Melanie shook her head. “You can’t do both,” she yelled over the wind. “I’ll find her while you fasten the shutters. Where do you think she is?”
His insides turned to ice at the suggestion. Splintering branches, lightning, and mud would make the forest into a danger zone. No way would he let Melanie in there. He shook his head. “I got it. You wait inside.”
Melanie lifted her chin, and she drew together her brows in a look of determination.
Seth realized what he’d done, and now that he knew more about her past, he understood why his words hurt. He was treating her the very way she resented, taking away her independence, telling her she couldn’t handle something. He knew Melanie needed to feel strong, but letting her go when she could get hurt…The acid that burned in his stomach whenever he allowed himself to think of that day with Cassie returned. His heart beat in his ears, and he felt himself shaking. He couldn’t do it. Not when he could keep her safe.
“Seth…” Melanie’s lips pursed together defiantly.
“Daisy hides in the forest.” He pushed out the words and jerked his head toward the road they’d just traveled. His heart felt like it was being squeezed, but deep down, he knew she needed to do this. “She won’t come when you call, so you’ll have to search.” His throat grew tight as he looked at Melanie. She wore a sweatshirt, but was already soaked through and shivering. She looked so small and fragile. If only…
With a shake of her head, she grasped his hand. “I’m not Cassie.”
Seth couldn’t do more than nod. He held up the flashlight.
Melanie took it, her expression tightened and worry entered her eyes. But the look was accompanied by a confidence he’d only seen in her when she talked about baseball. She needed this. Needed someone to believe in her.
His fists clenched and his chest feeling hollow, Seth stood in the rain as he watched Melanie disappear into the dark forest. His throat was so tight he had to force himself to swallow. The thing Melanie needed most proved to be one of the hardest things he had ever done.
Chapter Six
Melanie stumbled through the trees. The flashlight only lit a small area, and with the rain and blowing branches, the wet ground seemed to shift. Pine needles hid rocks and holes, and even though she wanted to hurry, she placed each step carefully. “Daisy!” A crash sounded, and Melanie jerked back, slipping in the mud and sitting…hard.
She kept hold of the flashlight and stood, plunging forward. She’d decided if she maintained the same trajectory, following parallel to the road, she could find her way back, but with the whipping wind and rain, she wasn’t sure of her direction. “Daisy!” She didn’t think yelling did any good, but doing so kept her from feeling completely powerless, and so she kept at it.
As she tripped over branches and pushed her way through undergrowth, she couldn’t keep her mind from turning to Seth. Something had happened as they’d stood in the rain. Seth’s jaw had been set in a stubborn “no,” when she’d offered to find Daisy. She’d fully expected him to pull out the “macho man” act and keep her inside the house like a damsel in distress. According to his body language, he’d wanted to.
But she’d seen fear in his eyes and at that moment, everything shifted once she realized why. Seth had felt helpless and afraid. Just as he’d explained earlier. His need to save people, to keep them safe stemmed from that horrible day so many years ago. And yet…he’d let her go.
Melanie felt tears pressing on the backs of her eyelids and choked on her breath. Seth knew her—he understood, and to him her need had been more important than his own. I love him. The thought filled her with warmth like hot cocoa.
A gust of wind thrust her into a tree and Melanie threw up her hands to keep branches from hitting her face. She leaned against the trunk and shined the light through the undergrowth. “Daisy!”
Hearing no doggy sounds, she pushed off and continued forward. After all her whining about the Yankee’s coach not having a tight game plan, she was frustrated with herself that she still didn’t have any idea of her own life’s course. The one thing she felt sure about was Seth. She couldn’t imagine a future that didn’t include him. Especially after today. Under the wet and cold, she felt warm. Whatever happened, having him in her corner felt good.
She heard a crash and swung around the beam of light. A branch fell from above and landed on a clump of shrubs. “Daisy!” Melanie decided she’d have to change directions or navigate over the broken branch and undergrowth. She decided on a path that would hopefully bring her to the main road and moved around a tree, holding onto a thick branch as she slipped on a wet exposed root. Lightning lit the sky, casting strange shadows and thunder shook the forest. How long had she been gone? Twenty minutes? Thirty? Would Seth come after her if she didn’t return soon? She had no doubt he would.
Something knocked into her leg, and Melanie jumped back. When she caught her balance, she shined the light and saw a trembling mass of wet fur. Daisy. Melanie knelt in the mud, examining the dog as well as she could in the rain. The animal looked unhurt. Just wet and frightened. “It’s okay, girl. Let’s get you home,” she spoke in a sing-song voice that she hoped was comforting.
Since Daisy didn’t have a collar to hold onto, Melanie walked a few feet and turned, hoping the dog would follow. She didn’t have to worry. Daisy stuck close to her side, and Melanie reached down to pat her for reassurance as they made their way through the trees in the direction she hoped led back to the road. A moment later, she emerged onto the gravel drive. “Come on, girl!” she coaxed as she hurried toward the house.
When she emerged into the yard, she saw Seth standing in front of the house. He held his hands over his eyes to block the rain as he scanned the tree line. Melanie knew the instant he saw them.
Seth broke into a run and didn’t stop until he’d swept her into his arms and pressed his lips against hers.
The desperation in his kiss surprised her. Melanie could feel his heart pounding and his arms were tight around her. He’d worried about her, and knowing that he’d still let her go against his own convictions sent a warmth through her. Seth made her feel cherished, but he still understood her need for independence.
He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, his hand cupping the back of her head. His breathing was uneven, and his hands shook. “You’re not hurt, Mel?”
Melanie’s chest felt tight as she realized the full effect her desire to prove herself had on him. “We’re okay,” she muttered and placed her hand on his cheeks. “I’m sorry you were worried.”
Seth pressed his hand over hers and nodded. He put an arm around her shoulder and glanced down at Daisy who sat in the gravel watching them. “Good girl, Daisy.” He snapped his fingers for the dog to follow.
Once they were inside, Seth grabbed a towel and threw it over the dog before she could shake. He handed another to Melanie, glancing down at the mud on her clothes. “You’re going to want to shower.”
Melanie wiped off her face, glad for the chance to hide behind the towel. Being in Seth’s house while the elements raged outside felt so cozy, especially after their kiss. She felt vulnerable standing in a man’s living room soaking wet.
After walking away, Seth flipped on a light and called over his shoulder. “Here’s the guest room, bathroom’s in there. I’ll find ya some dry clothes while you shower.”
“Thanks.” A crash of thunder shook the house and she jumped.
Seth stood in the doorway as Melanie walked into the bedroom. “Nathaniel stayed here a few times when he visited, and my parents once, but this guestroom hasn’t gotten much use.”
Melanie nodded. Seth seemed to be talking just to fill the silence. She wondered if he felt as nervous as she did with the intimacy of their situation.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it…” He closed the door.
Once Melanie had showered, she peeked back into the bedroom and saw a pair of men’s plaid pajamas and a long-sleeved Red Sox T-shirt. After she cinched the pajama pants waist an
d rolled up the cuffs, she lifted the shirt. Glancing at her muddy jersey and sweatshirt, she realized she had no other choice. Which, she was certain, was Seth’s evil scheme in the first place.
She entered the living room, and Daisy was the only one on the couch, sitting on a spread towel. The sound of water running told her Seth had waited for her to finish her shower before taking his own. She sat next to the dog and had just started to scratch her ears when the room plunged into darkness.
Daisy whined.
Melanie froze, her pulse racing. Where is that flashlight? A burst of lightning and a crack of thunder sounded, making both she and the dog jump. The wind howled and something crashed against the house. She let out a gasp.
“Mel?”
A flashlight beam shined in the hall. “I’m here, in the living room.”
“You okay?” He joined her, pushing the dog off the couch and tossing down the wet towel.
“I’ve never experienced a storm like this.” She could hear her voice shaking and felt embarrassed that something as harmless as a rainstorm would scare her so badly.
Seth pulled her against him, leaning back on the couch. He dragged a blanket from the arm rest over them.
Melanie nestled into the space beneath his shoulder, feeling warm and protected. Seth smelled like shampoo and his shirt was damp. He must have jumped out of the shower as soon as the power went off and hurried to find her.
Daisy whined from her spot on the floor.
“Sorry, girl.”
Another crack sounded as the wind blew something against the house.
Melanie jumped again and then felt Seth’s arms tighten around her. “I’m being such a baby,” she said.
“Shhh…” He combed his fingers through her wet hair. “I like taking care of you.”
“I like it, too.” The crash of the water in the harbor and the noise of the storm grew more distant, and Melanie could feel herself slipping into sleep. Images floated in and out of her thoughts: a mustard-covered hot dog, Seth’s white grin, his lips on hers, the muddy dog, the brass plaque by the front door. A feeling of contentment covered her like the blanket. Being held in Seth’s arms while the storm raged made her feel safer than any time she could remember. Hyne House felt like home.
****
Melanie squinted at the sunlight on her face. She opened one eye and saw a small beam had made its way between a crack in the shutters. The memory of the night before returned, and she lifted her head. Seth’s slow breathing made his chest rise and fall beneath her hand. Is anything more perfect than waking up like this? She rose on her elbow to where she could see his face and brushed a kiss on his cheek.
Daisy whined and scratched the back door.
Melanie maneuvered herself over a sleeping Seth and padded across the dimly lit living room. She glanced at the clock. Still a few hours before I need to get to work. Then she opened the door, surprised at the brightness of the morning. No trace of last night’s storm remained, except for the tree branches and other debris strewn over the lawn. She wasn’t sure whether to allow the dog to stay outside alone, but she didn’t want to wake Seth to ask, so she closed the door quietly and walked out onto the porch.
Sunlight glinted on the water. Seth’s boat bobbed next to the pier, and the sight of the cozy harbor made her heart full. She ran her hand along the railing as she walked barefoot along the back porch. The furniture had been blown into one corner of the deck. She grabbed a chair and dragged it back into place, and then moved another.
“Mornin’, sunshine.” Seth stood in the doorway, scratching his head sleepily. “What are ya doing out here so early?”
“Good morning.” Melanie wrapped her arms around him and felt him press a kiss into her hair. “I let Daisy out.” She stepped back and motioned toward the yard.
Seth’s mouth spread in a grin. “Nice shirt.” He folded an arm across his chest and held his chin, nodding his head. “I forgot all about it in the dark last night. We might need to get one in your size, however.”
She glanced down at the Red Sox shirt and rolled her eyes. “Surely, this isn’t the only shirt you could have lent me.”
His grin grew and he shrugged. “I think we should make a wager on tonight’s game. Loser has to wear the other team’s jersey to work?”
“You got yourself a deal.” Grinning, she held out a hand to shake.
He grabbed it and tugged, catching her and planting a kiss on her mouth. “Deal.”
Melanie’s clothes were still wet and muddy, but her shoes were dry, so she wore them with Seth’s pajamas. When they went to get in the car, they discovered a tree had blown across the lane and would take a chainsaw to remove.
Seth surveyed the damage with his hands in his pockets. “I’ll take ya in the boat.”
“Let me hurry and call Carlos.” Luckily, her phone still had a bit of charge.
Her boss picked up on the first ring. “Sang Freud Coffee House.”
“Morning, Carlos.”
“Melanie! Well, if it isn’t the local celebrity. I saw the picture of you and Dr. Goodwyn in the paper.
Picture? Her heart thudded. “Oh. I didn’t know.”
“Pretty adorable, you two—rival baseball fans sharing a hot dog.” Headline was something like, ‘Love Knows No Team Loyalty.’”
Melanie felt a rush of embarrassment flushing over her skin and turned away from where Seth was dragging tree limbs, glad he couldn’t hear what Carlos said.
“There’s a tree blocking the road out here.” The embarrassment grew when she realized what Carlos would assume at her spending the night at Seth’s. “I’ll be a little late today.”
“No problem.”
She could hear the smile in Carlos’s voice but didn’t want to give him any more to react to. “Bye.”
“See ya when you get here.”
An hour later, Seth helped her out of the motor boat and onto the Lobster Cove Pier.
Melanie was glad the majority of citizens seemed too busy cleaning up the mess from the storm to look at her outfit of oversized men’s pajamas too closely. She’d fallen asleep with wet hair, and now she was certain her lack of make-up wasn’t doing her complexion any favors.
Seth held her hand as they walked past the seafood market, up Oak Avenue toward her apartment. The street was nearly empty, probably due to the storm. Only one car was parked in front of Murphy’s.
“I’m on shift until five, but how about I pick you up after and we’ll catch the game?”
“We should figure out what size shirt you need. I should probably order it now, so you can wear it next week.” Melanie smiled as she teased him. From the corner of her eye, she saw a car door open, and a couple stepped out. When her mind registered who it was, Melanie froze.
Senator Rutherford and her mother walked toward them, trailed by a bodyguard and Chuck, the campaign manager.
Panic emptied Melanie’s mind. She wanted to run, or hide. Her gaze darted around, and she felt her breath come in bursts.
Seth squeezed her hand.
“Seth…It’s my parents. My dad, he’s—”
“Mel, I know.”
Emitting a gasp, she snapped her head around. “You know?”
“Yeah, I’ve known for a while. And you got this, Mel.”
“I can’t.” She looked at him, then at her approaching parents. Her mind spun as she vacillated between dread, surprise, and the resolve to stand her ground. “I need you.”
“You don’t need me. You can handle this.”
She shook her head, and then held his gaze. Her throat went dry and she pressed a hand to her jumpy stomach. “I want to need you, Seth.” Making the admission was frightening, but once she said it, she knew it was true.
His mouth opened, and then closed. He swallowed hard and pulled her under his arm for a quick hug. “Then I’m here.” He lowered his arm.
Melanie clasped his hand.
“Melanie Rutherford.” Her father stormed close and stopped. His face was r
ed beneath his thick silver hair, and veins bulged at his neck. “We have been searching for you for months, and we find you in this backwoods town, working as a waitress.” He rubbed a spot on his forehead. “What on earth are you doing? Do you have any idea what people would think if they knew?” His gaze traveled over her disheveled clothing and moved to Seth. “Who is this person?”
Melanie’s mother stood behind her father.
Hearing the dismissal in her father’s words made Melanie cringe. Especially as they related to Seth. “I’d like you to meet Dr. Seth Goodwyn.” She moved her hand, palm up between the men. “Seth, this is my father, Senator Martin Rutherford. And my mother, Mrs. Donna Rutherford.”
The senator’s lip curled at Seth’s attempt to shake his hand. “What do you mean by this, young lady? You’ve caused us quite a lot of work with your little stunt.”
Melanie winced at his tone but felt strength from Seth beside her. “I wasn’t happy with the path my life was on,” she said slowly. “I know I behaved poorly, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
Her mother stepped forward, her stilettos clacking on the pavement. “But honey, running away?”
Senator Rutherford blew out a breath and shook his head dismissively. “Your life was on a fine path, and with a little work, we can cover this up and get you back to where—”
“No.” The volume of Melanie’s voice surprised even herself. “I’m an adult, and I want to make my own choices.” She glanced at Seth and saw his nod. The small movement boosted her confidence even higher. “I’ve made a life for myself here.”
“This isn’t what your mother and I want for you, Melanie.” Her father folded his arms.
“What about what I want for me?” Her throat tightened, and she fought against the shaking in her voice. “I don’t want to marry Graham Stewart.” She felt Seth tense. “I don’t want to work for your charities or make every single decision in my life based on pleasing your voters.”
Senator Rutherford’s impassive expression seemed frustrated and bored at the same time. “Then what do you want?”
Melanie squared her shoulders. “I want to stay here and coach my softball team and be a member of this community. I don’t know what I’ll end up doing, but I want to find it out on my own.”
Safe Harbor Page 8
