Their hands reached for each other as he walked her home. Besides the kiss on the cheek when she first arrived, there hadn’t been any more kisses. The buildup was excruciating. She had hoped he would have made a move some time during the day. She gave him plenty of chances but so far they only held hands and cuddled. Not that she was complaining. Normally, she would be happy with the slow burn before things got exciting, but she was dying for him to kiss her.
While they walked silently enjoying the cooler evening air, she decided she would take matters into her own hands. She grinned thinking about making out with him on her grandparents’ stoop. Unlike high school, she wouldn’t have her dad catching her kissing a boy. She giggled just thinking about it.
He looked over at her smiling but with a raised brow. “What’s so funny?”
“I was just thinking. It’s nothing.” She waved a hand in the air not wanting to bring up her plans for him. “This is me.” She stopped in front of her grandparents’ house.
He narrowed his eyes then looked at the house she was pointing to. He let go of her hand and laughed. “You’re the Reynolds’ granddaughter?” His voice was unusually high-pitched and filled with humor.
“Yeah,” she said hesitantly. The way he began to laugh made her nervous. Did he know something about her grandparents she didn’t?
“Oh. My. God. You’re Annie. Annie Reynolds.”
Her jaw dropped. Nobody had called her Annie since the summer she had turned ten. For her birthday, she had asked her mother to give her a permanent so her hair, that was much redder back then, would be wavy. What she ended up with was dry, frizzy hair that was more kinky than curly. That was when her sister decided to torture her by calling her Little Orphan Annie. “How do you know that name?” she screeched.
He pointed to himself. “I’m Ton.”
She covered her mouth with her hand and began laughing so hard she had to bend over to breathe. “You’re Ton? No way! There is no way you were that annoying, short, chubby kid my sister made me play with.”
A week after she had her hair permed, she and Marla were sent to her grandparents for a month during the summer. The day after they arrived, Marla had met a girl at a park. They became fast friends and for two weeks her sister made her play with her friend’s younger brother. Until her sister had a falling out with her friend over a boy they both liked. His sister had called her brother Ton because he was chubby and round. She never bothered to find out his real name since everything he did annoyed her.
He was laughing so hard tears fell down his cheeks. “That was me!”
“I should’ve recognized you. You still have that wavy blond hair that always looked out of control and those sad brown eyes that made me almost feel sorry for you.”
“I hope that’s the only thing that resembles me from back then,” he said dryly while patting his flat stomach. “And did you call me annoying?”
She giggled into her hand as she shook her head. “You probably weren’t but I thought it was completely unfair that I had to hang out with a kid two years younger than me. A two-year difference at that age meant you were practically a baby.”
“Man, I thought you were the prettiest girl I had ever seen.” His smile widened. “I still do.”
She bit her lip to keep from grinning. “Smooth,” she giggled.
“It’s true, but you crushed my little heart back then.” That was when she remembered him asking if she would be his girlfriend. “I think your response to me asking if you’d be my girlfriend was, ‘hell no.’” She cringed remembering the moment she said it and the look of devastation on his face.
“I did say that, didn’t I? Well, if it makes you feel better, I got in trouble with Grandma for swearing and didn’t get dessert for a whole week.”
“It doesn’t but…” he pulled her into his arms until her chest was pressed against his and she felt the heat of his breath against her lips. “I think I know what would make me feel better,” he said against her mouth. Their lips touched just enough to make her want more. So much more. She had been dreaming about this kiss since the night at the bar.
She ran her hands up his chest then around his neck, holding tight while breathing him in. He smelled of grass and sunshine and the way he looked at her like she was the only thing he would ever need to exist made her heart skip. She went on her toes and pressed her mouth against his. Her lips were meant to kiss his and with their bodies aligned she felt him everywhere and yet when she ran her fingers through his hair, she didn’t feel like she could get close enough. When she moaned into his mouth she tasted the chocolate on his tongue from their dessert and he intensified their kiss. She could feel his heart beat against hers. With all of her senses lit, she knew she would never forget this moment. That was when she knew there was no point in fighting their attraction. No matter when things ended with him, her heart was going to get broken.
Chapter Eleven
May 5th
Preston
Preston was still flying high from the best goodnight kiss he had ever had. Even being interrupted by Melanie’s grandfather couldn’t knock it off its pedestal. It was a little embarrassing to be caught by a seventy-five-year-old making out with his granddaughter but it was worth it.
Since he said goodnight to her — with her grandfather standing behind her, he found himself grinning at random times thinking about her. When he met with his father at the office early the following morning to ask for some time off, his father kept giving him funny looks. ‘You have it bad’ was all he said.
He wasn’t about to deny it. He did have it bad. In twenty-eight days, he might regret pursuing Melanie, but right now he wasn’t going to worry about the consequences. He left his father’s law firm a few minutes later anxious to see Melanie again.
“You’re back,” Arthur said matter-of-factly. “Come on in.” He waved him in then pointed down the hall. “She’s helping Carol pack. The last door on the right.” Before he could head that way, Arthur planted a hand on his chest. “May I ask what your intentions are with my granddaughter?”
Preston felt a drop of sweat slide down his neck. He gripped the bag that held warm bagels and steadied the hand that held the tea he bought for Melanie. “My intentions? They’re…” He licked his dry lips feeling uncomfortably warm. “I intend to spend as much time with Melanie as I can before she leaves.”
“And after she leaves?”
Do they have the heat turned up in here? “I don’t know, sir. My family has a law office in Chicago so I do make regular visits there, but right now, I just want to get to know your granddaughter. She’s an amazing woman.”
Arthur nodded his head with a slight smirk. “Good answer, kid. Are those for everyone?” he asked looking at the bag of bagels.
“Oh, yes.” Preston opened the bag and pulled out a bagel. “Except the cinnamon and raisin.” He lifted the bagel. “This one is for Melanie.”
“Her favorite,” they said at the same time. Arthur’s brow rose and his smile widened. “You’ve known her two days and you already know her favorite bagel?”
“And tea,” Preston lifted the cup in his other hand.
Arthur blew out a breath. “Impressive, kid. Go on. She’ll be happy to see you.”
Preston was more than relieved to escape Arthur’s questioning. He hadn’t been this nervous to see a girl since he was in high school.
He was almost to the room that Arthur had pointed out when he heard Mrs. Reynolds say, “He never deserved you.”
Preston stood still barely a foot away from the open doorway feeling unsure if he should interrupt their personal conversation but not wanting to snoop either.
“Yeah, well, I wish I would have figured that out sooner,” Melanie mumbled.
When neither spoke again, he walked in. “Hey, beautiful ladies.” They beamed at him with matching smiles. Melanie was more beautiful today than the day before. Still in pajamas and with her hair in a messy bun, she sat on an old trunk bent over a box with her nam
e written on it.
She patted a spot next to her. When he sat down, he handed her the bagel and tea. “You’re so sweet.” She looked at him as if he brought her a diamond ring instead of breakfast. “Come here.” She slid her hand around his neck and gave him a sweet kiss. He loved how openly affectionate she was and even though it was a simple kiss, it was just enough to smooth the ache from not seeing her for hours.
When he managed to clear his head, he remembered her grandmother was still in the room. “Hi Mrs. Reynolds. I’m not sure if you remember me, but I’m Preston Reed.”
“Call me Carol. My granddaughter reminded me last night who you were. You’ve grown into a handsome young man.”
“Thank you.” He preferred not to be remembered as an awkward chubby kid. “I brought more bagels. They’re in the kitchen. I didn’t know which kind you’d like,” he said to Carol.
“Oh, you are a sweetie. I’ll be right back.”
Melanie watched her grandmother leave and the moment she stepped out the door, she placed her food and drink on top of a closed box then wound her arms around his neck and gave him the kiss he had been dreaming about all night. It started out light and playful but soon the kiss turned passionate. He was so close to pulling her onto his lap so he could touch her but he was just aware enough to know that they wouldn’t be alone for long.
Their lips separated for just a moment. She drew in a deep breath. “You’re not working today?” she asked between kisses.
“I’m playing hooky this week.” With one hand cradling her head, he caressed her cheek with the other. She was so incredibly beautiful even — or especially after just waking. “Luckily, I’m pretty close with the boss.” He grinned.
“Does this mean I’m going to see a lot more of you?”
“If you like,” he said as he made a trail of kisses down her neck.
“I like,” she said breathlessly. She lifted his head and gave him one more kiss before her grandmother walked in.
“You showed up just in time to help Melanie go through this stuff.” She waved a hand at the piles of boxes with Melanie and Marla’s name on them.
“What’s in the boxes?”
“Just stuff Arthur and I collected over the years. We were going to get rid of it but thought the girls might want some of it.”
He looked at the number of boxes then back to Melanie. “Wow, you have your work cut out for you.”
“Right? It’s going to cost me a fortune to ship this stuff home.” She pointed to several boxes that were taped and had ‘keep’ written on them.
Home.
Her home wasn’t here. His stomach dropped. When she had to leave at the end of the month, he would have no idea when he would be able to see her again. He swallowed his frustration and the unfairness of the whole situation. If he thought about things rationally, he would see how ridiculous it was to like her this much after just meeting her, but his rational brain wasn’t working. He liked her. He really liked her and was already dreading the end of the month.
“Gran, I think this was put in here by mistake.” Melanie pulled out a black and white picture that was sticking out between the pages of a book. She turned it over and grinned. “This was taken right before you and Gramps married.” She handed the photo to Carol, who gushed over how young she and Arthur were.
“This was taken on the day we met.” She wiped at a tear as she stared at the photo. “Our friends introduced us.”
“What?” Melanie’s brows pinched together. “That can’t be right. It has the month and year you were married on the back.”
Carol laughed and shook her head. “You can’t tell your mom I told you, but your grandfather and I only knew each other for two weeks before we eloped.”
“Shut up!” Melanie’s jaw dropped then she snatched the photo from her grandmother and looked at it again. “How did I not know that?”
“Your mother asked us not to talk about it. I think she worried it would give you and Marla ideas.”
Preston leaned over Melanie’s shoulder to look at the picture. “I guess when you know, you know.” He shrugged. Melanie looked at him with an expression he couldn’t read. She had to feel it too. This inexplicable connection. Could he picture marrying her after two weeks? He wasn’t sure but he was beginning to believe it was possible.
“Melanie told us how you two met — both times.” She said it in a way that it almost sounded like a question.
“Yeah, it’s quite the coincidence.”
“I think it’s destiny,” Carol said looking at them like she was watching and waiting for their reaction.
“Grandma,” Melanie warned.
“What?” she asked innocently. “You think it’s just coincidence that you met as kids then again years later in a hotel thousands of miles away from where you first met? You just happened to stay in the same hotel on the same night, and then end up on the same flight sitting next to each other? Now you’re staying just blocks away from each other?” Her grandmother huffed. “That, my dear, is destiny.”
Melanie glared at her grandmother even though Preston thought she kind of had a point.
“I don’t know if it’s fate or coincidence, I’m just glad we met. Again.” I gave Melanie a smile hoping she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with her grandmother’s comments. “But there is one thing I’ve been dying to know.”
“What’s that?” Melanie asked as she taped a box closed then grabbed another. “If it was destiny, then why did you say no to me when I asked you to be my girlfriend when we were kids.”
Melanie giggled through pressed lips. “Well, destiny had a lot of work to do back then. You were two years younger than me. It would’ve been horrifying to have a younger boyfriend back then. Of course…” Her head tilted with a sly grin. “Now I would totally be bragging about catching a younger man.”
He winked at her with a chuckle. “Well, do you think you’d like to brag to your friends and go on a date with me tomorrow night? Before you answer, you need to know we’ll be going to my parents’ house. They are dying to meet you plus they are having an outdoor movie night. They’ve invited friends and some former clients and their families so it’ll be crazy with little kids running around.”
“That sounds fun!” Her enthusiasm was contagious.
“It is. We’ll be grilling hotdogs. My parents set up a popcorn machine and provide drinks — for all ages. Of course, the best part is the movie they picked. The Princess Bride.”
“I would never say no to The Princess Bride. Ever. I can’t wait.”
Feeling lighter than he had in ages, he couldn’t stop grinning. She didn’t seem the least bit hesitant about accepting his invitation even when it meant an evening with his parents and their friends.
“Hey, Preston, will you be a dear and take this to the front room. I’ve finished going through it,” Carol said.
“As you wish.” He winked and did a little bow before picking up the heavy trunk.”
He walked out of the room to the sound of Melanie’s laughter. He was pretty sure it was the best sound in the world.
Chapter Twelve
May 6th
Melanie
Preston bent over attempting to catch his breath but the harder he tried the more he and Melanie laughed. She covered her mouth with her hand to muffle her laugh when her grandparents turned and glared at them.
Arthur had spent the last hour teaching her and Preston how to play golf and neither of them was doing well. Melanie could barely get the ball to move six feet and Preston managed to hit the ball just fine but it never landed anywhere near where it needed to go. The last time it ended up in the lake, which had them laughing to the point of tears. With each attempt her grandfather grew more and more frustrated.
The day before when her grandparents said it would be fun to play golf, she didn’t believe them but as she and Preston laughed after each hit, she began to think golf was the best sport ever invented.
“You two aren’t taking this serio
us and you’re holding up the other players,” Arthur huffed. “Just go.” He said with a resigned tone and shooed them away with his hand. She felt bad but when Preston whispered, “Thank God,” she was hit with another fit of giggles.
Preston didn’t waste a moment. He had their rental clubs back in the golf cart and was in the driver’s seat waiting for her to take a seat next to him.
“Thank you for being a good sport.”
He shrugged while still chuckling. “I wished I liked golf. My dad would be thrilled.”
Biting her lip, she hesitantly asked, “Will you still go to my grandfather’s softball game with me on Thursday? If anything, it’ll be hilarious to watch the old guys run around the bases.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He asked like it was the most ridiculous question she could have asked.
“Because you’ve spent a day-and-a-half hanging out with my grandparents.”
Still looking confused he said, “It doesn’t bother me especially since I’m with you.”
As they pulled up to the clubhouse he asked, “Lunch?”
“Yes, but not here. I want a cheeseburger, like a real one that comes with beer.”
He looked at her almost in awe. “I think I just fell in love with you and I know just the place.”
A half hour later, they sat in a bar she would’ve called a dive, but when he said they had the best greasy food in town, he wasn’t kidding. By the time they left, she was full and positive that all of her arteries were well on their way to being clogged.
Once they were buckled in, he leaned against the steering wheel and looked over at her. “What should we do now?” Her heart leaped seeing his cute smile and knowing he wasn’t going to just drop her off at her grandparents’.
They hadn’t made a conscious decision to spend their days together yet, they were planning them out together, adding events and activities as they arose. As if they were a couple.
Until Here Page 6