by Vivian Arend
She certainly wasn’t going and doing what she needed to do, either. Steve scooped her up and headed to the bathroom, ignoring her laughter and mock attempts at beating her fists against his chest. “I’m just getting you into the shower,” he protested.
Her smile widened as he lowered her to the floor and helped her find her balance, her fingers brushing his chest as she stared at his eyes, passion there in spite of the exhaustion.
“Maybe I should come in with you,” he offered. “Help scrub your back. Stop you from falling over, that kind of thing.”
Both their stomachs picked that moment to rumble, and she burst out laughing.
“I won’t be long, honest.” Melody didn’t wait until he’d left the room before peeling her T-shirt over her head.
Steve resisted the temptation to join her. He’d barely made it to the hallway when the water turned on, her sigh of exhaustion drifting after him.
Warming up the food in her kitchen was a strange sensation. They’d been together for nearly two years before she’d left. The number of times he’d made a meal for her—he was sure it had happened, but somehow this felt different. More intimate.
Heck, he’d even considered carefully when he bought the food. Not picking his favourites, but trying to remember what would put a smile on her face.
As if there were a giant calendar on the wall, and every day another block was marked off with a bold black X—he only had so much time. Which meant the rest of the evening had to be uniquely Melody-aimed and making-Melody-happy focused.
Changing had taken a lot of work over the past ten months. Proving it would take even more.
Chapter Eleven
Melody stood in the center of the shower, hoping the water would wash away the cares and worries that had built over the past twelve hours. She was exhausted and furious—not a great combination. Right now she was ready to claw somebody’s eyes out, but that wouldn’t be a very professional way to react.
The entire crew working Daltons’ had been pissed. Most of them were too polite to say much, but she’d heard it. Grumbles and under-the-breath comments she couldn’t defend herself from. And of course, having the timing on one job messed up meant the other couple appointments she’d hoped to work into her afternoon schedule also fell through, leaving those ranchers wondering what the heck she was doing.
Back at the office, no one could confirm or deny Sean’s claim—the answering machine had already been erased, and if he’d left a voicemail they’d missed, it was gone.
She tilted her face back and let the water beat down on her in punishment. Even the warmth didn’t help, though. Her shoulders were rock tight, her fists curling automatically into fists. She had to let the tension go because there was no way to change how the day had gone.
A distraction would have helped. After about two minutes, she expected Steve to make an appearance. His dark-haired head would pop around the door so he could leer at her…
Was it happiness she felt when he listened to her request and didn’t show up, or disappointment?
By the time she cranked off the water and wrapped herself in a towel, she was ready to eat an entire cow all by herself. When she opened the door and the scent of cooking wafted in, her mouth watered so hard she nearly choked on it.
“What are you doing and why does my house smell so good?” she called, stepping toward the kitchen. She poked her head around the corner to take in the table set with plates and utensils.
He’d pulled on her frilly apron, and the bright white and yellow flowers tugged an instant laugh from her lips.
Steve glanced up as he placed a casserole dish on the table and pulled off her yellow oven mitts, all the time smiling unselfconsciously. “Hurry and get dressed,” he said, waving his fingers. “Or I’ll start without you. And I’m hungry enough to eat everything by myself.”
Melody shot to her bedroom and jerked on a pair of pajamas, tucking her hair into a ponytail holder so she could race back to the kitchen before he made good on his threat.
He pulled out a chair for her, then they both spent more time scooping food onto their plates and shoveling it in their mouths than being polite to each other. It wasn’t until the elastic on her waistband needed to be rearranged that she came up for air.
She glanced across the table to find Steve eyeing her, a satisfied smile stretching his lips.
Oops. “And that was my imitation of ‘Melody makes a pig of herself’. Did I get it right?”
Steve waggled his fork. “Trust me, I’m glad there’s no security camera in this room recording, because I swear I finished two bites ahead of you. That was a long, tough day.”
Melody pulled a face, drawn back to the many things that had gone… Well, not everything had gone wrong, but so much had gone worse than it should have, at least in her estimation.
His comment caught her attention. “Are we really going to talk about what happened during our days like a regular couple?” she teased.
Some of Steve’s smile softened. Not that he lost it, but more like he was attempting to be both solemn and reassuring. “You gave me three months, and if you’re serious about that deadline, I need to make sure you know I’m serious about you.”
Well, now. Melody sat back in her chair and drank the juice he’d poured as she pondered his words. This wasn’t the man who’d been thoughtless and uncaring not that long ago.
She liked what she was seeing, and he needed to know. “Do you plan on being this sweet all the time?”
He sat forward and caught her hand in his, playing with her fingers. “Yes. Except, of course, when you don’t want me to be sweet.”
The wild brow waggle he offered made her giggle.
“Oh, God, don’t set me off. I’m tired enough to be giddy.”
“Was it that much of a change being in charge? You usually enjoy your work, even when you’re busy.”
Melody paused, not wanting to go telling tales, but then… It had been her challenge to Steve in the first place regarding their relationship. If she weren’t willing to open up and be real about more than what she wanted during sex, they might as well call this entire thing off right now.
She had to trust him with some things to find out if she could trust him a whole lot more.
She pulled her fingers from his and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms as she thought about the best way to word it. “We had a mix-up in communication at the clinic today, and the result was an utter nightmare. I kept everyone waiting with a herd for over an hour.”
That was all the explanation Steve needed. “Lovely. Had a few acres of shit to manoeuver through, did you?”
“I got everything done in the end, but playing catch-up all day is not what I want. That’s not the impression I want to make on people, especially since I had a good reputation before I left last fall.”
“You have a good reputation now,” he assured her.
“Thanks, but today still sucked.”
“I hear you.”
That was enough dwelling on what made her crazy. It was time to move on. Melody turned and asked brightly. “And you? What was earth-shattering and unique about your day?”
He got such a serious look she wondered if something terrible had happened, but it appeared he was only choosing his words. “You know when I rescued you at the side of the road?”
“You didn’t rescue me.”
“Did too.”
Melody smiled. “Dreamer.”
Steve moved his chair around so he could be next to her, catching hold of her hand again as if he were put out she’d escaped him earlier. “I was surprised you had Lady in the truck. It made much more sense when I found out she was going to the Seniors’ Home.”
Interesting. “Why?”
His shoulders eased in a shrug. “She didn’t seem like the kind of dog you’d talked about wanting. I know you have to be careful since you’re always visiting different places, but in case you’re interested, looks like Jesse found a well-trained Ger
man shepherd today.”
“Found?”
He hurried to reassure her. “More like acquired, and I didn’t get a chance to put her through her paces or anything, but Jesse swears she’s supposed to be a quality animal.”
Melody was unsure where this was going. “Does he need me to come over and check her out?”
Steve gave a reluctant smile. “I’m doing this badly. What I meant to say is the dog is fine, the litter she had recently is fine, but Jesse’s looking for a new owner for the female. If you’re interested, she might be a good match for you.”
Melody waited, because it seemed he still had something to say.
He rose to his feet and tugged her toward the living room. “It’s not comfortable at the table,” he complained. “You’re too far away.”
Melody laughed. “I was all of five inches from you.”
Steve made it clear that five inches was definitely too far as he settled on the couch and caught hold of her waist, tugging so she lost her balance and tumbled into his lap.
Instinctively she grasped him around the neck, her new position not at all unwelcome. “Well, now. Hi there.”
Steve bumped their noses together, but to her surprise, went right back into their previous conversation. “I know with you starting up the extra job hours, you won’t have time to train a pup. But if you’re interested in a good, quality dog, getting one that’s more grown would mean you don’t have to wait as long. And any training you need to do is easier in the summer, anyway.”
He was surprising her left and right tonight. “You’ve given this some thought, haven’t you?”
The most adorable grin shone back at her. “I think it shows more because I was such a blasted fool before. Any time I do something halfway civil, you make a comment about it.”
Melody stroked her hand over his cheek, his five o’clock shadow growing thicker as the day faded into evening. “I hope you don’t mind. I like pointing out when you’re not being a jackass far more than when you are being one.”
And then because it seemed the right thing to do, she slipped her hands behind his neck and tugged him toward her, pressing their mouths together for a sweet, tender kiss.
This wasn’t why he had come, but hell if he would turn down a chance at Melody’s lips.
It felt so right to have her in his arms. The flaming-hot sex they’d shared was wonderful, but he wanted it all. He wanted to experience more with her. Ease her frustrations, share her joys. Every thing that made her so amazing.
He focused on her in his arms, her smooth curves covered by a thin layer of soft cotton, hips resting in his lap, her chest pressed to his as she hummed in approval at his kiss.
She’d wanted things hard and wild the other day, but now wasn’t about that kind of excitement. Instead he nibbled on her lips, teasing his tongue along the surface before biting gently. Soothing the nip with another kiss, and another.
Her fingers played in the hair at the back of his neck, and he let his hands roam over her curves, feeling the strength in her arms and the power in her petite torso. The softness of her skin and whatever she’d used in her hair sent his senses reeling—a damn fine aphrodisiac under any circumstances.
He wrapped his fingers around her ponytail and tugged, separating their lips so he could speak against her. “Tell me what you want. Tell me what you need.”
Melody rested their foreheads together. “Play for me.”
Another one of those inescapable chuckles burst free. “Anything you want in this world—as dirty as you want me to get—and you choose guitar music?”
Her eyes lit up. “I know your playing caused some trouble between us before, like when you’d get lost in your music and forget the time. But I do like listening to you. I’ve always wished I could play, and you’ve got talent.”
Talent hadn’t been enough—not for what was really important. He shifted them apart. “Okay, if that’s your request.” He eyed the clock as he got to his feet to fetch his guitar. “Are you ready to hit the sack?”
Melody nodded. “Let me brush my teeth and crawl into bed?”
She went one way, he went the other.
Another first—tucking her into bed without fooling around. Steve grabbed his guitar while he waited for her. As strange as it seemed, it was right. Melody was half-asleep on her feet by the time she crawled onto the mattress next to him, dropping the light quilt over herself and resting her head on the pillows he’d fluffed up.
“Any requests?”
She covered a yawn. “No, just something laid-back.”
Steve let his fingers drift over the strings as she settled in, her beautiful eyes staring upward as she listened.
He played and sang one of her favourites, and followed it with another until her eyes closed and her breathing settled.
And then he played one more without singing the words because he couldn’t bear to leave the room, stroking the guitar gently and trying to let a bit of what he hoped for come out in the song.
When he came to the end, quiet wrapped around them like warmth. Her breathing even in the stillness, the faint moonlight shining down to turn her into a pagan goddess. He went to stand, but her hand dropped on his thigh and held him back. Her lips curled into a smile, her eyes open just a crack.
“Put your guitar down,” she whispered.
He laid it aside and stretched out on the mattress, letting her caress his face and shoulders, all tension long since escaped from her body.
“Being serenaded is better than a four-hour bubble bath,” she said with a satisfied sigh. “I’m so relaxed.”
“Good, although if this were a bubble bath, you’d be naked. I would have enjoyed that.”
“If I’m naked, you’re naked.”
“Hmm.” He shook his head. “That doesn’t sound familiar.”
“It’s a new rule. From now on, you need to be naked when you play guitar for me,” she teased.
“Like that’s going to happen.”
“I’ll go first,” she offered.
The edge of the quilt rolled down, and she tugged at her shirt. Steve willingly helped her strip it over her head, pushing aside her hands when she reached for his buckle. “You’re nearly asleep.”
“I’m all wide awake now,” she insisted. “Steve Coleman, you are one fine man.”
He pressed his lips to her temple, easing back beside her as he stroked the hair off her face. “I see you need to be tucked in the rest of the way.”
She looked confused for a moment, but her secretive smile remained as he stroked a hand down her body, not lingering anywhere, but enjoying a brief contact with her breast, sliding over her waist, and the swell of her hip. Then he slipped his hand over her pussy and held her. Her lashes fluttered and her breathing hitched before settling.
He moved slowly, wanting her to stay relaxed, easing her like a skittish animal. By the time he slipped his hand underneath her pajama bottoms and slid his fingers through her folds, she damn near purred.
Tiny strokes, back and forth, playing with her clit until the pulse visible at the base of her throat throbbed. Still he didn’t change what he was doing. Just gave to her carefully. Tenderly.
Her breathing picked up, a low gasp of pleasure escaping as she twitched against him, turning her head to the side and pressing her face into his chest. Under his hand her hips jerked, moving into his touch as she clutched him.
Absolutely mesmerizing. He was hard and aching, but so damn willing to shove aside his need because he needed this even more. Making her day a hell of a lot better than it had been a few hours earlier? This sensation in his gut, the one that made him feel a million miles tall—
That was what had been missing in their relationship before. And now that he’d experienced it? He never wanted it to stop.
Melody kissed him back when he lifted her chin with a finger, falling asleep between one breath and the next. Her eyes stayed closed, a smile on her lips, and then she was out, solid as a rock. Unmoving as he
crawled off the bed and rearranged the covers over her.
He cleaned up quietly then headed home, leaving a note on the table for her to call him when she could. His cock might be aching, and his bed damn lonely, but it had been worth it.
Chapter Twelve
The week rushed past faster than Melody expected. After the hellish start, work turned around and offered her moments of pure joy. Melody savoured every one of them, from the contented look on an animal’s face after she’d helped ease their pain, to the grudging acknowledgment of a job well-done from a few of the old-timers who’d reluctantly called her out.
What she hadn’t managed was more time with Steve, which was par for the course with everything that had been going on, but still made her pause.
He’d gone out of his way to be there for her after her disastrous Monday, but she was too damn tired at the end of most days to get together.
Tonight she swore it would be different, or sooner if possible. One of the best parts of her job was her work often brought her in contact with her friends during the course of the day.
The next couple tasks on her list were on Coleman land. She slipped from her truck, grinning a welcome as Allison came out of the house to greet her, a loose T-shirt hanging over her jeans.
“You’re a couple months early if you’re looking for fresh mutton.”
“And here I thought I’d need to convince you they weren’t pets,” Melody teased. She glanced around the yard for a moment, admiring the changes. She had been here only a few days earlier, but then she’d been focused on the social gathering that evening, and on Steve, and not really paying attention to the land. “You guys are doing a great job.”
“We are,” Allison agreed before she shook a finger at Melody. “But don’t distract me. I’m mad at you. I know I can’t go out drinking right now, but I want to see more of you.”
“It’s been less than a week since the barbecue,” Melody protested.
“That’s no excuse.”
So instead of heading straight toward the barn where she saw Gabe, she changed direction and went and hugged her friend close. “I’m not avoiding you on purpose,” she said. “I’m just excited and overwhelmed at the same time, keeping up with everything while Mathis is gone.”
