Page 46 of A Family Affair: The Ring
His smile covered her, made her feel cherished…loved?It was too soon to mention marriage, but it would come, Melanie was certain of it.She thought of Will and how she’d never imagined this scenario when she arrived in Magdalena.Secretly hoped?Dreamed?Yes, but to live it?This was true and boundless joy.
When the doorbell rang at 6:15 p.m.that evening, she thought for a second it might be Will with a change of dinner plans.The desire to be together wasn’t just one-sided and maybe he’d rescheduled with his mother—and the next dinner would include Melanie.
But it wasn’t Will who stood on her doorstep with a bouquet of sunflowers and carnations in his hand.“Alec?”
“Hello Beautiful.May I come in?”
27
The man who’d once claimed life without her in it was like a summer without sunshine smiled and offered her the bouquet of flowers.“I missed you.”
“But…” Alec Laurence was handsome, intelligent, kind and any woman would be grateful to have him as a partner.Any woman but Melanie.Oh, she’d tried to convince herself he could bethe one...he could beenough.But she’d been the one who was lacking and since coming to Magdalena, she’d gained clarity and a vision about the life she wanted and who she wanted in it.
Will.
“I know you said you needed time, but…” A dull blush crept beneath his tan.“I wanted to see you.”
“Alec…I…”
He raised a hand to stop her.“I understand you came here for closure, but we shared something special—at least I thought we did.I wanted to remind you that when you’re through here you’ve got a life back in Pittsburgh.”He moved toward her, clasped her hand.“Hopefully, with me.”
A tiny part of her wished she could have committed to Alec, given him what he deserved.She hadn’t been able to do that, and the reason was obvious: she’d never stopped loving Will.They had another chance now and she was not going to give that up, no matter how difficult the journey or the man.Melanie bit her bottom lip, forced out the words Alec needed to hear.“You know I will always have feelings for you, but you really should have called.”
A deep breath, followed by a quiet “I see.So, you and the guy?I’m guessing you got your closure, but it wasn’t what I’d hoped.”
Melanie shook her head.“You are such a good person, and you’ll make the right woman a perfect partner.But I’m not that person.”
His gaze turned bright, his handsome face sad.“I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy and I’d hoped I could be part of that happiness.I hope this guy realizes how special you are.”When Melanie nodded, Alec cleared his throat, squeezed her hand before releasing it and stepped back.“I guess I didn’t think this part through… And it’s too late to head back tonight, so can you recommend a place to stay in town?”
He’d opened his heart to her yet again, driven all this way to see her, and she’d rejected what he’d offered.The least she could do was give him a place to stay and feed him.“You can stay here.There’s a spare bedroom and I made beef stroganoff tonight.Are you hungry?”
A nod, a half-smile.“Sure.If you think it won’t be an issue.”
“No, of course not.”He meant Will.Why would there be an issue?Tomorrow, she’d fill him in on Alec’s surprise visit and she might even add that the two would have liked one another—under different circumstances, of course.“Why don’t you grab your bag and I’ll heat up the stroganoff?”
“Sounds great.I am pretty hungry.”
And just like that, the awkwardness disappeared, and they were friends again—talking and laughing about hospital antics and people they knew.Melanie told Alec she wouldn’t be returning to Pittsburgh other than to formally resign and pack up her apartment.I want to buy this house, she’d said.He hadn’t asked for details, had only commented with a single question.So, it’s serious then?
Yes, it was serious, but she would not humiliate him by gushing about Will Callahan and the love she’d never quite been able to let go.Hours later, they said good night and she crawled into bed, wearing one of Will’s T-shirts.She wanted to call him and tell him about Alec but not tonight, not when he’d been busy with his mother and preparing for a presentation.Tomorrow would be soon enough.What were a few more hours when they had a lifetime to talk and share?
Will should beat the office crunching numbers but that was impossible.How could he look at numbers when he hadn’t seen the woman he loved in almost twenty-four hours?Lily had smiled when he picked up the dark chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate chip cookies from the bakery.She’d even made a comment abouthappily-ever-afterwithhis one-and-onlyin a sing-song voice that implied she knew the ending to their story and would be happy to share it.He’d thought about brushing off her words or ignoring her comments, but he couldn’t because he loved Melanie, and he wasn’t afraid to show itorto say it.
Stay tuned,he’d said.You might get to see another happily-ever-after.Oh, she’d loved that comment, had practically squealed.
You and Melanie are perfect for each other, I just know it.Uncle Harry knows it, too.
Harry?Of course he’d comment.The man had been poking around in Will’s business since Melanie came back to town.Maybe the guywasready to be the Godfather of Magdalena.Will thought about Lily’s comments and Harry’s potential new role as he pulled into Melanie’s driveway, parked behind a sedan with Pennsylvania license plates.Had Melanie’s father driven in late last night?Maybe he wanted a face-to-face with them about buying the house or maybe he wanted a face-to-face with Will.
Big sigh.Will had to deal with the Russells sooner or later and he’d rather get it over with and move on so Melanie’s parents understood hewasgoing to have a life with their daughter.Will lifted the bakery boxes from his car, made his way to the front door.He really needed to find a way to set boundaries between work and after-work time.It had never been a problem before Melanie returned to town.But now?Now it was a problem.He thought of those very capable hands, the long legs, the irresistible smile.A problem, yes…but a truly delicious one.
What would Melanie say when he handed her the boxes of strawberries and cookies?One peek inside and she’d understand how much he wanted a life with her.
How much helovedher.
Tonight, he’d take her to Harry’s Folly where they’d share a bottle of wine, shrimp risotto, chicken marsala, and crème Brulée, and then he’d take her to bed and ask her to spend the rest of her life with him.Maybe destinyhadalways planned for Melanie to wear his engagement ring again.
The door opened before he had a chance to ring the bell, but the man on the other side wasnotMelanie’s father.This man was a few years older and a few inches taller than Will; wet hair slicked back, T-shirt, jeans.Bare feet.
