Chapter 24
Melody
Melody gently banged her head against her desk and wondered for the millionth time why she couldn’t figure Ben out.
Between his texts and the way he’d interacted with her in person, she felt confident he was interested in her.
Truly interested in her and not just in a passing way.
So why then had he pulled away from their kiss last night?
She’d stayed up the better part of the night mulling it over, which had resulted in her stopping at a local coffee shop for a fully caffeinated cappuccino on her way into work this morning.
Ben hadn’t looked disappointed when he’d pulled back from their kiss, but what did she know?
Had he found it somehow lacking? Was he second guessing his interest in her, while her interest in him was just intensifying?
Was it possible he was as interested as she was, but had somehow mustered herculean strength in order to be a gentleman?
Heaven knew she hadn’t had the presence of mind to do anything other than keep kissing him.
She really didn’t know. Hence the head banging.
Melody was just about to give her head a few more gentle thwacks when there was a knock at the door. She lifted her head up to find a smiling Samantha hanging off her doorframe.
“Special delivery!” Samantha trilled with a cheery smile.
She flashed Melody a wink before moving out of the doorway.
“Nolan!” Melody exclaimed when he moved into the space Samantha had just vacated. “What a surprise.”
“A good one, I hope,” he responded with a winsome smile she couldn’t help but return.
“Of course,” Melody said, pushing back from her desk. “I just didn’t expect you to stop by.”
His smile shifted in a way that was no less engaging. “I usually come by to visit my grandpa on weekends, but my schedule got shifted to accommodate some vacations and sick leaves, so I thought I’d come by this morning instead.”
Nolan gently shook a to-go cup in his hands. She recognized the Snakes & Lattes logo straight away.
She instantly brightened.
“Is that what I think it is?” Melody asked with excitement.
“If you think it’s a Rose London Fog, you would be correct,” he said as he passed the cup over to her.
Melody accepted it gratefully. She wrapped her hands around it and savored its warmth.
Nolan’s eyes wandered over to the corner of her desk where he caught sight of her coffee cup. “Oh shoot,” he said with furrowed brows. “Do you prefer coffee during the daytime?”
“No, this is perfect,” Melody answered with honesty. “This morning’s cup was an exception. I didn’t sleep well and needed the boost.”
She didn’t elaborate and Nolan didn’t probe.
Melody lifted his offering to her lips. She allowed her eyes to flutter closed, the better to appreciate its delicate flavor notes.
When she opened her eyes, she flicked her gaze over to Nolan. “It’s just as good as I remember. Thank you.”
His answering smile was open and warm. It was definitely the type of look a girl could get used to having directed her way.
“It looks like I’m going to be pretty slammed with work for the next few weeks,” Nolan said.
“More than I realized since I saw the revised schedule yesterday. I thought it was less likely to seem like a brushoff if I told you in person.” Nolan drummed his fingers against the top of her desk.
“Because I really would like to take you out again,” he shared.
“Even if it takes me a few weeks to clear my schedule enough to fit in a date.”
Melody gulped. Should she say no? Did she even want to? She didn’t want to string him along when she knew she had feelings for Ben, but the truth was that she liked Nolan, too.
And if Ben only had lukewarm feelings toward her, was it wrong to see where things might go with Nolan?
Her feelings for Nolan were pretty friendly so far, but maybe that would change as they got to know each other.
She already knew enough about him to know he was the material of which dream guys were made.
What was left to be seen was whether or not he could ever be her dream guy.
Melody shored up her courage and nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
Nolan visibly released the breath he’d been holding. The easy smile that seemed to be his default expression returned. As he swung his arms forward and back in gentle arcs, Melody couldn’t help but wonder if he could be any more of the quintessential boy-next-door.
“Great,” Nolan said in response to her assent. “And you won’t read anything into it if it takes a few weeks before I can pin down an actual date? I won’t have my next schedule until then.”
“No worries,” Melody stated. “I get it.” And she really did. Having done a co-op stint at a hospital, she understood how staff sickness, vacation, and the understaffing that was becoming all too commonplace across the country could wreak havoc with staff scheduling.
“Thanks,” Nolan said with a grateful smile. “My schedule is usually predictable, but some months are like this. And what am I going to do? Not work when it would leave a sick kid without care?”
Nolan’s expression left her with no doubt that no children would be left wanting. Not on his watch.
Melody’s esteem for him kicked up a notch. There was no doubt about it. Nolan Rogers was a good man and one she couldn’t help but want to get to know better.
“Don’t even worry about it,” Melody reinforced. “I get it. And I respect your priorities.”
Nolan surveyed her with thoughtful eyes. “You really are incredible,” he marveled. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Of course,” Melody answered, meaning it.
Nolan scuffed his foot against the floor. “I better get going if I’m going to see my grandpa before heading into work, but I’m glad I got to see you,” he said.
“Me, too,” Melody agreed. “And thanks again for the tea.” She extended her cup in smiling cheers before bringing it up to her mouth and wrapping her lips around the rim.
Nolan returned her smile before tapping on her door and taking his leave.
“Damn, girl,” Samantha gushed when Nolan was out of earshot. “Where are you finding these guys? First Benjamin Logan and now this guy? Hot, hot, HOT.” She mimed panting and fanning her face.
Melody’s lips quirked up at her colleague’s theatrics. She couldn’t deny that Ben and Nolan were both incredibly appealing men. Fanning was definitely warranted.
Melody just hoped she knew what she was doing.
She’d always heard that all was fair in love and war, but she sure hoped not to sustain any war wounds.
Her heart was still recovering from Jeremy’s betrayal.
Or should she call it his desertion? Didn’t matter.
She wasn’t sure how her heart would handle another assault.