted our nails and she played with my hair, all while watching some of her favorite shows.”
“I really appreciate you babysitting her tonight, Ash.”
“I was happy to do it. Especially since it was your first date in, like, a year.”
“It hasn’t been a year since I dated. Don’t forget about Zach.”
“Oh yeah. Your rebound guy after Kyle. How long did you guys go out?”
“Less than two months. He was a nice guy, but not the man for me.”
Ashleigh’s eyebrows pulled together. “What was wrong with him?”
“Nothing wrong, exactly. It was just too soon after…well, after Kyle broke my heart. And I couldn’t trust him not to leave me too.” Melanie frowned. “I realized he was kind of a player.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now. After him I swore off dating, so…”
“Right. But I’m glad to see you dipping your toe back in the dating pool now.”
“I don’t know if I’d say that.”
“Why not?”
“I just went out with Gage to make up for Avery throwing up in his car.”
“So you wouldn’t go out with him again?”
“No.” The word was immediate. “I mean, you know I’m not looking to date anyone.”
“I know. I just…I want to see you happy. That’s all.”
She was about to say she was happy, but she knew that wasn’t strictly true. Yes, she adored her daughter, and yes, she enjoyed her job and loved living with her sister. But she still felt like something important was missing from her life. She was an independent woman though, and she hated to admit that she needed anything—or anyone—to make her happy. But the reality was that her life didn’t feel complete.
“Thanks,” she said in answer to Ashleigh’s comment. “I want to see you happy too.” She smiled. “So when’s your next date?”
Ashleigh laughed. “I’ll let you know once it’s scheduled. But that could be a while.”
“Why’s that?”
“Maybe because there’s no one around here I want to date.”
Melanie didn’t want to give her a hard time—she knew how that felt. “Okay. So you and I can hang out together when everyone else is out on dates.”
Ashleigh laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”
They stayed up and chatted a while longer, but once Melanie was in bed, her thoughts went to Gage, and she found she was more eager to see him the next day than she wanted to admit.
Chapter 16
When Gage arrived at the field the next morning, most of the players were already there. On the lookout for Melanie, he let his gaze sweep the field, but she wasn’t there. All he could think about was their kiss the night before and how amazing it had felt to press his lips against hers. And the way she’d sagged against him—she must have felt something. So why had she abruptly ended their date?
Confused, he warmed up with the other players as he waited for her to arrive.
Ten minutes later she pulled into the parking lot with Ashleigh but no Avery. Surprised, Gage stopped what he was doing and walked towards them.
“Good morning.” It seemed as if Melanie was avoiding his gaze, instead looking toward the players on the field. That was okay. It gave him a chance to admire her. And admire her he did. Her blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her naturally rosy lips looked luscious enough to kiss. And the way those baseball pants hugged her curves.
“Hey, Gage,” Ashleigh said.
“Where’s Avery?” he asked, his attention on Melanie.
That pulled her gaze to him, and when her blue eyes met his, he felt that spark again. Did she feel it too?
“Hannah’s babysitting her at home,” she said, then she looked away.
Why did she have to be so attracted to him? She’d hoped that when she saw him at practice she’d be able to convince herself that what had happened the night before, what she’d felt when she’d kissed him, had been a one-time thing. A thing where she had gotten caught up in the moment. But no. Even as she tried to ignore him, she was hyper-aware of his presence. And when his gray eyes had settled on her? Energy had arced between them. She wanted to deny it, but there had been no mistaking it.
Which meant she’
d have to work that much harder to push it down.
“You ladies ready to play some softball?” he asked.
“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Ashleigh said.
Melanie was glad Ashleigh was there to serve as a kind of buffer, even if she didn’t know that’s what she was doing.
“Great,” Gage said. “Let’s get started.”
The three of them headed to the field.
“Good thing you got some extra batting practice in last night, Mel,” Ashleigh said.
Her date with Gage was the last thing she wanted to think about. “Yeah.”
“Your sister did awesome at the cage,” Gage said as he walked beside them. “And you should have seen her on the golf course.”
Heat raced up Melanie’s face as Ashleigh nudged her in the side. She turned to her sister and saw her grin. Glaring at her, Melanie continued walking.
All throughout practice, whenever Melanie looked in Gage’s direction, she remembered the way it had felt to have his arms around her, the way it had felt when his lips had claimed hers. And then, as she stood at second base, she caught him staring at her. Struggling to suppress the feelings that swarmed her at the realization that he was watching her and most likely remembering the same things she was, she wanted to flee, but she stayed where she was.
At that moment the ball smacked into her forehead, just above her left eyebrow. Crying out in surprise and pain, her hand flew to the tender spot on her head. Squeezing her eyes closed, she felt something wet. Blood.
“Are you okay?” someone called out. She didn’t know who—she was too focused on holding back the tears that pushed against the backs of her eyes.
After dragging in a deep breath, and slowly exhaling, she opened her eyes to see several of her teammates running towards her, and in the lead was Gage, his eyebrows creased in concern. A moment later he was at her side, his hand on her back.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
Touched by his concern, she murmured, “I think I’m bleeding.”
“Let me see.”
She removed her hand and he examined the spot.
Chance Encounter: Gage and Melanie (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book Three) (Companion to the Over You series) Page 8