Chapter THIRTY-FOUR
That night, Melissa took Nettie and Jason to Jake’s, hoping to be able to introduce them to her friends.
When they walked into the bar, someone called her name, and Melissa turned to see Dani waving at her. She led Nettie and Jason to the table and introduced them to Dani and Brad, David Graham, Crystal’s fiancé, Emmett, and Crystal’s sister, Misty.
Mike joined them.
“Where’s Ross?”
asked Dani.
“He went home to New Jersey to help with family matters,”
said Mike.
They all sat after pulling a couple of tables together. Though Jason tended to be on the quiet side, Nettie more than made up for it with her friendliness and sense of humor. Melissa was pleased to see how easily accepted they were.
Dirk arrived with Samantha, and the evening promised to be pleasant, with much laughter, good food, and plenty to drink. Melissa looked around the group, happy to be part of it.
###
On the drive home, Nettie said, “What a nice group of friends, Melissa. I can’t wait until we become a permanent part of the town. Right, Jason?”
“Yes. Emmett invited me to come to his house to do some fishing. His house is right next to a river. And Dirk says winter skiing is fantastic. I like the idea of a new work schedule.”
“Thank you, Melissa, for thinking of us,”
said Nettie. “Now, if I can only get some work at the Inn.”
Melissa didn’t say anything. She’d hoped working at the Inn would be a possibility for her. They’d have to wait and see how it turned out.
Melissa enjoyed her time with Nettie and Jason but refused to call Ross. She knew he must be busy with family, and she was determined not to push him into a relationship she wanted more than he.
Friday morning, Nettie and Jason prepared to leave.
“Time to go back to Boston. I have a lot to take care of,”
said Jason. “You’ve been terrific about helping us and making us feel at home, Melissa.”
“I’m so excited about everything,”
said Nettie. “Most of all, enjoying our relationship daily will be awesome again. Thanks for everything. I’ll be in touch.”
“I’m so happy that everything seems to be working out. I hope it continues that way,”
said Melissa. “It would be fabulous to have you two in town.”
“We want to make it happen,”
said Nettie, taking hold of Jason’s hand.
He smiled at her. “We’d better get going.”
Nettie got into their small Honda’s passenger seat, and Jason slid behind the wheel. With a final wave to her, they took off.
Melissa was still standing in the driveway when she saw a limousine pull into the driveway next door. She turned and went into her house before Ross could get out of the car.
She wasn’t surprised when she heard her doorbell ring a few moments later. Feeling uncertain, she went to the door.
As she suspected, Ross was standing there.
He studied her. “May I come in?”
“Sure.”
Her nerves played hide and seek inside her. “How was your trip home?”
“Good,”
he answered as he walked into her house. “We had some details to finish. Dad’s house has been sold to a friend of Lanie’s. Other estate affairs were taken care of, too. Sad as it is, there’s no reason to go back there except to visit my brothers and their families.”
“I’m sure you’re relieved you had the chance to settle everything,”
said Melissa.
Ross stepped forward and lifted Melissa’s hand. “We need to talk. I was caught off guard by Dani. But you didn’t let me explain.”
“Okay.”
Better get it over with, she thought.
Ross cleared his throat. “I love being friends with you, but I want more. I’ve been trying to take things slow. We’ve both been through a lot. My dad’s failing health, the accident during the baseball game, my knee replacement, and the fire that destroyed Fins. Then my father’s death and your father’s heart attack. Now, you’re reassessing your career. So, we’ve both had a lot to deal with. But we’ve done it together. That means a lot.”
She nodded. Where was he going with this?
“I didn’t want to rush you into something you weren’t ready for. I’m not Dirk, the man you believed was your perfect match.”
He shook his head. “I wasn’t even on your radar as boyfriend material.”
Melissa clapped a hand to her mouth, seeing things in a new light.
“I want to prove to you how much you mean to me. Give me a chance to show you. Let’s start with a promise you’ll meet me for dinner. I’ll call with the details later.”
He drew her to him.
She wrapped her arms around him, and she heard him sigh.
He tilted her face up and met her lips with his.
Melissa closed her eyes and enjoyed the sexual sensations that filled her body. She loved him and loved how he made her feel.
“I’ve got meetings with Mike and the construction crew at Collister. You’ll meet me for dinner?”
Melissa smiled. “I’d like that.”
After Ross left, Melissa replayed his conversation in her mind, savoring every detail. He wanted to be more than neighbors and friends, just like she did.
She did a dance in her living room, swaying to the music she heard in her head. She felt so … alive and happy.
###
After spending the day cleaning up and straightening her house from her guests’ stay, Melissa spent time washing her hair, making an emergency appointment at the nail salon, and buying a new dress.
Later that afternoon, Ross called to ask her to meet him at the new sports center before they had dinner.
Wearing a new sundress, Melissa headed to the edge of town.
Ross greeted her when she pulled into the parking lot. “Glad you’re here. I have something special planned for dinner.”
“How nice,”
she said, feeling a rush of energy race through her.
He took her hand. “Come with me.”
Melissa and Ross walked past the construction site toward the baseball field. The sports center, expanded into something bigger now, would take longer than they’d thought to complete. But Melissa thought it would be worth it, especially with Collister Construction doing the work.
The baseball field was now ready to play on. David Graham and his father and crew from Graham Landscaping had done a magnificent job creating it and building it to exact measurements.
“Isn’t this terrific?”
Ross gazed at the baseball diamond with pride. “They finished it while I was gone.”
“It’s beautiful,”
she replied. “I heard that more than one family in town is converting their house to an Airbnb to handle families who want to come for a stay in town while their children participate in one of the programs you’ll be offering.”
“Fantastic news.”
Ross kept hold of her hand and led her to a spot beneath a maple tree at the far end of the field. A wicker picnic basket sat beside a tartan plaid blanket spread on the grass.
“What’s this?”
said Melissa, lowering herself to the blanket.
“A special picnic. Crystal helped me with it,”
said Ross, sounding eager to please her.
He sat beside Melissa and drew her into his arms. “I love you, Melissa. You’re everything to me.”
She couldn’t help the tears that escaped her eyes. Those words and being in his arms were precious to her.
He thumbed her tears away. “Don’t cry. I mean every word I say. I want time together to prove how much I love you. You’ve been my rock during some difficult times. I realize I’m a much better, happier man with you by my side. I see a future with you. Will you promise to see where our relationship takes us?”
Half-laughing, half-crying, Melissa flung herself into his arms. She’d questioned herself and him along this journey but always came back to the same thing. She loved him deeply and would do her best to show that to him by chasing away her insecurities. “Yes, Ross Roberts. I will! I love you!”
Ross rocked her in his embrace. “This beats any home run I’ve ever made.”
She laughed and held on tight as his lips met hers.