Page 19 of Forbidden Secrets
“Gage.”She hoped he couldn’t see the warmth creeping up her neck.
Keeley wagged a finger between them, eyes gleaming.“Gage is your date, Mel?Nice.”
Gage gave her a considering look while Melanie tried to mentally force the flush from her cheeks.“No, he’s not my date.We’re neighbors.”
“Oops, sorry.Bartenders should be more careful about that kind of thing.Though, if you ask me, you two look good together.”
“Jesus, Keeley,” Gage muttered.
Owen tugged on Keeley’s ponytail and said to Gage, “Sorry, pal.She has no filter.”
“That’s not true.I simply like the idea of Melanie and Gage.They’re both good people.”Her smile brightened.“What can I get you, Gage?”
“How about a draft beer and mind your own business?”
She grinned.“Fair enough.”
Keeley tilted a glass under the tap to fill it with dark amber liquid then set it with a head of foam in front of Gage.
“Thanks.”He turned to Melanie, sharp green eyes glinting under the bar lights.“You’re here for a date?”
“No, not a date.I’m meeting someone.”
“A male someone?”
“You and Addy should team up for your inquisition.She asked me the same question.And yes, a male someone.”
“She has good instincts.Where is he?”Gage sipped his beer.
“Not here.”She shrugged.“He’s late.”
“He didn’t pick you up and then he’s late?Not cool.”
What had happened to taciturn Gage who spoke in one- or two-word sentences?He was suddenly all up in her business.
“Maybe if it was a date it wouldn’t be cool, but since it’s not, it’s not a big deal.It was more practical for me to drive myself.”
“He text you?”
She didn’t allow herself to roll her eyes at his persistence.But she wanted to.She pulled up her phone to confirm.“No, and I’ll agree that part’s not cool.”
Keeley began assembling an order for cocktails under Owen’s watchful eye.A group of people came through the door to the back and the noise level in the bar rose.Gage drummed his fingers on the bar, then leaned closer to be heard.“Addy with your folks?”
Melanie nodded.“She gets to do soapmaking with Mom, and Paul’s got a movie picked out that’s from the nineties.Addy made it sound like ancient history.”
“Ouch.”
“Right?And to prove she’s the princess and her grandparents are merely subjects to do her bidding, her grandad is making chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.Life is good for Adelyn Brennan.”
“Life should be good for a six-year-old.She have a better day at school?”
Points for Gage asking about her girl.“She did.She said the kid Liam made a dumb face, but she ignored him and had a good day otherwise.She was excited because today she got to pick out a book at the book fair.She loves books and is reading well above grade level.”
“She’s a smart kid.Pancake would slay dragons for her.”
She liked the imagery.Before she could respond, a hand gripped her shoulder.“Melanie.I don’t like to keep my date waiting, but something came up I had to deal with.”
She turned in her seat, shifting uncomfortably under his hold.
