Page 94 of Love is a Harmony
How did her life get so complicated? Over the last ten years, Melanie tried to live simply, to keep herself focused only on professional goals, never personal. She figured she’d had her love story, beginning, middle, and tragic end.
There wasn’t much left in store for her.
She’d never counted onhim.
The moment she heard someone outside her apartment, she’d known it was Noah, almost like she could sense his presence.
As she pulled the door open, she wanted to reach out and touch him, to pull his mouth to hers.
Instead, she stepped aside and let him and Stella come in.
“Hey, Stell.” She ruffled her hair. “If you want to watch TV, you can hang out in my room for a bit.”
She nodded.
Noah followed Stella into the bedroom to turn on a TV show, giving Melanie a moment to collect her willpower. She knew what needed to be done.
She just didn’t know how to do it.
Over the last couple months, she’d changed into the person she used to be before death hardened her, before it made her distance herself.
She gripped the back of the couch and closed her eyes.Justin, I need your help.She needed a reminder of the boy she’d loved, the one she hadn’t been able to get over. But even her letters to him had stopped, and that fact alone terrified her.
Noah Clarke, the king of scandals, walked into the living room and stopped, his eyes drinking her in. “Melanie.” He said her name with a reverence that made her strength waver until she snapped it back into place.
“Hey.” She gave him a tentative smile. “How are you holding up?”
“Apart from you avoiding my calls?”
He was right. She hadn’t been able to speak to him, because even now, hearing his voice made her want to give in, to let herself feel things for him she thought were long gone.
Even when it would be a media nightmare.
Even when it could ruin everything she’d built.
Even when she wasn’t ready to let herself love anyone else.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He moved toward her, his lips tipping up into a smile as if he thought the only reason she had to be sorry was not answering her phone.
She didn’t want to break that smile or the man behind it.
But she didn’t see another choice.
Putting up a hand, she stopped him before he pulled her into her arms. A little shake of the head made his smile drop.
“Mel, I’m sorry about the media. I don’t know how that news got out, but—”
“I know who told the press, but that’s not important. What are we doing, Noah?”
“Doing? Melanie, they don’t have your name. It’s okay.”
“Did anyone follow you here?”
“Follow me? This isn’t a spy thriller. I’m not leading anyone on a car chase.”
She sighed. How could someone have so much fame, so much success, and still not get it? “The paparazzi aren’t going to leave you alone.”
