Page 47 of A Family Affair: The Ring
“Can I help you?”
“Who are you?”Who was this guy and what was he doinghereat 10:00 in the morning?Will’s gaze shifted from the wet hair to the bare feet…looking as though he’d just finished a shower…which meant he’d spent the night…which meant…
“Alec Laurence.And you are…?”
“Will Callahan.”
They stared at each other, assessing, analyzing, adding and subtracting qualities as though trying to figure out where Melanie fit in.Then the man nodded, dark brows pinched together.“So, you’re the guy.”
“So, you’re the ex-boyfriend.”It had to be him, but what was he doing here, and why was he—
“I could say the same about you.The ex-boyfriend part, I mean.”
“You could, but that’s not exactly accurate.Melanie and I are figuring things out…getting closer.”
The man raised a brow.“And yet, I’m the one who spent the night here.”A shrug, a twitch of his lips.“You might want to rework your definition of getting closer.”
He would not listen to this jerk and his lies.“Why are you even here?”
“Why?Because I missed her.”The man’s gaze narrowed, the brackets around his mouth deepened.“She’s special and she deserves a man who can give her what she needs… Commit to her… Love her…”
“She does.”What did this guy know about what Melanie needed?It was Will’s turn to stare, try to reason out what the situation looked like with what heknewin his heart.Melanie wouldnevercheat on him.She would never betray him.She was not like her mother…
“Shethinksyou’re the guy, but are you?”The man sliced through Will’s thoughts, challenged him.“You see, from what I’ve determined, you were the only thing standing in my way.”
“What’s your point?”
“You’re going to hurt her again.And when you do, I’ll be there for her, steady, loyal, determined…and this time she’ll chooseme.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“I guess we will.Ever think she’s still deciding?I mean, she spent years holding out for you, but maybe the reality just isn’t measuring up.”He rubbed his jaw, studied Will as though he could see inside his brain to his soul and found him deficient in both areas.“Anyway, she’s in the shower right now.You know how she loves her morning showers.”The man’s lips pulled into a slow smile.“I could get her if you like…?”
Okay, the jerk was definitely goading him, and it was working!Will had to get out of here before he did something stupid, like punch the guy.But a small part of him was annoyed and not happy that Melanie had put them in a situation like this.An ex-boyfriend had no business “sleeping over” at his former girlfriend’s house, no matter what the excuse.Melanie should know that and the fact that she didn’t meant they weren’t “in sync” with what was and wasn’t okay in the ex territory.Were they going to have to write out a step-by-step plan on what created acceptable behavior with exes?He was certain she wouldn’t be happy if Delaney appeared at his front door, looking all cozy and comfortable.
“So, do you want me to get her for you?”The voice dipped, the smile spread.“Happy to do it.”
Implying he was happy to intrude on Melanie while she was taking a shower and see her naked.Will was too smart to fall for the guy’s obvious attempts to torment him, but the guy was talking about Melanie…the only woman Will had ever loved, the one who’d broken his heart and healed it…the one who had too much power over him.
Will tried to control his anger, failed.How could Melanie put their relationship in a position where it could be threatened?Everything was new and fragile, and it had been so damn difficult to open up and trust her again.How could she risk everything for some guy she said she didn’t care about?
Unless shedidstill care about him on some level.
Or she didn’t care about Will as much as she said she did.
Or maybe she just didn’t understand how hard it had been to give her another chance.
The possibilities made him question and second-guess everything, and for a guy who lived in absolutes, that was not a good place to be.It created havoc and ripped apart streams of logic and known quantities, like how he and Melanie belonged together, how they loved each other…
Or not.
He shoved the boxes at Melanie’s ex.“Here, tell her to enjoy them.”
“Sure.Nice to finally meet you, Will.”Alec Laurence squared his shoulders, studied him as though he already knew Will’s next move.“You’ve been haunting my relationship with Melanie for too long, but I have a feeling that’s about to end.”Pause and a matter of fact, “You’re part of the past, herclosureas she calls it, but I plan to be part of her future.”He opened the boxes, nodded.“Thanks for the goodies.Melanie loves chocolate-covered strawberries.”A soft laugh.“She can eat a whole box if she’s not careful.”
That damn comment about the strawberries was what convinced Will maybe Melanie wasn’t as committed as he’d thought she was…maybe the doctor ex-boyfriend still had a shot.Will made it to the car when he heard her voice.
“Will!Will!”
