Be with Me

by Jules Bennett

  Hoisting her strap up onto her shoulder, Melanie turned to face him once more. Those heavy lids half shielded dark eyes. Tanner was such a potent man and could elicit a stirring of emotions inside her she’d never experienced—all from across a room.

  “Stay.”

  Melanie stilled. That one, simple word hovered in the air between them. “Tanner—”

  “Just to talk,” he amended. “I just . . . damn it, I don’t want things awkward, and I don’t want you leaving here feeling like I should’ve done or said something more. And I need to know that you’re okay.”

  His concern for her well-being could be perceived as controlling, but she wasn’t getting that vibe. Whatever had him checking his emotions and keeping closed off from her, made Melanie wonder what he’d endured in his past. She wasn’t naïve enough to think she was the only one with secrets.

  Surely Jade or Livie would know more about Tanner’s life. If they didn’t, then Melanie would see if Livie could get the lowdown from Jax. That was all sneaky, but Melanie truly wanted to know what she was dealing with.

  Tanner obviously wanted to fix things, if that was even the right wording here. Someone strong and resilient like Tanner used his power to help, to make everything better. But he was also in law enforcement. He was most definitely dominating and pure alpha.

  Would he relinquish control where she and the baby were concerned, or would he insist he was doing everything for her benefit? Because she’d heard that lame defense before.

  “I was going to light a fire out back,” he added, then cursed beneath his breath. “You probably shouldn’t be around smoke right now. Wait, you’re going to the bonfire. I should research all of this.”

  He muttered the last sentence almost as if giving himself a reminder. Melanie couldn’t help the clench to her heart at such sincerity. She could get used to a man who actually cared.

  No. Just no. She couldn’t have her heart involved right now. She needed to stick with facts and not emotions. The fact was she and Tanner were having a baby. They were no more than acquaintances, and possibly friends by default because of their group. That was fine. Friendships she could handle. She excelled at being a good friend.

  Did she throw in the fact that she was attracted to him? That she actually wanted to stay because the thought of going back home and lying awake all night with worry, terrified her?

  At least now that he knew, they shared that common bond of fear. That would pass, though, and she needed to keep her attraction compartmentalized so she didn’t get too wrapped up in this man.

  “I can’t.” She gripped her purse strap and offered a smile to ease the anxiety lines between his brows. “We both need to think and . . . yeah. I need to just go.”

  Melanie hurried to the entryway and got as far as her hand on the doorknob before she felt him behind her.

  “We’ll figure this out. I’m not going anywhere.”

  She shivered at his determined tone. Without a word, and without looking back, Melanie walked out and shut the door behind her.

  Chapter Four

  Be the badass girl you were too afraid to be

  yesterday.

  —Mel’s Motivational Blog

  “I swear if I have to look at one more layout deciding on outlet and light switch placement, I’m going to explode.”

  Livie burst through the back door, the screen slamming behind her. Melanie had already cut up all the various cheeses she could find, had washed the grapes, and pulled out the stemless wineglasses to go with the cheap white she’d bought.

  The newly renovated kitchen island looked like their usual girls’ night in, but this wasn’t going to be like any evening they’d shared before. Nothing after her announcement would be the same.

  “So,” Livie said, blowing out a sigh, “what’s up? Sounded urgent when you texted.”

  Jade stepped into the room from the front of the house, still clad in her workout gear and looking like she stepped out of some fitness magazine. Nobody should look that stunning after working out.

  The woman had even become certified in yoga and had talked them into joining her in doing hot yoga at a studio a few towns over. Merciful sakes, that workout had been brutal.

  “How can a text sound urgent?” Jade asked, taking a seat on the bar stool.

  “She used the wineglass and stiletto,” Livie explained. “That’s SOS.”

  Jade drew her brows in. “I thought SOS was the wineglasses and the middle-finger emoji.”

  “No, that’s what you wanted,” Livie corrected. “We went with the stiletto.”

  “Regardless, you’re both here.” Melanie poured two glasses of wine and eased them across the bar. “Can’t a girl just need a break from blogs and emails and get some time in with her friends?”

  Both women stared back at Melanie, the untouched glasses on the island between them.

  “What?” Melanie asked. “Don’t tell me you don’t like white, because that’s a lie. Oh, is it the twist-off top that’s giving you pause? I’m sure it’s fabulous. What wine less than ten bucks wouldn’t be great?”

  “What’s going on?” Livie asked, still ignoring her glass. “Wait. Did Neville come to town?”

  “Don’t even tell me that bastard is still harassing you,” Jade chimed in. “I wish we could catch him doing it, but he’s so damn sneaky—”

  “Neville isn’t here,” Melanie stated, trying to calm her friends. “He’s sneaky, for sure, but he uses his assistants to get in touch with me. To my knowledge, he hasn’t stepped foot in Haven.”

  “No, he’d send his minions to do any dirty work,” Jade muttered as she reached for the wine. “So what’s really going on and why aren’t you drinking? We always have a glass together.”

  Melanie reached around to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “I’m trying to relax and think of new ideas for blogs, plus I’m changing out some of the ads. I was approached by a fitness trainer who’d like a guest spot once a month.”

  Melanie knew she was rambling and dodging the real question her friends wanted her to answer. They would find out soon enough why she wasn’t drinking and what was wrong.

  From the blank stares and the pursed lips from Livie and Jade, they weren’t even listening to her rambling anyway.

  Livie’s eyes narrowed as she flashed a quick, knowing look to Jade. “She’s definitely hiding something.”

  Jade nodded and blew out a sigh. “Alright, Melanie. What’s really going on? Your nail polish looks like hell and I just put that shade on you two days ago. You look like you’ve been crying and you sent the SOS emojis.”

  She hadn’t been crying, actually. Maybe she just needed a better concealer. She had been slacking on her makeup and hair lately.

  “Pour her a glass of wine,” Livie demanded. “She looks like she needs it more than we do.”

  “I can’t.”

  Her friends stilled. Damn it. Now they were even more suspicious.

  “I just mean that I really do need to keep a clear head right now,” she explained. “I have a few emails to answer and I’d like to get a new blog scheduled so I don’t have to worry about it Monday morning.”

  Because she’d be busy at the doctor.

  “One glass won’t hurt,” Jade claimed. She slid hers across the island. “Here. Take mine.”

  Melanie rested her palms on the island and dropped her head between her shoulders. “I’m pregnant.”

  The dual gasps had Melanie cringing. She’d really wanted to keep this news to herself until she knew how to handle it better, but right now she could use all the support from her closest friends. And really, she should’ve found a better delivery than just dropping a verbal bomb.

  “You’re joking.”

  Melanie glanced up, meeting Jade’s wide eyes. “I’m pregnant,” she repeated, getting more used to the words. “I took a test this morning.”

  “But . . . wait.” Livie reached for her glass and downed the contents in one gulp. She slammed
the glass back down and reached for the bottle. “You’re not even seeing anyone. How is this possible?”

  Jade reached out and smacked Livie on the arm. “Don’t ask stupid questions.”

  “I just mean, who the hell could the father be?”

  Now both sets of eyes turned back to her. This was one thing she really wasn’t going to expose just yet. The questions would be nonstop and she’d already asked Tanner to not say anything right now. They needed to decide together how to let their friends know.

  Tears pricked her eyes. Melanie bit her quivering lip in a vain attempt to get control of herself. She really hated secrets. She’d lived with them during her marriage, she’d grown up with them. Nothing good came from keeping the truth hidden. And a baby was precious, a sign of a new beginning. Why should she feel so bad about this?

  “Oh, damn it.”

  Jade came around the island and wrapped her arms around Melanie. She turned into her friend’s embrace, needing the girl-bonding ritual.

  “You deserve to cry,” Jade muttered.

  “I’m not crying,” Melanie insisted as she sniffed.

  Livie’s hand settled on her back. “You’re more than entitled to a breakdown.”

  Maybe so, but what did getting upset solve? She eased back from Jade’s hold and swiped at the moisture on her face.

  “I’m okay. I’ll be fine.”

  “You will be fine,” Livie agreed. “But it’s also okay to not be fine for a few minutes. I’d be worried if you weren’t afraid.”

  Melanie let out a long sigh. “I know you all want answers about the father, and you deserve them, but I’m not ready to get into that just yet. I will, just give me some time.”

  Jade and Livie exchanged a look before they both finally nodded. No doubt they wanted all the answers now, and she would too if she were in their shoes.

  Melanie didn’t know why it was important to keep Tanner a secret right now. It wasn’t like they wouldn’t find out eventually. But she wasn’t ready to deal with everything all at once. Besides, she’d asked him to keep things to himself for now. There was no way she couldn’t tell her friends, though. She needed their support. But the answer to their burning question would have to wait.

  Telling her friends that she and Tanner had slept together would change the dynamics of absolutely everything. Livie and Jax were marrying soon, Melanie planned on staying in Haven as well, and Jade was still up in the air. But their group had been formed, and since coming here, three guys had become part of their lives.

  “We’ll do whatever you want,” Livie assured her. “How are you feeling?”

  Melanie reached around for her bottle of water. “Tired, mostly. I thought maybe I just needed more sleep, but then I missed my period and I knew.”

  Jade grabbed her wineglass and took a sip. She clutched the stemless glass to her chest and smiled. “Well, we’re here and we’ll do anything we can. But you’ve got to rest. Oh, can I take over your blog for a week? I started dating this new guy and let me tell you—”

  Melanie laughed. “No. I love my followers and you’d scare them.”

  “Maybe not,” Jade said with a defiant shake of her head and a smirk. “They may love what I have to say about motivation and bettering themselves. I can leave my new dating scene out of the picture for now. I’ve got a hell of a backstory.”

  Melanie thought for a minute. Jade did have a remarkable story about overcoming obstacles and becoming a strong, independent woman. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. I could do featured posts on the three of us. That was a huge hit when I started the site. Everyone loved our meet story, so revisiting where we are now would be fun. I could mention the airport and the undertaking we’re all doing. Free press down the road won’t hurt.”

  “When you say where we are now, I assume you mean without the pregnancy announcement?” Livie asked, reaching for a piece of jalapeño Havarti.

  “Yeah. I’m definitely holding out on that for a while.”

  Just the idea that she’d be in charge of another life was almost too much to handle. But she’d turned her own life around and she was well on her way to achieving her goal. Her blog was huge, her social media accounts boomed, and she was helping her friends turn an old airport into something grand. All in all, her life was great. Better than ever, actually.

  While the shock still hadn’t worn off about the baby, Melanie wasn’t sorry. How could she be? She’d always wanted a family. This might not be the way she’d envisioned her life at this point, but she would provide for this baby and be the best mother she knew how to be.

  “So, do you want to talk about it, or do you want to hear about the guy who asked me out in aisle twelve and offered to take me home for frozen pizza?”

  Melanie laughed. “Jade, I swear. Men flock to you.”

  “Not the right ones, unfortunately. But I’ve gone out with Brad a couple times and he seems really nice.”

  At least that was something. Jade never attracted the right type of man. Another thing they all had in common. Well, all they’d had in common before Livie had fallen in love with Jax. Before that union of souls, the wrong men somehow wedged themselves into the lives of Melanie, Jade, and Livie. Melanie had been the only one dumb enough to fall for false charms and marriage, though.

  “What are Jax and Piper doing tonight?” Melanie asked.

  Livie’s smile widened as it always did when discussing her fiancé and his sweet little girl. “They’re actually planning something for the wedding. They’ve been working on some secret project that’s driving me crazy.”

  “That’s because you don’t have control,” Jade chimed in. “But seriously, that’s adorable. Piper is so damn cute, she’s going to look precious in that pale blue dress you chose.”

  “I had to pick her favorite color.”

  Melanie groaned. “Oh, no. I’m going to have to order another size in my dress unless you two hurry up and marry soon.”

  Livie reached out, placing her hand on Melanie’s arm. “Don’t stress right now. We’ll fit the wedding in before the end of the year . . . I hope. Things just keep getting pushed back because we’re so focused on this airport and we want it up and running as soon as we can to start getting a return on our investments.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m already six weeks pregnant,” Melanie complained. “What if my waist is gone by the time you all decide to seal the deal? What if I can’t get my dress zipped?”

  Flashes of a young girl who cried herself to sleep over ill-fitting clothes and excess weight hit her hard. Damn it. She’d pushed that girl with low self-esteem behind her, too. The body shaming, the guilt and depression, all of that had been erased.

  Well, she’d thought she’d pushed that negative Nancy behind her, but occasionally she still popped up. She’d lived inside that body for so long, there was no way to completely erase her. Perhaps that was a good thing, to keep Melanie reminded of where she’d come from and how far she’d come, all on her own.

  “You’ll be beautiful no matter what,” Jade stated. “Maybe Livie and Jax will hurry to the altar, or living room, or wherever the hell they decide on, a little sooner. This might just give Livie the motivation to move things along.”

  “I’m ready to marry,” Livie declared. “I swear. We’ve just been so damn busy with all the demolition and surveys and the little things we didn’t think of when taking on this vast project. I swear, if your dress doesn’t fit, I’ll personally buy you another one.”

  Melanie slid her hand over her belly, trying to imagine the life growing inside her right now. “This is insane,” she whispered. “I mean, I’m excited, but if I think too much on it I get nervous.”

  “So is now a good time to tell the story of the guy who hit on me and wanted me to come for dinner at his house for frozen pizza? Because I promise, the story gets worse. He also threw in reruns of Seinfeld like that would win me over.”

  Jade’s question had Melanie and Livie laughing. “Now is the perfect time,”
Melanie said. “I may need you to also add in those nightmare blind-date stories you have, because I seriously need the distraction.”

  Jade blew out a breath. “Then you might want to have a seat because those blind-date-from-hell stories can go on for days.”

  * * *

  Tanner ducked just in time to avoid a fist to the side of his face.

  He let out a laugh, even though he was trying to get in a deep breath and bounce around on the balls of his feet. “You’re getting slow, old man.”

  Tanner ducked again as he shifted out of the way of another fist. He held his gloves firmly in defensive position. Sweat trickled down the side of his face. He swiped at his forehead with the back of his arm as he eyed his opponent.

  Cash laughed as he went for another jab. “Old man, my ass.”

  Tanner spun around, catching just the air from the punch. “Nice try.”

  Breathing heavily, Tanner leaned back on the ropes and pulled in some much needed air. He also took a moment to survey the weight area off in the corner. Cash had said the two guys he wanted Tanner to check up on were usually at the gym late at night.

  With twenty-four-hour access to members only, that could mean any time. Any member with the access code could get in. If the two guys didn’t show after a while, Tanner would get the tapes from the cameras in the parking lot and main area of the gym to get a good view of exactly who he was supposed to be looking for.

  “They’re not here yet.” Cash came over to the ropes and draped his forearms over the top. “They’re pretty regular, so they should be here within the next thirty minutes.”

  Tanner jerked his boxing gloves off and reached for the bottle of water in the corner of the ring. He took a hearty drink, welcoming the chill. He and Cash had gone at it for a while, which was exactly what Tanner needed.

  Ever since learning he was going to be a daddy—again—he’d been a damn mess. His emotions ranged from terrified, to anxious, back to holy shit mode.

  Flashes of what seemed like a lifetime ago kept scrolling through his mind. Another woman, another baby. Both gone.

  Not only had Tanner never wanted to get involved long-term with someone, he sure as hell hadn’t wanted to go through another pregnancy. He’d had to hold himself in check when Melanie had been at his house. The woman looked as nervous and scared as he’d felt. She’d been through her own personal hell and he damn well was going to be strong for her . . . no matter the cost to his own sanity.