Melt My Heart

by Anna Cove

  Laura smirked, setting her drink on the table. "Are you looking for work? Because you're doing a pretty good job of building my ego right now."

  "Seriously, Laura."

  "Cal..." She shifted in her chair, looking uncomfortable. "We go way back. I know he wants what's best for me. I think so, anyway. It's complicated and I don't really want to talk about it on such a beautiful night. Tell me about your life. How's the Summer Carnival coming along?"

  Dylan told her about their plans, the booths that the kids were going to run, how they were going to sell tickets, and all the rest. As she spoke, Laura leaned forward with interest, and by the end her eyes were bright and cheery once again.

  "Let me help," she said. She reached across the table and took Dylan's hand. "I'd really love to do that, and I have tons of time on my hands now. You could certainly use my image if you wanted, though I don't know if that would help these days. Maybe I could make something?"

  "That would be wonderful." With Laura's hand over hers, and at the thought of them both working on something that mattered to her, Dylan felt something she hadn't in a long time. She felt like she was part of a team. "I'm really happy we're doing this," she said, unable to reel in her gushing tone.

  "Me too. It's lovely to be out in the world. With you."

  Dylan ordered another drink and the alcohol started to make her feel looser. They talked easily about all sorts of things, and once again Dylan found herself forgetting. Living in the moment. Loving the moment. Losing herself in the scents and the sights before her, in the beautiful person that was Laura Munro. The real Laura Munro. Not the one in the tabloids or on the news. This was Dylan's Laura. Real. Empathetic. Kind. They ordered their meals, and after the waiter left, Laura leaned closer. "Kell's date still hasn't arrived. Can we please invite her over now?"

  Dylan let out a long breath. There was that empathy. Seriously? But her mood had improved with the wine and conversation and if she said no, Laura would think of her as a hardass. And she felt, though she thought she might regret it, why not share in some of the joy? "Yeah, sure."

  They had held hands during the whole conversation, and when Laura pulled her hand away to speak with Kell, Dylan's hand felt warm and dry. She held on to that warmth for the rest of the night, and that, combined with the occasional looks Laura slid her, got her through even the most trying moments with Kell. She even got to the point where she was enjoying the conversation. It wasn't bad. Most of it was about the improvements Kell wanted to make to Love Falls. She found herself participating in the conversation, laughing at Kell's jokes. At the end of the night, Kell even picked up the bill.

  And then it all came crashing down.

  While Laura was in the bathroom, Kell leaned back in her chair and folded her hands over her stomach. "I'm glad to see you happy, Wilson," she said. "It's a good look on you."

  "Thanks, Kell," Dylan said, buzzing, feeling like she was floating on a cloud.

  "But can I give you a bit of advice?"

  Dylan shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not sure—"

  "Be careful with that one."

  Immediately all the warmth and good humor fled, and Dylan was on her guard again. She wanted to walk away. To confidently rise and say the hell with you I don't need your advice. But there was a new part of her now, a desperate and fragile part, that needed this to work. That part couldn't stop hers from asking, "Why?"

  "She's a city girl. Sooner or later, she'll go back to the city."

  A denial died in Dylan's throat. "This is only our first date."

  Kell shrugged. "I'm just saying. Have fun with her while she's here, but don't count on it being a forever thing. You seem like the type to latch on and never let go, like a stray yappy dog on a mailman's leg, but that's only going to get you kicked in the gut. I don't want to see you kicked in the gut. I know you don't like me, but I like you, Wilson."

  And with that, she turned and waltzed out of the room, waving at her constituents like royalty.

  Laura returned, and Dylan couldn't shake the feeling of doom hovering over her. She helped Laura into her coat and smiled at her as she talked about what she was reading and watching now that she had so much time. As she spoke, Dylan could only think of how badly she wanted her. How badly she'd wanted her since the first time she'd seen her. And how badly she wanted her to stay. Here. In Love Falls.

  She kept thinking of this on their drive home, getting lost in her head again. She only came back when they stopped in the driveway and Laura reached out and took her hand.

  "Thinking of Katie?" Laura asked, her voice quiet.

  Dylan realized they had been sitting in silence for quite some time. "No," she said honestly. "I was actually thinking of you."

  Laura leaned forward, her lips parted in that impossibly sexy way, hesitating just inches away from Dylan's face. "Are you sure?"

  Dylan answered by crossing the space between them. She twisted her fingers into Laura's hair and did what she'd wanted to do all night long. The kiss started slow, building in incremental steps. Dylan's lips parted, accepting Laura's tongue. A clicking sound announced the unbuckling of Laura's seatbelt. While still kissing Dylan, Laura climbed over the center console. Dylan rolled back her seat to make room. Everything except Laura and this moment melted away.

  Laura hiked up her dress to her waist and straddled her. She moaned as she moved against Dylan's trousers. Dylan shoved her hands under Laura's coat, then, unable to reach what she wanted properly, pushed it off her shoulders. Laura threw her head back like the goddess she was, and Dylan sat up and kissed that spot under her ear that made her purr. Laura collapsed against her, her golden hair falling in a halo around them both. Dylan's tongue probed Laura's mouth as her hands found the bared spot on Laura's back. She traced the line of Laura's deep-cut dress, running fingers along her spine.

  "God, you're so hot," Dylan whispered in a hoarse voice.

  "No, you're the hot one here," Laura said, before diving back in.

  Laura's hands were untucking Dylan's perfectly pressed dress shirt. Dylan found her own fingers skimming Laura's thighs, working up, up. Laura moaned and unbuttoned Dylan's pants. Dylan's hand shot out and stopped her.

  Laura lifted her head, freezing in the moment.

  Dylan's breath came in short pants. Laura's did too. Dylan could feel her searching out her eyes, asking why. Dylan's lips still tingled from their intense kisses. She searched for the right words. "I want to do this with you, Laura, I do. But not in a car. Not here." She tucked Laura's hair behind her ears. The motion sensor light from the stoop cast a green glow over her face, but she still looked so beautiful.

  "I understand. You're not ready." Laura rolled off her, readjusting her dress. She fumbled with the car door handle, but Dylan grabbed her hand to stop her. She wasn't going to let her go after that. "When we do this for the first time, I want it to be in a bed." Laura stilled and Dylan could feel her starting to pay attention. "I want to be able to stretch you out, and lay you down, and linger over every inch of your body without Kell's mom checking us out through the window."

  "I'm sure Colleen isn't spying."

  "You're not listening to me. When we do this for the first time, I'm going to... well... we're going to want our privacy."

  "Come inside with me?" she asked, her voice going suddenly husky.

  "Not tonight," Dylan said. Her heart was beating so hard she thought she might have a heart attack. She needed a chance to get her head around this. Around what all this would mean.

  If she still felt like she would die if she didn't have Laura Munro by tomorrow, no, the next day, after the glow had worn off, then she wouldn't hold back any longer.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  LAURA HAD OVERCOME many challenges in her life.

  She'd made it through childhood with an uncle who only tolerated her by applying and getting accepted to a boarding school at the age of twelve. She'd paid her own way through college. She'd become a famous actress when she wasn't conventionally
pretty. And she'd found fulfillment by having her own child, without a man.

  She'd done it all by having a plan.

  Now, for the first time in her life, Laura had no idea what to do with herself. She had no plan.

  Sure, she had the basic baby stuff to attend to, the diaper changes, the feedings, the naps. But she'd already developed a routine around them and she had more time to herself than she would have imagined pre-baby. She thought about continuing the half-baked documentary she'd started around Dylan, but every time she opened her computer, she found herself unable to proceed. She couldn't make herself do it. Maybe it was because she was realizing that Dylan was right, that she and Cal were in different places right now.

  Maybe it was because she'd gone a year without sex.

  It was fine when she was pregnant. Though the sexy hormones were stronger back then, she got along with the help of her trusty vibrator. But now that she had seen Dylan all dressed up, she was kicking herself for tackling her in the car. She'd blundered, lost control, and she'd scared her off. It had been too soon, and Dylan had been clear with her that she wanted to take it slow. But taking it slow was turning into a slow torture for Laura.

  She needed something to keep her busy.

  During Aaron's early morning nap, she cruised Pinterest for some ideas. It felt so deliciously... normal. In her prior life she would never have had time for this. There was often downtime on set, but she was always learning her lines, or working on a proposal for her documentaries.

  Not to mention, social media was a bit of a minefield for her. But Pinterest was different. Before long she was clicking around and saving things to her craft board like a pro. She found some ideas for Dylan's Summer Carnival. Things that would be eye-catching and intriguing. She noted all the materials needed for marble racing, a giant Jenga, and an oversized Connect Four. Oversized lawn games would be her contribution.

  By midday, she felt stir-crazy. She wrapped Aaron in his sling and took him outside. She tried to visit with Colleen, but Colleen wasn't home, so she ended up tending the garden out front for the afternoon. Dylan was working, so she didn't text her until she knew her shift was over. At six PM, she sat down with a drink of lemonade and sent the message.

  I want to see you. I miss you.

  Dylan's return message came seconds later. You just saw me last night.

  Yeah, well, that's how much I like you, she started to type. Then she erased the message and typed something else. I'm feeling stir-crazy. Please tell me you have tomorrow off.

  How about a hike tomorrow morning?

  What she really wanted was Dylan in her bed, but she respected her need for moving slowly. Doing something else that would get the blood pumping would be good enough. For now. The sex would come, Laura could feel it sparking in their kisses. And after what Dylan had said to her... she just had to be patient. She typed back an emoji signaling her acquiescence and draped herself over her chair. She just hoped it would come before she exploded.

  LAURA ARRIVED AT THE designated parking area for Overlook Mountain and scanned the lot for Dylan's Outback. The lot was over half full, and none of the cars looked like Dylan's. Though she wanted to see her badly, she was also glad for the time to prep for the hike.

  Hiking with a baby was no easy feat. She sat in the back seat of her car and topped up the baby with a little milk. Then she strapped the structured front pack around her body and slung a backpack filled with everything Aaron might need for the next couple hours over her shoulders. Double-packed, she felt a little like a mule, but at least the weight balanced itself out. She managed to guide the baby inside his pack just as Dylan's car pulled up on the opposite side.

  Dylan opened her door and stood, and a smile came unbidden to Laura's lips.

  Dylan looked so cool. Her hair was done like it had been on their date, gelled or moussed into a position Laura couldn't ever dream to achieve with her own natural waves. She wore cutoff jean shorts and a tank top with a handkerchief tied around her bicep. The pop of red drew Laura's eyes to her arms. But looking at her arms only made her think of how she wanted them wrapped around her, so she glanced back to Dylan's aviator-covered eyes instead.

  Dylan answered her smile and they shared a moment—a single moment—before another head popped out of Dylan's car. This one was dreaded.

  "Hey there, Laura Munro," Skylar said, too loud for the quiet, natural space. Thankfully, there was no one around to hear her. She set her arms on top of Dylan's car and her chin on top of her hands. "Hope you don't mind if I join you two."

  Dylan lifted her sunglasses to reveal her pale eyes. "Sorry," she mouthed.

  Laura gave a tiny shake of her head in Dylan's direction. "No problem, Sky. We're happy to have you join us."

  It wasn't going to be a private hike, anyway, not like Laura had imagined in all her daydreams... and night dreams, too. This looked like a well-trodden path, almost as wide as a road, and any moments that Dylan and she might have had together were likely to be witnessed by their fellow hikers. One more wouldn't hurt. Plus, it would help remind her to take it slow with Dylan.

  "Excellent." Sky opened the hatch and started rummaging in the back for her things.

  "Thank you," Dylan said as they approached one another. "She was having a hard day, and I couldn't just leave her at home."

  "I don't mind, really. Without her, we wouldn't be doing this right now. She brought us together again."

  "You're right. I didn't even think about that." Dylan lifted her eyebrows. "It's nice to see you again, Laura."

  Dylan often spoke like this, almost in an old-fashioned way. It made Laura feel safe, somehow. Like they were in a simpler time. "Same."

  "Let me take your backpack."

  "No, I've got it."

  "Don't be stubborn. There are three of us. We can share the load." Dylan's hands deftly slipped the backpack off Laura's shoulders. "This isn't a very long hike anyway. I chose something on the shorter side for your first time out, but I think you're going to like it."

  "Okay. Thank you." She had to admit, it was easier maneuvering with only one pack.

  Dylan pushed her arms through the straps of the pack, still looking cool, though she was wearing a diaper bag. "How's the little man today?"

  "He's great. Smiling up a storm. See?" Laura pulled down the fabric that was in front of Aaron's mouth. He looked up into Dylan's face and smiled his toothless grin like they were best friends. Laura was just thinking about how lucky she was when he spewed a white stream of spit-up so long it dribbled down the side of the pack and over Dylan's arm.

  "Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Laura said.

  But Dylan was just laughing, her face totally given in to joy. Without missing a beat, she slid the diaper pack off her shoulder, rummaged for a wipe, and cleaned Aaron first, then the pack, then herself. That's when Laura knew she was in trouble, because that was the first time that the word love entered her mind. She loved the easy way Dylan handled all things baby. She loved the way she looked, and she loved the way she smiled.

  "You're amazing," Laura said, because if they were taking it slow, it was definitely too early for the "L" word.

  "You're amazing, too." Dylan leaned down and kissed her, smiling as she did so.

  "All right, you two adorable love birds, let's get walking. I'll lead the way!" Sky started marching up the mountain like a toy soldier.

  Right here, in this instant, it didn't matter that Laura may not have a career any longer. Or that a studio may not buy her documentary films if she was selling them. The only thing that mattered was that she was here with Dylan on this beautiful summer-like day. Even Sky. She had not one but two people she cared about and who she trusted. They were real in a way that people in her life hadn't been before.

  Dylan offered her elbow, and arm-in-arm they followed Skylar up the path. It soon grew steep and their pace slowed.

  Laura was out of breath less than ten minutes into their journey.

  "Can we take a break?" she hu
ffed.

  "Sure," Dylan said, not at all winded. "Sky. Break!"

  Sky veered to the side of the path and leaned against a tree. Laura collapsed on a nearby boulder. Dylan perched next to her. Laura watched Sky for a moment as she conversed easily with a couple coming down the mountain. She couldn't remember the last time she'd reached out to strangers just to chat. Maybe she'd do that one day soon, too. She could imagine doing that here, in Love Falls.

  Add it to the normal person list.

  When she glanced back at Dylan, Dylan looked so happy and satisfied that she didn't want to ruin the moment by talking. But she couldn't help it.

  "So, I came up with some ideas for things to do at the Summer Carnival."

  "Really? What?"

  "I was thinking of making a lawn games area, with oversized games that everyone knows like Jenga and Connect Four."

  "Oh, that's a great idea! We should get a Checkers board too."

  "And maybe a marble run?"

  Dylan frowned. "I don't want you to be spending all your money on this."

  Laura almost laughed. She had plenty of money. Certainly enough so that a few games wouldn't break the bank. But that wasn't the point, and she didn't want to bring up money or make it a thing between them. They had gone so long without it being an issue. No point in highlighting it now. "I won't. I'm going to make it all from scratch."

  Dylan looked at her skeptically. "You?"

  Laura swatted at her. "I'm not a pedicure kind of actress, you know. I've worked for a living my whole life. I found some instructions online. How hard can it be?"

  Dylan picked up a stick and broke it in half. Laura could see she was trying to hold back a laugh. "And where are you going to get the tools to make this stuff? A circular saw? A jigsaw? A hammer?"

  "You have those tools, right? I thought I saw some in the basement of the cabin."

  Dylan let out her laugh this time. "Yes, but I'm not letting you use them without a proper tutorial."

  "Then teach me. I promise I'm a good student." Laura fluttered her eyelashes. A little flirting wouldn't hurt.