Double-checking the address, he walked the two blocks from where he’d parked in the quaint little town to an apartment complex. The building looked old, but the grounds were immaculate, the entryway clean and welcoming. Unlike some apartments in the city, there wasn’t an intercom system outside the building. Instead, a security guard sat inside reading a paper at a desk with computer monitors surrounding him.
When the guard didn’t stop him, Chase frowned but continued on to the elevator. Following the address on the envelope, he easily found her apartment. Would she be home? He glanced at his watch. Eleven-thirty. She was probably at work, but he knocked anyway. A few seconds later, he heard footfalls, then the door opened…
To reveal an angel.
For several moments, all Chase could do was stare at her. The clearest ebony skin he’d ever seen on any human was draped in a white, strappy sundress. Not a blemish marked her anywhere. Her skin color was very dark with the slightest reddish hue underneath that seemed to make her glow. Full lips, shiny with gloss, beckoned him to taste, while shining curls cascaded over her shoulders like a silky, onyx waterfall.
Dear God, please let this be Melanie Wade…
“Can I help you?” She sounded irritated, her brows drawn together slightly as she waited impatiently for him to explain his intrusion into her domain. Then he noticed the tearstains. A rage seemed to boil inside him, barely kept from the surface by a will honed in battle, that someone had made her cry. This beautiful angel who had rescued him from the pits of despair should never hurt enough to cry.
Taking a deep breath to clear his roiling emotions, Chase cleared his throat. “I’m Chase Carver.” When her eyes widened and her lips parted in a shocked “O,” he continued. “I’m hoping like hell you’re the Melanie Wade who’s been helping Abigail write to me.”
“Oh, my goodness!” She stepped aside, snagging him by the arm and yanking him inside. “I’m so sorry! My manners!”
“No, it’s my fault. I should have called first, but I didn’t have your number. I know this is a bit awkward.”
“Not at all! Please sit down.” She practically dragged him to an oversized chair. “Can I get you something to drink? Iced tea perhaps?”
“That would be nice,” he said with a smile, more to give himself time to process everything and get himself back under some semblance of control than because he wanted the drink. He’d known he’d been too long without a woman, should have sought out someone to slake some of his lust on before returning to civilized company, but he never imagined any woman hitting him this hard. None ever had before.
“I’m so glad you stopped by.” Handing him a tall glass of iced tea complete with a lemon slice on the side of the glass, Melanie sat across from him on the couch. “Abigail got the tickets. She was absolutely delighted.” Her smile seemed to light the room. Chase found himself smiling back in spite of his earlier discomfort at her tears.
“I’d hoped she’d be. I actually hoped you’d let me go with you when you left for Lexington. Not, like, in the same car,” he sputtered, feeling like he sounded like an idiot. “I’m sure you’ll want your own ride. But, you know, you can follow me or something. I’d feel better knowing you weren’t alone on the drive in case something happened.”
For several long moments, Melanie simply stared at him. Then, to his utter and complete horror, she dissolved into tears.
Chapter Three
Maybe it was the shock this morning of losing her job. Maybe it was the callous way Dan had treated her and Abigail. Melanie didn’t know. All she knew was this man, Chase Carver, who she’d never even met, who had been a physical reality for all of five minutes, was treating her with more kindness and respect than Dan had the entire two years they’d dated. Dan had never offered to take her anywhere just so he knew she’d be safe, had never expressed concern over her wellbeing whatsoever. This stranger’s demonstration of how a real man treated a woman only proved how stupid she’d been to stay with the bastard all this time.
“What’d I do?” Suddenly, Chase was on the couch at her side, his arm draped over her shoulders while he tipped her face up to meet his gaze with the other hand. “Tell me. Jesus, I’m so sorry!”
Melanie snorted a laugh through her tears, swiping at her cheeks. “Silly man. It’s not you. Rather, it’s not your fault. You just reminded me of how a man should treat a woman. That’s all.” She sniffed, reaching for a box of tissue sitting on the coffee table and dabbing at her eyes and nose. “I’ve just had a bad morning.” Lord, he was going to think her a basket case! “I’d really appreciate you letting us follow you. Driving in the city is not my favorite thing to do, but you’re right to think I’d want my own transportation. I don’t like being at the mercy of others.”
“Are you sure you’re OK? If you need me to break someone’s arm or something, just point me in the right direction. I’m your guy.”
Laughter welled up inside her, but she could see from his expression he was only half joking. How long had it been since anyone had come to her defense? Maybe her brother-in-law before he’d left for the Army. Too long.
“No worries. Long, boring story when there are many exciting things to discuss.” Flashing him what she hoped was a bright smile, she got to her feet. “Let’s go get something to eat. Lunchtime is here, and my hips won’t be happy until I’ve fed them. Pizza good for you?”
When he flashed her a lopsided grin, standing beside her, looking down at her smaller frame with teasing affection, Melanie’s heart melted on the spot. Just that fast, knowing nothing about him other than what he’d told her and Abigail in his letters, Melanie fell head over heels for Chase Carver.
“More than good. Fantastic. And so are your hips.” He waggled his eyebrows at her as he took her hand, helping her to her feet.
For long moments, they simply stared at each other. Had she ever seen a man so devastatingly handsome before? Melanie had always thought Dan was a good-looking guy, but Chase… Now, this was a man women dreamt about.
He wore a black T-shirt that looked to be at least one size too small. Chest muscles bulged, straining the material, as did his arms. With every movement, she could clearly make out the definition of his abs flexing and punching beneath the thin material. The shirt was tucked in neatly to a pair of faded jeans that hugged thick, strong thighs. Forearms dusted with dark hair that looked soft as down also rippled with muscle; a vein running from the bend in his elbow up his biceps disappeared into the sleeve of the too-tight shirt. Melanie was surprised at how much she wanted to strip that stupid shirt off him and explore all those muscles.
As if he’d caught her staring, Chase’s grin widened. She could almost hear him rasping out, Like what you see?, so clearly that she almost answered, absolutely, before she caught herself.
“Shall we go then?” Was that her voice, all breathless and stuff? He was going to seriously think she had lost her mind.
He held the door for her, then waited until she’d locked it. On the way down the hall, his hand lightly found the small of her back. Every cell in her body was acutely aware of exactly how close he was, of where his hand was. Any time he removed it from her back, she felt bereft. It was as if every single thing inside her that was female recognized him as her male and wanted her to dig her claws into him and hold him so he couldn’t escape. How sick and twisted was that? She’d just met the guy, for crying out loud!
In the elevator, he didn’t give her space either, staying by her side, actually twining her fingers with his. She steadfastly refused to look at him, afraid she was so transparent he’d see how badly she wanted to rip the clothes off that fabulous body and have her way with him. Just when she was deciding whether or not they’d get caught if she pushed the emergency button and stopped the damned thing to make out right there, the door opened at the ground floor.
She sighed at the same time he growled. There was no way she couldn’t look at him then. Lust mirrored her own in his eyes before he dropped her hand and looked aw
ay, still waiting for her to exit the elevator first.
“Sorry,” he muttered as she passed.
“No reason to be sorry.”
When they exited the apartment building, he again held the door for her, walking beside her to her car where he opened the door and shut it for her before climbing in the passenger side. This whole situation was so surreal, Melanie wasn’t sure how to act or what to say.
“Look,” he said when he’d closed his door and fastened his seatbelt. “I’m not usually like this. I’m coming on a bit strong, but I don’t meant to. I’m just…I don’t know…drawn to you. I know from your letters that you’re great with Abigail and that you’re witty and intelligent. I know you’re a very beautiful woman. But, more than anything, I remember your letters. You don’t know it, and there’s no way to explain, but yours and Abigail’s letters kept me sane when I might have lost my mind. There’s no easy way to say it, so I’m just laying it out there for you.” He gave her that lopsided grin again. “I guess I’ve got a bad case of hero worship and, quite frankly, I don’t even want to try to shake it off.”
There was no way to stop the grin tugging at her lips. “You’re so honest, it’s refreshing. Honestly, Chase, I’m glad our letters helped. Yours certainly helped us.” At his raised eyebrows, she started to elaborate, but was interrupted by the loud rumble of her stomach. “Ohmigod! That was so embarrassing!”
Chase burst out laughing, the skin around his eyes crinkling with easy laugh lines when he did. “I think we’d better go get that pizza before you decide you’re going to devour me.”
Melanie almost groaned at the image that statement brought. Instead she grinned at him and took off for the restaurant. This promised to be an interesting lunch, to say the least.
Chapter Four
The longer Chase talked to Melanie, the more smitten he became. It took the better part of the meal, but he finally coaxed from her that the reason for her earlier distress stemmed from the fact that she’d lost her job. Been fired because she’d dumped her ex-boyfriend.
Using all the considerable charm his brothers had always accused him of wielding with the ladies, he’d managed to keep the rage inside him from showing. He got the feeling she’d left something out there, but didn’t press because he wasn’t certain he could take anymore. The bastard ex definitely needed to have himself an “accident.”
They were just about to leave when a man approached their table. Melanie had been laughing at a story he’d told her about an incident he’d had during pararescue training and didn’t see the man until he was almost to them. When she did, she stiffened, her hands clenching into fists which she quickly hid under the table.
“Melanie,” the man said, his voice low and deadly. He didn’t even look at Chase. “We need to go. Now.” He spoke as if he expected Melanie to obey him instantly, but she didn’t, only looked at Chase with an expression of fear, embarrassment, and questioning.
Unhurriedly, Chase wiped his mouth once with his napkin before sliding from the booth, standing to his full, considerable height. The other man studiously ignored Chase, but one thing Chase had learned how to do during his years in the Air Force was to not be ignored…if he didn’t want to be.
“You have two choices,” he said in a low, deadly tone. “You can walk out on your own two feet, or I can call paramedics to carry you out. Which one happens depends entirely on your actions in the next fifteen seconds.”
“Dan,” Melanie said quietly, “now is really not a good time.” She didn’t look angry with Chase or even put out. She looked…relieved? No doubt, this was her ex.
Dan, on the other hand, looked like he might actually take his chances with Chase. If this Dan had had any idea of how much Chase wanted that fight, he’d have turned and, not walked, but run to the nearest exit, screaming as if the hounds of hell were after him. Which they would be.
“Just what exactly do you plan on doing?” Dan looked at Chase with a sneer, as if he held all the cards and Chase was just blowing smoke up everyone’s ass. “Kick my ass here in front of all these people? That would get you away from Melanie really quick. That 911 call you’d make to the paramedics? Would also get the police. Then you’d be in jail.”
“Maybe,” Chase conceded with a nod, “but you’d be in traction for several weeks and I’d be out in less than a day. I’m a vet just back from Afghanistan. That alone would get me some sympathy with the law. Besides, I’m sure I’m suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I’m Pararescue. We don’t actually engage in much combat. All that pent-up aggression…” Chase shrugged as he took one slow, yet threatening step toward Dan. “Well, I’m sure it left a mean streak in me just waiting to get out on some asshole harassing my woman.”
That seemed to make the bastard pause. “Melanie?” Chase spoke, not looking at her, instead keeping his eyes level with Dan’s. “Do you want to leave with this man? If you do, say so now or I’m making sure he leaves.”
“Of course I don’t want to go with him! Are you out of your freaking mind?” No hesitation on her part. “Just don’t get arrested. I’d hate to have to explain to Abigail why we can’t go the baseball game.”
Without hesitation, Chase took a step toward Dan, fully intending to take the man’s arm and escort him out, but Dan stepped backward, knocking against a waitress and stumbling into a table. That caught several snickers from locals, making Dan’s face flush.
“This isn’t over, Melanie.” He pointed a finger at her, glancing sideways at Chase.
“Yes it is, Dan.” Melanie’s quiet voice held a note of confident finality. Her chin up, her hands back on the table, she leveled him with her hazel gaze. “It was over the second I realize you could never love Abigail.”
Thankfully, Dan said no more. Chase was never so glad to see the backside of anyone as he was that man. Whatever he’d done to earn Melanie’s displeasure would have to wait. Chase was very sure he’d handled himself well so far, but if he learned anything more about Dan, he’d probably rethink his whole policy of not kicking the guy’s ass on sight.
***
As Chase slid back into the booth, the waitress returned with a smile and their check. “You ever decide you don’t want him, honey,” she jerked her chin at Chase, “give me a call and point me in his direction.”
Melanie ducked her head, doing her best to smother a giggle. The encounter should have embarrassed her—would have embarrassed the old her—but it actually felt good to have a man beat his chest and be proud to be with her. Dan had never actually shunned her or acted like he didn’t want her around, but he’d never failed to let her know where she lacked. The incident with Abigail had just been the proverbial straw.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.” He didn’t look sorry in the least. He looked defiant, as if he thought she might challenge his right to say what he had.
She did laugh then, her face breaking out into a grin that felt too damned good for her peace of mind. “No, you’re not. Anyway,” she said, reaching her hand out to grip his briefly, “I rather enjoyed it. Thank you for sticking up for me. Most guys wouldn’t have.”
There was the heart-stopping grin again. And those damned crinkles at the corner of his eyes. She was such a goner!
He shrugged. “Then most guys are idiots. Besides”—his smile got a little wider—“I kinda told my parents we were going to this ballgame as a couple. They’re anxious to meet you and Abigail.”
Melanie couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d suddenly announced he was pregnant with Elvis’s love child. Forget the huge presumption on his part, she was black. He was white. This was Kentucky. While interracial relationships were not unheard of, some families might not be comfortable with the arrangement.
“You did not!”
“I totally did.” If possible, his grin got wider. “But no worries. My mother had only one case of the vapors before she came around.”
“I ought to kick your ass, Mr. Carver.”
There was no h
olding back the shared laughter. Despite any reservations she had, Melanie was going to take a chance. A leap of faith, if you will. If his family reacted badly, she’d leave at the first sign, not subjecting Abigail to any more than she absolutely had to.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I wouldn’t put you or the little princess in an uncomfortable situation like that. My parents are anxious to meet the two ladies who saved my life.” At his words, all trace of humor was gone. He simply caught her hand in his and squeezed.
Chapter Five
Friday couldn’t come fast enough. Not just for Abigail, either. Melanie had spoken to Chase every day since they’d met. He’d stopped by once to meet Abigail, and the two had hit it off immediately. Melanie found she missed him when he wasn’t there. She wanted to see him again, to hold his hand again. To find out if she could get him to act on the attraction they both seemed to feel.
The phone rang, startling her out of her happy musings. Not even glancing at the caller ID, she answered cheerfully, “Hello?”
“I don’t know what you’re planning with that brute, Melanie, but don’t.”
Son of a bitch. Dan.
“I’m not having this conversation with you, Dan. Don’t call again.”
“If you want to keep Abigail, you’ll damned well do what I tell you to do!” Melanie’s heart suddenly pounded in fear and dread.
“You’d better explain yourself fast, because in exactly one minute, I’m hanging up.” No matter how much she wanted to hang up on him, she needed to know what he meant in order to prepare for it.
“I just hung up with Social Services. Be expecting a call from them sooner rather than later.”
“All the paperwork on my guardianship of Abigail is spot on. I’m even in the process of adopting her.”
“I work for the most powerful law firm in the city, darling.” His sneer sent chills down Melanie’s spine. “All your plans of motherhood can end with the stroke of a pen.”
A Hero to Rescue Me (Hero's Crossing) Page 2
