25. Melanie
CHAPTER 25
Melanie
Luke came out to the lobby wearing a fresh T-shirt, although his hair was still a little disheveled from my fingers running through it. I liked the contrast.
I still felt euphoric from the unexpectedly hot encounter in his office. And more than slightly amazed that he’d calmly gone from making me climax to planning a date.
His self-control was incredibly sexy.
“Where’d you get a clean shirt?” I asked.
“How did you even notice?”
“Women notice these things.” I stood and looked down at what I was wearing. The sleeveless blouse and slacks were great for work, but I wouldn’t have picked it for date attire. “Are you sure I shouldn’t change first?”
“No, you look great.”
I shouldered my purse. “All right. Where are we going?”
“Wine tasting.”
I blinked in surprise. “Oh. That sounds lovely.”
“Why are you so shocked? Didn’t think I could come up with a good first date idea?”
“No, that was just very fast.” I narrowed my eyes. “Wait. Is this your standard first date? How many women have you taken wine tasting?”
“None.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think I’d remember.”
“Okay, then,” I said with a smile and came around the front counter. “Lead the way. Actually, I’ll lead the way since I’m driving. Where’s the winery?”
“Echo Creek. It’s called Salishan Cellars. You’ve never been there?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Even better. It’s beautiful.” He walked to the front door and held it open for me.
I stepped out into the heat. “I thought you said you haven’t been there.”
“I’ve been there, just not with a date. Weddings, mostly.”
We got in my car, and I brought up the location on my GPS. It wouldn’t be hard to find, and Echo Creek was a pretty town.
Despite a haze in the air, the drive was beautiful. The highway followed the river as it curved and the mountain slopes rose on either side, rocky and gray.
We didn’t talk much on the way. Luke turned on a classic rock playlist that made me smile. It reminded me of summer days cruising along that very highway, windows rolled down, music blasting. Me in the passenger seat with Luke’s hand on my thigh.
The entrance to the winery was right off the highway. I turned up a long driveway lined with vineyards and a big sign that read, Salishan Cellars.
There was parking outside a large building surrounded by gardens. Flowers bloomed in beds and hanging baskets, and the green lawn was pristine.
Inside, the cool air was refreshing. The lobby was decorated with rich wood, greenery, and wine bottles. There were photos on one wall—some old and faded, others new.
“You know, I’m almost related to the family who owns this place,” Luke said, gesturing to a wedding photo on the wall.
“How can you be almost related to someone?”
“You know Annika’s husband, Levi Bailey?”
“Yeah.”
“His oldest brother, Asher, is married to Grace. She’s a Miles—related to the Miles family who owns Salishan.”
“So your sister’s sister-in-law is related to the family who owns this winery?”
“Exactly.”
I paused to let that process. “Okay, I suppose that qualifies as almost related.”
A young woman dressed in a black blouse and skirt came out from another room with a friendly smile. “Hi, can I help you?”
“We’re here for a wine tasting,” Luke answered.
“Great,” she said. “I’ll take you back to the tasting room.”
We followed her into a room with a bar fronted by cushioned stools. Low light, dark wood, and more greenery created a comfortable ambiance. A group sat at a long table with bench seats, but the others were empty. The woman gestured to a small table with two chairs, and we took a seat.
“Brynn will be right with you,” she said.
Another woman came out, also dressed in black. Her dark hair was pulled back and she smiled as she handed us menus. “Welcome to Salishan. Have you visited us before?”
“I have, she hasn’t,” Luke said.
“Wonderful. Are you from out of town or nearby?”
“Tilikum,” he said. “And I’ve been here for a few weddings.”
“I love Tilikum. My sister and her family live there.”
“Grace Bailey?” Luke asked .
She smiled. “Yes! Do you know her?”
“A little bit. My sister is married to Levi Bailey.”
“Oh my gosh, we’re practically related.”
Luke grinned and winked at me. “See?”
“I’m Brynn, by the way. Brynn Reilly, although my maiden name is Miles.”
“Luke Haven. And this is my beautiful date, Melanie Andolini.”
I smiled. “Nice to meet you. So this is a family business? You’re very brave. My parents own Home Slice Pizza in Tilikum and I shudder to think of what would happen if I worked there.”
“Home Slice is my favorite,” Brynn said, her voice enthusiastic. “My husband drove out to Tilikum just the other day because I mentioned pizza sounded good.”
“Sounds like you married the right man,” I said.
“He’s the best. Anyway, if you’d like to take a minute with the menu, that’s fine. We have several different wine flights and a selection of hors d’oeuvres. Or I can treat you to the family special.”
Luke raised his eyebrows at me. “Family special?”
“I don’t think we can pass that up,” I said.
“Good choice,” Brynn said and took our menus. “I’ll be right back.”
A few minutes later, she brought our first wine and poured—a sparkling white.
I picked up the glass and took a sip. “What was our first date? Do you remember?”
“Homecoming.”
“Was it?” I thought back. “You’re right, it was. I wore that pink and black dress.”
“That was hot.”
I laughed. “I doubt it. But we had fun, didn’t we?”
“The dance was okay.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Afterward was better. ”
My stomach tingled at the memory. “We parked somewhere and made out in your car, didn’t we?”
His grin grew. “Oh yeah, we did.”
“You know, you were the first boy I ever kissed.”
“Was I really? I thought you went out with Johnny Montgomery freshman year.”
“I did. For about two weeks. And all we did was talk on the phone. He wouldn’t even hold my hand at school.” I took another sip. “Don’t worry, I know I’m not the first girl you kissed.”
“Actually, you are.”
My mouth dropped open, and I set my wineglass down. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
“It’s true.”
“I thought you and Brittany Delaney used to sneak away to make out under the bleachers sophomore year.”
“That was just a rumor. Never happened.”
“Seriously?”
“Okay, I didn’t deny the rumor, because at the time, I wished I would have been able to make out with Brittany Delaney under the bleachers. But no. I never did.”
“Are you telling me making out in your car after homecoming was your actual first kiss?”
“Yeah. You were my first everything.”
I gazed at him for a long moment. It wouldn’t have bothered me to know I hadn’t been his first kiss. But discovering I was? It made my heart want to burst right out of my chest.
“I guess we were each other’s first everything,” I said softly.
“Kinda cool.”
“Yeah. It is.”
Brynn brought a charcuterie board with several types of cheese, olives, salami, fancy crackers, and to my endless delight, several mini pickles. We thanked her and continued sipping our bubbly while we sampled the snacks. Once we were done with the first glass of wine, she came out with another—a dry white Pino Grigio. I liked it even better than the sparkling white.
“Look, I know this is really personal, and it doesn’t have anything to do with me,” Luke said, “but can I ask what actually happened with your ex?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “Sure. I told you I moved in with him after the abduction. I didn’t feel safe living alone. After that, we realized it would work better financially, in terms of health insurance and everything, if we got married. To be fair, I thought I wanted to marry him anyway. But looking back, I don’t think I would have if I’d given it more time.”
“So, you basically broke up because you shouldn’t have been together in the first place?”
“More or less.” I paused. I could leave it at that and not tell him the whole story, but something compelled me to keep talking. “He had some specific grievances with me, though.”
“Grievances? What do you mean?”
“One, in particular. I can’t have kids.”
The confession seemed to hang in the air for a long moment. I watched Luke’s face while he processed what I’d just said, ready for him to pull away. To realize what I was saying.
I was broken. He wasn’t going to want me.
Anger crossed his features like a storm cloud. “Are you telling me he left you because of that?”
“It wasn’t only that. Like I said, our relationship wasn’t exactly sunshine and roses. But that was definitely his last straw. He decided it was a deal breaker.”
He leaned forward, and when he spoke, his voice was a low growl. “That piece of shit. How fucking dare he?”
His reaction made a lump of emotion rise from deep inside, lodging in my throat, and tears threatened to gather in my eyes.
“It wasn’t the end of the world,” I said, trying very hard to hide behind a mask of flippancy. “Our relationship would have ended regardless.”
“Still. Melanie, that’s awful. He was wrong to do that to you.”
I swallowed hard. “I know.”
“Do you?”
It was hard to look him in the eyes, so I glanced away. “Of course. I don’t know why he was so obsessed with perpetuating his genes. It’s not like he would have made a good father. Or will make, since I’m sure his new girlfriend is long since knocked up by now. You know he wouldn’t even consider adoption?” I was talking too fast, and too much, but I couldn’t seem to stop. “I did all the research, and goodness knows he made plenty of money. As soon as I brought it up, he completely shut it down. Said I was giving up.”
Luke reached across the table and took my hand. But apparently, I wasn’t done.
“It’s like he thought I wasn’t trying hard enough to get pregnant. Like I was in control of my messed-up reproductive system. It wasn’t my fault.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“I went through all the tests, and do you know how invasive it all is? Having a freaking fertility doctor up in your lady parts all the time? And his tests, of course they came out just perfect. All those sperm, just going to waste in my barren, broken body.”
Luke took my other hand. “Mel.”
I kept my eyes on the table. “What?”
“Look at me.”
Reluctantly, I lifted my gaze to meet his.
“It’s not your fault.” His voice was soft, but decisive. “And I’m glad it happened.”
I tried to snatch my hand away, but he held it. “Why?”
“Because if you’d had kids with him, you might not be here with me. And I know a date with your high school ex- boyfriend isn’t exactly a worthy consolation prize if you wanted to have kids and couldn’t. That’s not what I mean. I just mean that you weren’t meant to be with him.”
“And I’m meant to be with you?” I asked, my tone skeptical.
“Yeah, maybe. We’re here, aren’t we? Giving it a shot.”
“Luke, it’s our first date.”
“Not really. We’ve been on lots of dates.”
“Yeah, and we both know how that turned out.”
“We were stupid kids. We’re not anymore. Life has kicked us around, made us smarter. Maybe even wiser. I certainly know a lot more about what I want. I’m sure you do too.”
I hesitated again, afraid to say it, but knowing I had to. I had to ask the question—had to know. “Since you seem to have a talent for getting me to open up about things I don’t like to talk about, and I keep telling you all my awful secrets, I need to know something. And it’s probably best that it comes out now, instead of kicking me in the stomach later.”
“What?”
“I can’t have babies, Luke. It’s not going to happen. I have a wicked combination of messed-up hormones and messed-up anatomy.” I paused, my stomach suddenly churning with dread. “Is that a deal breaker for you? Because if it is, I need to know now.”
“No.”
My shoulders slumped, and I tilted my head. “You answered too fast.”
“Because it’s not a hard question. That’s absolutely not a deal breaker.”
“You don’t want kids?”
He hesitated, and I appreciated that he actually considered the question.
“Kids would be great. But if it’s not going to happen, that’s okay too.”
Until that moment, I hadn’t fully realized how heavy a burden I’d been carrying. Was it worse than the trauma of my abduction experience? They were such different things, it was hard to compare. But deep down, I’d assumed no man would ever love me unless I could have his babies. Or at least, no man would ever love me enough to keep me.
The one who’d made that promise certainly hadn’t.
I let out a long breath, grateful my eyes hadn’t betrayed me and started leaking. “That’s good to know.”
“Do you want kids?” he asked.
I blinked. “I just told you I can’t have any.”
“I know. But you said you looked into adoption. Was that just for your ex, or was it for you?”
“That’s actually a good question. I love the idea of having kids, but going through years of infertility was rough. And when my ex left, I sort of figured that was it. I wasn’t meant to be a mom. But I guess, when I think about it, I’d be open to it, at least as a possibility. You know, if I ever got married again, which I probably won’t.”
He chuckled. “You don’t think so?”
“It would take quite the man to convince me it was worth taking that risk again.” I smiled. “I don’t think he exists.”
“I bet he does. In fact, I’ll bet you a hundred dollars you get married again.”
“To someone specific, or just anyone?”
He didn’t answer. Just grinned at me.
“That’s not a fair wager. How do I win? Die single? Then I can’t even collect.”
“All right, how about this? I bet you a hundred dollars you get married again in less than a year.”
“Less than a year?” I reached across the table to shake his hand. “I’ll take that bet.”
He took my hand, and we shook on it.
“You might as well give me the money now. There’s no way I’m getting married in less than a year.”
“We’ll see. ”
Brynn came back with another wine—a delicious Cabernet. We chatted, ate, and sipped, finishing our flight with a sweet Moscato alongside a rich chocolate torte.
I was relaxed, and not from the wine. Something had changed between us. Over the past few days, I’d told Luke some of my worst memories and darkest secrets, and he hadn’t shied away. Instead, it had drawn us closer.
Tension still pulsed between us, but it was different—no longer anger. My instinct to snap at him was melting in the heat of his gaze into something much deeper. A swirl of desire that pooled in my core.
The attraction had always been there, but as we let go of the layers of sarcasm and ire, it moved to the surface, hot and demanding. What he’d done to me in his office had been only the beginning.
I wanted him.
Brynn gifted us a bottle of the Cabernet—after all, we were practically family. We left, and the hand he placed on the small of my back as we walked to my car lit my body on fire.
He felt it too. I watched him from the corner of my eye as I drove back to Tilikum, and I could see it in the set of his jaw and the way he flexed his hands.
When I parked in front of his house, he glanced at me, and I could see the question in his eyes.
Ask me, Luke. Ask me to come in.
“Do you maybe—”
“Yes.”
He smiled. “How do you know what I was going to say?”
“You were going to invite me in.”
“I want to lean over and kiss you right now, but I don’t think I can.”
“How about we go inside?” I bit my lower lip. “I’ll be gentle.”
“I won’t. ”
I made a little noise in my throat as I unfastened the seat belt and lurched over the center console to kiss him. I probably should have pretended to be less eager—play at least a little bit hard to get. But I was over playing games. I wanted him. He wanted me. That was all we needed.
We got out of the car, and he took my hand as we walked up the steps on the side of the building. My heart started to race, and heat was already building in my core. He unlocked the door, and we went inside.
The door had hardly finished closing before he hauled me against him. His mouth devoured mine, his kiss hard and aggressive.
“Bedroom,” he growled into my mouth. “Clothes off. Now.”
“You think you can boss me around?” I asked between frantic kisses.
He pulled my shirt off as he backed me toward the bedroom. “Yes.”
“Fine, you can. But only in here.”
The rest of our clothes came off and my eyes widened when I saw his bruises. A large part of his torso was black and blue.
Gently, I reached out to touch him. “This looks terrible. Are you sure you can…?”
“It’ll hurt, but it’ll be worth it.” His eyes roved up and down. “Holy shit, Mel. Look at you. You’re fucking gorgeous.”
He pulled me against him, kissing me deeply, and the feel of his skin on mine was electric. My body ached, desperate for him.
We got on the bed, and he put on a condom. Despite his assurances that he’d be fine, I didn’t want to hurt him. I nudged him onto his back and climbed on top.
“Will this work?” I asked.
“Baby, this is amazing. ”
I loved the way his voice was awed, almost breathless.
He groaned as we came together and started to move. I draped myself over him, brushing skin against skin, our mouths tangling. My body came alive, the heat intensifying.
He squeezed my hips, moving me the way he wanted, and I relented to his commanding touch. Pressure built fast, and I realized with a heady sense of euphoria that he was going to finish me. Again.
“Yes, Luke. Yes.”
“Fuck I love hearing you say my name. Say it again.”
“Luke. Yes, Luke.”
I kept it up until my voice was nothing but a rhythmic whimper. I felt the beginnings of his climax right before he gave me a warning. I was already there, swirling and spiraling out of control, pleasure bursting through me. He clasped my hands so I could brace myself and I threw my head back, inhibitions gone, riding the waves of ecstasy.
Breathing hard, my hair fell around my face. He let go of my hands and reached for me, bringing my mouth to his for a kiss. I lingered there, my tongue dancing with his, savoring the moment.
Eventually, I got off him and we took turns cleaning up in the bathroom. When I came back, I slid into bed, and he drew me against him.
“Are your ribs okay?”
“Don’t even feel them,” he said, his voice dreamy. “Might be sore later, but I do not care.”
I nestled my head against his chest, and he drew lazy circles on my shoulder. His familiar scent surrounded me and I took a deep breath.
“So, I’m not allowed to date anyone else,” I said.
“No.”
“And you’re not allowed to date anyone else.”
“Nope.”
“And we just went on a date, and now we’re… here. ”
“Are you asking what it all means?”
“I think it’s a fair question.”
“Look at me.”
I propped myself up on one elbow. He reached out and touched my face.
“You’re mine now,” he said, his voice low.
“Just like that?”
“I’m not interested in anything less. Either you’re mine, or this is the last time this happens. There’s no in-between for me.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile. “I guess I can live with that. If you insist.”
His lips twitched in a grin. “I do insist.”
The fear was back, sweeping through me. “But what if…”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“Yeah. We can’t pretend we didn’t break up once already.”
“I know we were a mess back then, but shouldn’t we at least try?”
I gazed at him for a moment. “You really want to try, don’t you?”
“I do.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb. “Maybe I’m crazy, but there’s no one like you. And let’s be honest, we can’t seem to avoid each other. This was probably inevitable.”
“Probably. All right, Luke Haven. Let’s give this a real try.”
I settled against him, and he tightened his arm around me. And for the second time since I’d moved back to Tilikum, it felt like I was home.