Chapter ELEVEN
On the way back to her house, Melissa felt her nerves tingling. She hoped Dirk might want to stay a while, but she didn’t know how to ask without sounding awkward. But she was dying to see what chemistry they had. They were both reserved, so it might take time to be comfortable with one another alone.
Dirk drove onto the driveway to her house and stopped the car.
“Would you like to come inside?”
she asked, feeling her fingers growing cold. What if he said no?
“Thanks. I would,”
he answered somewhat formally, and she realized he was as nervous as she.
She led him inside and then turned to him. “Want a cup of coffee? Water?”
“Water sounds great. Thanks,” he said.
“Why don’t you go out to the porch, and I’ll bring it to you,”
she said. “Make yourself comfortable.”
As Dirk headed outside, Melissa hurried into the powder room to check her appearance and then went into the kitchen to get them each a glass of ice water.
Melissa carried their water to the porch and was pleased that Dirk had chosen to sit on the couch rather than in one of the chairs.
He looked up and smiled at her.
She sat beside him, and they playfully clinked their glasses together.
After sipping his water, Dirk set down his glass and turned to her. “I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did.”
“Oh, yes.”
She placed her glass on the coffee table and faced him. “It was fun. And such delicious food.”
“Exactly. Though I’m not a cook, you could call me a foodie because I love to try different things.”
“That’s so important. Being free to try something new is important to me.”
She laughed. “But I’m not sure I could eat everything you did with your family in China.”
He chuckled. “For political reasons, it was important. We didn’t want to lose face in front of our hosts.”
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.
She nestled against his chest and felt the beat of his heart.
When he tilted her face up to his, her pulse raced. This was what she wanted. And when his lips met hers, she let out a soft groan of pleasure.
His lips were soft but sure.
When they pulled apart, he smiled at her. “I want to get to know you better, Melissa. I hope this will be the beginning.”
Her heartbeat thudded in her ears. “Me, too.”
When he kissed her again, she responded.
And his kisses deepened.
She thought how wonderful it felt to be in his arms when he suddenly sat up.
“I’m sorry, Melissa. I’d better go. I just remembered I have an early appointment tomorrow, and I didn’t realize how late it was.”
Caught off guard, Melissa got to her feet and straightened her clothes. Uncertain about what was happening, she said politely, “I’ll walk you out.”
At the front door, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks. See you soon.”
Melissa closed the door and leaned against it, breathing hard as disappointment pounded through her, and her emotions took a nosedive. Dirk had left so abruptly. Had she done something wrong?
###
The next morning, Ross called to tell her he’d be home that afternoon. “Thought I’d better warn you because they let me leave when I promised I’d have help at home and getting to the sports rehab center. I hope that doesn’t put you in an awkward situation.”
“Of course not. It makes me feel useful to be needed,”
Melissa said. “I’ve restocked the refrigerator, and the house is straightened, ready for you.”
“Melissa, you didn’t have to do that,”
said Ross.
“That’s what neighbors do,”
she responded.
“Thanks. I’m grateful you live next door. I’ll see you later.”
“You will,”
she said, content to have an excuse not to worry about Dirk.
Filled with purpose, Melissa made a couple of her quick and easy dishes to take over to Ross’s house. He could use or freeze them for when Crystal couldn’t provide a meal.
As she worked in the kitchen, she thought about her friendship with Ross. It was so natural. Maybe because there was no pretense between them, they both knew where they stood. That’s the same openness she’d hoped to develop with Dirk, with the idea of moving forward together. They seemed such a perfect match … at least on paper.
###
Melissa was placing the last of her casseroles in Ross’s refrigerator when she heard a car pull into his driveway. She went outside to greet them.
Mike ran around the back of his car and opened the door for Ross. He helped Ross to his feet, and they turned to face Melissa.
“Welcome home,”
she said, coming over to them. “I’ve put a blanket and pillows on the couch in the living room if you want to rest there. And I’ve got casseroles in the refrigerator. Come inside, and we’ll get you settled.”
“Thank you. Seems as if you’ve got it all set,”
said Ross, struggling to get upright.
Mike handed him the portable walker, and Ross used it to balance himself until he got a little steadier.
Observing him, Melissa smiled. Ross seemed to be showing off. Mike caught her eye and winked at her.
Inside, Ross and Mike made their way to the couch.
As Ross sat down, Melissa hurried to put pillows behind him.
Ross looked up at her and smiled. “Ah, that feels good. Thanks, neighbor.”
She felt her cheeks flush but tried to ignore it. “You’re welcome. Do you want me to put a chicken casserole in the oven for you? Crystal will bring you a meal later on.”
“I’m ready. How about you, Ross?”
said Mike.
“Sure. Hospital food isn’t at all the same as something of yours.”
Melissa saw that Ross was tired and turned to Mike. “I’ll set the timer for the casserole, and when the buzzer rings, you can serve it. It’s made fresh, so it shouldn’t take longer than thirty minutes. In the meantime, I have lemonade, water, and some sodas in the refrigerator. I also made cookies that are ready to eat anytime.”
Mike placed a hand on her shoulder. “Thanks. I’m ready to move into the neighborhood, so you’ll be this nice to me.”
Melissa laughed. “The more the merrier. Let me know if I can do anything else. And, Ross, let me know when you’re due to go to rehab. I’ve scheduled my time, so I can take you any morning.”
Ross gave her a little wave, and she left, feeling happy about all she’d done for him. She’d never forget the sound of the two of them hitting the ground with a jarring thud.
When she returned to her house, she showered and changed for her shift at the restaurant. Cooking for others and giving them pleasure with excellent food was an important part of who she was.
###
At the restaurant, her mother smiled. “How did it go with Ross?”
“He’s home. He’s using a walker to steady himself. I have a feeling he will recover quickly because he’s in great physical condition.”
Her mother lifted her eyebrows and studied her.
Melissa pushed away her mother’s hopeful look with a wave of her hand. “Mother, it’s not like that. Besides, most men in my social group are in shape, including Dirk.”
“How was your evening with Dirk?”
her mother asked.
Though she was concerned and uncertain, Melissa forced a smile. “Nice.”
“He’s a likable man,”
said her mother with approval. “Everyone who’s been to the dentist lately has told me how professional he is, how gentle.”
“He’s going to open an orthodontics practice at the office. That’s what he studied,”
Melissa said, hoping for more approval.
Her mother smiled. “With our growing population, something like that is needed.”
Her mother checked her watch. “You’d better head into the kitchen. I have to get busy here.”
As she worked, Melissa found her rhythm chopping ingredients for a fresh fish chowder and couldn’t help thinking about the Mexican meal she’d shared with Dirk. She could tell Mama Montoya liked him, and it made her happy. She’d dated someone a couple of years ago who Mama hadn’t been impressed with. She’d let Melissa know in subtle ways. It stung at the time, but he’d turned out to be a player who would’ve ruined her life if Melisa hadn’t ended the relationship. Because, once again, she’d shown how na?ve she was about men.
###
That night, after an early evening at the restaurant, Melissa headed to Jake’s to see who in her gang might be there.
She was pleased to see Misty, Crystal, and Emmett with Mike and Dirk.
“Ah, I’m happy to see you’re still here,”
she said, sitting at the community table.
“We got off to a late start,”
Crystal said. “I can’t stay long, but Mike has been telling us about Ross’s recovery. It will be several weeks until he’s left on his own.”
“Yes, but knowing Ross, he’ll recover quickly,”
said Mike. “He’s a very determined, independent guy. But thanks to Melissa, he will be well taken care of.”
He winked at her.
Melissa smiled. “I hope so.”
She turned as a waitress appeared and ordered a glass of merlot.
After the waitress left, Melissa told Misty, “It’s nice to see you. I hear you’ll become a teacher in one of our local schools.”
“Yes, at the elementary school. I can’t wait. Of course, I might still be working part-time at the café.”
“That’ll keep you busy for sure,”
said Melissa. She liked Crystal’s little sister and remembered how Crystal had raised her in the past days when their mother couldn’t. “Anything else exciting going on?”
“I’m talking to Mike about a refreshment stand at the baseball field he and Ross are building,”
said Crystal. “I’m thinking it could be run by high school students, giving them a chance to learn how to provide food to a group. I’d hire someone to help them get started and give them a list of the food they need to order.”
“Interesting idea. It would give the kids training and a chance to earn some money. Kudos to you, Crystal. You’re always doing something for the community. Adding the kids’ baked goods to the Summer Faire baking contest was genius. We need to get more teenagers interested in the hospitality business, even if the work is sometimes exhausting.”
“That’s why I’m hoping to help Crystal. To give her more time to herself and Emmett,”
said Misty, smiling at her sister.
“I wish I had a younger sister to help me,”
said Melissa.
“How about a brother?”
teased Mike.
Melissa, Crystal, and Misty looked at one another and laughed.
“Brothers, I’m sure, are special, but women need sisters, even if they’re just sisters of the heart,”
said Crystal, more serious now.
Looking at her female friends sitting with her, Melissa thought how true it was. She glanced at Dirk and smiled.
While she talked to Emmett, Dirk rose. “I’ll see you guys later. I have to go.”
Melissa waited for him to say something to her, but he turned and walked away. Embarrassed, she sat silently, wondering what was going on.