Unexpected Admirer

by Bernadette Marie

  William went to his car and popped open the trunk. He pulled out a pair of jumper cables. “Pop the hood on her car.”

  Jesse nodded and walked around Melissa’s car as William opened his car door and pulled the lever for his hood.

  He handed Jesse the ends of the cables. “Here, hook these up.”

  Jesse took the ends and stood there. He saw William’s cheeks turn redder under the layer of cold.

  “You expect to take care of her and Jonah, and you can’t jump a car?”

  “I’ve just never had to deal with this.”

  William huffed over toward him and took the cables. He attached them and then walked to his car and did the same.

  “I’m going to start my car. When I say, you get in and start hers.”

  Jesse nodded. Maybe he wasn’t cut out for this taking-care-of-people thing. After all, he had a staff that took care of just him.

  When William gave him a signal, he turned the key, but nothing happened. He nodded for him to do it again, but again—nothing.

  William got out of his car and walked around to where Jesse sat behind the wheel. Jesse moved out, and William tried his hand at starting the car.

  Jesse felt slightly better knowing it didn’t start for him either.

  “Damn. I told her she needed a new car. This one is plum wore out and she refuses.” He climbed out of the car and hurried to his to turn it off. “I’ll have to have it towed.”

  “I have my truck at her place. I bought it to keep in town. She should use it until she can get this fixed.”

  “You bought a truck to keep here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? Do you really think you can move in on her like this? What kind of game are you playing?”

  Why did he feel as if he were on trial? He was a grown man, but he felt belittled by this man standing before him in a dress coat.

  Jesse could buy the town if he wanted. How was it one man could make him feel so small?

  Then it hit him. Because this man loved the same woman he did, only he could give her the life she was used to. Jesse was just messing it up.

  “I don’t want to cause her any pain. I care for her.”

  “You’ve been around her three times.”

  “Relationships have to start somewhere.”

  William walked at him. Jesse planted his feet in the snow just in case he came to take a swing.

  “She’s not some Hollywood floosy.”

  “I know. I respect who she is. That’s what I love about her.”

  He inched closer. “Love?”

  Jesse swallowed hard. “Listen. If she tells me to go, I go. But for now, I want to be part of her life.”

  William sucked in a breath, and it came back out as a cloud on the cold air. “Let’s get you to your flight,” he grunted and walked back into the house.

  By the time they’d made it into the house, Melissa had fallen asleep on the couch. It was no wonder. He was used to long days that never ended—she wasn’t that person. She probably had a set bedtime every night, just like her son.

  William walked to her side as Jesse shut the door. He knelt down next to her. “Honey, the car is dead.”

  She stirred and opened her eyes. She focused in on him. “Dead? As in the battery?”

  “I don’t think it’s the battery this time.”

  “Damn.”

  “I told you that you needed to replace it. It’s old and not made for these conditions.”

  She nodded and wiped her eyes. “Where’s Jesse?”

  “I’m here,” he quickly spoke up.

  “I hope you’re not going to be late.”

  William shook his head. “We’ll get him to the airport. You’re keeping his truck until we buy you a new one.”

  His voice was stern and definite.

  “Let me get you off this couch,” he said.

  Melissa looked at him and then up at Jesse. “Can you carry me out?”

  Jesse’s heart went out to her. What an awkward position she was in, having them both there fussing over her. “Yeah.”

  He moved in toward the couch, and William backed away.

  “Put your arm over my neck.”

  He lifted her from the couch and, with ease, carried her out to William’s car.

  William hurried around and opened the back door so Jesse could set her down and she could rest her foot up on the seat.

  As he set her down, she looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “Get comfy.”

  The urge to kiss her at that moment was nearly irresistible, but with William literally breathing down his neck, he thought better of it and stepped back.

  William stepped up. “I’m going to lock up the house. Do you still have a blanket in your car?”

  She nodded.

  He looked up at Jesse. “Find the blanket. It’s yellow. We’ll prop it up so she can sit with her foot up.”

  William headed back to the house, and Jesse went to find the yellow blanket. He was sure “blanket” would have sufficed in the description, but William letting him know that he knew she had a blanket and exactly what color it was had been his way of keeping control over the situation. There was an underlying tone of I’m her man and you’re in the way.

  Jesse found the blanket and walked back to William’s car.

  Melissa had fallen asleep again. He felt terrible having kept her up all night. She was well past the twenty-four hour mark by now.

  As he gazed down at her, William hurried down the front steps. “Don’t just stand there if you’re in a hurry.”

  He took the blanket from Jesse and stirred Melissa awake. He tucked the blanket between her and the door so she could recline. Then he got into the car, and Jesse followed suit.

  Moments later, Melissa was asleep again, and Jesse watched her as William began their decent down the mountain and out of Aspen Creek toward Grand Junction.

  “Does she have the keys to your truck?” William asked, his eyes focused on the road.

  “No.” Jesse dug into his pocket and pulled out the keys. He held them in his hand. “She can keep it as long as she needs to. I know things are tough right now for her…”

  “Damn straight they are.”

  Jesse only nodded. This man didn’t like him, and he made that clear.

  “Thank you for taking me to the airport.”

  “If it’s what she needs me to do, then I do it.”

  The point was taken. None of this was a favor to Jesse.

  The drive was cold and quiet. He hadn’t realized just how much a snowstorm would hinder the drive, but it had. It was evening by the time William got him to the airport.

  Jesse zipped up his borrowed coat and looked back at Melissa.

  “I won’t wake her, but let her know I’ll call her later.”

  William only nodded.

  Jesse handed him the keys to his truck. “Thank you for everything. I’m sorry if we ruined any of your plans for today.”

  Jesse opened the door and stepped out.

  “Hey,” William called, and Jesse ducked his head back into the car. “I’m sorry I’ve been suck a jerk.” He looked back at Melissa. “She’s very important to me, and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

  Jesse nodded. “She’s important to me too, and I feel the same way.” He shut the door to the car and headed back to his life—his miserable pop-star life.

  Chapter Ten

  Melissa heard William’s voice in her ear, and she stirred.

  Her neck was stiff from having slept so long in the back seat of the car.

  “Where are we?”

  “Hospital,” William said as he reached a hand in to help her out.

  She looked around and realized it was only the two of them. “Jesse?”

  “I dropped him off at the airport.”

  She sat straight up and coursing pain shot through her ankle. “Why didn’t he say goodbye?”

  “I didn’t see any reason to wake y
ou.”

  “You?” She pulled herself up further, gritting her teeth against the pain. “How was that your decision to make?”

  “I just wanted to get you here with the least amount of pain.”

  “I’m fine,” she said as she winced.

  His lips pursed. “Maybe you should fix the buttons on your shirt before we get inside.”

  She looked down and noticed she’d buttoned her shirt wrong after she and Jesse had hurried to dress quickly.

  She huffed out a breath and adjusted the buttons.

  William shook his head. “Melissa, what were you doing up there?”

  “It is none of your business. I’m an adult. I will be with whomever I want.”

  “But…”

  “Don’t you lecture me. I’m not one of your students, and I am not your wife.”

  William only shook his head. “Let’s get inside and get this looked at.”

  William helped her to the edge of the seat and then went and retrieved a wheelchair. He hoisted her out of the car and into the chair and pushed her into the emergency room.

  Two hours later, as the long day inched into night, Melissa was released with a pair of crutches and a severely sprained ankle.

  William filled her prescription and then helped her back into the car. She’d done her best to not even speak to him. She was furious.

  They pulled into her driveway, and William hurried around the car.

  Patsy opened the front door. “Is she okay?”

  “Sprained ankle,” he answered as he opened the car door. “Let me help you.”

  Melissa batted away his hand. “I’m fine. I can get this on my own.”

  She scooted to the edge of the seat and took the crutches he’d pulled out of the car for her.

  “I’ll walk in with you,” he said softly.

  “William, go home. I think you’ve aggravated me enough today.”

  She hobbled to the front step on her crutches where her mother waited for her. She hated the feeling of being dependent on sticks under her arms to make her mobile.

  “Melissa, what happened?” her mother asked.

  “I fell through that board on the porch.”

  “I thought William was going to fix that. Well, she’s showing it tomorrow. We’ll need to fix it.”

  “Patsy, I’ll head up tomorrow after school and take care of it,” William called from the driveway.

  Her mother nodded as Melissa made it into the house.

  “Melissa,” he called to her as he headed up to the door. “Jesse wanted you to have these.” He handed her the keys to the truck. “He wants you to drive it until we get you something else.”

  She took the keys and put them in her pocket.

  “I’ll pick you up in the morning, if you’d like.”

  “Go home, William. I’ll be fine,” she said as she passed by her mother and went into the house to sit down.

  Melissa hobbled to the kitchen and pulled down a glass to fill with water to take her prescription. Her ankle throbbed, and her anger was making her sick to her stomach.

  “What was all of that about?” her mother asked as she walked into the kitchen.

  “What?”

  “You were rude to William.”

  Melissa filled the glass and proceeded to fight with the lid on the medicine bottle. “William Scott has a unique way of meddling in other people’s business where he doesn’t belong.”

  She continued to struggle with the lid until her mother took the bottle from her and opened it.

  “Thank you.”

  “Where is Jesse?”

  “I have no idea. My car broke down. William had to come and get us, and he took Jesse to the airport and didn’t even wake me from the back seat to say goodbye.”

  Melissa swallowed back the pills, and her mother closed the bottle.

  “William’s feelings are hurt. He’s had eyes for you since high school. Of course this is going to upset him.”

  “Well, I’m over it. A nice, young man wants to be with me, and I have this nut job pushing him away.”

  Her mother leaned against the counter. “How do you feel about Jesse?”

  Melissa huffed out a breath. “I really like him.”

  “That’s all that matters. He’s good people. I can see that.”

  “So why can’t William just let me be happy?”

  Her mother set the prescription bottle behind the sink. “If you choose Jesse, William will be happy for you. But, for now, he’s not used to sharing you.”

  “Sharing me? I’m not his to share.”

  Her mother touched her arm. “Just be considerate of his feelings.”

  Melissa didn’t need to hear that. William was not part of this relationship she was having, so he needed to butt out.

  She adjusted and started out of the kitchen. “Jesse wants me to go to L.A. for his final concert after Thanksgiving. Would you mind keeping Jonah?”

  Her mother smiled. “You’re going to go stay with a man?”

  “Don’t make me feel like some teenager who doesn’t…”

  “I didn’t say it was bad. I think it’s time for you to move on.” She smiled.

  “I like him, Mom.”

  “I know. Go to bed. You’ve had a very long day.”

  Melissa nodded and made her way, slowly, down the hall. She sat down on her bed and lifted her foot up.

  Jonah appeared at her door.

  “Hey, kiddo. You should be in bed.”

  He rubbed his arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, just sprained my ankle.” She adjusted the pillows, putting one under her foot.

  “I heard you tell grandma that you were going to go to see Jesse.”

  She let out a deep breath. “Yes. He asked me to visit him.”

  Jonah nodded. “I like him mom. He treats you good.”

  That was certainly a lot for a young boy to think about. She patted the bed next to her, and Jonah crawled up next to her.

  “I don’t know that it will work out—long term, that is.”

  “Why?”

  “We don’t come from the same kind of life.”

  “People learn to adjust. We learned to live without Daddy.”

  Melissa pulled him close to her. “You’re right. We did.” She kissed the top of his head. “I like him.”

  “He likes you, too. He told me that he’ll call you tomorrow, and Bryce will make plans for you to visit.”

  Melissa pulled back and looked at him. “You talked to him?”

  “He called to check on you. He says I can call him anytime, too.”

  “Don’t you go bothering him.”

  “Mom,” he whined. “I won’t.” Jonah jumped down from the bed and walked to the door. “Mom, I think it’s cool that he likes you. Not just because he’s Jesse. Well—but, because he’s Jesse.”

  She laughed. “I understand.”

  He gave her a wave and headed off, just as Melissa’s phone rang.

  “Hello, Jesse,” she said softly.

  “How are you? Did you break it? I would have said goodbye, but…”

  “I know.” She settled against her pillow. “William was in rare form today. I’m sorry.”

  “He’s watching out for you.”

  She let out a sigh. “I’m a grownup. I can do that for myself.”

  “What about your ankle?”

  “Sprained. I’m on crutches for a little bit, but I’m okay.”

  “That’s good.” He went silent for a moment, and Melissa even checked the signal on her phone to make sure the call was still connected. Then she heard him breathe. “I still want you to come see me. But I’d understand if…”

  “Jesse, I’ll be there.”

  “Really?”

  “I miss you already.” It felt good to admit that aloud, only now it left a hollow feeling in her chest. The thought of them on the couch, his hands on her skin, his mouth against hers…she had to remember to breathe.

  “I’m glad to hear that
. Hey, Bryce is going to call you tomorrow to set up your trip.”

  “Okay, I’ll make sure to answer.”

  He laughed. “I can’t wait to hold you.”

  Her heart rate kicked up. “I can’t wait either.”

  “I know I promised I wouldn’t say it again, but, Melissa, I love you.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say in response. She knew that the feelings she had for him were shifting in that direction, but to say the words…

  “I’ll let you get some rest,” he said quickly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Good night.”

  Melissa was surprised when Bryce called before she’d left for school. He was a thorough assistant.

  She’d leave the week after Thanksgiving to attend the final show of Jesse’s tour. Just thinking about it made her hands shake. It was very clear that she’d be staying with Jesse at his house. Everything would change then. Everything.

  Before she left her bedroom, she took one last look in the mirror. Was she ready to completely be with another man?

  Was this the right step?

  Could she give her heart, her body, and her son to a man so much younger than her?

  She put her hand to her chest. She wanted to.

  Now all she had to do was go to school and tell William she needed a couple days off so she could go to L.A. and sleep with Jesse.

  As she stood there, looking in the mirror, her cheeks flushed. Of course, she’d never use those words, but that would be what he heard.

  She waited until the end of school to approach William, mostly because he’d avoided her all day long.

  When she hobbled into his office, he wasn’t there.

  “He said he was going to head up to your grandfather’s and fix the porch. Your mom called and said they had an offer on the property,” his secretary said as Melissa stood there balanced on her crutches.

  That was some of the saddest news she’d ever heard, and it had to come from the secretary.

  She puffed up her cheeks and let out the ragged breath that had built in her lungs.

  It looked like she was taking a drive up the mountain.

  William was crouched on the front porch when she pulled up to the house. He looked over his shoulder and hurried toward the truck as she wiggled her way out of the seat.