Dangerously Close

by Dee J. Adams

  Hell, was she crying again?

  “Everything okay?” he asked. Duh. Not.

  She nodded, but kept her back facing him. “I’ve just never been without family on Thanksgiving.” She took a deep breath and turned around, wiping her eyes with a quick swipe of her hand. “God, am I the biggest baby you’ve ever met or what?”

  He grinned. “I think it’s sweet.” Being alone on Thanksgiving for the first time had to be tough, but after what she’d been through the last couple of months it was bound to be even harder, so it wasn’t surprising how emotional she was. He needed a subject change, and fast. Moving next to her, he shoved her shoulder with his own. “What are the penalties for swiping some of this stuffing before it gets on my plate?” He pinched a toasted corner from the porcelain bowl and popped the drop in his mouth. Ashley’s smile was back and brighter than before. “Oh, God this is good shit,” he said. If the rest of the food tasted as good, this was going to be the best meal of his life.

  It didn’t seem possible that she’d prepared so much food single-handedly. “How’d you make all this?” he asked.

  “Lizzie helped me prep most of it last night. She didn’t leave until late because she doesn’t like dealing with the traffic. I didn’t have too much to do today so…” She shrugged then seemed to realize that he meant how in the hell had she cooked all the food on her own. “Lizzie set up my kitchen with Braille. The stove and oven have raised dots on the knobs so I know what temperature everything is. I have a Braille timer too. Even though my peripheral vision sucks and it’s really blurry, I see a little bit around the edges.”

  Mel swiped another bite of stuffing and this time Ashley smacked his hand.

  “I saw that.” She laughed.

  “Hey, you wanted me to eat food. I’m just doing my duty.”

  * * *

  Almost three hours later, Mel had done such a good job of eating and helping Ashley clean up the kitchen that she’d pushed him into the den and onto the giant brown chenille sofa in front of the big screen. She finished up in the kitchen and came back a few minutes later to find Mel in a turkey coma. A fire blazed toasty warm and the football game was still on. She lay down on the other side of the L-shaped sofa so that their heads nearly connected at the corner.

  “The kitchen is clean and Roamer’s taking his usual evening stroll in the backyard. The leftovers are in the fridge and if I eat another thing my insides are going to explode and it’s going to be really, really gross.”

  “There’s a nice thought,” Mel mumbled. At least he wasn’t dead.

  Ashley giggled and her stomach clenched around too much food. “Oh, God, don’t make me laugh or I’ll barf.”

  “Don’t,” he warned. “I’m a sympathy barfer and we do not want to go there.” He sat up and she craned her head toward him afraid he was on his way out the door. “You’re going to have to roll me fucking home,” he moaned.

  She reached out and patted his thigh. He was rock hard there too. “Poor baby. Poor piggy, piggy baby.” Ashley made some convincing pig noises and laughed, but it hurt her stomach and she clutched her side. “Oooowww.”

  “Ha. That’s what you get for making fun of me.”

  “You sound like my sister. You sure your name isn’t Sheryl? Maybe she made it here after all only she’s in disguise.” Ashley rolled over and started crawling on the sofa toward Mel.

  “What are you doing with that evil look on your face?” he asked. But she could tell he was smiling.

  “I’m going to pull on your beard and see if it’s really Sheryl under there.”

  Mel palmed her forehead as she got closer and kept her back without too much effort. Ashley dissolved into fresh laughter and plopped down next to him.

  “This is what Thanksgiving is about,” she said. “Overeating, football and big comfortable couches.” It was also about family, but she hadn’t managed that part this year. She had befriended the next-door neighbor fairly well though. That should count for something.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Mel said. “That had to be the best dinner I’ve ever had. Bar none.”

  “You’re welcome. Thanks for helping me put a dent in it. How many helpings did you have anyway? I lost count after three.” She laughed again and he groaned.

  “It’s not funny. I was trying to help you.”

  “And you did.” She held back another giggle. “Can I get you—”

  “Jesus, no. No more food,” he begged.

  She laughed again. “I was going to ask if you wanted something to drink. Water? Wine? Anything.”

  “I’m good. I need to just stay still for about two days and let all this food digest.” He paused for a minute and Ashley enjoyed the comfortable silence. “Tell me again why I had two pieces of apple pie?”

  Ashley snorted. “Because you’re a glutton for punishment. Also, because I make one mean-ass apple pie.”

  “God, I wasn’t even hungry, but there I was cutting another piece.”

  “And eating, and eating and—”

  Mel joined in laughing with her. “I get it. Stop. Oh, shit. I’m never having Thanksgiving with you again unless you promise I can stop eating when I get full.”

  Lifting her right hand, Ashley made a solemn oath that he never had to eat anything again as long as he lived. She promptly got a pillow in the face and shrieked with laughter. The ensuing pillow fight was unfair to say the least. She kept missing and he kept scoring body shots until Ashley laughed herself onto the floor with Mel landing on top of her.

  “Give up?” he asked.

  She could imagine him holding a pillow high over his head, ready to smack her again. “Yes. Give. I give.” She gulped in huge gasps of air. But Mel didn’t immediately move off her and except for their rough breathing, the room got very quiet. He felt solid on top of her, his body heat radiating through his sweater. She blinked fiercely, dying to see his face, his eyes, anything that might help her read him right this moment. She would’ve touched him, but he had her hands pinned next to her as he straddled her. The position alone was enough to send her heart rate soaring. What would she do if he kissed her?

  God, she was such an idiot. She knew better than to think anything was going to come of her and Mel. They were strictly friends. She’d told him that. She believed it herself. Besides, he wouldn’t kiss her. She was broken. Scarred. Not a good bet as far as good lays went. But the moment dragged on until Ashley did the one thing she did best. Talk.

  “See, Thanksgiving is pretty fun at my house, right?” She struggled to get her pulse back to normal. Mel still didn’t move. “Although, I think it’s more fun when I win the pillow fights,” she added. “But this wasn’t bad.” She felt him watching her and self-consciously turned her head to hide her scar. “Do you think it’s time to stoke up the fire?” she asked, aiming for anything to end the awkward moment. It was too hard. Not knowing what he was thinking or being able to read his face. She hated it.

  “Yeah, I’ll get the fire,” Mel murmured and he moved off her.

  The chill of the room invaded where he’d been and she felt the loss of his heat more than she wanted to.

  After stoking the fire, Mel joined her back on the sofa. He had a lot of room on either side of her, but he sat right next to her and Ashley felt her pulse quicken. Knock it off, Ashley.

  “Okay, you were right,” Mel admitted, breaking the silence in the room.

  “Well of course,” she deadpanned. “I’m always right.” She nodded her head. “About what?” She felt—more than heard—him laugh.

  “About Thanksgiving being fun at your house.” He tapped her arm. “In fact…and I might be premature about this, but I’m willing to have Thanksgiving with you every year. You know, just to ensure the fun factor.”

  “Very generous of you, Mr. Summers. I will make a note of it in the calendar.”

  “Yes, do.”

  They both laughed and the awkward moment from a minute before disappeared in the blink of an eye.

&n
bsp; “So where’s your family?” she asked after they’d quieted.

  He shrugged. “Arizona, maybe. They could be anywhere. I’m not sure.”

  Ashley adjusted and faced him. “You mean you’re not sure where they are for Thanksgiving or where they are at all.”

  “Both.” He paused, then patted her knee. “Now, don’t go getting all female on me. It’s not a big deal. I haven’t seen my folks since I left home. I’ve gotten over it. Don’t freak out.”

  The happiness in her chest dimmed and sorrow took its place. “Mel. You mean you left home twenty years ago and haven’t talked to your parents in all that time? That’s nuts. That’s…” she struggled to find the right word, “…that’s sad.”

  “It is what it is. They’re the ones who wouldn’t support me. I’m not talking financial. All they had to do was be verbally supportive but they couldn’t manage that. They hated my music. I think they were embarrassed that their only son wanted to make a living playing rock and roll. They made it clear that if I didn’t graduate, if I left the house, I was not welcome back.” He hesitated. “Fine. I didn’t go back.”

  Ashley’s chest ached with the story. She edged closer to Mel and linked their hands together. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “That just sucks. I’d never do that to a kid. It’s just wrong.” Ashley held tight when he squeezed her hand. “So the other day after the earthquake when you said you were going to call your family…that was just an excuse for a fast exit, huh?”

  “Kind of,” he admitted. “Sorry. It’s just that I’m not great with new people…which you may have figured out. I tend to keep things close.” He paused. “I don’t even know why I just told you any of that,” he said quietly.

  This time she squeezed his hand. He had been a little distant in the beginning, but she’d felt a definite change in his attitude toward her. “I know I’m a loud mouth and I talk all the time,” she began. “But I’m also a good listener. You can tell me anything and know that it won’t go any further.” She paused. “I don’t know why your folks did what they did, but they were wrong to close the door on you.” There wasn’t any way to undo his past, but she wanted to affect his future. “Just so you know, my door is always open. Whenever, whatever you need. I’m your friend and I’m here for you.” She felt his head turn, felt him looking at her. His grip was warm and strong and she wanted to see him more than anything.

  “I’ve been on my own for years,” he said. “I’ve been surrounded by a lot of people most of the time, but…I never realized until now that even in the middle of a crowd, I was lonely. I’m not making any sense.” He paused. “What I’m trying to say is this is the first time in more years than I can remember that I don’t feel so alone.”

  There it was again. Another awkward moment where Ashley felt off balance. As if she walked some tight rope and the next step might be the beginning of a long fall. She had no witty comeback. No smart retort. His sincerity touched her and she had no clue how to reply. “Me too,” she finally said. It was true. She’d been so alone the past year, holed up in this house, hiding from the world. Even with Lizzie here, she’d struggled to find happiness in her own home and had fallen short. But tonight, she’d found it. Or at least had a glimpse of it.

  The grandfather clock chimed in the hallway and she had no idea what time it was when the bells stopped. Her whole focus centered on Mel. His cologne—he smelled so good, the touch of his hand, the rhythm of his breathing.

  Mel shifted beside her. “I should get going.”

  She threw her arm over his waist and blocked him in, reverting back to the playful mood they’d shared minutes before. “Only if you come back tomorrow for brunch,” she said. “Otherwise, I’m holding you hostage until the food is gone.”

  “You drive a hard bargain.” One arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Making me come back and eat the best food I’ve ever had in my life.” His voice was a low rumble, his knuckle smoothed beneath her jaw and tingles spread down her back. “That’s just plain vicious. Another couple of days of this and I’ll weigh three hundred pounds.”

  They were too close. It was too right and too wrong. She smiled and tugged at the hair on his chin. “You could shave your beard. That’ll take some weight off.”

  Maybe the intimacy bothered him, because he pulled away and got off the sofa. “You don’t like my beard? Hell, you can’t even see my beard.”

  Ashley followed. Relief and disappointment had never run so close together. “No offense, but beards are…I don’t know…”

  “Hairy?”

  She laughed and moved in front of him, standing in the archway of the den. “I’m serious. Say you’ll come back tomorrow and help me eat.”

  “I’d be stupid not to.” He paused. “What’s that?”

  “What?”

  “Over your head. On the archway. It looks like…”

  “Mistletoe. Yes, it’s mistletoe. Lizzie helped me put it up before she left. I thought it’d be fun to force Mom and Mickey and Sheryl and Rick into PDAs. You know, public displays of affection? I thought it’d be fun to get into the swing of the holidays, and I knew I wouldn’t get to see them at Christmas… Joke’s on me.” Unless she used it as a different joke.

  “Of course, just because they’re not here doesn’t mean we can’t make use of it. Go ahead, lay one on me.” She quickly morphed her face into a sourpuss pucker complete with eyes shut tight and her face compressed. It took everything she had to keep the pucker and not dissolve into laughter. He’d either peck her cheek, her puckered lips or laugh it off and not do anything.

  The quick assault of fingers to her waist had her squealing and laughing like a schoolgirl. The fact that she got the fun back before the night ended made her happiest of all. Except… Suddenly, his lips were on hers and it was no peck. He kissed her.

  K-I-S-S-E-D. Kissed her.

  His lips brushed over hers without the slightest hesitation. Pucker-face hadn’t scared him at all. Of course she’d lost the pucker once he tickled her. A pre-meditated move she’d have to get back at him for. Once they stopped kissing. If they ever stopped kissing. Because, God, this was good. His mouth continued to move over hers, but he didn’t use his tongue. Still she detected a hint of her apple pie. How sexy was that? His mouth was warm over hers as he continued to graze his lips back and forth, kissing and nibbling as if dinner and dessert hadn’t quite been enough. His beard rasped against her skin and instead of the prickly feeling she expected, it was soft. One warm hand swept up her cheek and through her hair as the other palmed her neck and jaw. Sexy with a capital S.

  Her heart pounded harder as her blood rushed through her body. A slow throbbing started between her legs. Good God, was that her libido?

  What would happen if he used his tongue? Would she spark to life the way she hadn’t in over two years? How many times had they dodged this moment already tonight? How many times had she thought he might kiss her? Hoped he’d kiss her? And prayed he wouldn’t? Honestly, she hadn’t expected he’d kiss her at all, but now she wanted his tongue in her mouth just to see if the sensation was as wonderful as she anticipated.

  But instead of kissing her deeper, he gently pulled away. Ashley tried to process the whole thing and she didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. Not that he would, but he might. She would’ve paid money to see his face. To know if he regretted kissing her or if he liked it. Before too much time got away from her, she took a step back and feigned a look at the mistletoe.

  “Damn,” she muttered. “I need to put that shit up all over the house.”

  Mel burst out laughing and Ashley joined him. There was nothing else to do but enjoy the moment. Even though there hadn’t been any weirdness, she wanted to keep it that way, so she backed up toward the door and opened it for him.

  He stepped past her into the cold night. “Thanks again for dinner. It was the best.”

  “You’re welcome. Thank you for coming. You never did answer me. Will you please come back tomorrow for a no surprise
brunch?”

  “What’s a no surprise brunch?” She heard the smile in his voice.

  “When it’s no surprise that you’ll be having the exact same thing you had for dinner tonight only it’s going to be reheated and called brunch.”

  Mel laughed. “Sounds good. What time?”

  “How about 11:30? We can start early and just eat our way through the day and right into dinner.”

  “How can you even think about food, right now?”

  “Trust me,” she said, “it isn’t easy.” She held her stomach. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.”

  “You and me both. Night, Ashley.”

  “Night, babe. Hey, should I call you a cab or get the dolly from the garage?”

  He laughed again. “I think I can manage, but thanks.”

  “Okay then. Night. Sleep tight.” She closed the door and leaned against it. She’d have to think about that kiss. It was too damn good to let go without some serious daydreaming.

  * * *

  Mel shoved his hands in his pockets and hustled home. The cold air bit through his coat and he missed the blazing fire in Ashley’s living room. The heat of her kiss hadn’t been too bad either.

  God, he’d nearly kissed her a couple of different times tonight and had managed to control himself. He’d only kissed her just now to surprise her. She’d been so sure he wouldn’t get near her puckered puss that he’d had to go for it. What he hadn’t expected was her warmth, her softness. He had surprised her. So much so that he had to keep kissing her just to see what she’d do. Any other woman would’ve been right on board, taking things further and working to rile him up, but not Ashley. She’d taken his kiss, had even participated, but she’d been almost shy about it. Almost as if she’d never kissed a guy before. The contradiction of what she’d told him about herself and how she reacted surprised him. Maybe he hadn’t planned the moment, but he sure as hell hadn’t expected her reaction.

  He also hadn’t expected to tell her about his relationship with his parents. The fact that he had still surprised him. Hell, what was it about this lady that had him spilling his past like a gossipy school kid? It wasn’t like he’d let his parents’ rejection rule his world. If anything, it felt good to know he’d succeeded where they hadn’t thought he could. They’d never once come out of the woodwork looking to capitalize on his fame. Part of him wasn’t surprised. His father was probably still embarrassed to have him as a son because of the negative publicity. Yet, he hadn’t had a problem sharing it all with Ashley.