Three more people approached, and Melody briefly considered how similar they all looked. Devin had his mother’s complexion and large brown eyes and his father’s strong build. He smiled at her, and she noticed that they shared that deep dimple.
“Melody, this is everybody. My mom Elise, my dad Malcolm, and my brother, Pryce.”
“Nice to meet you, honey.” Elise stepped forward and enveloped Melody in a hug.
“She’s a hugger,” Pryce said over her shoulder.
“Well, she’s dating my son, Pryce. She gets a hug. If you were dating someone she’d get a hug too!” She smiled at Melody. “My oldest, he’s a chronic bachelor.”
“Hail, Mary.” Pryce muttered.
“Isn’t she gorgeous, Malcom?” Elise stepped back to assess Melody, holding her at arm’s length.
Malcolm offered a smile. “Don’t overwhelm her, baby.” He stepped forward to shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too, Mr. Powell.”
“My mom and I were planning on visiting your store, as soon as Devin gave us the go-ahead,” Toni said. “He wanted to give you some time first. We’re a bit much.”
Melody smiled again, liking Toni already. “You’re welcome to come by anytime. And I have some accessories here now if you want to see them.”
Melody waited as Elise and Toni browsed the table. She noticed Pryce eyeing Carynne as he chatted with his father and intermittently checked his phone. She also noticed Carynne pretending not to notice him. Very interesting, she mused.
“I see they got to you before I did,” a warm, deep voice came from behind her, and Melody turned to see Devin. He gently grabbed her chin and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before she could react. She bit down a smile at how giddy she suddenly felt. “Hi.” he said.
“Hi. Great speech,” she said, her head still angling up towards his.
“Thanks.”
“Def!” Kyle called, practically leaping from his mother’s arms to his uncle’s.
“Hey, buddy.” Devin caught him and immediately placed him on his shoulders. Melody almost considered how great Devin looked with a baby. Almost.
When Pryce glanced over at Carynne for the hundredth time, Melody decided to facilitate. “I don’t have anything to offer you men-folk, but Carynne has food at her tent.” She turned to Carynne. “Got any scones left?”
“A few.” Carynne reached for a napkin to retrieve some from a box. “Hi Mr. Powell. Hi Devin.” She smiled at both of them.
“Hello, Carynne,” Pryce said, one eyebrow raised.
“Pryce.” She handed each one of the men scones before dusting her hands off on her apron. “I’m all out of coffee right now, but I think there’s lemonade a few tents down.”
“Sounds good.” Malcolm said, clapping his oldest son on the back. “Come on, Pryce. Elise, let’s go see the rest of the tents.
Elise, armed with a newly purchased scarf, linked arms with her husband. “Devin, bring her by the house some time.”
Devin, keeping Kyle on his shoulders, spoke briefly to Toni before they moved off. “Sorry about them. I was hoping to make it over here before they ambushed you.”
“They’re great.” Melody smiled.
“Thanks. Hey, I told Kyle I’d take him to play some games. Can I see you later?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. I’ll call you.” He kissed her again, longer this time, before walking away.
Carynne gave a wolf-whistle, and Leana and Dominique giggled.
“Oh, shut up.” Melody laughed before moving back behind her table. She re-spaced the scarves to accommodate the missing one, and casually spoke to her friend. “Carynne, what was that about?”
“What?” Carynne didn’t bother to look up.
“Pryce. Do you two know each other?”
“Of course we know each other. He’s a cop. Cops love coffee.” She grabbed a ham and cheese roll from a nearby box and bit into it.
“And?” Melody raised an eyebrow.
“And, nothing.”
Melody raised an eyebrow but dropped the subject. A minute later, her phone buzzed, signaling receipt of a text.
They hate each other. But like, I think they like each other. You know?
It was from Dominique. Melody placed her phone back into her pocket with a wry smile. With Carynne, it was never nothing.
Later that evening, Mariah stomped into her chic, spotless apartment and kicked off her Alejandro pumps. She was livid. This day had not gone as she’d hoped. She’d had plans for Devin today – big plans – but again, that little bitch her stupid store had gotten in the way. He’d looked so good up there on stage, and she’d had every intention to go tell him just that. Maybe stroll with him through the park, take him somewhere nearby for a quickie. But as soon as the opening ended, he’d made a beeline for the tents. She’d followed him of course, and there he was, introducing that bitch to what she could only assume was his whole fucking family. She shoved a hand through her perfectly coiffed hair and stomped into the bathroom to peel off her lashes. Devin deserved someone more polished than Basketball Sally, and she could see now that he needed a little polish himself. He deserved a perfect presentation of a woman. A classy, sexy, poised woman. And she would make him see that.
She walked back into the living room and snatched her laptop off of the coffee table, opened it, and decided to do some research. If Devin couldn’t see what was right in front of him, then she’d just have to narrow his focus.
Chapter 13
In her mother’s kitchen the following week, Melody leaned casually against the counter, sipping pinot noir and waiting for her mother to remove the shrimp paella from the stove.
“Don’t hover, Mel,” Bethany said, slapping at Melody’s hand when she reached into the skillet for a piece of shrimp.
Melody managed to grab one and pop it into her mouth, immediately sorry as it burnt her tongue. “Sorry, ma. It’s done though. It’s perfect.”
Bethany patted her daughter on the cheek before grabbing two plates from the cabinet over her head. “Pour me a glass of wine and sit.”
Since Melody had returned to town, she’d made a weekly habit of going to her mother’s for dinner. They’d always been close, and Melody’s being in Houston had made her distinctly aware of how much she missed and appreciated her mother. Being close enough to Bethany to see her every day, if she so chose, had to be the best thing about being home.
“So,” Bethany said when they sat down to dinner, “how are things?”
“Good.” Melody said as she speared a shrimp with her fork. She took a bite before continuing. “Shop’s good. I’d expected things to slow down a bit after the grand opening rush was over, but we’re still seeing really good traffic every day.”
“That’s good. I’ll have to come in to see the action again. I’ve driven by every day since it opened. Seeing it there is different than seeing the store in Houston.” She smiled at her daughter. “I’m proud of you, baby.”
“Thanks, ma.” When her mother held up her glass for a toast, Melody clinked it before taking a sip.
“What else has been going on? Did you girls have fun at the festival?” Bethany had been manning a booth of her own that day for the church.
“We did. Really great publicity. I sold some accessories and Carynne baked some of her morning treats. And I think the overall event was a success.”
“Mm-hmm.” Bethany eyed her daughter, a sculpted eyebrow raised, and waited quietly for Melody to speak again.
“What is it, ma?”
“Oh, nothing. Just wondering if you’re going to tell me about the young man that Carol saw you kissing at your tent that day.”
Melody swallowed, her eyes widening. “What young man?’
“Don’t you even try it, Melody Joy Taylor. You’ve called me eve
ry day since the festival and you have yet to mention this man. Carol from bridge club saw it with her own eyes, and she told Gwen, who told me. Now, who is he and why haven’t I heard about him?”
Melody shrugged, feeling her face warm. “He’s just a guy I started dating. It’s recent.”
“Recent?” Bethany smirked at her daughter.
“Yes, mama. Recent.” Melody laughed and sighed in the same breath. “It’s not that I wasn’t going to tell you. It’s just that I wasn’t sure whether there was necessarily anything to tell yet.”
“Well you haven’t dated anybody in a while, Melody. Since that boy from college, right? I’d say that’s something, regardless.”
She placed her fork down and looked at her mother. “You’re right. I’m sorry. So, yes, I’m dating someone. Although ‘dating’ seems a little overstated. We went on one actual date. Well, one intentional one.”
“What do you mean? Wait a minute,” Bethany leaned forward. “Is he the man you thought was your blind date that time at Walker’s?”
Melody smirked at the memory. “Yes, that’s him.”
Bethany squealed. “Well isn’t that something.” She gave a smug smile. “What’s his name?”
“Devin Powell, he’s a basketball coach at the high school.”
“That’s a nice name.”
Melody laughed. “Yes mama, it is a nice name.”
“And is he nice?”
Melody playfully rolled her eyes. “Yes, mom. He’s very nice.”
“That’s good. Well, if you two keep dating I expect to meet him.”
“You will.”
“Okay. And Melody?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m proud of you for giving it a chance.”
Melody thought briefly of her father before putting her hand over her mother’s on the table. “Thanks, Mom.”
For their second official date, Melody decided to invite Devin over to watch a Celtics game. When she’d told Carynne about her plan to make homemade burgers and fries, pick up extra beer and pluck her eyebrows, Carynne had clicked her tongue and crossed her arms, grinning at Melody.
“Don’t forget to buy some condoms. And don’t leave the whole box in the bathroom drawer like you did in college. Put ‘em in the bedroom.”
Melody balked. “We are not having sex.”
“Okay, but still. Condoms in bedroom.”
“Whatever.”
Even so, Melody had dropped some into the drawer of her nightstand when she got home from the store. They’ll be useful eventually, she told herself, though definitely not tonight.
Devin arrived at Melody’s about 20 minutes before tipoff. He smelled like aftershave when he hugged her, stirring her senses.
“Hey.” He smiled; that deep, perfect dimple in his face causing Melody’s hormones to surge and her heart to race.
“Hi.” She felt her body ache as he moved back from their kiss. She backed up to let him in, more to keep from pouncing on him than to give him space to walk. “Come in.”
Melody led Devin into the living room, raising the volume on the pregame commentary and moving to sit on her sofa. She’d lit a single candle on the coffee table (for fragrance, not for mood) and had cooked all the food ahead of time. She’d put drinks in the freezer to chill, picked her clothes up off of the bedroom floor (just in case) and scoured the counter in the bathroom. As Devin stepped in to survey her home for the first time, she felt an immense amount of pride. Not so much for the cleaning, but for the home itself. It was cute and comfortable; a statement of who she was.
“Really nice place.” He smiled down at her, his eyes warm and gentle.
“Thanks.” She cleared her throat and stood. “The food’s ready. We should get some before the game starts. Come on, the kitchen’s this way.”
She took the burger patties and fries from the oven – she’d placed them there earlier to keep them warm – and got plates from the cupboard for the both of them. They each made their own burgers and added fries to their plates, and Melody grabbed two cold Coronas from the fridge before they headed into the living room.
A few hours later, the Celtics had defeated the Hawks by an incredible margin, and Melody and Devin were playing a lightning round of 20 questions, NBA version.
“Favorite player of all time?” Devin asked finishing the last of his third beer.
“Easy,” Melody said, sitting cross-legged on the couch facing him. “Bill Russell. He was a beast, defensively. Five regular season MVPs and eleven titles. Eleven!”
“You weren’t even alive when he played!” Devin laughed.
“Doesn’t matter. An icon’s an icon.” She narrowed her eyes playfully as he chuckled. “What about you, coach?”
“Jordan.”
“Pfft.” She rolled her eyes. “So predictable.”
“Hey, the best is the best.”
“Uh huh. Favorite team?”
“Bulls.”
“You know, I’m really beginning to hate you,” Melody teased.
“When you fall in love with a team at the tender age of six, it doesn’t go away. Chicago, baby.”
“True. I’m forever a Spur.”
“Your team?”
“Of course. Oh! Guess who I saw a few weeks ago? Danny Green!” Melody said without waiting for him to guess.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah! Carynne and I went out for a don’t-think-about-Devin night and we saw him at a club. I got a photo and everything. Nice guy.”
“Wait,” he held up a hand. “Back up. A don’t-think-about-Devin night?”
Whoops. “Did I say that?”
“You did.”
“Oh. Well, it wasn’t really a theme or anything. It was the night after we watched the Spurs game at Walker’s. I was sure we wouldn’t end up dating, and I was upset, so I wanted to get you off my mind.”
“Did it work?”
“Did what work?”
“Getting me off your mind.”
“Melody looked down, smiling slowly, then looked back into his eyes. “Not really.”
He smiled. “Good.”
After a few tantalizing seconds, he leaned in to kiss her, wrapping one arm around her and using the other to gently push her down on the couch. Gentle but intense, he braced himself above her and rained kisses over her neck and chest. She gasped quietly, her eyes fluttering closed, enjoying the weight of him, the feel of him on top of her, pressing against her, igniting intense, overwhelming heat from her neck to her thighs. Opening her eyes, she looked into his dark face, his darker eyes.
“Stay here tonight.” She whispered.
“Okay,” he mumbled as she unzipped her jeans.
* * *
Chapter 14
Melody awoke early Saturday morning, just as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. She reached out for Devin. Not feeling him next to her, she dragged her eyes open, adjusted to the light, and, spotting the rumpled sheets beside her, realized that he had already left. Sitting up, she smoothed her sex-disheveled hair and spotted a sticky note on her nightstand. She reached for it.
The boys have an early practice today. Didn’t want to wake you. Call you later.
She sighed and sank back into bed, smiling at the memory of the previous night. It had been perfect. Devin had held her and kissed her and touched her like she was the last thing he’d ever experience. After they left the living room, he’d carried her down the hallway and pinned her against her bedroom wall in a steamy, room-spinning kiss, teasing her with his mouth until she begged for more. He’d taken his time undressing her, and when they finally came together, their rhythm took them over the edge, her vision blurring and her heart swelling beyond its limits.
When the phone beeped from its place on the nightstand, Melody reached over and picked it up. It wa
s Carynne.
You got some, didn’t you?
She’d punctuated her text with the eyeball emoji. Giggling, Melody rolled her eyes as she pressed her phone’s receiver icon to call Carynne. She picked up on the first ring.
“Good morning, slut!”
“Shut up. How’d you know?”
“Went to your house last night. I was going to drop in with lasagna from that fancy new place. Saw a truck I didn’t recognize in the driveway, so more lasagna for me.” Melody heard the whir of Carynne’s prized Grindmaster coffee machine in the background. It stopped before she continued. “So, how was it?”
“I think I’m a new woman. I mean, C, I didn’t just have sex.” Mel turned her head, noticing the faint scent of him in the sheets, and inhaled softly to breathe him in. “I think I am sex.”
“Wow.” Carynne whistled into the phone. “Lucky you. Is he for hire?”
“Shut up. And aren’t you at work? Can’t people hear you?”
“I’m in the kitchen. The only one back here is Dominique.” A faraway voice made a comment in the background before Carynne spoke again. “She says congrats.”
“Jesus. I’m getting off of the phone before the entire shop finds out I got some. Drinks later?”
“Hell yeah, girl. I want details.”
* * *
Devin was used to parents attending practices, and he was especially used to them attending weekend practices. It didn’t really bother him. He appreciated their involvement – for the most part – and was confident enough in his ability as a coach to continue business as usual with them around. Today was particularly interesting, though.
When he’d given the boys a five-minute break, he’d looked up to see, what was her name… Mariah?... in the gym’s bleachers. She wasn’t related to any of the kids on the team as far as he knew, so what the hell was she doing here? He avoided eye contact as best he could, but when practice ended, she bounded from the bleachers, almost falling twice as she attempted to balance on the creaky bleacher stairs.
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