Love for Beginners
by Sally Clements
Copyright © 2014 by Sally Clements. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Chapter One
A scrunched-up five-dollar bill lay on the floor.
Melody Swan bent and snatched it from the stained concrete. For a fleeting moment, her number-crunching brain started to calculate the army of Lincolns needed to stave off the impending disaster. Pretty much instantly, her brain cells revolted. Too many.
This particular soldier had attempted desertion when she tugged a stained rag from her coverall pocket. She knew how he felt, but running away from problems wasn’t an option if it left a loved one facing the firing squad.
Mel tucked the bill into her pocket. Something else had caught her attention. Black crescent moons.She flexed her fingers and peered at their tips. Removing the varnish and trimming her nails had been bad enough. Now, with a sliver of black beneath them, her nails shouted mechanic.
With a sigh, she wiped the grease from her fingers.
The garage had never been so crammed. Cars in various stages of repair filled every inch of gray concrete. Rhythmic hammering synced to the country western tune playing on the radio thudded in the air. Across the floor, Betty was in the pit, working on Penny Jones’s pickup. Getting the backlog of repairs under control seemed impossible.
Her cell phone vibrated, and she tugged it from her pocket. “Hello?”
“Mel, come around the front and let me in, will you? I have news!” Alice Starr, third owner of Under the Hood, sounded perky and excited, no doubt because she’d had plenty of sleep last night.
With a frown, Mel forced the thought aside. It wasn’t Alice’s fault she couldn’t work. “I’m on my way.” She strode to the pit and peered under the car. “Alice is here. I’m going to let her in.”
Betty Smith pushed back her brown hair with the back of her hand, trailing a smear of grease onto her forehead. “I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
Mel’s legs were so tired, the trudge across the lobby was like slogging through sand toward an oasis. With any luck, Alice’s mysterious news would be worth the trek.
Even through three-quarters of an inch of glass, Alice’s excitement was palpable.
She started talking the minute the door opened. “So, I…”
“Come in and sit down.” Melody stood back and held the door wide.
Alice maneuvered crab-like through the door, her crutch’s rubber tip squeaking on the polished marble. Her plastered foot hovered a couple of inches from the ground as she edged forward. A skein of white-blond hair brushed over her mouth and she puffed it away, brow creased in concentration.
Mel pulled out a chair and helped settle her friend onto it. “So, what’s the news?” Instinctively she glanced at Alice’s hand. No ring.
Alice propped the crutch close between body and chair. “I’ve found a mechanic.” She glanced at the pile of paperwork on Mel’s desk. “Just in time, too, by the look of it. You’re swamped.”
Mel brushed Alice’s concern off with a wave of her hand. “Once we hire a temporary replacement for you, I’ll be able to get the paperwork under control. Don’t worry.” She forced a smile. Even though she was a fully trained mechanic, when Melody, Betty, and Alice started Under the Hood, a garage that catered to female clientele in Meadowsweet, Virginia, Melody had taken the role of manager while Alice was the garage’s full-time mechanic.
Alice’s injury had changed all that. For the past month, Mel and Betty had been rushed off their feet, doing Alice’s job as well as their own. They were both worn out, and business was starting to suffer.
“I talked to my family.” Alice’s grin lit up her face like a sunbeam. “Dad was very keen to help us out, and when I explained we were swamped, he said he could spare someone to stand in for me.” The corners of her mouth tugged down. “The hospital said it would be another couple of weeks before the cast comes off…”
Mel nodded. “At least. Then you’ll need physical therapy. You could be talking longer than that. It’s not as if you’ll just be sitting at a desk—fixing cars is a very physical job.”
“I know. That’s why I thought Dad’s solution is so perfect. Heath can stay for as long as we need him…”
“Heath?” Mel’s head swam. Surely she hadn’t said—
“Yeah, you remember my brother Heath? He’s flying in today from New York.” A micro-pleat of wrinkles fanned out from the corners of Alice’s eyes as she smiled. “I know we said female mechanics only, but nobody wants a two-month stand-in contract, so beggars can’t be choosers. He can stay in my apartment. I’m moving in upstairs with Mark until my ankle is healed. Maybe longer.” Her face turned pink. “Great solution, huh?”
Heath Starr. A charmer, just like her father.
The exploits of Alice’s oldest brother were legendary. As the only two women in a class of mechanics, Alice and Mel had become close friends, and Alice talked constantly about her large family. Alice had said there wasn’t a woman alive who could resist Heath. Mel’d thought she must be exaggerating, until she’d actually met him.
The door from the workshop pushed open.
“Hey!” Betty rubbed her hands down her coveralls, smearing a viscous smudge of grease on the navy-blue fabric. “Great to see you!” She glanced at Mel. “I’ve finished Penny’s pickup.”
“Great, I’ll call her.” Mel made a note. “Alice has found us a mechanic.”
Betty sank down onto the nearest chair. She yawned and rubbed at the dark shadows under her eyes. “Thank God,” she muttered. “I hope she can start straight away.”
“It’s a he.” Mel’s gaze skittered to the corner of the room. “One of Alice’s brothers.”
Betty’s eyebrows rose.
“I know the garage is female only, but you know—he offered,” Alice said.
“Working with a man will be different. Is he married?” Betty leaned forward, elbows on her knees.
“Not Heath.” Alice grinned. “He’s your typical commitment-phobic bachelor.”
“His nickname used to be the Ladyslayer,” Mel added.
“He sounds fascinating. Is he hot?”
“I can’t answer that, he’s my brother. And Heath’s just come out of a difficult situation.” The momentary hesitation hinted she was about to reveal more, but she forced a tight smile. “As for hot, you’ll have to ask Mel,” she teased. “You met him that one time, didn’t you, Mel?”
The heat of her friends’ stares had Mel shifting on the chair. “Hot” didn’t even start to describe Heath Starr. Of course, it had been five years since she’d hitched a ride to the train station in his pickup, three of them squashed in the front so close her thigh had been pressed up against his. The blaze of heat that had flared through the point of contact was so unexpected that looking back, she felt sure she’d imagined it.
She avoided his type like the plague. “He’s good-looking,” Mel forced out. “In an obvious sort of way.”
“You’re not going to find him distracting, then?” There was a teasing twinkle in Betty’s eyes.
Mel crossed her arms. “Not at all. We have so much work to do, the last thing any of us needs over the next few weeks are complications. When can he start, Alice?” Her voice was calm and even, but something inside twisted at the thought of her reaction to him years ago. He’d made her feel awkward and nervous. He was handsome, charming, dangerous. If Alice’s stories were true, the Ladyslayer didn’t do complicated, but was the personification of “wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.” And she for one had no intention of being another notch on his bedpost.
“He’s flying in this afternoon. Mark will pick him up from the airport.”
Mel nodded. “I have a busy afternoon. I have to clean up the house for the realtor, and then I have a meeting at the bank.”
“I’ll be here.” Betty propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin on her hand, and gazed into Mel’s eyes. “Is there much interest in the house?”
“The realtor has rounded up three new couples to view it. We’re hoping one of them makes us an offer.” With the local housing market what it was, making any sale at all would be a miracle.
…
“We’re coming into Meadowsweet now,” Mark Jameson said.
Heath Starr smiled as Mark flicked on the indicator and turned left onto a side road, flanked with trees on both sides. The buildings they passed seemed to be farms or private dwellings with large grassy fields around them. Very different from the inner-city home Heath and Alice had grown up in. “I’m looking forward to seeing ol’ hopalong.”
Mark shot a glance across the cramped interior of the MG. “Alice will kill you if you call her that. She’s really frustrated at being out of action. I reckon the only thing that’s lightened her mood any has been the thought of your visit.”
Heath breathed in the air from his open window. “She’s lucky she gets to take it easy.”
“Work’s been piling up since she busted her ankle. I know they’re all very stressed about it. Get ready for some very grateful females.”
Heath’s lips stretched in a tight smile. Females, grateful or not, were definitely off the menu during this visit. He had a job to do for his little sister’s company, and every moment he wasn’t working, he’d be following his own agenda. Even now, he itched to grab his camera and head for the hills.
The flight had been pleasant enough, and Mark had picked him up from Roanoke Airport in the MG—no doubt that was Alice’s idea; she’d known how much Heath would enjoy the ride. Mark seemed to be in the mood for playing hooky so they’d stopped a couple of times to admire the view and stretch their legs.
Maybe Mark was trying to impress, too. Heath’s family was curious about the new man in Alice’s life, and Heath wanted to make damned sure Mark was the real deal. The hour they’d spent driving to Meadowsweet hadn’t been wasted. First impressions were good—he liked Mark. He’d take every possible opportunity to make sure Mark was the right man for Alice.
They drove into the town, passing numerous small stores with wide, full-length windows downstairs, striped awnings above, and an upper level that the owners probably lived in. They were painted all shades of cream, with pedimented tops. Dotted in between were brick buildings, dark red, like the brick sidewalks that ran before them—faced with old-fashioned sash windows and flat roofs. Many had white benches outside, where locals could sit, talk, and while away the hours. Meadowsweet had probably looked the same for fifty, heck, even a hundred years, nestled in the valley with the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop.
“This is Hickory Road, with Under the Hood on the left. I told Alice I’d drive straight to the apartment, so…”
“Sure.” There’d be plenty of time later to check out the garage, as well as hike out into the forests with just his camera for company. Alice’s call had opened up a wealth of possibilities, ones he was determined to take advantage of.
The MG slowed, then pulled into a parking lot behind an apartment block.
“We’re here.” Mark turned off the engine and rolled up the window.
Heath climbed out, stretching left and right to free the cramped muscles in his back. He shook out his legs, then reached into the tiny backseat for his backpack.
Happiness radiated from Alice as she opened the door wide. She tugged him into a close embrace, and hugged the air right out of his lungs. “I’ve missed you,” she muttered against his denim shirt. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Angling back, she gazed into his eyes, her wide smile teasing forth an echo on his own face.
“I couldn’t leave you in the lurch.” He swung his backpack to the ground.
“Hi.” Alice transferred her attention to Mark, and her face glowed as though a light had been turned on inside her. “I was wondering when you were going to get here.”
“We stopped a couple of times on the way. Checking out the view.” Mark grinned and kissed her softly. “I’m going upstairs to grab a shower and change clothes.”
“Thanks for the ride,” Heath said.
Mark thumped Heath on the back. “See you later.”
“Come on in,” Alice said.
Heath followed her to the sofa. He shoved an overstuffed cushion behind him and stretched his legs out on the coffee table.
Alice’s eyes shone. “I thought Dad would send Ben or Will. When he told me you volunteered…”
“It’s about time that Dad realized that Ben is able to run things just as well as I ever could.”
She blinked. “Aren’t you worried about being replaced?”
“Hoping for it.”
Alice leaned forward. “Seriously?” She chewed on her lip. “You’re the oldest.”
Heath rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. He hadn’t meant to open up about his plans to anyone, least of all Alice. This break was supposed to show his father that he had more than one son capable of running the business—after which Heath would drop the bombshell none of his family was expecting.
Alice stared, waiting for an answer.
“Maybe I’m not the best man for the job.” Heath stood and glanced around, looking for an easy out. “Kitchen through there?” He raised a hand and pointed.
Alice nodded.
“I’ll make coffee.”
…
The windshield’s blur sharpened with the upstroke, quickly returning to a smeary film on the down. Silvery light gleamed on the wet sidewalks reflected from the streetlights above. The roads were empty. Everyone with half a brain was inside, curled up with a cup of hot chocolate or a hot whiskey.
Just as I intend to be, once I check that the garage is okay. Every other night, Mel was the last one to leave Under the Hood, after checking that each door and window was securely fastened and the alarm was on. Her partners had given her no reason to suppose they wouldn’t take just as much care with their business, but old habits were difficult to break.
She rubbed at the ache in her temples. There were so many things to keep on top of. So many elements of her life to control. She’d been distracted lately, with the garage and the renovation of the little house she’d bought less than a year ago. So distracted she’d just presumed all was well with her mother after she’d lost her job. She should have checked—should have suspected that Marcia was having money problems.
Knowing the realtor was showing people around her home, that they were strolling around on the solid wood floors she’d stayed up nights sanding to perfection, had gouged a lingering ache in her chest.
Mel said she was happy with the decision to sell her house in order to save Marcia’s, but she really wasn’t. If things were different, she’d never sell her home. Assigning blame was pointless, but if Marcia had told her she couldn’t pay the mortgage two months ago, rather than pretend the whole thing wasn’t happening, they wouldn’t be in this situation.
The garage was just ahead, and through the smears on the windshield, she glimpsed lights on in the back. A quick glance at her watch revealed it was almost ten o’clock. There was no way that Betty would still be working, and Heath had only just arrived. It couldn’t be him.
She pressed her lips together. Felt panic’s wings flutter in her chest. I should call the police…
Maybe someone had just left the light on. She clutched her keys between her fingers, point out, and transferred her cell phone from her purse to her pocket. She climbed out of the car and walked to the front door.
It was locked. The panic subsided somewhat as she unlocked the door and crept in. The layout of the lobby was so familiar, even darkness was no impediment to navigation. In a quick movement, she slipped off her heels to muffle the sound of her approach and crossed to the door leading into the garage.
A slow push of the door into the workshop and she was inside. Mel held her breath as her gaze flickered from car to car. There was a noise, a humming. Creeping closer, she saw a pair of jean-clad legs extending from under the car jacked up on her left.
Tension left her body with her exhaled breath. It must be Heath. No self-respecting burglar would tinker under a car when they were intending to rob the place.
The humming stopped.
“Someone there?” a deep voice asked.
“Melody Swan.” Her voice sounded prim, but at least it gave no indication of the fear that had flowed through her veins like gasoline mere moments before, ready to ignite her body into a flight response.
There was the sound of wheels scraping on concrete as the backboard slid, then an entire body came into view. Long, lean legs, clad in worn denim. A white sleeveless T-shirt, then Heath’s familiar face. He stood.
“Melody.” He rubbed a hand across his thigh before extending it. “Great to see you again.”
The touch of his fingers curling around hers jump-started her pulse. Hair as dark as his sister’s was fair tumbled over his forehead, half obscuring a black brow. Eyes the exact shade of Alice’s, aquamarine, focused on hers.
The scrape on his cheekbone barely marred the perfection of his face. No wonder women fell like dominoes whenever he was around.
Heath’s mouth curved. “You’re frowning.”
Mel snatched her hand away before she gave in to his megawatt charm and melted like lard in a skillet. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here.” She crossed her arms. “I mean, it’s the middle of the night—surely you have better things to do?”
The damned man’s smile widened. “I’m new in town, remember?”
The unspoken subtext was clear. He hadn’t had time to meet a woman yet.
With a wave of his arm, Heath gestured to the full garage. “There’s one hell of a backlog. I told Betty I’d pull a couple of all-nighters. Try to get it under control.”
Conflicting emotions battled within. She should be grateful that their temporary mechanic was so conscientious, so determined to help. Instead, she resented that he’d set out on a course of action without consultation. He’d told Betty… Not the actions of a temporary employee, but rather that of a man used to taking control.
Mel straightened her spine.
“You can help me out if you like.” His gaze flickered across the charcoal-gray jacket over a white shirt, the matching fitted skirt that skimmed her knees.
When his gaze reached the floor, a wave of heat flooded Mel as though she were clad in six-inch sexy heels instead of her stockinged feet.
She put the sensible shoes she’d been clutching down and slipped her feet into them.
“You might want to change.” Heath’s gaze slowly returned to her face. “Wouldn’t want to snag your hose.”
“I won’t be staying.” Desperate to regain a modicum of control, Mel took a step back. “I appreciate your dedication to the job, but I’m sure you won’t be required to follow up tonight with another night of work. You’ll burn yourself out.”
“I have a lot of stamina.” Heath brushed his hair back, the movement bringing her attention to his broad chest.
Before she knew it, the words were out. “I know. Ladyslayer.”
Heath’s mouth thinned into a flat line. “Are you comin’ on to me, boss?”
Chapter Two
Heath bit the inside of his cheek. Alice had obviously shared his old nickname with her friend. He shouldn’t tease, but pretending outrage was just too irresistible.
Mel’s uptight image dissolved before his eyes.
“I didn’t mean…” A flush spread across her face. “It was a nickname.”
Heath frowned. “A nickname? You gave me a nickname?”
Mel fanned her face. “No! I didn’t even know you—I…I don’t even know you.”
“Surely that’s worse. One casual meeting years ago and you label me behind my back? I’m not comfortable with sexual innuendo in the workplace.” The urge to laugh was overwhelming. Heath turned away and covered his mouth, pretending a cough.
“Heath.”
He turned back to her solemn face.
“When we were in college…Alice…” Her throat moved. “She used to call you the Ladyslayer. I shouldn’t have said it, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
She was going to be mad. Heath held his hands up, palms front. Let the grin free. “I know. I was just messing with you.”
Her eyes flashed emerald fire. “You…” In rapid strides she was toe-to-toe with him. With one toss of her head the chestnut slide of hair shimmied around her face. “I don’t believe you did that.”
“Fun, wasn’t it?” Heath murmured.
Watching her eyes, he saw the moment she let go of the anger and surrendered to relief. She shook her head slowly. Pinned him with her gaze as her mouth twitched into a smile. “You’re evil.”
“An evil ladyslayer.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
Her laugh rang out, filling the cavernous space.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.” His gaze flickered to her mouth. Her lips looked soft, and an immediate urge to taste them left him reeling for a moment.
He took a step back.
Mel avoided his eyes. When she spoke, her voice was cool. “Please remember to set the alarm on your way out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
…
Mel’s legs were still shaking as she climbed into her car and started the engine. The moment Heath looked at her mouth, a wave of longing had come out of nowhere, blindsiding her. The urge was disturbing because it was so powerful. She’d worked hard to keep inconvenient feelings of attraction under control. Had avoided men like him her entire life, because she couldn’t risk falling under a man’s sexual spell, like her mother had.
If Heath spoke to anyone about it, he’d quickly learn that she had a nickname, too. Since the days of high school, no one had been gauche enough to call her it to her face, but she was sure that they still called her Ice Queen behind her back.
The rain had stopped, but the roads were still slick with water. Mel turned on the radio. A love song. She flicked the switch off. Love and lust were everywhere. Today’s woman was expected to be a sexual creature, desperate to try new experiences, achieve the ultimate orgasm. Weren’t there any women like her in the world? Ones who were totally content without the complication of lovemaking in their lives? Who wanted to have a life partner, but didn’t want to be so needy that they would fall apart if the relationship went south?
Tangled emotions churned inside as she pulled up outside her house and turned off the engine. The fact that she wanted a sex-free relationship wasn’t something she liked to share. She avoided talking to her friends about it for fear they’d tag her as abnormal. Alice was head over heels, and Betty was always talking about snaring a man, even though she’d avoided all advances of the locals so far.
She wanted a life partner who was kind. Who was sensitive. A man who would understand that sex wasn’t essential, and would accept her for who she was. If she were an author, she’d write a best seller about a woman who didn’t think that sex was the ultimate validation of womanhood. Sex wasn’t for everyone. She’d tried. More than once. And both times…
She shook her head as the key turned in the lock. The heated moment in the garage must have been a figment of her imagination. A man of Heath’s experience would have taken the moment further if he wanted to, rather than stepping away. The thought should have given her comfort, but instead left an emptiness inside.
…
Despite her fatigue, sleep was elusive, and by eight the following morning, Mel was on her way back in to the office.
The morning routine always started with a meeting of all employees in the conference room. Mel was throwing the empty coffee packet in the trash when Betty walked in.
“Heath will be here in a minute.” She slid a tray of pastries into the center of the table, then grabbed a mug and filled it from the coffee jug in the corner. “How did yesterday go?”
Mel forced herself to sound upbeat, even though the thought of someone else living in her house shredded her insides. “The realtor said there was definite interest. Of the three viewing couples, one were house-tourists—they obviously spent all their spare time going and looking at houses—but the other two couples apparently seemed genuine enough.”
The only shame was that it didn’t seem as though either of its potential new owners would appreciate it as she had. The realtor had reported that the first couple wanted to cover her beautiful floor with wall-to-wall carpeting, and the second would rip up the lawn she’d babied all year to emerald perfection, and replace it with paving if they bought the house. There was nothing she could do once the house was sold; its future belonged to someone else.
“That’s great!” Betty pulled out a chair and sat. “Heath worked late, and made great headway on the backlog.”
“I know. I stopped by on my way home.”
Betty’s eyebrows rose. “Oh? He didn’t mention it.”
“I was only there for a few moments. I saw a light on…”
The door pushed open and Heath walked in. Worn jeans hung low on his slender hips, and the white T-shirt of last night had been replaced with an old blue one with the faded words “Easy Rider” on the front. Her gaze lingered on his biceps for a moment before she forced herself to look away. Even without trying, he exuded an enthralling magnetism. The fact that she wasn’t immune to it made her irritable.
“Good morning.” Heath filled a mug with coffee and sprawled on the nearest chair, crossing his sneakers at the ankles. He pushed a hand through his hair, leaving it standing up on top in a way that was curiously endearing.
Get a grip. “Hi.” Her voice sounded terse.
The hope that no one would notice died as Betty shot her a glance full of unspoken questions.
“You must have worked late last night,” Mel said quickly. “Betty says we have some more satisfied customers this morning.”
“Yup.” Heath swallowed a mouthful of coffee. “I aim for satisfied.”
Her cheeks felt hot. Why, oh why couldn’t she just turn off the part of her brain that tinted his words with sexual innuendo? “Um…”
Betty took pity on her. “That’s great. Let’s have a look at what’s on the schedule for today.” She looked pointedly at the stack of paperwork Mel had piled in front of her. “What’s urgent?”
As the conversation shifted to more familiar, less challenging territory, Mel started to relax. This part of her life was easy. They worked through the jobs currently on hand, and talked through any issues.
Heath drained his coffee. “I’ll start working on the Lexus.” He pulled his lanky frame from the chair.
“Heath, got any plans for dinner?” Betty asked.
“Not unless you count a date with the microwave.”
Betty grinned. “Great, because Mel and I would like to take you out tonight. Call it an introduction to Meadowsweet.”
Heath’s head tilted in Mel’s direction. His gaze held hers. “That’s great. I look forward to it.” His smile started a slow melt of Mel’s insides.
“We’ll pick you up. About seven?” Betty stood.
His voice was deep. “Seven then.”
Mel watched his retreating back until he was out of sight.
“You’re catching flies,” Betty teased.
Glowering, Mel pressed her lips together.
Betty perched on the edge of the nearest chair. “So, what’s going on with you and our handsome new mechanic? The way he looked at you just then was…” She blew out a breath and fanned her face.
Mel slugged the last of her coffee. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And anyway, I’m not sure I can make it tonight. I’ve got paperwork.”
The look Betty shot her way would have melted lead. “Come on, Mel. The paperwork can wait a day. Heath is damned hot, and single, too. Is there any reason why you don’t want to act on”—she waved her hand toward the doorway—“the attraction?”
“He’s Alice’s brother, and anyway, he’s just not my type.”
Betty sighed. “Don’t take this personally.” She touched Mel’s arm. “But I don’t think you know your type. That last guy you dated, the accountant—”
“Michael.”
“Yeah, Michael. There didn’t seem to be very many sparks between you.”
Mel smoothed her hands over her thighs. Her throat moved in a nervous swallow. Sparks weren’t everything. Six months ago she’d decided to try dating again. She’d thought Michael wanted what she did—a relationship based on companionship. She’d pretended not to mind when he kissed her, but when he’d pulled her close she hadn’t been able to suppress a shudder.
He’d noticed and his arms had immediately fallen to his sides. When she called him the following day, he’d been cold and distant, and said he didn’t want to see her again.
Betty’s head tilted to the side. She watched Mel carefully. “I’ve never seen you flustered, and Heath had you flustered good.” She stood and picked up Heath’s discarded coffee cup. With a smile she whispered, “Live a little, you know you want to.”
“It’s not that easy. I’m not good at relationships.”
“Who said anything about a relationship?” Betty sat down. “There’s nothing wrong with flirting with a gorgeous man.”
The thought of the inevitable problems that would occur when he wanted to take flirtation further filled Mel with trepidation. She pulled in a shaky breath. “I don’t really flirt.”
“Don’t you feel like you’d want to find someone, someday?” Betty’s gaze was warm. She clasped Mel’s hand. “Someone to share your life with?”
For a moment, Mel imagined sharing her day with another. Visiting friends as part of a couple. Finding love, as Alice had. A deep longing settled in her chest. “I’d like that,” she admitted. “But a man like Heath wouldn’t want that. He’d just want sex, not love.”
She hadn’t talked to Betty about her dating difficulties before, but once she started, the words barreled out of her in a desperate attempt to make Betty understand. “My mom fell in love with a man who couldn’t commit, who didn’t want to stay around and be part of a family. She chose him with her heart, not her head, and lived to regret it. That won’t happen to me.”
The thought of letting down her guard, of becoming sexually attracted to a man, was terrifying. She’d gone out with Michael because he was easy to talk to, was intelligent, and she could imagine he’d make a good life companion. And because there was no possibility that she’d become weak and confused by lust.
“You can’t control every aspect of your life,” Betty said. “What happened with Michael?”
“He…” Mel wished the phone would ring. That someone would walk in through the door and demand immediate attention, anything to end this conversation.
Betty waited.
“He realized I found kissing him distasteful.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m just not a sexual person.”
“Of course you’re not.”
Mel’s heart leaped. Did Betty understand after all?
“If you choose to date someone you’re not attracted to, how could you be?” Betty patted her hand. “You’re not your mother. You can’t let logic determine who you’re going to fall in love with, can’t keep kissing frogs in the hope that one will turn into a prince. Being with someone doesn’t have to be happy ever after, but it should be fun. I like to hope there’s a hero out there for all of us. Alice found hers, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be so lucky. Maybe a fling with Heath is just what you need to shake things up a bit.”
…
Later that evening, Mel was putting the final touches to her eye makeup when her cell phone rang. A quick glance revealed Betty’s image. “Hi, are you running late?”
“Worse, I’m afraid. I’m not going to be able to make it.”
“Betty, that’s not funny.”
Betty’s laugh held no trace of humor. “I’m not being funny. I just got a call from Leonora. I have to drive out to rescue her.”
They took turns manning the breakdown hotline. The prospect of driving out in the dark held more appeal than dinner alone with Heath. “I’ll go. Just give me a couple of minutes…”
“Forget it, Mel. I’m tooled up and ready to go.” Betty’s tone brooked no argument. “She’s out on the mountain road and I don’t want to leave her out there alone a minute longer than we have to. And I know the problem. It’s an easy fix.”
“Not again?”
“Yup. If we could persuade her to check her gas gauge before she went out for the evening, our lives would be a hell of a lot easier.”
Mel shook her head. Leonora DeWitt was a valued customer. She couldn’t be left alone on a deserted road for one moment longer than necessary. “You’re right. Be careful out there. Will you join us after the rescue?”
“I could be a while. And I won’t be dressed for it. I think I’ll just grab a burger from the drive-through on the way home. You’ll pick up Heath, then?”
Mel was already halfway out the door. “Will do. Call me when you’re done.”
…
When the doorbell buzzed, Heath snagged his leather jacket from the back of the chair, picked up the magazine Alice had left an hour ago, and headed out. Downstairs, a silver Toyota Prius sat by the curb.
Heath glanced in through the open window. “No Betty?”
“Change of plan—she can’t make it. It’s just you and me.” Mel’s mouth stretched in a tight smile. “We have reservations at an Italian restaurant downtown. It’s quiet, but the food is great.”
He climbed in. “Quiet sounds good. It’s been a tough couple of days.” He glanced across the car. Mel’s hair was caught up behind her head in a style that emphasized the slope of her cheekbones. Her gray silk shirt might have been sexy-looking if she’d undone more than the top button. The dark-gray striped skirt looked like something she’d wear to work or a meeting. Discreet pearl studs adorned her ears. She looked business-light.
Slim, unadorned hands gripped the wheel as she expertly navigated the streets.
Suddenly the thought of shaking her out of her professional demeanor, ruffling her feathers, and getting to know the woman behind the mask was too tempting. “Maybe after dinner you could show me some of the nightlife.”
“Oh, I don’t know…”
“Tomorrow’s Sunday. We could go for a drink or two.”
Mel spent so much time thinking about her answer it was as though he’d asked her to run away with him or something.
“Okay, maybe just for a while.” She shot him a glance, a tentative smile on her lips, then hit her turn signal and pulled in outside a restaurant. She turned the engine off and glanced in the rearview mirror. Tension turned the air honey-thick.
Something about him made her nervous. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands, wound tight as a drum.
Heath’s arm brushed against the magazine in his pocket. He held it out like a peace offering. “Alice asked me to give you this. She said there’s an article in it about the Orient Express.”
“Oh. Thanks.” Mel took the magazine and reached behind her to drop it on the backseat. As her torso twisted on the way back, she brushed against Heath’s arm. Her sharp intake of breath was audible in the close confines. Panicked green eyes flickered to his. “I’m interested in train journeys.” She spoke too fast, hands clenching into fists on her lap.
She was either attracted or terrified. “Is there something about me that makes you nervous, Mel?” The moment the words left his mouth Heath wished he could take them back. Asking if he made her nervous while seated in a darkened car with no one around was damned creepy. “Maybe we should talk about it inside.” Not giving her a chance to respond, he opened the door and stepped out.
The driver’s door swung open. Mel stalked around the car and stood toe-to-toe with him. Again. Her jawline was tight, her teeth gritted. “What’s your problem?”
You’re my problem. He hadn’t done anything, but she was bristling for a fight. He couldn’t work her out at all. Couldn’t fathom what was going on inside her head. One minute she seemed nervous, the next, challenging him for getting out of the car. “Are you scared of me?” The thought that someone, a woman, would find him threatening, caused a fist to scrunch up his guts like a sheet of paper. Heath breathed deeply. This was getting out of control. “I haven’t given you any reason to…”
Mel crossed her arms. “I’m not scared of you.” Her upswept hair gleamed in the starlight, full of tints of warm wood colors, like the walnut dash of a classic car, or a winter forest, lit by candlelight. An escaping strand curled in front of her ear. Heath breathed in the scent of vanilla. Edible.
“I’m tired. I’m hungry. If you want to read stuff that isn’t there in my body language, that’s your problem, not mine. I’m not remotely scared of you. And frankly I find the suggestion insulting.” She turned on her heels. Glanced over her shoulder. “Are you coming? We have a reservation.”
She strode toward the restaurant.
Everything he said, everything he did seemed to rub her the wrong way. Heath tried to relax. His family always joked about how laid-back he was. How there wasn’t a woman in the world immune to his charm. They were wrong; he’d found one.
He followed her inside, where they were led to a quiet table in the back, set with three places. Mel explained that Betty wouldn’t be joining them, and the server cleared the extra space.
“Drink?” Mel’s voice was sharp.
“You having one?” Two can play at that game.
“I’m driving. I’ll just have a soda.”
“Fine. I’ll have a vodka tonic.”
Mel stretched her arms out at her sides, wriggled her fingers, and rotated her elbow joints.
“Stiff?” Fixing cars was muscle-wrenching work; she could be feeling the aftereffects of returning to the more physical side of the business.
She rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah.” Her gaze met his. “Listen, we need to talk about this. We can’t work together with all this tension.”
Heath nodded. “I shouldn’t have said what I did in the car. You seemed nervous and then when I asked you about it, we were alone, it was dark…”
Mel pulled in a deep breath. “You got out of the car because you thought I was frightened?”
He watched her.
“That’s ridiculous. You’re my friend’s brother. You’re working for our business, and we were going out to dinner. Of course I’m not frightened. What I am is…” Her face flushed. “I guess I find you unsettling.” She looked up from the menu she was holding before her like a shield.
“I was teasing you the other night. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable,” Heath admitted.
Mel shook her head quickly. “I wasn’t uncomfortable, I just…” Her lips were full and soft. As she breathed, her chest rose and fell, accentuating the curve of the top of her breasts against the soft gray silk. She played with a carved amethyst circle suspended from a thin gold chain around her neck. “I’m not great around men.”
She spoke as though flirting was a sin, when in fact it was a part of life—his life, anyway. Getting involved with his employer—his sister’s friend—was completely the wrong thing to do, but the urge to kiss her compelled him to lean close and lower his voice.
“There’s nothing wrong with flirting, you know. When you’re attracted to someone.”
Mel frowned. “You’ve got it all wrong.” The waitress wandered over, greeted Mel by name, and took their orders. The moment she was out of earshot, Mel continued. “I’m not attracted to you. I don’t get attracted to men. I’m…”
“Are you gay?” Disappointment mixed with confusion twisted Heath’s insides. How could he have misread her body language so badly?
Mel blinked. “No. I’m just not a sexual person.” She twisted the napkin with both hands, then laid it over her lap. “Not everyone is. I don’t know why I’m uptight when I’m around you, but it can’t be that.”
“Are you telling me you aren’t attracted to anyone, ever?” Heath’s head hurt. If she wasn’t interested in him, all she had to do was say so.
“That’s right. I don’t like to talk about it.”
Jeez, she was serious. “You must have talked to your female friends. To Alice, or Betty?”
She bit her lip. “They have an idea, but I haven’t gone into all the specifics.”
Their food arrived. Heath swallowed a mouthful of vodka and resisted the urge to order another to have on standby.
Mel’s shoulders looked looser. She picked up her fork and twisted it around in the air, as if wrangling invisible spaghetti. “People sometimes think I’m kidding. Or even worse, that I have a problem.” She winced. “That I need to be fixed. In every relationship I’ve had, the whole sex thing has become an issue on about”—she thought for a moment—“I guess the fourth date.” She leaned close and said in a low voice tinged with drama, “The date from hell.”
“So your idea of a perfect relationship would be a sexless one?”
Mel looked so happy at his words he forgot all about the steak cooling on his plate.
“Exactly. One where both partners are happy and fulfilled. Care about each other, but without a sexual element.”
He’d heard some fairy tales in his time, but this… Heath held his glass up to the waitress, pointed at it, and mouthed another one please. “Sounds like a friendship, rather than a love affair.”
Mel pushed her hair back from her face. Rubbed the pendant between middle finger and thumb. Her voice was soft and dreamy. “I’d like to sleep next to someone every night, share my hopes, my dreams. Be one half of a couple. I wouldn’t want to hurt him by revealing that sex leaves me cold. But my perfect partner doesn’t exist. So I guess I’m going to have to learn how to fake it.”
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