Chapter THREE
When the doorbell rang that evening, Melissa was busy making twice-baked potatoes with a mushroom and cream mixture. She raced to the door, pleased to see Ross was on time. It didn’t matter much in this case, but sometimes she cooked a meal for others, and timing was critical. When she opened the door, she saw he’d put on a golf shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, perfect for a summer night.
He smiled and held up a bottle of red wine. “My favorite. For tonight.”
“Thanks,”
Melissa said and checked the Chandler Hill Inn label. “You have good taste. Let me decant the wine right away, so it’ll be perfect with dinner.”
Ross followed her into the kitchen and stopped to look around. “You can tell a chef owns this kitchen. Mine is sparse compared to this.”
“I’m thrilled I was able to save enough money to build this house and design the kitchen. It’s fabulous to be out of the tiny house on my parents’ property and to have a place of my own. I love every day that I live here.”
Ross studied her. “That’s a great way to see things. I like my house too.”
Melissa decanted the wine and handed him a plate of homemade mini-cheese-and-bacon quiches. “Thought we could have these while we wait to cook our dinner.”
“Ah, bacon. A way to a man’s heart.”
Melissa poured the red wine into two glasses and handed him one. “Let’s sit on the porch. If we stay here long enough, we might be able to see a deer. In the evening, a couple of them sometimes like to graze along the edge of the woods.”
“We’re lucky, aren’t we?”
said Ross, sitting in a chair and looking out at the landscape.
She sat on the couch. “We certainly are. I know you grew up in New Jersey and have three older brothers. What was that like? Though I desperately wanted some, I never had siblings.”
“Being the youngest of four boys could be tough. No one wanted me to tag along, but when my mother assigned one of them to keep an eye on me, they didn’t dare refuse. Especially after she got sick with cancer. Now, my father is dying from a different cancer, and I try to make it to New Jersey as often as I can to visit him.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents. It’s heartwarming that you try to visit home often,”
Melissa commented.
“I was only nine when my mother died. My dad used to help coach my baseball team and spent a lot of time with me, working to hone my skills. I owe a lot to him for helping me become a professional baseball player, among other things. What he didn’t do to keep me in line in other ways, my brothers did.”
“Are you still close to them?”
she asked.
“Yes. They have families, some teenagers, and one of my nieces, my oldest brother's daughter, is driving now. They’re good men, and we stay in touch. One of my sisters-in-law is always trying to fix me up, but I haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“You will,”
said Melissa, smiling at him. He was so darn cute she was sure some glamorous woman, more his type, would come along and snatch him up. Her thoughts turned to Dirk. She’d been told he was another guy waiting for the right woman. She hoped he could get to know her and see they shared many common interests. They both liked sports, the theater, and even classical music—something she hadn’t found in another man. Dirk told her that Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and other composers had created compositions that made soothing background music while he worked on teeth, especially with kids.
“Do you want a family one day?”
she asked Ross, thinking of Dirk and having a family.
“I’d like three or four. I will be very open about it when I’m dating.”
“Music to some women’s ears,”
said Melissa.
“We’ll see,”
said Ross, taking one of the tiny quiches and popping it into his mouth. “M-m-m, these are delicious.”
“Help yourself to more. I keep some frozen in the freezer for last-minute treats,”
she said, checking her watch. “Let’s get the grill started. While you cook the steak, I’m going to make a green salad with tomatoes from Collister’s farm and Maytag blue cheese that I ordered online. Instead of a mushroom sauce for the steak, I made a mushroom and cream potato dish I think you’ll like.”
“I’m sure I will. Let’s see about that steak. I use special seasonings on it.”
“Take a look in my cupboard. I promise you’ll find what you want there,”
said Melissa.
Melissa lit the grill, and they walked into the kitchen.
Ross opened the cupboard she’d indicated and let out a long whistle. “You’re right. It looks as if there’s every spice in the world inside.”
Melissa chuckled. “Every time I see something new, I can’t resist.”
After seasoning the meat, Ross carried it on a platter outside.
While he cooked the steaks, Melissa prepared the ingredients for a salad and set the carafe of red wine on the dining room table. The dining room was open to the kitchen. Melissa liked to use the more formal space for dining because that signified it was a meal to take seriously.
Ross served the meat while she plated the potatoes and tossed the salad.
They carried their meals to the dining area and sat at the glass-top table opposite one another.
Ross looked around the room. “This is attractive.”
“Thanks. The contemporary look is quite different from what I knew growing up, so it’s a welcome change.”
They ate slowly, chatting with one another about their childhoods and college. Though it might seem recent to some, Melissa and Ross agreed those days seemed ages ago.
After eating, they carried their dishes into the kitchen, and while Melissa loaded them into the dishwasher, Ross took care of the grill.
“Thanks for doing that,”
Melissa told him. “You’re such an easy guest. We’ll have to do this often. I love sharing a meal with someone.”
“Yeah, me too. I’m not a real cook, but I can supply you with excellent wine to go with the food.”
“That would be worth a couple of meals,”
said Melissa.
“Deal,”
he said and bumped her fist with his.
“Shall we go to Jake’s? I’m anxious to see who shows up,”
Melissa said, checking her watch.
Ross winked at her. “If you’re in luck, Dirk will be there.”
###
When Melissa and Ross walked into Jake’s, she saw Dirk sitting at the locals’ table and let out a sigh of relief. This was the best way for Dirk to get to know her without any pressure. She, Misty, and Sarah, who was now a widow, were the only unattached women in the group.
Sitting by Brooks Beckham, one of the owners of Beckham Lumber, Dirk looked up at her and smiled.
She beamed at him and sat down beside him. “Where is everyone?”
“Cooper texted me that he and Taylor were on their way,”
said Dirk.
“Brad and Dani should be here anytime,”
said Brooks. “We delivered lumber to The Meadows site late this afternoon, which might’ve delayed them.”
JoEllen Daniels entered the bar, saw them, and hurried over. “Great! The gang’s here.”
She took a seat next to Brooks.
Melissa glanced at Ross sitting across from her and rolled her eyes.
He winked at her.
Melissa turned to Dirk. “How’s your week going? Are you busy?”
“Yes, I’ve had an interesting group of patients. Doing different procedures with them keeps me happy.”
“I was surprised when you told me you like classical music,”
said Melissa. “My grandmother on my mother’s side loved it and shared that appreciation with me.”
“That’s my story, too. It was my paternal grandmother who loved all classical music, even operas. She used to go to the Metropolitan Opera back in the day. I didn’t like classical music at first, but I find it soothes people while I work on their teeth.”
She chuckled. “I hope your patients like it too.”
“Better than listening to the drill,”
he said, laughing with her.
Taylor, Dani, and Whitney arrived one after the other with their spouses, followed by Crystal and Emmet. The gathering turned into a party with a lot of joking between them. Melissa didn’t know how the topic turned to food, but Ross suddenly said to Dirk, “You ought to see Melissa’s kitchen. She has an entire cupboard filled with spices and seasonings.”
“How do you know?”
Dani teased Ross.
“Melissa and I are neighbors and friends. I did a favor for her, and she fixed me dinner,”
Ross said.
Crystal nudged Emmett. “That’s sort of like us, huh? Be careful, you two. You might end up engaged like us.”
Melissa shot Ross a look for help.
“No, no. As I said, Melissa and I are neighbors and friends. That’s all,”
said Ross. “That’s why I suggested Dirk take a look at her kitchen … uh, you know, just as something new to do.”
“I’m a good cook, too,”
said JoEllen, smiling at Dirk.
“Yeah, what do you make?”
Dani challenged her. The words were said harshly, but no one who knew what a pain JoEllen had been to Dani and Brad could blame her.
“I make delicious brownies,”
said JoEllen, lifting her nose and facing Dani.
“Out of a box, no doubt,”
Dani muttered.
Whitney gave her sister a warning look and said sweetly, “Brownies are a favorite.”
“Yes, I know,”
JoEllen said and glared at Dani.
“What’s going on with you?”
Cooper asked Ross, and while the men talked baseball statistics, Melissa turned to Taylor. “You mentioned interviewing Ross. Does your new book have to do with baseball?”
“Yes, it’s a romance between a baseball player and a female sports announcer. It should be fun, but I want to make sure everything is correct. Ross has generously given me time to talk over certain points.”
“He’s a nice man,”
Melissa said.
“I think he likes you a lot, Melissa,”
Taylor said quietly.
“I’m interested in someone else,”
whispered Melissa.
Taylor studied her and indicated Dirk with a nod. “Is he the one?”
Melissa glanced at Dirk and couldn’t stop a smile from spreading. Life with him would be steady, comfortable, and entrenched in Lilac Lake.
He caught her looking at him and returned her smile, sending a frisson of happiness through her.
Ross noticed, and a look of satisfaction crossed his face.
Their conversation moved to a fundraising baseball game Ross and Mike were setting up to gain support for a tennis and baseball training center in town.
“The town selectmen are all for the center, especially if we pay most of the construction cost. But we’ll still need community financial support to pull it off.”
“You mean for a tax break, things like that?”
asked Dirk.
“Yes. For the game, I think I can get two of my old teammates to head the opposition team, which will consist of them and our high school baseball team. Town officials, noted community members, Mike, and I will play them for fun,”
said Ross.
“Tickets to the game will be sold for the cause, though children under ten will get in free,”
added Mike.
“With the blessing of the selectmen, Mike and I have already bought the land,”
added Ross. “Later, we’ll hold a gala at the Lilac Lake Inn. My PR person is working on that with them now.”
Impressed, Melissa clapped with the others. “What fun. And a worthy cause, too.”
“This will be a wonderful addition to the town,”
said Brad. “Collister Construction plans to put in a bid to build it.”
“I love how the town supports local businesses,”
said Dani, turning to Ross.
He held up his hand. “It won’t be up to me alone to decide.”
“Of course not,”
said Brad. “It must be open and fair. But we intend to outbid everyone else.”
Melissa listened to the conversation and was happy to be part of the group. Growing up in Lilac Lake had felt confining to a child who didn’t quite fit in. Today, as an adult with different experiences behind her, she was a real part of the group—something she treasured.
###
On the ride back to The Meadows together, Melissa stared out the car window while Ross drove. Her thoughts were spinning. Dirk had been pleasant to everyone and had been part of the group discussing the future of the tennis and baseball project, but he still seemed reserved toward her. How was she going to get the chance to know him better?
“Why the silence?”
Ross asked.
“I can’t figure out how to get Dirk’s attention,”
said Melissa.
“I gave you the perfect opportunity,”
said Ross. “Ask him to dinner. He lives alone; he’ll be happy to have someone cook for him.”
“JoEllen is willing to make him brownies. I can do better than that. I’ll ask him tomorrow.”
She faced him. “You are a dear friend, Ross. It means a lot to me.”
“It’s a satisfying situation for both of us. As neighbors, we can be there for one another.”
He pulled up to the front of her house. “Thanks again for dinner. It was delicious.”
“I thought so, too. Nothing is stopping us from doing it again.”
Ross leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be working in the afternoon, but maybe I’ll catch up with you in the morning. I usually jog around the neighborhood before I have my coffee. It’s amazing what wildlife you see at that time of day.”
“I usually stay up late, but I may try getting up early in the morning and going to bed earlier too.”
Melissa got out of the car and headed for her front door. She unlocked it and turned to wave at Ross, who’d politely waited for her to get inside.
She entered her house, paused in the hallway, and leaned against the door. Dirk had looked so handsome at Jake’s—adorable, really. She’d do as Ross suggested and invite him to dinner.