“An hour?” He darted for the back door. “Cool. See? Jesse is already working out. You only let me out for thirty minutes last week.”
The door slammed behind him, and Melissa’s mother laughed. “That kid is a piece of work. But he’s happy for you.”
“I don’t see this working out, Mom.”
“Then maybe you’d better get some of your son’s attitude. Find a bright side for once,” she said as she turned back to the kitchen.
That night Melissa carried a vase of roses to her room and set them on the nightstand. She shut her bedroom door, turned on the TV, and went into the bathroom to ready herself for bed.
As she settled into place for a quiet moment, her cell phone rang. It was ten o’clock. No one called her that late, but when she saw the caller ID come up with Jesse’s name, her heart rate kicked up.
“Hello,” she said quietly as to not wake up the others.
“You didn’t happen to think of me today, did you?”
She chuckled and relaxed against her pillows. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“I had fun.”
“Well, thank you.”
“I was worried about the one I sent to your school. I shouldn’t have done that.”
At least he had some common sense buried in those good looks, she thought. “No one knows anything.”
“I missed you.”
Her heart beat even harder. Why did she even care about this man? She didn’t want to, but she was slipping into a territory she hadn’t been in for years. There was a giddiness to her when she heard his voice. She’d gone into Jonah’s room three times just to look at the poster of him. This wasn’t good.
“Where are you?” she asked and then decided to retract. “Never mind. You don’t have to tell me.”
Jesse laughed. “I just finished a show.”
“Calling me after work?”
“Yeah, I guess I am. How was your day?”
“Lots of teenagers with lots of questions about me dating you.”
She heard him let out a deep breath into the phone. “I’m sorry. This can’t be easy for you.”
“Jonah says I should suck it up.”
“I like him. Smart kid.”
“He sure is.”
She could hear him walking with the phone and then the background was quiet. “Listen, I know me coming into your life isn’t easy. I wouldn’t blame you if you told me to take a hike.”
Melissa sighed. “I’d thought about it.”
“Oh.”
“I’m older than you. I have a normal job. I have a kid. I live in a small town full of small town gossips. But, there is something about you.”
“I’m charming.”
She laughed. “You are charming.” She adjusted under her sheets. “I was worried most about Jonah, but he seems to be worried about me never being happy.”
“I know. We talked.”
She sat up in her bed. “You talked?”
“I called the house looking for you earlier, before the show. He said you hadn’t gotten home yet. He’s a great kid. He really looks out for you.”
She’d never noticed before, but she was starting to. “He thinks you’re good for me.”
“I hope so. I want to be good to you, too. You deserve that.”
“You don’t know me.”
“But I want to.”
How had this all happened? Who ever thought something so crazy would happen to her. “Jesse, I don’t know what I can offer you.”
“I’m not looking for anything. Let’s start with friendship, okay? I know this isn’t normal for you, but I’m just a normal guy and I’m very attracted to you.”
Again, she couldn’t imagine. “I haven’t been in a relationship in a very long time.”
“Sure you have. You’re a mother and a teacher. Those are some very important relationships.”
Again, he was very wise. “You’re still planning on coming for dinner on Sunday?”
“If you don’t mind.”
She took a deep breath. “I think I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“Good. I knew I bought that truck for a reason. Well, I have to go. I have a radio interview to give. Goodnight, Melissa.”
She closed her eyes and imagined his face. “Goodnight.”
She turned off the phone and nestled herself into bed. As she closed her eyes, she thought of Jesse. The memory of his kiss had her pressing her lips together. Would he always make her feel so good about everything?
Melissa reached for the remote and turned off the TV. What would Martin think of such a crazy thing? Guilt began to flutter in her stomach. Martin. How could she possibly close her eyes and think of another man? Maybe this wasn’t going to work out at all.
Chapter Six
William was waiting inside Melissa’s classroom the next morning. It had been, in the very recent past, that when she saw him she’d be very happy to have his company. However, ever since Jesse Charles happened into her life, things had been different.
Seeing William Scott seated behind her desk only managed to make her angry.
“Morning, William. Can I help you with something?”
“Smells nice in here. You didn’t take your flowers home.”
She saw no reason to let him know she was well stocked in the floral department at her house. “They add a nice touch.”
“Listen,” he said as he stood and walked toward her. “You and I seem to be…at odds this past week. I just wanted to make sure we’re okay.”
“William, we are fine. It’s been a little different, I’ll admit. But I’m not willing to let a lifetime friendship go down the drain because you’re worried.”
She saw the anger flare in his eyes, but true to his nature, he let it fizzle down before he spoke. “I want you and Jonah to be happy and safe. That’s all.”
“I know.” She touched his arm and passed by him.
“So, how about that night out? You and me? Grand Junction. Dinner. Dancing.”
“I have plans this weekend,” she said as she set her bag on her desk.
“Plans?”
Now his temper had moved to the vein in his temple. She hadn’t seen him this mad in years. “William, do you think there is more going on between you and me than I know about?”
He swallowed hard, walked to the door, and closed it.
“I have taken care of you and Jonah for the past three years. You and I have…something, don’t we?”
This was not a conversation she’d planned on having—ever. “William, you are a very dear friend. I didn’t realize your feelings were more than that.”
“Neither did I.” His voice had softened. He ran his hand over his hair and let out a breath. “I just think that this Jesse character is messing with you. Don’t get me wrong. You’re a very attractive and intelligent woman…”
“But why would a famous singer want to be with me?” Now her voice sounded as pathetic as his had.
“Listen,” he said as he took her hands in his. “I didn’t know I had any feelings until he came along. As far as I was concerned, I thought we were doing okay, and who knows, maybe I thought it would all change someday. Martin was my best friend. When he died it was just the right thing to do, to take care of you and Jonah. But there was more there.”
She knew that, but she’d denied it herself.
“William, why are you telling me this? Why now?”
She heard the bell ring, and soon the students were going to fill the halls. It would be even worse for her if they saw him holding her hands than it was for them to know she kissed Jesse Charles.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t want this punk filling your head with ideas. You know what guys like him are like. They’re only out for one thing.”
“And if that were true, don’t you suppose there would be a line of women offering it up.”
He finally dropped her hands, as if he were aware of the kids in the hallway. “That’s why I think thi
s is a game to him. Just don’t let him hurt you. I may not always be here to pick up the pieces.”
She felt the heat fill her cheeks. How dare he…
The door opened, and her first student walked in. William gave her a smile and turned to leave the room.
The minute the last bell of the day gave way to the freedom of the masses, Melissa gathered her bag and headed straight to William’s office.
He was standing just inside when she walked in and slammed the door behind her.
“How dare you talk to me the way you did this morning. What I do in my personal life is of no business to you.”
William’s eyes shot open wide. He stepped to the side just the slightest bit to acknowledge the woman seated in the chair behind him.
He swallowed hard. “Mrs. Mathews, I’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Zucker.” He turned back to her, his lips pursed. “She’s trying to decide between Aspen Creek or Aspen Hills for her son’s scholastic needs when they move here in the spring.”
Melissa was sure embarrassment wouldn’t kill her, but at that moment, it felt as though it were choking the life out of her.
She forced a smile to her face. “Mrs. Zucker, it is a pleasure to meet you. I grew up in Aspen Creek with my late husband and Mr. Scott here.” She figured if the woman understood that they’d known each other since they were children, her outburst wouldn’t seem so crazy. “My own son attends the middle school. So I assure you, sans my bad morning, Aspen Creek boasts the finest schools.”
The woman, with an equally forced smile, nodded.
William excused them and stepped through the door with Melissa into the main office.
“I assume you have more to say to me,” he growled, keeping his voice quiet.
“I’m sorry. Please let Mrs. Zucker know I’m not crazy and that I apologize to her as well.”
He nodded and walked back to his office. He gave her one more displeased look before he shut the door between them.
Who would have thought that having known the principal since he was ten was not a comfort when, even in her thirties, it still scared the hell out of her when his eyes became focused and his jaw jutted out.
Melissa took a drive the long way around town before she crossed Rose Bridge. She passed her street and headed up the mountain.
The road grew narrow and the trees thicker as she climbed higher. The town below her looked calm through the aspen groves.
Ahead of her she could see the gate which would welcome her to her grandfather’s land. It was a short, twenty minute drive from town, yet as she looked through the trees she could still see the small town nestled in the valley below her.
High above her grandfather’s land, she could see the glimmer from the front gate of the Rose estate. Why did it seem so strange to her that Jesse Charles had visited the town when she herself had been friends with the great-granddaughter of the late Lilly Rose.
Melissa smiled as she drove through the open gate toward her grandfather’s house.
Lilly Rose had been a golden screen icon. She’d been in love with one man, an older man, and married to some Hollywood director. Yet her roots were there, right where Melissa’s were, in Aspen Creek.
She parked her car in front of the house. It was dark and deserted, which was something she didn’t like. Her grandfather had been moved to a nursing home. Her grandmother had passed away years before. Now the old ranch was for sale, and she wished she could buy it and live there with her mother and Jonah. But on her mother’s fixed income and her teacher’s salary, they struggled just to pay the taxes on the land.
The weather vane on the roof of the barn glimmered when the sun hit it just right. There was a time when she’d sit on the porch and watch it spin in the wind.
Melissa stepped out of her car just as she heard a car drive up the dirt road from the gate. It was no surprise when William’s car was headed toward her.
He was quick to jump out of his car and head right for her, but his anger seemed to defuse the closer he got.
“She wasn’t sold on the sanity of my staff.”
Melissa nodded, unsure if he was serious or joking with her. “I’m so sorry…”
“What has gotten into you?” He stepped closer. “I’ve never seen you so hot and cold.” His words carried on the cold air.
“I’m just a bit out of sorts.”
“And this Jesse Charles crap is making it worse.”
She turned toward the house and started up the front step when he reached for her arm and turned her around.
“I’m sorry. You deserve to have someone give you attention like that. I just don’t think it should be him.”
“And you had someone more deserving in mind?”
William stepped up onto the same rickety step and looked down at her. He touched her face with his soft leather gloved hand. “I know it’s the wrong time to tell you that I’ve had feelings for you since we were fifteen.”
“I wouldn’t believe you anyway.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t very nice for a few years.”
“You could say that again.” She turned and took the next step, but he again reached for her, this time taking hold of her hand.
“Listen, I know this Jesse Charles thing is something you need to feel out, but he’s going to hurt you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I can feel it.” He let out a deep breath into the cold. “I’ll be here. I’ll always be here.”
“I never doubted that.”
William shook his head. “I mean, God forbid, if he breaks your heart, I want to be the one to pick up the pieces. I’d be a good father to Jonah, and I’d do everything to be a decent husband to you.”
Melissa dropped her shoulders. He’d accused her of having had something get into her, and perhaps she was the crazy one, but was William Scott actually standing before her professing his love to her?
“William, stop.” She took another step and then turned to him. “I can’t even believe you’re saying all of this. One, I don’t know why you’re saying it at all. Two, why now? Why wait until someone else is interested.”
“Because I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of you getting hurt.”
Melissa turned again and walked toward the door. William followed and the porch creaked under him. “Watch that board. It’s loose.”
He looked down. “On the first warm day I’ll come fix it.”
“I’m sure it’ll be sold by then.” Her voice dropped as she pushed open the door. “That’ll be a very sad day.”
Melissa stepped inside, and William closed the door behind him. “You know, I have enough saved that we could secure the house and the land.”
“Why would you do that for us?”
“Melissa…”
“Don’t say anymore.” She held up a hand to him. “I’m still processing everything else you’ve said.”
“I didn’t say it to upset you.”
She felt it brewing inside of her, the heat of anger. “Well, it did upset me. You don’t seem to think I’m worthy of having Jesse Charles, or anyone else, be interested in me. Well, why not? I have a lot to offer. Why couldn’t some sexy, young man want me? I mean, well, he could.”
“All I’m saying is…”
“All you’re saying is that now that someone has shown intent, you’re the boss over my whole life. Well, that’s not the case. Thank you for stepping up when Martin died, but no one asked you to. Jonah and I would be fine without you.”
She wasn’t sure it was what she’d meant, but she’d said it and it had hurt him nearly as bad to hear it as it had hurt her to say it.
He tucked his hands into the pockets of his coat. “I understand. I didn’t mean any harm.” He turned to the door and then back to Melissa. “I’ll wait and drive down behind you, if you’d like. The pass is slick.”
“I’ve been driving it for years, William. I will be fine.”
He nodded slowly and left.
Her cell phone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out and answered it sharply, “Hello.”
“Hello, beautiful.” Jesse’s voice was soft on the other end. “I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time. I was heading out to the bus and thought I’d try to catch you before you were sitting down to dinner.”
Melissa let the tension in her shoulders roll away. “I was just checking on my grandpa’s house before I headed home.”
“The house on the hill?”
She smiled at the memory of the night she told him that. “Yes.”
“You know, I was watching TV last night after I hung up with you, and an old Lilly Rose movie was on. I was thinking about her house by your grandpa’s.”
“She was a real beauty.”
He laughed softly. “Are you sure you’re not related to her? I think you look a lot alike. You have that natural glamour beauty to you too.”
She couldn’t help but let words like that affect her. He delivered them so flawlessly. But what if William was right? What if Jesse Charles just wanted something from her?
“Melissa, are you still there?”
“Yes,” she said, realizing she’d been standing in the quiet house dwelling on things that weren’t real. “And thank you. I guess it’s been a long time since someone has complimented me like that. I forgot how to react.” She moved about the lower portion of the house making sure everything was in order.
“Listen, I have to go, but the reason I called was I’ll be flying into Grand Junction much earlier than I’d first planned. I know we discussed dinner on Sunday, but you wouldn’t be up for breakfast and lunch too, would you?”
She laughed as she started her climb of the stairs, which creaked under her feet. “I have to be in church Sunday morning. But you’re welcome to come.”
“Church? Wow, it’s been a long time since…”
“If you’re uncomfortable…”
“What I was going to say was it’s just been a long time since I’ve been in a church. I think some praise is in order. What time?”
Unexpected Admirer Page 6
