by Kayla Perrin
She placed the receiver back on the cradle and rubbed her right temple. A migraine was starting. She opened her top desk drawer, withdrew the bottle of pain medication and took out two tablets. She washed them down with lukewarm coffee.
The knock on the door had her exhaling harshly. She just wanted a break. For a few glorious minutes, she wanted no distractions on this Friday afternoon.
But she sat up straight, tried to regain her composure, and said, “Come in.”
The door opened, and Teresa peeked her head into the office. “I’m sorry,” she began without preamble. “I know you said no unnecessary interruptions, but you have a visitor.”
“The math tutor is here already?”
“No,” Teresa responded simply, a look of intrigue in her eyes.
“Is it an emergency?”
“Sort of. He says he won’t leave until you come out and speak to him.”
“What’s his name?”
“He refused to give me one. I tried to get him to make an appointment, but he wouldn’t. Honestly, I’d be more alarmed if he weren’t so darned attractive.”
Melissa frowned. “He’s cute?”
“Very.”
Melissa’s pulse quickened. It couldn’t be...no, the thought was crazy. It wouldn’t be Aaron.
“But he does seem a little upset,” Teresa said. “Well, maybe upset is the wrong word. He seems...focused. I think you need to come out and talk to him. I’ll keep my phone on hand in case I need to call the police.”
Unsure what to make of Teresa’s announcement, Melissa pushed her chair back and stood. Could it be Christopher? He’d called her a few times recently, asking if they could talk. No, Teresa should know what Christopher looked like. Even though she’d never met him in person, she’d seen a couple of photos of him.
Following Teresa out of the office, Melissa made her way down the hall that led to the front of the house. She heard the frantic pounding of footsteps racing up the staircase, then Omar yelled, “Hey, everyone—come downstairs!”
What was going on?
A couple seconds later, when she stepped out from behind the staircase and saw who was standing in the foyer, her heart leaped into her throat. Her eyes bulged, and she stopped midstep.
No...it couldn’t be...
Her eyes flitted from Aaron, who somehow was here in her place of work, to Omar, who had just bounded down the stairs. Her stunned gaze went to Aaron again. His taut shoulders relaxed, and he smiled at her.
“What haven’t you told me?” Teresa whispered. “Because you know him, don’t you? Are you seeing this guy?”
“Aaron,” Melissa said, her voice barely more than a whisper. Tyler, Mohammad and Ben raced down the stairs, huge smiles on their faces. “What are you doing here?”
“I knew it!” Omar exclaimed. “You’re Aaron Burke!”
Aaron grinned at the boys. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
There was a chorus of excitement, with exclamations like “Whoa!” and “For real!” and “Oh my God!” The boys immediately began to high-five and hug him.
“You’re seeing him, aren’t you?” Teresa demanded in a hushed voice as the boys swarmed Aaron.
“No, I’m not,” Melissa responded, giving Teresa a pointed look. This was not something she wanted to discuss right now.
Aaron held up a hand, saying, “I take it you guys like soccer?”
“I’m a huge fan,” Omar exclaimed. He was grinning from ear to ear.
Melissa stepped closer to Aaron and his throng of admirers, anger making her face flush. This was not appropriate. Aaron should not have shown up here like this and caused a disruption to the day. There were routines here, work that needed to be done. Sure, it was a lunch break now, but the boys were supposed to be in the backyard getting exercise, not crowding the lobby.
What had Aaron been thinking?
“Boys, you know this is time for physical activity,” Melissa pointed out.
“But this is Aaron Burke!”
“I know exactly who he is,” Melissa said.
She faced Aaron now, her eyes letting him know that she wasn’t pleased with this intrusion.
“Wait—you know him?” Tyler asked.
“Duh, obviously she knows him. That’s why he’s here,” Ben said.
Before Melissa could speak, Aaron did. “Ms. Conwell and I go way back.”
“Cool!”
“Awesome!”
“Are you her boyfriend?”
Melissa’s heart began to race. How would Aaron answer that last question?
She couldn’t let him, so she spoke quickly. “Mr. Burke and I knew each other when we were kids,” she said. “He’s...he’s in town and decided to visit me,” she added by way of explanation. “But no, he’s not my boyfriend.”
“Aw.”
The chorus of disappointment surprised her. As did the look of discontent on Teresa’s face.
Melissa glanced at Aaron, saw him give her a questioning look. Was he actually disputing the fact that they weren’t an item?
Melissa hoped that neither the boys nor Teresa had picked up on that subtle look. Yes, she’d slept with him. But just because she had didn’t mean they were an item. After all, they’d slept together twelve years ago, and that had meant nothing to Aaron.
Their wedding fling was just that—a fling, the kind of thing Melissa was certain happened all the time. She had scratched an itch. Satisfied her curiosity. She’d had a great night, but that’s all it was. One night.
“Chase is gonna be so upset when he learns you were here,” Omar said. “He’s out with Counselor Mike right now. How long are you staying?”
“Not long,” Melissa quickly interjected. “Mr. Burke, will you follow me?” She was trying her best to maintain a professional tone with him. Desperate to not have anyone think there might be anything suspicious going on between them.
“I’d love to,” Aaron said.
Melissa led the way down the hallway and around the corner to her office at the back of the house. She opened the door and headed inside, and Aaron followed her. She closed the door behind him and faced him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. Gone was the professional and dispassionate tone. Her heart was beating fast. She didn’t understand what Aaron was doing here, especially after the message she’d sent him yesterday.
“You’re a hard woman to reach,” he said.
“Why did you come all the way to New Jersey?”
“After the email you sent me, I figured you owe me an explanation.”
Melissa raised an eyebrow. “You couldn’t ask it via email? Or call me?”
“You have a way of not responding that makes it challenging for guy to get in touch with you,” he said, giving her a pointed look.
Melissa couldn’t say anything to that, because it was true. She’d been avoiding him. If only she’d known that he would show up here, she would have answered his calls. And she definitely wouldn’t have sent that email.
And now that he’d shown up here, she knew she wouldn’t live this one down. Teresa would have questions, and of course the boys would be speculating as well.
“Besides,” Aaron went on, “this is something I wanted to ask you in person.”
“What could you possibly want to ask me that would have you coming here? To my place of work?”
“Why did you send me that email?”
Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you so unaccustomed to rejection that you flew out here to demand an explanation?”
“Rejection doesn’t typically start with a woman clinging to me so tightly in my bed that she practically leaves scars on my back.”
Melissa’s face flamed. She quickly turned, unable to face him.
“Oh, no, no, no. You’re not going to avoid this one.” Aaron scoo
ted in front of her. “I need to see your eyes when you answer me.”
“We had a great night,” Melissa said in a lowered voice, hoping to God that no one was lurking outside her door in the hallway. “But it was one night. Surely you’ve had a one-night stand before.”
“You don’t strike me as the type to engage in a one-night stand.”
“As if you know anything about me,” Melissa quipped.
Aaron blew out a frazzled breath. “What are you doing tonight?”
Melissa narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. That was his follow-up question? “What?”
“Tell me,” he said.
“I am so confused right now.”
“So am I,” Aaron said. “Now answer my question.”
She could tell by the sternness in his voice that he wasn’t going to drop the issue. But if he had some bizarre notion that she was going to spend the night with him, he had another think coming.
“I have plans,” Melissa said. Though the only plan she actually had was to head home and take a hot bath, drink a glass of wine and perhaps watch a movie before going to bed.
“With Christopher?” Aaron took a step toward her, his eyes boring into hers. “Is he the reason why you’ve given me the brush-off?”
Chapter 17
Melissa stared into Aaron’s hard gaze, momentarily caught off guard. Christopher...?
And then it hit her, and her eyes bulged. Somehow, Aaron knew that she had been dating a man named Christopher. But how?
“I need to know,” Aaron said. “Is Christopher the reason you’ve been avoiding me? Is he your boyfriend?”
“How do you even know about Christopher?” Had he hired someone to look into her life?
“So you are seeing him,” Aaron surmised. Then he swore under his breath.
He looked upset, something Melissa didn’t expect. Did he actually care, or was this about his ego being hurt?
She could let him believe that she was involved with Christopher, though their brief relationship had ended eight months earlier. Maybe it would be easier this way. If Aaron thought she was involved with another man, he would leave her alone once and for all...
And yet she found herself saying, “No. Christopher and I are no longer involved.”
Aaron stared at her long and hard, as if trying to decide whether or not he believed her. After several moments, his features relaxed.
This had been bothering him. Melissa was confused.
“So he’s not the reason you sent me that email?” Aaron asked.
“No.”
“And what about another guy? Are you dating someone?”
“You said you didn’t think I was the type to engage in a one-night stand. Now you think I’m the type to sleep with you while I have a boyfriend?”
“Wine, music, a lapse in judgment. People do it all the time.”
“I don’t,” Melissa said, unable to hide her irritation.
“Good.” Aaron paused. “Because I need you to be my date tonight.”
Melissa’s eyes widened, even as her heart skipped a beat. “That’s quite presumptuous of you.”
“It’s an event I hope you’ll be willing to attend with me. It’s for a good cause.”
More like an excuse to get me naked again, she thought. Though she had herself to blame for Aaron believing that he could wiggle a finger and seduce her again. She’d been a far too eager participant last Saturday night.
“What is this good cause?” she asked, trying her best to keep her doubt from creeping into her voice.
“I’m in town for a charity fund-raiser tonight,” Aaron explained. “Have you heard about a little girl named Rosella Nunez?”
The name sounded familiar. And in an instant it came to her. “Yes, that little girl who needs a liver. She’s only two years old, and she’s going to die if she doesn’t have a transplant soon.”
“Yes, that’s her. Well, her father is a huge soccer fan. I know some of the guys who play for the New York Red Bulls. The team’s actually based out of Jersey, right nearby in Harrison.”
“Yes, that’s a suburb of Newark,” Melissa said.
“Anyway, some of the players heard about Rosella’s plight and suggested holding a fund-raiser for the family. It’s a tough situation. The parents have had to quit their jobs in order to provide round-the-clock care for Rosella, and they’ve exhausted almost every penny they have for medical care. Obviously this is a trying time for the family, and the fund-raiser tonight is to help lessen their financial burden. I was hoping you would accompany me as my date.”
Darn it. Melissa had been prepared to shut down whatever Aaron might have asked her. But now, how could she?
She’d heard about this young girl. It was a heartbreaking story, and certainly the most worthy of causes. As much as Melissa wanted to refuse to be Aaron’s date, his story about the fund-raiser changed everything.
“And this is actually tonight?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Jeez, you don’t give a girl much notice.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow. “I would have—if you’d responded to me.”
Melissa said nothing. What could she say?
Aaron wandered toward the window and looked out at the backyard. His face lit up in a smile, and he waved.
The kids must have been looking up at the window, fascinated that Aaron Burke, real-life soccer star, was here.
“You really are a big star,” Melissa commented.
“Did you follow my career?” Aaron asked, facing her. “Or did you forget about me?”
“I...” She swallowed. “It was all but impossible to hear nothing of your success,” Melissa said. “Everything you do is big news in Sheridan Falls.”
“I see.”
What did he see? Was he offended that she hadn’t become his biggest fan?
“I love that you ended up working with kids,” Aaron said, once again glancing outside. “Just like we used to back in the day.”
Melissa’s jaw stiffened. She didn’t want to hear him talk about that—the very thing that had helped them forge a bond twelve years ago.
“Why would you love that I ended up working with kids? Why does anything we used to do back in the day matter to you?”
“Okay, so there it is,” Aaron said. “You’re upset with me because of how things ended.”
“One day everything was great, the next thing you were pushing me away.”
“I was young. I didn’t want to hold you back.”
“How would you hold me back?” Melissa asked. She hadn’t planned on having this conversation with Aaron, but the breakup had weighed heavily on her heart. She wanted answers. “I wanted to be with you. Why wasn’t I good enough?”
“Is that what you think?”
“What am I supposed to think? And then you married Ella. Of all people.”
“It’s not you who wasn’t good enough,” Aaron said, and pain flashed in his eyes.
Melissa waited for him to go on, but he didn’t. Instead, he turned away from her.
Something hit her then as she heard his heavy breath. Was he still carrying guilt over his young sister’s death? The night they’d made love, Aaron had confided in her that he’d been torn up with guilt for years because Chantelle had drowned when he had been watching her.
“Chantelle,” Melissa said softly. “You still feel guilt over her death.”
“It was my fault.”
Was this why he’d broken up with her? Melissa knew from working with troubled youth that sometimes when people experienced a tragedy, they were emotionally stuck—unable to move forward and be happy because guilt held them back.
Melissa was gentle when she asked, “Did you push me away because of Chantelle?”
Aaron turned to face her. “I don’t want to talk a
bout Chantelle.”
“But if you’re still holding yourself responsible—”
“What I said twelve years ago doesn’t matter,” Aaron said, and the firm tone of his voice made it clear he didn’t want to discuss the issue further. “Will you go out with me tonight?”
So he was going to avoid the subject. He was sounding like the Aaron he’d been just before they’d broken up, when she sensed something was wrong and he’d refused to talk to her about what was bothering him.
That was the man who’d hurt her. If he still wasn’t willing to open up to her, clearly he would hurt her again.
If she let him. The more time she spent with him, the worse it was going to be for her. She needed to end this, whatever it was, before it went any further.
“You know what?” she began. “I’m not sure I can make it tonight. I do appreciate that it’s a great cause and that you came here to invite me. But it’s such last-minute notice. I’ll happily give a donation, however.”
“I want you there with me.”
The commanding tone to Aaron’s voice caused Melissa’s heart to flutter. Gone was the vulnerable man from just a few minutes earlier. Despite herself, she liked his determination. It had always been one of his most attractive qualities. Still, she didn’t want to spend any more time with him. She drew in a breath, then said, “I don’t have a single decent thing to wear.”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Aaron told her.
“Look at me.” She spread her arms wide so that he could get a good look at her simple blouse, jeans and flats. “This is my typical wardrobe. Not nearly appropriate for a fancy shindig with lots of well-to-do high-society people. Maybe you can ask someone else.”
“You’re the only one I want to ask.”
Melissa bit her bottom lip as he held her gaze. God, that look. It would be her undoing. She could see the heat in his eyes, as well as his determination. He wanted her in his bed again.
She’d already allowed herself one night with Aaron, one night that was to be her last. So going out with him tonight was a very bad idea.