Page 51 of Forbidden Secrets
Melanie snorted.“Slow down, friend.As in way down.I feel something.He flat out said he does too.But that’s chemistry.No one’s thinking marriage.All it means is we’d have really good sex.After the super-amazing kiss, it was raining and I didn’t want him and Pancake getting soaked if they walked back home, so I invited him to stay for dinner.I’m grateful Addy isn’t shy because that kiss muddled my brain and she kept the conversation going.”
“You had him to your house for dinner?That’s a date.”
“No, no.I wouldn’t call it a date.It was more an impromptu sharing of soup.I don’t know that I’d want to date him.I don’t want to subject Addy to men coming in and out of our lives.She’s so sweet and I can already see her falling for him.It’s not fair to her.”Melanie huffed out a breath.“Beyond that, I get the feeling he’s careful about relationships.You can see why I’m conflicted.”
“I do.We’ve talked about protecting our girls.I have strict rules about introducing the men I’m dating to Isla.It’s different with Andres, though, because we were with our girls when we met.If this thing between us gets serious, I’ll have to think about how to let him be a part of my life.But Mel, you don’t want to be single forever, and it sounds like there’s a good chance Gage isthe one.”
“There is nothe one.That’s a myth.”
“It’s not.You’ve been hurt badly and don’t trust guys.I get that, so I’m saying this as a friend who loves you.You keep dudes at arm’s length to protect yourself.”She spoke fast as if trying to make her point before being interrupted.“You haven’t found someone who’s strong enough to break down those protective barriers and prove he’ll stand with you.Until Gage.I think he could be that guy.”
“I don’t know, Es.Addy and I are fine the way we are.”
“You are, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t be better.”
She’d have to think about that.They chatted a few minutes more before disconnecting.Melanie took the junk drawer box out through the slider.The pumpkin from the garden sat on the little patio table to be carved after school.Melanie toted the box to her trash cans at the side of the garage.She dumped the contents in one and then flattened the box and put it in the blue recycling bin.
The sound of a vehicle had her looking up.A large SUV with a light bar across the top pulled to a stop in her driveway.Sawyer McGrath stepped out.Tall, broad-shouldered, and handsome as sin.
He strode up the driveway in his sheriff’s deputy uniform.“Hey, Mel.”
“Hi, Sawyer.I should’ve said the other day how sorry I was when I heard your grandfather passed.He was a good and kind man.”
“He was.Thanks.”He cocked his head as he studied her.“You settling in?”
“I still have boxes from the move.It’s slow going making my way through them, but it’ll happen.”She gave him an inquiring look.“Do you have any more news about the two guys arrested on Monday?”
“Gage didn’t talk to you?”
She shook her head.“He was away on business and when he came back, we, um, didn’t have a chance to talk.”She could feel warmth spreading up her neck.
“We’ve identified them as Darrel Franklin and Keith Boner.Boner was the guy in the Tundra taking pictures.They’re both lawyered up and aren’t talking.”
“Okay.”Something about his expression had her asking, “Is this an official visit or were you in the neighborhood?”
“You got a minute?”
Her stomach dropped.His non-answer meant it was official.“Um, yeah.Would you like to come inside?”
“Sure.”
She led him to the back door and into the kitchen.
Sawyer motioned to the table.“Mind if we sit?”
If this had been a social call, she’d offer him something to drink.But he was making her nervous, so she sat across from him, her hands clenched under the table.He glanced around and she chewed her bottom lip.He’d been there the other day so she wasn’t sure what he was looking for.There was a fruit bowl on the table with shiny red apples from the farm.Addy’s colorful drawings were displayed on the refrigerator.A notepad and pen were on the counter for the grocery list she’d started.Normal stuff.
“You want to call Gage and see if he can come over?”
Call Gage?Fear slammed through her and she felt the blood drain from her face.She gripped the edge of the table.“Did something happen to Addy at school?Is she hurt?”Her lips felt numb as she formed the words even as her heart slammed in her chest.
“No.Shit.I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to scare you.Addy’s fine.”
A sharp rapping had her gaze flying to the glass door.Relief flooded through her when she saw the tall man on the other side.She jumped to her feet, then had to grab a hold of the chair as a wave of dizziness washed over her.Sawyer surged to his feet but Gage pushed open the door and reached her first, immediately putting an arm around her shoulders.
“What the fucking hell, Sawyer?”He bit out the words, but when he spoke to her, his voice was infinitely more gentle.“Sit, sweetheart, before you fall down.”
She sat, Gage’s hand resting on the back of her neck, his thumb stroking into her hair.“I’m fine.I got up too fast.”
