Locked Out of Love

by Mary K. Norris

  Her cheeks heated. He leaned over her and effectively turned her on with how slowly he removed her bra. First he fingered the straps, letting his fingertips trace along her skin before guiding the material up and over her shoulders. Once they couldn’t go any further down her arms, he moved his hands back to her chest, tracing the edge of the lacy cups and following the fabric around to the back where he impressively opened the clasp in under five seconds. A record, she was sure.

  He pulled the clothing from her body slowly, like someone unwrapping a gift and wanting to savor it. When she was completely bare to him, he threw her bra to the floor and took her in.

  Melanie had always been self-conscious of her breasts. They’d developed way before high school, and all the other kids used to make fun of her ample chest. When she reached a grade where large boobs were coveted, she was the target of everyone’s jealousy. She’d never liked them; they got in the way, and they drew too much attention. But right then, she didn’t mind so much. She didn’t mind at all.

  Nor did she mind when he flopped down next to her on the bed and began tracing them with his fingers, lazily drawing circles and other miscellaneous shapes.

  She turned on her side to face him, her fingers seeking the scars on his forearms. “Do you remember how you got each one?” she asked.

  “To be honest, I got so many of them at the same time that I’ve forgotten what caused what.”

  She yawned as the events of the evening started to take their toll. “Tell me what you remember,” she said, her eyelids starting to droop. She heard Joel’s soft chuckle, felt the brush of his fingertips along her skin, and as she drifted to sleep, he told her about his time with his father, working on the car.

  Chapter 26

  Joel called into work the next day to tell his IT department he’d be working from home because he‘d caught a bug and didn’t want to spread it around. He probably could have thought up a better lie, said he was hurting from the car accident, but no one ever asked questions. They knew he’d get his work done whether at the office or home, and working from home gave him ample opportunity to make sure Melanie was taken care of.

  He flipped another pancake and waited for the smell of fresh-cooked breakfast to work its magic and wake Melanie from upstairs. It was going on eight o’clock and he had no idea if she had work that morning or not. She didn’t mention it during dinner last night before everything went to hell in a hand basket.

  “That smells amazing.”

  He glanced up and found Melanie dressed in nothing but his t-shirt, standing at the edge of the table.

  His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth for a good minute. The hem of his shirt flirted with the middle of her thigh, bringing with it memories of last night and what he’d been doing between those thighs. His cock stiffened. He gave himself a small shake and regretfully pulled his eyes away. “I made plenty, eat up.”

  She took a seat at the table, and he tried not to think about how the hem of his shirt would be riding up those legs, barely covering her. If he leaned over slightly he could probably see—

  “Joel?”

  He jumped. “Hmm?”

  “You’re burning the breakfast.”

  “Shit.” He hastily dumped the blackened pancake into the sink and turned on the microwave fan before the stench triggered the fire alarm.

  Too late.

  The blare of the alarm sounded and Melanie clapped her hands over her ears, a grin spread across her face.

  Joel grumbled to himself as he snagged a chair. He hopped up and pulled the battery from the alarm. The beeping stopped immediately.

  “Sorry,” Melanie said. “I didn’t mean to distract you. I can leave and come back in something more appropriate if you like.”

  “Don’t you dare,” he growled. He finished with breakfast and took the seat opposite her. “Look, I’m sorry if yesterday I came off a little … needy.” He hated saying the word, but after Felix planted the seed of doubt, he felt off kilter.

  He’d been wrong about Sydney being the one for him, and after her deceit for three months he was a little sensitive. He could admit that, and now that he’d found Melanie … well, he didn’t want to be wrong about Melanie. And he didn’t mean Mirror Mate wrong—he knew she was his Mirror Mate—but that didn’t mean she was perfect for him in every way. He was afraid of being wrong about her personality, who she was.

  One deceitful woman he could deal with because Sydney’s circumstances were extenuating, but two women? He’d be dubbed the worst judge of character for all time. Not to mention it’d only solidify his streak for jumping into situations without looking first. Was he an idiot to offer so much to Melanie—his friends, his resources, his bed?—before really knowing her?

  Melanie put her fork down and reached across the table for him. His heart quivered in his chest at the contact. “I understand that you were scared yesterday. I was, too, and it’s only natural to assume I’d turn tail and run after that fiasco, but I’m not going anywhere.” He relaxed. “In fact,” she continued, “I am wondering if I could perhaps get closer to Niella.”

  He started. “Niella?”

  “Yeah.” Melanie shrugged. “She’s like Nathan, so perhaps I could try helping her. You said she was getting worse, right?”

  Joel didn’t know why he suddenly felt the needed to keep his mouth shut about Niella.

  This is all Felix’s doing.

  “She’s … doing okay,” he yielded.

  “Well, Nathan is doing better, so maybe if she had someone to talk to, she’d feel more hopeful.”

  Joel couldn’t fault her logic, but there was one problem. “Niella isn’t exactly the talkative type.”

  “Neither was I if you recall. I know myself, which means I’ll know how to approach her. It can’t be that bad.”

  Oh, it was going to be bad all right.

  • • •

  “You want me to do what?” Niella asked, arms crossed, a very pissed expression on her face. Joel scanned the lobby of the clinic to make sure no one had come out of the patient rooms at Niella’s outburst.

  “Keep your voice down. It’s not like I’m asking for a million dollars.”

  “You’d be better off asking for a million dollars.”

  Joel chose to ignore her. “Melanie wants to get to know you better. She wants to get involved with the guild.”

  “By talking to me?” Niella’s gave him a flat stare. “She feels sorry for me and wants to act as a therapist. No thank you.”

  She rolled out from behind the reception desk, conversation closed.

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Joel grabbed both sides of her wheelchair to keep her from escaping and from running over his toes. She’d done that before. “I’m not being entirely truthful here. I want you to entertain Melanie because I want you to do some information gathering for me.”

  Niella arched one perfectly sculpted brow. “You want me to spy on her?”

  Joel winced. “Not spy—” At her expression, he sighed. “Fine, I need you to spy. But it’s not what you think,” he added hastily.

  Niella crossed her arms. “By all means, please tell me, what I am thinking? I didn’t know you developed telepathy.”

  Joel ground his teeth. Why the hell did Niella have to make everything so damn difficult?

  He reached for patience. “Okay, it’s not that I don’t trust her, it’s just … ”

  Niella’s face softened. She uncrossed her arms. “You can tell me.”

  Joel let go of her chair and paced a few feet before rubbing his hand along his jaw. “Felix put this idea in my head that maybe Melanie might not be so innocent when it comes to these new suit guys we’ve been seeing.”

  Her hazel eyes widened.

  Joel pressed on. “I don’t believe him,” he said sternly. “Melanie would never do that to me, but I have been known to leap without looking, and the thoughts are there, and when she asked to hang out with you … I just thought this might be a good opportunity—”


  “To prove Felix wrong?” she supplied gently.

  Joel pushed both hands through his hair. “I’m being paranoid, aren’t I?”

  A dog and its owner came out of one of the patient rooms, and Joel hung back while Niella took care of payment and setting up a follow-up appointment. Once the door closed behind them, she wheeled herself out from behind the desk. “I don’t think Felix would accuse Melanie of anything if he wasn’t genuinely concerned.” She held up her hand to halt his protests. “That doesn’t mean I’m siding with him. I’ll do what you ask, but I can’t say how long I’m going to last. If she starts trying to psychoanalyze me,” she snapped her fingers, “It’s over.”

  “Deal. Thank you so much, Ell—”

  “You owe me.”

  He nodded. “Of course, whatever you need.”

  “I’m not talking about fixing my computer. I’m serious.” Her eyes bore into his and a strange sensation crept up his spine. “I’m going to ask you for something and I expect no hesitation, no questions asked. Got it? That’s my request.”

  Joel swallowed thickly. “Deal.”

  “Good.” She looked away, the serious glint in her eye gone. “So when do I have to endure this farce?”

  He pulled out his phone. “She was really hoping for tomorrow night. She has to work a double today.”

  “Tomorrow?” she squawked. “I was going to watch the finale of The Bachelor.”

  Joel grinned. “You’ll just have to record it. We’ll meet you outside after closing.”

  Niella wheeled herself back behind the reception desk, grumbling all the way.

  • • •

  Melanie stared down at her cell phone screen.

  We’re golden. Niella’s in, meet us at Sydney’s animal clinic tomorrow after 6.

  He’d pasted a Google map image with the address.

  The following message was hours later.

  How was the double shift? Don’t run yourself too ragged. If you need a pick me up, just ask. ;)

  Melanie’s stomach cramped. She hated lying to Joel.

  Only a little longer and you can come clean.

  “I’d say no cell phones on the missions, but you did so well today that I think I’ll make an exception.” Juliet took a seat next to her out on the curb.

  Night had fallen and the steady drone of cars passing on the street made for a good distraction. Melanie watched a few taillights go by before she turned to Juliet. “Please don’t congratulate me on a job well done. I’m not a dog; positive reinforcement won’t get you anywhere. I told you why I’m doing this. That will have to be enough.”

  Juliet rolled her blue eyes. She wore jeans. Jeans! In regular clothes she looked much younger than Melanie. “I know you’re not a dog, Melanie. But you do deserve some praise. We stopped a con artist because of you.”

  Melanie stared down at her hands. She flexed them, expecting to feel the new power she possessed moving under her skin, but her hands just felt like hands. “He wasn’t exactly hurting anyone,” she said. “And he didn’t seem too keen on giving up his powers, either.”

  With Charlotte it had been easier. She’d wanted out. She’d been desperate for Melanie to help her. Lars Milo had been different. When they’d knocked on his door, the first instinct for this sketchy individual with a nervous twitch had been to try to jump out a back window. Mr. Richardson had been waiting for him. Milo thought they were some kind of law enforcement. He was resigned to the idea of losing his powers; he didn’t fight it. In fact, it was almost like he expected it to happen one day. He’d had a good run at making a profit off his abilities, and now it was time to go back into the real world.

  Was that what Juliet’s organization was? Some kind of police force for super-powered individuals?

  Even if he did deserve to have his abilities taken away, Melanie would never forget the look in his eye as she drained him—the sadness and disappointment was enough to make her queasy. She’d left the apartment as quickly as possible.

  She’d been sitting on the curb ever since.

  “Lars Milo was making a profit off of others by tricking them. Eventually someone would have gotten hurt, most likely Mr. Milo. Would you rather that have happened? We likely saved his life. The path he was on would have led him to the wrong type of people, and they would have seen his act for what it was, an act. Those kinds of people would have taken his life for payment.”

  “I guess,” Melanie mumbled. Then louder, “How many powers can I take?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You know, until I’m … full.”

  Juliet studied her a moment and then laughed. “You’re not a flash drive, Melanie. You don’t get full. Your storage space is infinite.” A feral glint came into her eye. “You could take all the world’s powers and still be hungry for more.”

  Melanie dropped her gaze.

  That’s what she was afraid of.

  Chapter 27

  Melanie sat with a paper towel pressed firmly against the heel of her hand as she waited outside Sydney’s animal clinic. She’d agreed to meet Joel here after work and caught the first bus she could. She was early, but that was fine with her. She stood outside, the sun beating down on her, warming her chilled flesh after she’d been cooped up in a frozen yogurt shop all afternoon. One of the machines had gotten stuck and Melanie had tried giving it a good smack, but only succeeded in slicing the heel of her hand on a corner of the metal. Luckily, it didn’t bleed all over the place and had happened near the end of her shift.

  She stared down at the bloody paper in her hand. The bleeding had all but stopped. She examined the wound for the fifth time, squinting to see if she needed stitches.

  A shadow fell over her, causing her to jump.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you,” the figure said. “Are you lost?”

  Melanie’s eyes adjusted and she blinked at the stranger.

  He looked to be in his early thirties. The crow’s feet in the corners of his eyes gave away the fact that he spent a majority of his time smiling. His green eyes sparkled against his tan skin and dirty blond hair. He looked like a bona fide surfer, only the outfit was all wrong. He wore a white shirt, white pants, and an apron covered with red stains.

  Melanie’s eyes went to the shop twenty feet away. Tom’s Pizzeria. It didn’t take a genius to make the connection.

  She shook her head. “Not lost.” She gestured with both hands to the clinic. “I’m waiting for Niella.”

  He followed her movement, his eyes lingering on the clinic. “Ah, the mysterious receptionist.”

  “Huh?”

  He pulled his gaze back to Melanie. “I’m sorry, that’s very rude of me. I’m Tom Larkin. I’ve been working next to Sydney for quite some time.”

  She took the hand he presented with her unbloodied one and shook it. “Melanie.”

  He smiled, eyes crinkling handsomely. “Nice to meet you, Melanie. So I take it you are a friend of Sydney’s?”

  “I’m Joel’s … ” She drifted off. Not sure what she was. Girlfriend? She doubted Mirror Mate would fly with this guy, or soul mate. “I’m friends with Joel.”

  “Ah, and here I thought I’d be able to get some information out of you,” he teased.

  “About the mystery receptionist?” she teased back.

  He gazed out into the parking lot. “I have to admit it’s very strange that as long as we’ve worked near each other, I’ve never met her.”

  “Is she new?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. She’d been working with Sydney for years, ever since Sydney took over the clinic from her parents. I’ve known Sydney since she worked with her parents, and I’ve met everyone in Sydney’s clinic, even the new young man, Luke— everyone except the receptionist.”

  “Not even once?”

  “Every time I go over there or poke my head in to say hi, the front desk is mysteriously deserted. If I didn’t know any better I’d think I was being avoided. Strange, isn’t it?” He shook his head and laughed.r />
  Melanie peeked back at the clinic doors, tinted too dark to see inside. “Very.”

  “The best I have is rare glimpses here and there.”

  Melanie grinned. “Harboring a secret crush, are we?”

  Tom jerked his chin toward her hand. “What’d you do to your hand there?”

  Without warning, Tom pulled on her wrist until her hand was cradled in his. His hands had a faint white sheen to them. Flour. It reminded Melanie of Felix. Was that why she didn’t reflexively pull away like she usually would? She didn’t know why, but she got no bad vibes from this man.

  He carefully removed the paper towel and handed it to her.

  “Are you some kind of doctor in your spare time? Hitting the medical books between cooking pizzas?” she poked fun at him.

  His lip twitched. “Something like that. It doesn’t look too bad.” He fanned out her fingers to allow better access.

  Joel’s truck pulled into the lot and Tom released his hold on her hand.

  “So what’s your diagnosis? Do you think it’s infected?” Melanie asked as she rewrapped the injury.

  A spark of amusement in his eyes. “I think you’ll be fine in a couple of days.” Tom inclined his head to her. “It was great to meet you, Melanie. Hopefully I’ll see you around.” With one last devastating smile he turned and headed toward the pizzeria.

  She watched him leave, wondering why her heart wasn’t racing after this encounter with such an obviously attractive man.

  Because no matter how good-looking Tom was, he was missing that spark of mischief in his eyes, the one that would tease her about country music or challenge her to a video game shoot-out. She couldn’t see Tom sitting with her for hours, painstakingly helping her get control of a power she wanted nothing to do with, dealing with all her drama and still looking at her without judgment.

  Footsteps drew Melanie’s attention. Joel came up beside her, keys still in hand. Her heart rate sped up. “Not you, too,” he whined. “Damn that guy.”

  “What are you talking about?” She turned but Tom had already disappeared from sight.

  “Your future fan club membership.”