Chapter TWO
Melissa awoke and saw the buttery sunshine shining through the blinds on her bedroom windows.
She let out a grateful sigh.
It was a lovely summer day to relax and enjoy her time off.
She remembered her invitation to Ross for dinner and tried to think of something easy to make.
Today, she was going to work outside in her vegetable and herb garden.
She might even go down to the common waterfront the development had built and take her canoe out on the water.
It was awkward paddling alone but not impossible, and something about being on the lake was so peaceful she didn’t care about the work.
She got up and padded down the hall to the kitchen to fix herself a cup of coffee.
She opened the sliding glass door to let in some fresh morning air through the screened-in porch and let out a deep, satisfying sigh.
Melissa fixed her coffee and carried it through the porch to the wooden deck facing south, making sunny mornings pleasant.
Sitting in an Adirondack chair, she lifted her face to the sky.
With her eyes closed, she breathed in the fresh lake air and basked in the sun like a lazy cat.
Noises next door drew her attention, and she opened her eyes to see Ross out on his deck with a dark-haired woman.
A cardinal sang in a pine tree at her yard’s end, and when the two turned to the sound of it, they noticed her.
They both waved.
Melissa realized the woman was Taylor Gilford Walker and waved back.
It was interesting living next door to someone famous like Ross.
She’d seen other neighbors approach him with paper and pen, asking for autographs.
Well-known people came to the restaurant, but though they were greeted warmly, they purposely weren’t fussed over.
However, her mother, who acted as hostess, liked being able to ask about other lives without appearing too nosy.
Melissa took a sip of her coffee, her thoughts becoming darker.
While her father adored her, her mother made her feel like she never met her standards.
Growing up, she’d envied the Gilford girls.
It all seemed so silly now.
She’d since become good friends with the three of them and loved being part of a congenial group whose members shared memories of the past.
New people were added to the mix, making the group even better.
From the moment she’d first met Dirk, she’d felt a spark of interest.
Dirk could make it seem like he was interested in what anyone was saying and had an easy, almost impish smile—important attributes for a dentist.
Attractive, he was of average to above-average height with auburn hair and green eyes.
She liked that he worked steady hours.
It helped with her off-beat schedule to know someone would always be there for them if they ever got together and had pets and/or children.
She chided herself for those thoughts.
How could she be thinking of such things when Dirk had never called or asked her out? As far as she knew, he hadn’t asked anyone out, but still …
When she got up, she noticed Ross and Taylor had left his deck.
She went inside, fixed a piece of sourdough toast with peanut butter, and headed to her room to change.
In the shower, she let the warm water sluice over her and wondered what it would feel like to have Dirk’s hands caress her body. She washed her hair and, after hand-drying it, shook it in place. Her hair was thick and straight, easy to maintain. Though it was dark brown, the hint of auburn gave it a different, pretty look. She let it hang to dry further while she dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. Then she pulled her hair up in a ponytail.
She rubbed suntan lotion on her face, arms, and legs, slid her feet into L.L. Bean boat shoes, and headed outside.
Her vegetable garden was larger than she would’ve planted for herself, but her father had helped her prepare and plant it. They both liked the idea of farm-to-table food and thought it would be a true test of what she could create. The Collister Family Farm Stand provided them with many extra goods during the summer months, but it was fun to think some of the food they served came from her garden.
Now, seeing the weeds, she wondered if they’d been overly ambitious. She gamely pulled out her gardening tools from the garage and got to work pulling invasive weeds and cultivating the soil. She was hot and sweaty in no time.
She’d just finished half the garden when Ross appeared.
“That’s quite a project,”
he said as she struggled to stand. “Hey, listen, I’ve been thinking. You don’t need to invite me to dinner tonight. I’m just doing you a favor, no strings attached.”
“I’d relish the company,”
said Melissa. She hesitated. “Unless you just don’t want to.”
“No, no. I didn’t want you to feel obligated. That’s all,”
said Ross. “Any plans for the rest of the day?”
Melissa shrugged. “I thought I’d take a canoe ride on the lake. It’s so peaceful.”
“Want company?”
Surprised, Melissa said, “Sure. It’s a little awkward paddling by myself, but I’ve done it.”
“I’m waiting for Ben to return my car before I do some errands. Paddling around the lake would be a great way to spend some time.”
“Well, then, let’s go now, and I can cool off,”
said Melissa.
She put her tools away, locked the back door, and joined Ross out front. Together, they walked down to the newly constructed marina area for the residents of The Meadows. Storage racks for canoes sat away from a dock that had places to tie up small fishing boats. A clubhouse held comfortable couches and chairs, a wall-mounted television, a mini-kitchen, and a fireplace.
Several canoes were pulled up on the shore of the lake, lined up like colorful crayons in a box.
“Which one is yours?”
asked Ross.
“The light-blue one,”
she said, walking over to it. “I’m glad you’re here to help me put it in the water.”
She went inside the clubhouse to get her paddles and lifejackets from the storage room. Each owner had a special cubby to keep equipment like this. So far, no one had abused the easy access.
Once they got the canoe in the water, Melissa climbed in, and Ross pushed them off.
Out on the water, Melissa paddled from the bow in smooth, even strokes as they quietly made their way along the shore. The real estate with lake frontage was carefully controlled. With land values so high, no ramshackle cottages were built here and there. Residents took care of their property and abided by the rule of no motorboats on the lake except for small fishing boats with quiet trolling motors.
Melissa glanced up at the blue sky and sighed in appreciation. Even though it was the busiest time at Fins, summer was her favorite season. Once more, she thought of finding ways to give herself more time away from cooking at the restaurant. She was beginning to feel trapped by her work.
“Look! A Great Blue Heron,”
said Ross in a hushed voice.
She turned, smiled, and gave him a thumbs-up. They stopped paddling and watched the bird on stilt-like legs combing the water for fish among grasses at the water’s edge. In one swift movement, the bird dove its head into the water and came up holding a wiggling fish in its beak.
“That reminds me, what are we having for dinner?”
teased Ross.
She laughed. “I haven’t decided. Any orders?”
“If you want to keep it simple, I grill a mean steak.”
“Terrific. I’ll put together the rest of the meal but leave the grilling to you. I’ve got some delicious-looking New York strip steaks in the freezer. I’ll get them out when we get back.”
She liked the fact that he was willing to help.
It took a while, but they paddled down to the far end of the lake where the Lilac Lake Inn and the Gilford girls’ Lilac Lake Cottage sat overlooking the lake.
Melissa strained to see what was happening at the cottage and saw Taylor sitting on a chair outside with a computer in her lap.
“Hello!”
Melissa called.
Taylor looked up and waved, set her computer down, and walked down to the lake's edge. “What are you two doing down here?”
“Getting some exercise,”
said Melissa.
“I’m taking a break until Ben gets back with my car,”
Ross said. “And helping a neighbor out with her canoe.”
“What good neighbors you are,”
said Taylor, giving them a teasing smile.
“It’s nothing, really,”
said Ross.
Taylor studied them. “Okay, whatever it is, I hope it works. I have to get back to work. Thanks again, Ross, for allowing me to interview you for my book. I may have to come back for more information as my plot develops, but I’ve made careful notes about our talk this morning.”
“Glad to do it. Ask any time,”
said Ross.
“See you later. Are you two going to be at Jake’s tonight?”
Taylor asked.
Melissa and Ross exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.
“Meet us there,”
said Melissa. She wanted to take advantage of her day off. “The more the merrier.”
“I’ll tell Cooper and ask my sisters to try and meet you,”
said Taylor.
“Thanks,”
said Melissa. “And ask others, too.”
She didn’t dare mention Dirk’s name.
“Yeah, maybe Dirk,”
said Ross helpfully.
He helped Melissa turn the canoe around, and they took off again. She didn’t intend to discuss it with Ross, but maybe having Dirk see her with Ross might make him think of her as someone he’d like to get to know better. Anything was worth a try.
###
By the time they were back at the neighborhood marina, Melissa’s arms were aching, but she didn’t mention it. Ross’s knees might be in bad shape, but there was nothing wrong with the rest of his body. He didn’t seem the least bit tired.
After storing her paddles and life jackets, Melissa walked with Ross to their houses.
At the end of her driveway, she turned to Ross. “Thanks for going out on the lake with me. See you later. Come at six. We’ll have drinks and an early dinner.”
“It was pleasant. I’m glad you’re not a big talker like some women I know.”
“Sometimes it’s pleasant to let the lake do the talking.”
He smiled. “I’ll try to remember to bring that up when I’m with Dirk.”