by Amy Reece
“Nice to meet you, Finn! I’m trying to meet all the neighbors. I just talked to that adorable Mr. Taylor next door and thought I’d try this house next.”
Melanie didn’t think adorable was anywhere near the right word for the neighbor between her and Finn; why was it okay to refer to the elderly as ‘adorable’ or ‘sweet’? They were simply people who had lived a long time and deserved to be treated as such, not as cute little pets to be admired and then ignored. Besides, Mr. Taylor was habitually cranky, which she found neither cute nor endearing. Melanie felt her teeth begin to grind.
Finn also seemed less than thrilled by the woman, judging by his expression, which was somewhere between horror and disgust. “You, uh, want some coffee, Laina?”
“It’s Lena.” The woman spoke in a clipped manner that bespoke her irritation, then seemed to relent. “Thanks. That would be great.”
Melanie poured a cup for her as Lena launched her interrogation on Finn. “So what do you do, Finn? And how did you do that?” She gestured to his injured leg.
“I’m a cop. I got hit by a car.” He pushed himself up and grabbed his crutches. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies?” He hobbled out of the kitchen.
Mel watched him go, slightly bemused, before turning back to their guest, determined to be polite. Her mother had always drilled into her the importance of good manners, even when you didn’t feel like it. “So, are you getting settled? Did all your furniture arrive?”
“Oh, sure. Everything’s great. I’ll have you all over for a barbecue real soon.” She took another sip of her coffee. “I was surprised to see you over here, Melanie. Are you and Finn together?”
Melanie smiled tightly; why did the woman sound surprised? Was it so difficult to believe? “Yes, we are. It’s pretty recent, but, yeah.”
“Well, that’s just great.” She stood. “Say goodbye to Finn for me. I’ve got so much to do, so I better not stay.”
Had Melanie given the impression she was looking to extend this visit? “Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you need anything.” She saw her to the door, then went looking for Finn. She found him skulking in the living room.
“Is she gone?” he asked with a guilty look.
“Yeah. What happened to you?” She’d never seen him so…rude before. He was usually so charming and affable.
He chuckled ruefully. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. Something about her just set me off. I figured I would be better off ducking out than saying something unpleasant. She’s…interesting, huh?”
Melanie laughed. “You could say that. Yeah, she’s not my cup of tea, either. The first time we met, she was all nosy and up in my business. I didn’t care for it.”
He lowered himself into the easy chair—newly restored to its original spot since he got out of his wheelchair—and beckoned to her. “Let’s not waste time talking about the new neighbor. I haven’t had a proper kiss yet this morning, Ms. Blythe. Come here.” He held his hand out to her.
She grinned and took his hand. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt your leg.”
“My left leg is fine.” He pulled her down to his lap and draped her legs across the arm of the chair. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”
They were silent for several minutes as their mouths met. He nibbled at the corner of her mouth, then let his lips wander along her jawline and up to her earlobe, taking it gently between his teeth. He hadn’t shaved that morning and his black whiskers were scratchy against her face in a way that she loved. This man’s kisses did things to her she didn’t even begin to understand. A low clenching in her belly—and somewhat lower, if she were perfectly honest—had her moaning his name softly. She felt him grin and then his intoxicating lips were back on hers, his warm tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. The taste of him was a heady mix of coffee, sweet maple syrup, and his own special flavor. She speared her hands through his hair and hung on as he swept them into a maelstrom of passion. She’d never felt this level of desire and hunger before. More. The word, the feeling repeated in her brain as she melted into him, her lips leaving his to begin their own exploration of his whisker-covered jaw and neck. She smiled as he groaned and let his hand wander up her leg to her hip and around to her bottom. The heady sense of power filled her as she realized he wanted her—plain, boring Melanie whose college boyfriend dumped her because she wasn’t exciting enough in or out of bed.
A sudden movement at the window startled her and she jerked in Finn’s arms.
“What’s wrong?” He sat up and looked across the room where she was staring.
“Nothing. It’s just…I thought I saw something at the window.”
“Something or someone?” He pushed her off his lap with a quick kiss. “Let me take a look.” He quickly grabbed his crutches and crossed to look out the window. “I don’t see anything. It could have been a bird flying by.”
It could have, but Melanie had thought she’d seen the outline of a person. It had been nothing more than an impression really, but it stuck in her mind. “That’s probably what it was. Sorry. I guess I’m a bit jumpy after last night. I’m not usually such a nervous Nelly.” Her first thought had been that Lena was peeping in at them, but why in the world would she want to do that? Finn was probably right and a dove had flown too close to the house. They were known to fly into windows, often killing themselves in the process.
He walked back to her and reached his hand to cup her cheek. “I know you’re not, Mel. Hey, while you were talking to Laina—”
“Lena.”
“Whatever. I called Hugh and he’s going to drop by to install some new locks on your front and kitchen doors. Could you leave me a set of keys so we can get in while you’re at lunch with Cara?”
“Oh, I hate to bother him with that. I’ll call a locksmith tomorrow and get it done.”
“Mel.” He forced her to look into his eyes. “It’s not a problem. Let me do this, okay? It’s a cop thing. And a boyfriend thing. Your locks are shit and I won’t sleep until I know you’re safe. Please don’t make a fuss.” He followed with a searing kiss.
“Mmmm. What?”
He chuckled and kissed her again. “Good. I’m glad to have found a secret weapon. Any time I need you to cooperate I’ll simply kiss you into submission. It’s a tough job, but I think I’m up to the challenge.”
“Fine, but be sure he leaves me a bill. I’m not taking freebies from your brother.”
“I can see I need to kiss you some more.” He grinned and set about his task.
***
Finn
“So, do you think it was a bird?” Hugh looked up from his position on the floor where he was installing a new state-of-the-art security lock and deadbolt on Mel’s kitchen door.
“Probably not.” Finn ran his hands distractedly through his hair. “Shit, Hugh. I think someone may be stalking her.”
“Which would explain why I’m sitting on her kitchen floor first thing on a Monday morning instead of making sure Izzy and Dad aren’t reorganizing the company in my absence.” He returned his focus to the task for a few moments. “Any idea who it could be?”
“Not a clue.”
“You really like this girl.”
“Is that a question?” He was starting to get irritated with his older brother.
“Nope. An observation. Mom and Dad really seemed to like her. She’s…different than your usual type.”
“I don’t have a type.”
“Yeah, you do. All your other girlfriends over the past few years—and there have been a lot—were gorgeous, smart, and shallow.”
“You don’t think Mel is pretty?” He forced himself to stay seated. It was either that or hobble across the kitchen to punch his brother in the face, which would most likely leave him to finish installing the locks, something he would have difficulty managing with his crutches.
“Calm down,” Hugh muttered without even looking up. He was always the calm one, rarely getting involved in the many fights of his younger siblings.
“Mel is beautiful. Everyone can see that, Finn. And I’m sure she’s smart. But she’s obviously not shallow or mean or self-obsessed like Tatiana or Celia or Kabira or any of the others. Are you ready for what this means?”
“What do you think this means?” Sometimes Hugh’s big brother unsought wisdom was downright annoying. Who the hell did he think he was?
“I think this means you may just find yourself with a girlfriend you won’t want to get rid of once the initial glow of romance and sex wears off.”
“May I remind you Tatiana left me?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“It was only a matter of time.”
“I was thinking about asking her to move in when I got hit.”
“I never thought I’d be glad for that accident.”
“Shut up.”
Hugh laughed. “Sorry. I’m kidding. Mostly. Finn, if you have to spend a bunch of time thinking about whether or not to ask a woman to move in, then you’re with the wrong woman.”
“What in the hell makes you such a goddamn expert? Last time I checked, you live by yourself and I haven’t noticed a steady girlfriend in over a year.”
“I’m waiting for the right woman. I’ll know her when I meet her and I sure as hell won’t bother thinking about asking her to move in. I’ll put a ring on her finger and we’ll start a life together.” Hugh finished with the kitchen door and stood to begin the cleanup.
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is simple. I just need to find the woman.”
This time Finn laughed. “Yeah, well, good luck with that.” He was silent for a moment. “I really like her, Hugh.”
“Yeah, I can tell.”
***
The next two weeks flew by. He and Mel spent every minute they possibly could together. She drove him to his physical therapy and doctor appointments, they watched movies and went out to dinner. They didn’t sleep together, unless you counted the times they fell asleep on the couch. He wanted to, of course, but he knew he couldn’t rush her. He had a feeling if he was patient it would happen in its own time when Mel was ready. There was obviously a bad relationship in her past, but he refused to push her to share the details until she was ready. There was also the small matter of his broken ankle. He was still in a lot of pain and wasn’t altogether too sure how well everything would go their first time, so he was stalling.
They had made plans to spend Saturday together at a craft beer festival and maybe a movie later. Her text thirty minutes before the time they’d agreed to leave was unexpected and unlike her.
Mel: I have to cancel today. I’m really sorry.
Finn: What’s up? Everything ok?
Mel: Fine. I just can’t go. Sorry.
Weird. He thought about calling but decided to walk down and look in her eyes. If she needed to be alone, fine. They’d been spending a lot of time together lately and he realized an introvert like Mel probably just needed a day to herself. He would assure her he understood and let her be.
She answered the door and he could tell she’d been crying, her eyes red and her face a bit blotchy. She was not a pretty crier, but his heart ached for her.
“Mel, what’s wrong?” He opened the screen door and stepped inside.
“I’m fine. I didn’t want to bother you. I’m not very good company today, that’s all. Can we reschedule?”
“Of course, but I need to know what’s wrong. Why are you crying, sweetheart? Come here.” He pulled her into his arms.
She held herself stiffly for a moment as he rubbed his hands on her back. Finally she melted into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s stupid. You don’t need to deal with my ridiculous emotions.”
“Hey.” He pulled back and tipped her chin up. “Tell me.”
“It’s Aunt Karen’s birthday. I thought it wouldn’t bother me, but I’ve been weepy all morning. I can’t seem to shake it, so I don’t want to inflict myself on you today.”
Who had made her feel like this, like she couldn’t share the way she felt or what made her sad? Finn burned with anger at the person in her past. “Mel, honey. That’s not the way this works. I absolutely want to know when you’re feeling weepy or whatever. I want to be here for you. Let’s go sit on the couch and you can tell me about it, okay?” He pulled her against him, stroking his hand over her silky hair, breathing in the scent of her peach shampoo. “Tell me about her.”
“About Aunt Karen?” At his nod, she began to talk. “She was my great-aunt actually, my mother’s aunt. She never married, never had any kids of her own, but whenever she visited us she was so much fun. She played ‘cats’ with me when I was little.” She chuckled through her tears.
“Cats?”
“Yeah. We just crawled around on the floor for hours, meowing and purring. Silly, but I loved it.”
“That sounds really sweet.” He kissed the top of her head.
“She was really special.” Her voice was still wavering. “She sent me money every month while I was in college. She moved out here to New Mexico a few years ago when she finally retired, saying she was sick of the harsh Illinois winters. When she was diagnosed with cancer, I moved here to help her. She went so fast, Finn. It was barely a year, and the last few months were so hard on her. She was in so much pain.”
“I’m so sorry, Mel.” He let her cry softly for a while. “Hey, why don’t we go put some flowers on her grave? Have you done that, yet?”
She shook her head. “Not since the funeral. Are you sure you don’t mind? I don’t want to spoil your day.”
“The only thing that would spoil my day would be to spend it without you.”
She drove them to a floral shop and bought two bunches of cheerful mixed flowers. He didn’t question her, but was curious what the other bouquet was for. Once at the cemetery, he followed her through the grass surrounding the headstones until she stopped at the one belonging to her aunt. He stood back and let her take as much time as she needed. When she finally rose, she still held the second bouquet and he wondered what she planned. He watched as she walked around to a nearby headstone; it looked much older than those nearby. Mel cleared a few weeds away before arranging the flowers in the container near the grave. She finished and joined Finn.
“Whose grave is that?”
“His name was George Hanover. He died way back in the sixties. He was only three years old.”
“Was he a relative?” He was trying to figure out the connection.
“No. I have no idea who he was. I just noticed his grave here during Aunt Karen’s funeral and figured no one probably ever put flowers on it anymore. I just thought it would be nice.” She shrugged, as if it were nothing.
He stared at her, unable to fathom the depth of her beauty—body and soul—in that moment. God, what an amazing woman. He pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin. I love her. He recognized the feeling—but so much more than a simple feeling—mostly because he realized he’d never truly experienced it before. What he’d thought was love for Tatiana was so pale and anemic compared with what he felt for Mel. I’m completely in love with this woman. I’ve only known her for a few weeks, but it doesn’t seem to matter. I love her. He smiled hugely and wanted to tell her, wanted to shout it to the world at large, but figured a cemetery wasn’t the most romantic place. Soon.
“Are you ready to go?”
“I am.” She hugged him again. “Thanks for this, Finn. Thanks for understanding.”
“Always.”
Chapter Eleven
Mel
I will get this chapter finished tonight! Finn was spending the evening with his brothers—they had swooped in and kidnapped him earlier in the evening, laughingly claiming Mel was hogging him. There was apparently a pub-crawl downtown they tried to attend every year. Finn had complained it would truly be a crawl this year, courtesy of his crutches, but he’d gone along willingly enough. Hugh had assured her they were taking an Uber, so she had kissed Finn and sent him on his way.
She’d fallen behind on her writing in the weeks since they’d started dating and had received a few increasingly irritated emails from her editor. It was difficult to concentrate on the fictional romance she was creating when she had a real one to participate in, especially with Finn sitting next to her on the sofa nearly every evening. Cuddling and kissing him was a whole lot more fun than living vicariously through her protagonists. And it could be considered research. Of course it could. She grinned and fired up her laptop, wondering if she could adequately describe the way Finn’s kisses made her feel. It would add something to her romantic scenes that had been sadly missing for a long, long time. She frowned as she thought about how reticent Finn seemed to be to take their relationship to the next level beyond merely kissing. Didn’t he want to? She was starting to wonder and to worry a bit. Of course, she was relieved he wasn’t pressuring her, but while his kisses blew her mind, that was pretty much all he ever tried to do. His hands would wander some, but he always stopped short of anything more than PG-13. She was ready for more. Maybe. Ugh! It was so frustrating, but what could she do? Ask him? Yeah, that would go over well. “Hey, Finn. So tell me why exactly you seem to not want to sleep with me, hmm?” That would be an uncomfortable conversation, to say the least. She knew he’d practically lived with his last girlfriend, so why was he holding back with her? Several answers came to mind; none of them made her feel any better about herself.
She shook off the gloomy thoughts and managed to immerse herself in her manuscript for several hours, gaining back some of the ground she’d lost in the last few weeks. Her editor would at least speak to her again. She reached the end of the chapter and stood to stretch, arching her back, amused when CJ did the same.
“I don’t know about you, CJ, but I deserve a glass of wine.” She scratched the cat right above her tail, then headed to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of the red blend she’d bought earlier in the week. She’d discovered the wonderful world of wine blends through some research for her newest book and was in love. The one she’d just opened was tart and fruity—absolutely delicious! She took her glass back to the living room and turned on the TV, hoping to catch the late news. She chose the first channel with local news and settled on the sofa to watch. The female anchor was gorgeous—so beautiful it was hard to concentrate on what she was reporting. Why are some people so blessed with good looks? Not fair. When the anchor’s name flashed across the screen, Melanie frowned and sat up. Tatiana Barrett. Why did that name seem so familiar? Melanie was sure she’d seen her somewhere before, but couldn’t think where.