Page 54 of Forbidden Secrets
“You’re right, Mel,” Gage said.“But let us help out.We’re in this together.”
“Okay.But no holding back information.I want to know what you know.”
Sawyer rose.“Agreed.”He handed Melanie his phone.“Put in your number, then I’ll text you mine.”
Numbers exchanged, Melanie and Gage walked out with Sawyer.After he drove off, Gage stood with Melanie in the driveway, his hair tossed by fitful gusts of wind.He laced their fingers together and moved to stand facing her.The corners of his eyes crinkled when he spoke.“You’re badass, you know that?”
She shook her head.“I don’t feel badass.I want to find the man who hurt me, and I want him in prison.Then I’ll be happy to live a quiet life with my daughter, writing my books.”
“That’s what makes you badass.You stand up when someone is trying to intimidate you.Same thing Addy’s doing with that punk kid at school.”He brought her closer until their lips were a breath apart.“You’re also beautiful and I can’t get you out of my head.”Then he closed the gap and his mouth was on hers, his tongue seeking, hers savoring.His hands slid under her sweater to move in firm strokes over her back.
Her skin tingled wherever he touched.Warm, sure, and when she pressed her body to his and felt the growing ridge of his erection, a growl rumbled low in his throat.They broke apart, and she thought she probably looked as dazed as he did.
A shaky breath blew through her lips.“We can’t make out in the driveway.I don’t want to give the neighbors a show.”
He sighed and stepped back.
There was a rumble followed by the sound of air brakes.“That’s the bus.I need to get Addy.I hope being questioned by Deputy Guerrero didn’t traumatize her.”
“Addy’s tough like her mom.She’ll be fine.”
They started to walk down the driveway when a howl carried from his house.
“I need to let Pancake out before she loses her mind.”
“Let her come to the house with us.Addy and I are carving her pumpkin this afternoon and Pancake can keep us company.”
“Okay.And Mel?There’s something between us.We’ll have to decide what to do about it.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Monday evening, Melanie sipped tea from her mug, her laptop balanced on her knee.The planned gathering at Cider Mill Farm had been postponed until the next day because Harper was still recovering from a bug.
With Addy in bed, Mel was curled up on her small couch, staring at her spreadsheet.Focus was difficult.She was so damn furious.
That afternoon she’d stood at the end of her driveway watching Addy get off the bus.She’d trudged up Bluebell Lane, shoulders slumped, and when she’d reached Melanie, had immediately burst into tears.Once inside and calm enough to talk, the story came out of how Liam had called her an ugly name and told other kids to do the same.The teacher on yard duty had made Liam sit on a bench for the remainder of recess.
Gage had nailed it by calling Addy “sunshine” because her girl radiated sweetness and warmth, and some bully kid had no right to steal that light from her.Getting benched at recess wasn’t nearly good enough.Melanie could feel herself getting angry all over again.It wasn’t lost on her that both she and her daughter were dealing with harassment.Maybe they’d both come out stronger from the experience, but right now it sucked.
After setting Addy up with hot chocolate, cookies, and a video, Melanie’d taken a minute to calm herself before texting her teacher.Mrs.Delgado called back immediately and promised to monitor Liam any time he and Addy were in the same vicinity.She also promised to talk with Liam’s teacher.Melanie thanked her but let her know she planned on calling the principal.While she trusted Mrs.Delgado, teachers were busy and simply monitoring Liam didn’t address the underlying issue of the kid’s bullying.So next she called the school secretary requesting a conference with the principal and Liam’s parents.
She’d done what she could but was still steamed.The meeting was scheduled for the next afternoon, and Donna had offered to come with her.Mel would have liked the backup but didn’t want to pull her mom away from the animal shelter and leave it short-staffed.
All this was after Addy’d been questioned by Deputy Guerrero at school on Friday.Melanie had been ready for her to be upset, but according to Addy, it’d been no big deal.Not wanting to make it a big deal, she hadn’t pressed for details.
All of which meant she was keeping a close eye on her daughter.Gage’s suggestion that the child neglect complaint was an attempt at harassment made sense, which only made her more watchful.
One good thing was Sawyer had texted to tell her Child Services had closed the case against her.
Her phone chimed with an incoming text.She glanced at the lock screen.Chase Bradford.Crap.
She’d have to decide how to move forward with him.Maybe he’d cooled down and they could have an adult conversation.But first she’d make it clear she wasn’t romantically interested in him.She closed her eyes and leaned back against the cushion.She’d read the text in the morning.
While no longer feeling like punching someone, the pent-up anger over Liam’s behavior had given her a low-level headache.Maybe she’d do yoga before bed.But until then, she needed to focus on her project.
She checked her email, not really expecting a reply to the message she’d sent Neil Grafton and cc’d to Gage.She’d probably written more than she should have, but she wanted him to know how his actions had affected her, and how she wanted to hold the person who’d assaulted her to account.Then she’d requested permission to visit him in prison so they could talk.
There was no reply.She had no idea how often prisoners had access to the internet, so she was prepared for it to take weeks to hear back.If she ever did.
