AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Melody continues. “So I ran. Left the chapel and hailed a cab as far as I could. Before my phone died, I called my Aunt Margaret, who lives in Cheyenne. I asked if I could stay with her. But she’s out of town and won’t be back until Monday.”
“Is that why you stole my truck? So you could make it to your aunt’s place?”
She shakes her head. “I got a text from Bradley when my phone turned on in the gift shop.”
I frown. “What kind of text?”
“A threatening one. He said he was going to find me. Make me pay for all the embarrassment I caused him.” Her voice cracks as she wipes a tear from her cheek. “And I know the rest of my family won’t help me or protect me.”
The anger in me ratchets up another notch. “I’ll protect you. You can stay here as long as you need.”
My eyes drift over Melody as she polishes off the last bite of her food. The way her dress stretches across her chest with each breath is damn distracting. I force my gaze back to her face, but that’s no help. Her full, pink lips glisten as her tongue darts out to catch a crumb.
Jesus.
I shift in my seat to try and adjust my jeans without drawing attention to my growing hard-on. Then I clear my throat. “So this aunt you mentioned, the one in Wyoming. You two close?”
Melody’s whole face lights up, making her even more beautiful, if that’s possible. “Aunt Margaret’s the best. She’s more like a mom to me than my actual mother.”
“Why’s that?”
“She actually cares about my happiness. Unlike my parents.” Melody rolls her eyes. “Margaret left the whole high society scene years ago. Bought a cute little B&B in Cheyenne. She’s picking me up on Monday.”
“And then what? You gonna hide out there forever?”
“No. Just until I figure out my next move.” She starts shredding her napkin. “All I know is I’m done letting other people control my life. From now on, I’m doing what’s best for me.”
I nod slowly. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out, city girl.”
Even as the words leave my mouth, a selfish part of me wants to convince her to stay. Here. With me. But it isn’t right. Melody needs to forge her own path, far away from meddling parents and asshole ex-fiancés. I can’t stand in the way of that.
No matter how much I might want to.
I stand up from the table, needing to put some distance between us before I do something stupid.
Like pull her into my arms and beg her not to go.
“C’mon, let’s get you settled in the guest room.”
Melody rises and trails behind me, close enough that I swear I can feel the heat of her. I lead her down the hall, fighting the urge to reach back and take her hand in mine.
When we reach the guest room, I push open the door and wave her inside. “It’s not much. But the bed’s comfortable. You should be able to get a decent night’s sleep.”
She steps in, her eyes widening as she takes in the space. “Wyatt, this is lovely. Thank you.”
I rub the back of my neck, unused to the praise. “Bathroom’s just across the hall. Holler if you need anything.”
Melody turns to face me, her expression unreadable. A heartbeat passes. Two. That electric feeling is back again, like the moment before a summer storm breaks.
I drag my gaze away from her mouth. “Do you want me to go outside to the truck and get your duffle bag?”
She bites her bottom lip as she looks out the window. “Are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”
“Nah. Now that the weather has cleared up it shouldn’t take me too long to head down there and back.”
Melody gives me a grateful smile. “Well in that case, yeah. If you could grab my duffel bag that would be great.”
I nod, head back out to the truck, and grab her pink duffle bag from the passenger seat.
