Page 44 of A Family Affair: The Ring
She glanced at the Casherdons’ log cabin, then back at Will.“Whatever you have to say, you can say right here.Nobody’s listening.”
A shake of his head, a scowl of frustration.“Iwould prefer not to do this in the driveway, okay?Please?”
What was a few more minutes with the man?Soon enough she’d never see him again, and then she could truly start healing.Melanie headed toward the front steps, opened the door, and said, “You’ve got five minutes.”
26
“Iwant to apologize for my behavior the other night.”The man who’d torched her hope of another chance shifted from one foot to the other, hands buried in his pockets.“It was unacceptable and I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”He was not getting off with a simple apology.“For speaking the truth?”
Those blue eyes sparked.“It wasn’t… I don’t know… When I’m around you, sometimes I can’t think.”
“So, you just spout out whatever lands in your head?Like, let’s have sex but forget a relationship?”She was done trying to figure him out or wishing he’d give them another chance.“I think you saidexactlywhat you meant.”
“No, I didn’t.”Frustration seeped into his words, pinched his brows together and turned his lips into a frown.“Sure, I thought I’d come back to your place, and we’d end up in bed.We’d have the physical part without the relationship.That’s what I told myself I wanted.”He blew out a sigh, shook his head.“But even as I tried to convince myself it’s what I wanted; I knew it would never be enough.”
Melanie took in the tired lines around his eyes, the paleness beneath the tan… “What are you saying?”
He dragged a hand over his face, his blue gaze settling on her.“The only time my world felt right was when I was with you.”Pause and a ragged “In arelationshipwith you.”
“Well, you certainly didn’t lead me to believe that.”
“I know.After how I treated you the other night, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve another chance, but I’m asking for one.Will you give us a chance to see how good we can be together?”He cleared his throat, held out a hand.“I promise I’ll open up, share, and everything else I need to do—” those lips she’d kissed so many times pulled into a faint smile “—and I’ll even agree to buy a box of dark chocolate-covered strawberries and share them with you.”The smile spread, his eyes sparkled.“Ditto for the chocolate chip cookies.”
This was the point where she wanted to throw her arms around him and cry—tears of joy, hope, and love.But she didn’t.“I have one more question and I want you to think hard before you answer.”
His smile faltered, his voice turned husky.“Ask me anything.”
“Do you forgive me, and can you truly let what happened between us go?”
Will took a step closer.“If we’re going to have a shot together, I have to… So, yes to both.I’ll do anything for another chance to get back to where we were.”
That’s when Melanie threw her arms around his neck and clung to him as the tears came—big tears that made her entire body tremble.Will was there for her, stroking her back, whispering the only words that mattered.“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”
She sniffed, swiped her eyes and pulled back to study the face she’d never been able to forget.“I have waited so long to hear you say those words.”
He wiped a tear with his thumb, leaned in to place the softest kiss on her mouth.“Maybe closure isn’t about letting go of each other.Maybe closure is about coming together.”
“I think it’s always been about getting back to us.”
Will framed her face with his hands, his eyes bright.“To us,” he murmured, brushing his mouth over hers.“We have so much time to make up.”Another kiss, and then a soft “Let’s go to bed.”
In the few moments when she’d allowed herself to imagine what a second chance with Will would look like, nothing compared to the surge of emotion swirling through her, capturing her heart.Filled with such joy and hope.“I can’t guarantee I’ll let you out of the bedroom before morning.”
The smile shifted, his voice turned huskier.“I’m counting on it.What if my car’s in the driveway tomorrow morning?”He raised a brow, added, “Is that going to be a problem?I don’t want Cash pounding on the door looking for me so he can warn me not to do something stupid again.”
“Something tells me you’ll set him straight if he does.”
“Yes, I will.”They made their way up the steps, reached the landing before Will pulled her close, his hands easing beneath her sweatshirt.”It’s been so damn long.”
“Too long.I want to feel you against me…want to touch you…”
They should go slow, relearn one another’s body…the strokes and touches, the kissing and tasting, the absolutepleasureof anticipation.But it was too much.When they kissed their way to the bed, Will lifted her sweatshirt over her head, unzipped her jeans and eased them down her legs.
“You are so beautiful.”He drew in a sharp breath, his gaze darting from her red bra to her matching lace panties.“And so tempting.”One more sharp breath before he cleared his throat and said, “I’ve always loved you in red.We’ll go slownexttime.”
“Or the time after that.”Melanie unbuttoned his shirt, stroked his bare chest, worked her way to his belt buckle and then his jeans.“Oh, Will, I will never get enough of you.”
