“What are you doing up here?” he started in. “You shouldn’t be out here. You should be home with your foot up.”
“I needed to talk to you, and you were already gone.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to see you.”
The thought had crossed her mind and now, standing in front of her grandfather’s house with her foot freezing in the snow, she realized she should have just waited until tomorrow.
“I needed to clear some time off.”
“You came up here to ask for time off?”
“The Thursday and Friday after Thanksgiving.”
He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “That’s next week.”
“I know it’s short notice.”
The look in his eyes changed from consideration to realization. “Where are you going?”
She took a breath to calm her nerves. “L.A.”
His jaw tensed, and he took a step toward her. “You’re going to him? You’re going to be with him?”
“Yes.”
“You’re leaving your son home so you can go have a weekend of sex with a man who will never love you like I do?”
She couldn’t help it. Her hand came through the air and across his face. And the moment she’d smacked him, she covered her mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
He rubbed his cheek. “I deserved it.”
“William, what happened to us?”
“Jesse Charles.”
She shook her head. “He didn’t ruin this.”
William dropped his hand and took another step closer to her. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He touched her cheek with his frozen fingertips. “Go. See what it’s all about.”
“Really?”
He nodded and stepped in until their bodies nearly touched. “I’ll be here when you come back.”
He leaned in and brushed his lips to hers.
The shock should have had her pushing him away, but she was so confused she didn’t know what to do.
He rested his forehead to hers. “Go have your weekend and then come home to me.”
“This isn’t just a weekend.”
He pulled back. “Come back and marry me.”
This time she did shove him back. “You’re telling me you think so little of this that I’ll go have sex with a man and then come home and marry you?”
“He’s not the right man for you.”
“And you are?”
“I’ve been the one here. I’m the one who has taken care of you and Jonah. I have your best interest at heart.”
“So does Jesse.”
“He’s young.”
“He’s mature.”
“He’s going to hurt you. When he does, I’ll still be here.” He turned and walked back to the house.
Melissa fell back into the seat of the truck and quickly drove away.
The man was delusional. Did he really expect that if she was going to go spend the weekend with a man that she’d hurry home and marry him?
Was this what everyone would think?
Was she now just some whore?
Tears began to well in her eyes.
Well, to hell with everyone then. She was going to Jesse. And if he broke her heart then she’d live with that, but not because William Scott said he would.
And she’d be damned if she’d consider marrying William now.
Chapter Eleven
Thanksgiving came and went. Melissa and Jonah had sat and watched the parade, which was tradition, and her mother had put out a lovely spread. The only thing missing this year was William and his mother.
She hadn’t had it in her heart to invite him, and he hadn’t asked.
He’d stayed away from church and again, unless he had to talk to her, he didn’t even come near her at school.
Monday morning she limped around her classroom. All she wore now was an ankle brace, but she was hoping that by Thursday, when she flew to L.A., she wouldn’t need it.
Melissa was situating the room for the lesson she’d present six times that day when there was a knock on the door.
She turned to see Emmy standing there in all of her bohemian glory.
“How’s your ankle?” she asked.
“Much better.”
“I hear you’re leaving to fly out to L.A. this weekend.”
Melissa plastered a smile on her lips and nodded. “Yes.”
“I think you’ll have a great time.” She moved into the room. “I was thinking, if you’re up for it, I’d love to give you a makeover. I’m working over at Heidi’s Salon after school.”
Melissa laughed. “I didn’t know you did that, too.”
Emmy sat down on the top of a desk and adjusted the many bangle bracelets on her arm. “Artist in many forms. Anyway, I figured, not that you don’t look beautiful, but maybe I could give you a California look. You know—not a Colorado winter look.”
She hadn’t thought about it. She was sure she was in for culture shock.
Emmy stood. “Besides, I suppose you’ll be photographed a lot. We might as well show them just how beautiful you are. Again, not that you’re not.”
That had brought up a point Melissa hadn’t thought about. She’d be with one of the biggest names in the music industry. Did she think this would be an intimate time with Jesse? Yes, she had.
Emmy stood and quickly walked to her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I just hadn’t considered the part where I’d be seen.”
Emmy laughed and her eyes softened. “You see him differently than the rest of the world sees him. You’re in love with him.”
She was desperately in need of sitting down.
“This is all so crazy. Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“Like hell!” Emmy quickly covered her mouth. “I’m sorry. I mean, yes you should.”
“I don’t feel so well.”
Emmy patted her on the back. “You’ll be fine.” She stood back up. “Now, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Sure.”
She moved in closer. “If you’re serious about Jesse, will you help me get William to notice me?”
That brought a genuine smile to Melissa’s face. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Until he knows you’re okay, he’ll never look my way. But…I really like him.”
Melissa thought perhaps it was that his ears were burning because he walked through the door at that moment.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at Melissa.
“Sure.”
Emmy lifted then dropped her shoulders. “I’ll let you be. Can you come by today about five?”
Melissa nodded.
“I’ll see you then.” She walked by William. “Have a good day, Mr. Scott.”
But it was as if he never heard her. He walked right up to Melissa and threw down a newspaper.
“You’re not going!”
“How dare you…”
He shoved the paper toward her. JESSE CHARLES AND SUPERMODEL GIRLFRIEND TO MARRY
No words came to her. Nothing.
“He’s playing you, and you’re falling into it. I’m not going to let you go through with this.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“Are you really going to ignore this? You think you can just fly out there, sleep with him, and he’ll forget all about this.”
Melissa picked up the paper and tossed it at him. “I think…” she paused to suck back the tears that threatened, “I think I’ll talk to him first.”
Melissa had texted him six times throughout the day. Her message wasn’t returned until nearly four o’clock. Call Bryce.
She sat in his truck outside of her house, looking down at the phone. Could the message be more cold?
William must have been right. Why would he…
Her phone rang, and the caller ID showed Bryce’s name.
“Hello.” Her voice quivered.
“Oh, hell, you’re crying.”
“I’m not crying.”
&n
bsp; “Uh-huh. Girl, I know tears.”
She laughed through the tears he’d heard. She assumed he was gay when she’d met him, but as soon as he said that, she was most assured of it.
“Listen, he’s with the lawyers right now so he can’t talk to you.”
“Lawyers?”
“You saw the news?”
Melissa batted the tears from her eyelashes. “I saw it.”
“Well, it’s not true. He met that model one time, backstage. He’s not seeing her. He’s never been with her. He certainly isn’t marrying her.”
“How do I know…”
“You trust your heart. He’ll call you when he’s out of the office and done with rehearsal. But he wanted me to assure you that none of it’s true. Understand?”
“I understand.”
“Okay, sweetheart. By the way, you and I have a few hours on Friday to do some shopping while he goes to the arena for last minute rehearsals. Ever been to Rodeo Dr.?”
“Never,” she said on a laugh. “I’ve only seen it from the Pretty Woman movie.”
“It all rings true. They aren’t nice to people, but I have a slush fund to spend on you. You’re going to look fabulous.”
As soon as they hung up, she was able to breathe easier.
It wasn’t true. He wasn’t marrying some supermodel. Jesse Charles was still in love with her.
She hurried into the house to change her clothes. Emmy was expecting her and was going to make her look fabulous. L.A. wasn’t going to know what hit them when she showed up on his arm. Better yet, she was going to wow the clothes off of Jesse.
Melissa walked, very slowly, into the school the next morning a new woman. Emmy had done miracles to her hair. There were subtle highlights and layers. It had been years since she’d taken a blow dryer to her hair and created style, but it was an amazing difference. Emmy had arched her eyebrows and even polished her nails into a beautiful French manicure. All she’d charged her was the promise to talk to William—and a cup of coffee at Molly’s.
It had been nearly ten o’clock by the time she’d gotten home. Her mother and son had approved of her new look. Now all she had to do was convince William to leave her alone and entertain the idea of getting involved with Emmy.
As she walked down the hall to her classroom, William came around the corner.
He’d taken a double take before he stopped. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Oh really?”
He pursed his lips, looked at the ground, and then back up to her. “You look beautiful.”
“Emmy works wonders.”
“Emmy did this?”
She reached up and touched the side of his head. “Looks like you should go visit her, too. Getting a little shaggy.” She started past him. “She works at Heidi’s.”
She opened the door to her classroom, and he followed her in.”
“I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have…”
“William, you’re looking out for me. I understand that.”
“Then one more time I’ll ask you not to go.”
She looked up at him and shook her head. “You came in here to tell me that again after you apologized?”
“No.” He looked down at his hands. “Actually, I thought I’d offer you a ride to Grand Junction on Thursday morning.”
“You want to drive me to the airport where I’ll be getting on a plane to go see a man?”
He pursed his lips. “Yes.”
“That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.”
Wednesday night, Melissa stood in front of her closet and stared at her clothes. This was the wardrobe of a biology teacher, not the full closet of the girlfriend of one of the sexiest men in the world. If Emmy was right about people taking pictures of her, and no doubt publicizing them, she was toast.
She sat down on her bed and shook her head. She wasn’t sure who was going to be more embarrassed, Jesse or her.
At that moment, her phone rang and it was Jesse. She lay back on the bed and answered it.
“Hello.”
“Hey, sweetheart. Rumor had it you were getting ready to leave town.” His voice was soft, and the background was quiet. That was new.
“Actually, I was having second thoughts. I don’t own any California clothes.”
He chuckled. “I don’t care. You can come in that frog vest, if you want. I just can’t wait to hold you in my arms. I miss you.”
How was it that this amazingly sexy musician was so smitten with her? “I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. I’m a gentleman. I’ll never make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
Melissa lifted her hand and looked over her nails, but it was her wedding ring that caught her attention. “No, it’s not that. Emmy has it in my head that there will be press and…”
“There will be. Is that a problem?”
She sat up on the bed. “I didn’t think it was going to be. But, Jesse, I’m not someone worthy of that kind of attention on your arm.”
“You’re the woman I want to be with.”
“Why?”
“I really don’t want to go through that again. I just want you here in my arms. I want to hold you and kiss you. I want to tell you a million times that I love you, even if you don’t reciprocate the feelings. And trust me, if you don’t come out here, I’ll show up at school and sweep you off your feet. No matter what, I want to be with you.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I have a little insecurity over this.”
“My mother wants to meet you when you’re here.”
That sent her heart into her throat. “Oh, I hadn’t thought about having to meet your family.”
“She can’t be anymore opinionated than William was.”
Melissa closed her eyes tight. “I hope he wasn’t rude to you.”
“He cares for you. It actually gives me some peace of mind to know he cares as much as he does.”
That was very sincere. This man was a catch.
“I’ll let you get back to packing,” he said.
“How did you know that was what I was doing?”
“Jonah.”
Melissa stood. “I told him not to bother you.”
“Don’t be upset. He is a complete gentleman when he calls. He always makes sure I’m not busy. Besides, I really enjoy talking to him. Trust me, I know that I’m not just building a relationship with you. I have to earn his heart, too.”
Earn his heart. This man was good with the words.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. And, Melissa, I love you.”
The line was silent before she could even say goodbye. She looked back into her closest and pulled out the frog vest. No, she’d never wear it in public, but she sure as heck was going to pack it just to be funny.
Chapter Twelve
Melissa woke early, got ready, and packed up her last minute essentials. As she stood in front of the mirror, giving herself one more look, she realized that no matter what happened this weekend she’d come home a changed woman.
She heard the doorbell and her mother’s voice as she answered. Melissa sucked in a breath and let it out slowly as she adjusted the collar on her shirt.
Again only one thing stood out. Her wedding ring still adorned her finger.
She looked down at it and gave the thin band of gold a twist. Then she grasped it between her fingers and pulled it off.
Melissa swallowed hard. It hadn’t been off her finger since the day Martin had put it there.
As she held it in her hand, she bit down on her lip to keep it from quivering. It was the right thing to do. Martin had been gone for three years. Time was moving on without her, and for Jonah’s sake as well as her own, she needed to start moving with it.
She set it down on the dresser in front of the picture she kept of the two of them.
“I’ll never stop loving you. But it’s time for me to move on.”
Melissa took another breath, and it felt as though her lungs were clear. She pushed back her shoulders, and
they didn’t seem so heavy.
It was as if he were telling her to go.
The drive to Grand Junction was quiet. William had bought Melissa a coffee at Molly’s on the way out of town, and she’d focused on it and not on the butterflies jumping around in her stomach.
In a few hours she’d be transported to a whole new world, and suddenly she wasn’t sure she was ready for that.
But she was ready to spend the weekend with Jesse—in every capacity. She’d told Martin it was time for her to move on. Now she just had to convince herself.
William pulled up in front of the small airport and parked his truck at the curb.
“I have a meeting or I’d walk you in,” he offered as he climbed out of the truck.
“I’ll be fine.” Melissa slowly slid from the seat and gently landed pressure on her ankle. It was feeling much better, but it still ached.
William pulled her luggage from the back and set it on the curb. “Guess I should have asked before. Do you have everything? Your ticket? Some money? A…”
“I have everything. Thank you.”
William nodded and rubbed the back of his head with his hand.
“You call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”
“I will.” Melissa moved in and wrapped her arms around him. After all, he was her dearest friend. “Thank you.”
As she pulled back, William’s hands came to her face. He pulled her face to his and pressed his lips to hers.
The shock inhibited her movement.
When he pulled back, he let out a long breath. “Go. Have fun. Let go of all the pain of the past few years.” He walked back around the truck, and she turned to watch him. “Come home and marry me.”
He didn’t wait for a reaction. He climbed back into the truck and drove away.
Melissa stood there. Her lips still tingled from the kiss. Her heart pounded out of adrenaline and anger.
She picked up her suitcase and walked into the airport. It was time to move on. That much was for sure. And to hell with William Scott.
Melissa purchased a snack on the airplane, but she found it hard to even think of food. The closer she got to California, the more nervous she became.
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