CHAPTER ELEVEN #2
“Looking like you want to eat me alive isn’t making this any easier.” Her throat moved as she swallowed. “That was a heat-of-the-moment kiss, right?”
“If that’s what you want to tell yourself.”
“Yes, I do. It’s way safer than the alternative.”
“No doubt. But me? I like direct.” He took a breath and went for it. “There’s something about you that’s grabbed me and it’s not letting go.”
“Oh shit.”
If that kiss had hit her like the freight train that had flattened him, he figured she understood. “Yeah, oh shit.”
She opened her mouth, but Pancake barked and there was the thunder of racing feet and then they were swarmed by dog and kids and the moment was gone.
“Mom, Mom, Mom. Guess what? Me and Olivia’s fairy boat sank but Jordy’s pirate ship didn’t sink. Can we follow it down the creek and see how far it goes?”
Canine and kids all had muddy feet and happy faces. That kind of carefree happiness should never be taken for granted.
Melanie cleared her throat. “No, it’s a school night and almost dinner time.” She glanced at Gage, then the kids. Jordy was examining the ladder resting on its side.
“Jordy, help me break that ladder apart and we’ll get it in the trash.”
Melanie bent to retrieve her screwdriver. “I’ll do it. It’s mine to deal with.”
Addy piped up, “Us too. Me and Olivia want to help.”
Gage couldn’t help smirking when he caught her gaze. “Ball’s in your court.”
She rolled her eyes and he stifled the desire to laugh. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being in tune with her, like he understood her on some fundamental level. He didn’t know her well enough for that, but that didn’t diminish the feeling.
“Girls, the ladder is a two-person job so we’ll let the boys take care of it. You can help me clean Pancake’s feet and we’ll rinse off your boots.”
He watched them retreat up the driveway. Two little girls, the dog, the woman who’d seeped into his skin, and need pulsed through him. His own childhood had been traumatic, and he’d made the choice early on never to risk the heartache certain to come if he had his own family.
But deep inside he craved the warmth and sunlight he was missing.
***
Melanie tasted the soup, added more salt, and stirred.
The task didn’t occupy her mind nearly enough to keep her from replaying that kiss.
She’d never experienced a kiss that so completely consumed her.
Made her feel like every cell in her body was on fire.
Made her want to explore a man’s body with her lips, her tongue, her fingertips.
Not any man’s, only Gage’s. And that erotic image had no place in her head when she was standing in her kitchen making dinner.
She dumped a bowl of chopped spinach into the steaming pot. It would cook down enough Addy would deem it edible.
She’d managed to keep her few boyfriends at a safe emotional distance, but with one kiss Gage had obliterated every barrier she possessed. It scared her at the same time it thrilled her.
Setting down the spoon, she peered through the slider to the patio. She hadn’t heard a peep from her girl since Jordy and Olivia had left for home. The rumble of thunder echoed off the mountain.
She slid a tray with a bake-at-home loaf into the oven before going in search of her daughter. The deep timbre of Gage’s voice carried from the front of the house, followed by Addy’s lighter tones. A glance through the living room window had Melanie making a beeline for the front door.
Addy and Pancake sat on the front stoop while Gage stood on a ladder—this one sturdy and made of aluminum—with pliers in his hand.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He glanced at her, the corner of his mouth lifting before returning his attention to pulling out the staples holding up the sunshade. “Back to that, are we?”
“Yes. Why are you doing that?”
“Gage is helping us, Mom.”
He pulled out another staple, dropped it in a small tub, then addressed Addy. “Shade’s coming down, sunshine. You and Pancake stay put.” Addy tightened her arm around the dog.
Gage pulled out the last staple and let the screen fall to the ground.
“Mom said ‘hell.’”
“I heard that. She allowed to swear?”
“No, but she says ‘shit’ sometimes too.”
“No kidding?” Gage’s grin had Melanie’s stomach doing a slow roll.
“Way to rat me out, kid,” she muttered. Telling herself to stay focused, she said, “Addy, it’s time to come in. Dinner’s ready.”
It was getting dark and thunder rumbled again. Like a switch flipped, rain began pelting the ground from the heavy gray clouds overhead. Pancake whimpered.
“Poor baby, she’s scared.” Addy moved farther under the overhang, keeping a hand on Pancake’s collar.
“Addy, take Pancake inside until Gage is ready to take her home. She’ll feel safer. Remember to wash your hands and set the table. I put the dishes on the counter.” Melanie opened the door and Pancake bolted inside, followed eagerly by Addy.
Mel turned back to Gage. He collapsed the ladder and leaned it against the wall under the eaves. “I didn’t ask for your help getting the screen down.”
“No, you didn’t. I’ll put it in my trash can.”
“I can deal with it. I was going to borrow a ladder from Paul to finish the job.”
“Now you don’t have to.” He climbed the steps to stand on the small, covered stoop, dark gaze assessing.
The rain came down in a curtain behind him, filling the air with the smell of wet earth.
“I have a ladder. I’ve got pliers. Your trash can is full since Jordy and I filled it with the pieces of the other ladder and I have space in mine. I don’t see the problem.”
She heaved out a frustrated breath and closed her eyes.
“I’m the problem. Dammit.” She opened them again to find he’d taken a step closer.
She tilted back her head to meet his gaze.
“I’m grateful for your help, Gage. But this is my house, and I need to do things myself.
I knew going into it there’d be maintenance I’d have to take care of.
” She pointed up. “The eaves and facia board need to be painted, which is why, besides being hideous, the screen had to come down. I don’t want to rely on friends or family to take care of things like that. ”
“So you watch how-to videos.”
“It’s not like I don’t know how to do anything, but yeah, pretty much.”
“I’ve got nothing against learning from videos. Do you plan to do the painting yourself? There’s a lot of prep work, and painting takes skill. That’s besides being backbreaking work and risky if you’re working from a ladder, even a good one.”
“Hold on, I never said I was doing the entire project. Addy’s school friend Lucy’s two moms own a house painting business. They call it Roller Girls. Jessica is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate. She said she’ll give me the friends and family discount. That’s why I wanted the screen down.”
“Next time ask me.”
“Next time I’ll make sure I have a sturdy ladder and do it myself.”
“Uh-uh. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“You can’t tell me what to do, Gage.”
“All that means is I need to keep a closer eye on you.” He shook his head as the words left his mouth.
“I don’t mean that as bad as it sounds. I want you safe.
” He jammed his fingers through his hair and looked like he wanted to say something else but stopped himself.
“I’ll get Pancake and head home. The ladder and screen can wait until it’s not raining. ”
A woof followed by Addy’s giggle sounded through the door that had been left ajar.
Melanie rubbed her arms against the chill and looked out into the pounding rain that had dropped the temperature.
Bringing her gaze back to his, she said, “This doesn’t mean anything in the context of, um, what happened earlier, but if vegetable bean soup sounds good, you’re invited to stay for dinner. ”
“You mean in the context of the blow-my-socks-off kiss we shared?”
“Yeah, that. You and Pancake will get soaked if you try going home now.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah. I’d like to stay for dinner.”
That’s how Gage ended up sitting at her small kitchen table across from Melanie and Addy while they ate soup and crusty bread.
Rain drummed against the roof, the aroma of fresh-baked bread scented the air, and the soup was warm and savory.
She wondered if Gage was affected by the coziness of a scene that felt very much like a family sharing a meal at the end of the day.
Addy chattered nonstop, thrilled to have guests for dinner. She’d wanted to feed Pancake soup until Gage warned her onions weren’t good for dogs. Now Pancake sat looking forlorn.
“We need to get treats for Pancake for when she visits, Mom.”
“We can do that.”
Gage spread butter over his bread. “Give her a carrot and she’ll be fine until I feed her.”
Addy looked skeptical. “A carrot? Dogs don’t eat carrots.”
“Wanna bet? Pancake loves them.”
“Then you should have called her Carrot.”
“She likes pancakes more.”
Giggling, Addy got a carrot from the fridge.
She held it out and Pancake took it carefully and began crunching.
“She likes it.” Addy beamed at Gage as she returned to her seat. “What other vegetables do dogs like?”
That question was followed by a discussion of foods dogs could and could not eat.
Since the blow-the-socks-off kiss had left Melanie feeling off-kilter, she was happy to let Addy keep the conversational ball rolling.
They finished dinner, Gage and Addy both having seconds, and then it was time for the evening routine to get her little girl settled in bed after which Melanie would have a couple hours to work on her manuscript.
They rose from the table and Gage took the empty bowls to the sink.
“It’s getting toward bedtime, sweet child of mine,” Melanie said. “Say goodbye to Gage and Pancake. Tonight’s bath night so take your pj’s to the bathroom. And don’t forget to lay out your school clothes for tomorrow.”
“Can’t I stay up since Gage and Pancake are here?”
Gage tugged her braid. “We’re going, sunshine. It’s getting toward Pancake’s bedtime too.”
Addy’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.” How could she make a simple word sound so sad? “Bye, Gage. I like it when you and Pancake have dinner with us.”
Gage met Melanie’s gaze over Addy’s head.
“It was nice. Thanks for having me.” Melanie didn’t miss his surprise when Addy wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug.
He hesitated, then dropped a hand to rub her back.
Addy released him to fling her arms around Pancake, who swiped her chin with her tongue.
When the hug looked to stretch indefinitely, Mel urged her along. “Go on, Addy. I’ll be in to run your bath in a minute.”
Dragging her feet, Addy headed for her room.
Melanie retrieved her car keys from a dish on the counter and held them up to Gage. “It’s pouring. Take my car.”
Gage raised his brows. “You sure?”
“Positive. You and Pancake will get soaked and muddy if you walk. If it’s still raining in the morning, though, I’ll need you to bring the car back before eight so I can drive Addy to the bus stop.”
“I can do that.” He took the keys. “Thanks.”
He made no move toward the door. “Look, I want to talk with you when you have time.” He glanced toward the hallway. “But not when Addy needs your attention.”
“Okay. I could call you after she’s in bed.”
He shook his head. “How about tomorrow? I’d rather we talk in person.”
“Is this about my, um, project?” she asked, in lieu of a better word.
“Yeah. I’ve done preliminary research on the people listed on the spreadsheet.”
“Okay. Come over whenever. I’m home all day.
” She cocked her head. “Another thing. Delaney texted earlier and invited me to the farm on Monday. It’s tentative because her baby has a cold plus she’s teething and everyone is feeling it.
You’re invited too, if you still want to come.
You don’t have to, you know. But if you do… ”
His gaze dark and watchful, he said, “I’ll be there. And Mel? Dinner was good. Real good. Thanks.”
It was there again, the heat of attraction that made the protective barriers she’d built around her heart wobble.
His hand was on the doorknob when he paused. Turning back, he cupped her jaw and kissed her. A swift press of his lips to hers that felt like a promise.
Then, with Pancake trotting at his side, he disappeared into the rainy night, leaving her to wonder how a man she hadn’t known existed only weeks ago could suddenly feel so essential to her world.