Chapter Thirteen

Mel sat in the small computer lab inside the Point Beacon Public Library scrolling through page after page of cocktail dresses with Lilly during her lunch break that Wednesday. Even though Lilly didn’t approve of what was going on between her and Adam, she was also Mel’s best friend and said she was determined to lend her support, in whatever way she could. Thus, she’d kept the room buzzing with constant chatter since her arrival, but Mel wasn’t paying attention. Her thoughts kept circling back to Adam and how much she missed him. Two days since their night at the diner, but still. He hadn’t come over to her place since, claiming he’d been super busy at work and they’d taken on a few new jobs. Between the schedule changes and the engine he was still rebuilding for some out-of-town client, he’d had his hands full.

Her parents had been busy, too, getting ready for the big bash and inviting pretty much the entire population of Point Beacon. So Mel had put her nose to the grindstone as well, getting things done at the library she’d been putting off for months because she simply didn’t have the time. She’d also taken on several new volunteers from the local retirement center, and she’d put them to good use, sorting the stacks and archiving the old books to make room for the new. There were even a couple of older gentlemen who didn’t mind a little hard labor—if you could call moving empty wheeled bookshelves around “hard labor.” They’d helped Mel redesign the layout of the history section to make it more accessible and user-friendly.

In fact, she’d been so busy she’d barely had time to think about what she was wearing to the wedding in Chicago. Thus, she’d enlisted Lilly’s help to find something quick online, so she could express-order it for delivery before she and Adam left on Friday after work. Lilly spent her days making sure she portrayed people in their best light. Who better to help Mel choose an outfit to make Adam finally realize his undying adoration and want to continue seeing her?

Unfortunately, despite what seemed like way too much time searching, they still hadn’t found the perfect dress. She wasn’t fat, per se, but she did have curves. Accentuating those, without making her look too bawdy, was a priority. She’d changed her style, yes, but she still had limits. Mel glanced over at the clock, seeing there was a half hour left on her lunch break. This was taking far longer than it should.

She didn’t mean to be so picky, but she wanted to look good on Adam’s arm, like she belonged there with him, especially since he’d seemed a bit distracted the other night toward the end, after they’d discussed James returning early. The clock was ticking inside her head, too, putting on more pressure to make the right choices, both in her clothes and her life. Her feelings had grown deeper for Adam far faster than she’d expected or intended, and now that she’d acknowledged them to herself, the logical next step was to tell him as well. And while that scared her on more levels than she could count, Mel was now all about taking charge. As the latest issue of Cosmo said, “The only way to lead an authentic, fulfilled life is to take risks. Battle those doubt demons. Your reward could be unexpected and beyond your wildest dreams.”

Mel wasn’t usually one to go in for all that self-help, motivational crap. She was far too pragmatic. But look at how far she’d come in just a few short weeks, both with her makeover and with Adam. And while a tiny part of her brain still clung to her old fears—that there was no way he could be seriously considering a long-term relationship with her, that he would ever be with someone like her, that she’d never be enough for him—she’d effectively shut out those negative voices and continued to move forward. No sense in stopping when what she wanted was so close. And yes, the deadline for their deal was lurking, too, with James arriving the day before her birthday. It felt like now or never.

She squeezed her eyes shut against a sharp pang of anxiety. She’d met her original goal. She’d lost her virginity with Adam, the man she’d wanted for as long as she could remember. Did she dare ask for more? Did she dare tell him the truth about how she felt?

Did she dare say those three little words?

Warmth flooded through her as she remembered the last night Adam had been over. She’d woken up with her head on his chest again, over his heart, and lain there in the predawn gloom, savoring his heat and scent and the weight of his arm strong and protective around her waist. Tingles of need spiraled though her before her rational brain doused them.

In truth, she didn’t know where he stood. As far as the good people of Point Beacon were concerned, Adam was still the town playboy. Lord knew the rumors about him were still flying too, rumors about the new groupies hanging out at Victory Vets and which one Adam would take to bed next. It shouldn’t matter, but it did. His words from their first conversation that night in her kitchen looped through her mind.

I don’t do love.

Did she dare believe he’d changed that much, for her?

One week until James returned. One week until their deal was over, and life would go back to the way it had been before. Mel would have her books and her cat and her privacy. No more fear of gossip, no more potential big-brother blowups if he found out about their affair.

No more Adam.

Shoulders slumping, Mel jabbed a hunk of lettuce from her salad with her fork and shoved it in her mouth, chewing without really tasting anything, her appetite gone.

“Oh. My God!” Lilly nudged Mel’s arm with her elbow, pointing excitedly at the image of a deep burgundy knee-length silk chiffon dress with a halter neckline and a full circle skirt. Red was Adam’s favorite color, and he always told her she had the best legs in town. This cocktail dress ticked all the boxes.

Lilly grinned. “It’s perfect! You’ll look like a ripe, luscious berry. Adam will love it.”

Mel froze, glancing around to make sure none of her nosy volunteers had overheard. Thankfully, they all seemed to be busy with their tasks. She hissed, “No names, not here. Remember?”

“Whatever.” Lilly brought up the size options for the dress. “If you’re going to go down in flames, might as well look gorgeous doing it, right? C’mon. I might disapprove, but I can see you’re gaga over him.”

“Will you shut up?” Heat flamed in Mel’s cheeks as she glared at her best friend. “How I feel about Adam is nobody’s business.”

“Are you two making wild, hot monkey love every night?”

“What?” Mel’s eyes widened in mortification. “No. Yes. I mean, that’s none of your business either. It’s good, but not like that. I mean—”

“You can’t tell me he’s awful in bed,” Lilly said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “He must have something going on between the sheets to keep the ladies coming back for more, if you know what I mean.”

The knots in Mel’s stomach tightened. Adam’s wicked ways were the last thing she wanted to think about right now. “He’s fine.” At Lilly’s flat stare, Mel amended her statement. “Okay, he’s more than fine. He’s amazing, but that doesn’t change the fact that this could be the last weekend we have together. I want to look nice, that’s all. And whether I’m gaga over him is beside the point.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Lilly went ahead and typed in Mel’s size and credit card information, then hit purchase. She handed Mel back her card and narrowed her gaze. “If you say so.”

Mel snatched the card from Lilly’s hand and shoved it back in her purse, glancing once more at the dress onscreen. It really was gorgeous—simple, classic, yet sexy at the same time. All the things Mel hoped she was now, too. Not overdone, but with a touch of youthful whimsy. A month ago, she’d have bought the thing, then hung it in her closet, taking it out to admire but never daring to wear it in public. Now she’d be on full display while spending the weekend with Adam. Her confidence wavered. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course.” Lilly frowned. “The color’s perfect, and you definitely have the figure for it. Adam won’t be able to keep his eyes, or hands, off you.”

“Hmm, well, I guess it’s too late to change my mind.” Mel closed her plastic lunch containers and shoved them back in her quilted bag. “Speaking of changing your mind, you’re still coming next weekend, right? You’re supposed to be taking pictures of James’s homecoming.”

Lilly’s wide smile faltered. She stood, looking a tad flustered as she tossed her trash into the nearby bin. “I, uh, I’m not sure. Maybe. I’ll have to check my schedule and let you know. I’ve got that meeting with the mayor’s office coming up, and I need to update my portfolio and all that before then. We’ll see.”

“Come on.” Mel closed down the computer then pushed to her feet. “I could really use the moral support.”

Lilly tucked a stray curl of her dark hair behind her ear, and Mel would’ve have sworn her friend’s fingers were shaking slightly. “I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise anything. It’ll be weird having James back in Point Beacon again, permanently.”

Permanently.

The word clanged through Mel’s head like a warning bell.

Ugh. She didn’t look forward to the conversation with James. He’d already worked out what was going on with her and Adam, and he’d have been stewing over that information for a while. By the time he got back in town, he’d be itching for a fight. Depending on how things went this weekend, Mel would either have to tell him to suck it up and deal with it, that she and Adam were a couple, or she could stop worrying because Adam had moved on.

Either way, it was sure to be difficult.

“I’m late for a consultation on a new wedding shoot. I need to go.” Lilly hugged Mel quickly before rushing for the door. “Call me when the dress comes in and I’ll help you pick out shoes and accessories.”

Once Lilly was gone, Mel went back to checking out materials for customers, her mind still whirling with thoughts of all the loose ends waiting to be tied.

She loved her older brother, had always looked up to James and respected him, but she also knew how he could be when he thought he was right. He needed to get over himself.

Mel finished up with her current customer, then waited until the man had walked out before dropping her head into her hands. She shouldn’t care what her brother thought or how he’d react. But she couldn’t get around the fact that she did care. Too much. Not to mention everything on the line for Adam if they did decide to go forward with a relationship.

Dread slithered through her, settling deep in her gut. No. If Adam didn’t want her, didn’t want to risk a future with her, then she’d have to let him go.

No matter how it might break her heart.