Tucked behind the cash register, Mel whacked her notepad on her hand and tossed Jaelyn a pleading look. “Come on, I’ll do anything if you take their table for me.”
Tim, the bartender-in-training, walked by and Jaelyn lowered her voice. “You know I would if I could, but then Judith will know something is up. Do you want people talking about how you wouldn’t serve the Montgomerys? They’re pretty important people around here, Mel.”
Mel peeked over Jaelyn’s shoulder, glimpsing Ryeland and his family seated outside under the canopy as the rain slowed and the late-day sun broke through the clouds.
“Why did they have to come here?” she groaned.
“Yeah, good question.” Jaelyn crinkled her nose. “Why do you think they came here? Don’t they usually hang out at the golf course country club?”
“Apparently he’s not finished annoying me,” Mel said under her breath, barely able to pull her focus from Ryeland and the sexy grin he kept aiming her way. With his hair dried, all combed back in place, and a clean new shirt that accentuated those broad shoulders he looked good. Too good.
“Annoying you? I’m not exactly sure that’s what he’s doing, Mel.” Jaelyn gave a mock shiver and held her hands out like she was testing the air. “I can feel the tension between you both from here. There’s enough sparks in the air to trigger another lightning storm.”
“That’s crazy.” Mel worked to rub the goose bumps away before Jaelyn noticed them.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Jaelyn arched a brow. “What exactly happened during that drive, anyway?” She tapped her painted nail on her chin. “I mean, you did have his shirt on.”
“Nothing happened.” Mel frowned, the details of her conversation with Ryeland racing through her mind. “Not really. I mean…well…he said we should get to know each other better.”
Jaelyn’s green eyes widened. “Oh, and you decided to leave out that bit of vital information.” She gave Mel an annoyed look. “That’s not nothing. That’s something. Something big.”
“It’s nothing, because I have no intentions of getting to know him.”
Jaelyn’s face softened. “Are you really going to let one guy ruin the rest of your life?”
One guy?
Oh, how she wished it were only one guy who’d ruined her trust in men. But it wasn’t. It was more—many more—her father included. But there were some things she just couldn’t tell anyone, not even her closest friend.
“Jaelyn—” Mel began.
“I mean, I know after you slept with Trevor he spread rumors about you, but maybe Ryeland is smart enough to know they aren’t true.”
Some are true…
Mel exhaled slowly. “Why are you on his side?”
“All I’m saying is this: maybe he’s a nice guy and maybe you’re judging him wrong.” She went quiet, thoughtful for a moment—a rarity for her—then added, “You know how much you hate to be judged, especially by people who don’t know you.”
She nodded. “I’m not judging. I’m stating facts.”
“Which are?”
“He uses girls.”
“You don’t really know that, do you? Not for sure.”
“I’ve seen him with a different girl almost every summer. That’s a fact.”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe they’re using him? That they want something from him?”
Mel lowered her eyes as Jaelyn’s words sank in. “Well, no, but—”
“But nothing. Maybe he is a nice guy and is truly interested in getting to know you.”
She shook her head, refusing to believe that. “I’m sure the only thing he’s interested in—”
“Mel, you’re beautiful and smart, with a good head on your shoulders.” She grabbed Mel’s hand and gave a squeeze. “You’re the whole package. Someday when you’re signing your bestselling novel I’ll get to say, ‘I knew her when she worked at Stone Cliff.’ Maybe he sees what I see.”
“So what about you? You going to see Cole tonight after catching him with Jessica?”
Jaelyn gave an exaggerated exhale, her shoulders slouching. “You can’t help who you like.” Then she blinked and said, “Hey, this isn’t about me, it’s about you and Ryeland.”
“I don’t want a boyfriend, Jaelyn. No matter how hot he is.”
Jaelyn smirked. “So you agree he’s hot.”
Mel threw her hands up in the air. “Of course he’s hot. But I have a plan and I’m not about to get sidetracked, not now when I’m so close.”
“I know you do, but it can’t hurt to have a bit of fun once in a while, can it? Jesus, you spend so much time in that room of yours I’m afraid you’re going to start collecting cobwebs.” Jaelyn pretended to pick cobwebs from Mel’s hair then glanced at Ryeland. “All I know is there is a hot guy over there who wants to give you another ride, except this time I’m pretty certain he wants to use a different stick shift. If it were me, girlfriend, I’d be all over that.”
But Mel wasn’t like Jaelyn, and never wanted to open herself up to another guy again. Her thoughts raced to Trevor, a local boy a few years older than her who’d never paid her any attention until last summer when he returned from university. God, he seemed so nice and sincere, sweet-talking his way into her bed. In a moment of weakness, she put her past hurts behind her, forgot about her distrust in men, and gave herself to him, only for him to brag about his conquest behind her back. She cringed, recalling the nasty things he’d said—a hard lesson learned that taught her to keep the protective shield around her heart.
Jaelyn nudged her. “Well?”
“I don’t…”
“Just talk to him. Give him a chance and get to know him better like he wants. I mean, he’s clearly going out of his way to be around you, and he did help you after that stunt his friends pulled. If you don’t like who he is, then you walk away. Simple as that. Come to the Cave tonight. It’s initiation night and I bet he’ll be there.”
Before she could answer and tell her friend that she’d rather not go the Cave, and had no intentions of riding anything of Ryeland’s—ever again—Judith came from the kitchen.
“Is there a problem here?” she asked, and both Mel and Jaelyn straightened.
“No,” they answered in unison.
Judith’s piercing brown eyes drilled into them. “Then why are you both standing here when there are tables waiting?”
Stepping away quickly, Mel smoothed her hand over her apron and made her way through the dining room out to the patio. She could feel Ryeland’s eyes on her as she walked toward his table. She tried to act casual, like him giving her a lift earlier, not to mention his shirt, and then finding him here in her section didn’t affect her. But the truth was, it did, and that bothered her more than anything. She was so close to having enough money to leave, and he was a distraction she didn’t want or need.
“How is everyone tonight?” she asked, plastering on a smile even though everything in the way Ryeland was looking at her made her feel all jittery. Ryeland’s kid brother sat up straighter in his chair and she turned her focus to him. She looked at him and noticed the interest backlighting his blue eyes as they dropped to her chest. Typical guy.
“Stop staring.” Ryeland jabbed his brother playfully with his elbow.
“Cut it out,” his brother responded, color creeping into his cheeks.
“Mom, Dad, this is Mel.” Ryeland looked at her, and she didn’t miss the way her pulse jumped in her throat. “I gave her a lift earlier.”
“That’s right,” she said playing along without missing a beat. “He was a knight in shining armor who came to my rescue when it started raining.” Lord knew she wasn’t about to rip on his friends in front of his family and tell them why he really stopped, which, when she thought about it, was rather nice of him. Maybe she had been too hard on him. Maybe Jaelyn was right and he was a nice guy.
And maybe she should just stop thinking about him.
“It was my pleasure,” Ryeland said. His smile was so charming, so sexy and inviting, a jolt of heat raced through her. What was it about this guy that had her reacting like a silly cheerleader crushing on the quarterback?
She sucked in a quick breath to pull herself together and asked, “Have you all decided what you’d like to order?”
She looked around the table, and as she took in the beautiful, happy family of five, loneliness reared its ugly head and nipped at her soul. God, what she would have done to be a part of something special like this. She quickly pushed down those feelings, refusing to give in to them. Even though her mom went from man to man and was strung out on booze half the time, and her father was a deadbeat in prison, she reminded herself that she had Jaelyn and her stories—which gave her the make-believe family she’d always wanted. She didn’t need anything more than that.
Her gaze settled on Mrs. Montgomery and the warm flush coloring her cheeks as she glared at her oldest son. Mel stiffened slightly. She wasn’t sure what was going on between the two, nor did she want to get involved, so she tried to redirect the woman’s focus by asking, “Do you all need another minute? I can come back—”
“Actually I’m not feeling so well,” Mrs. Montgomery announced, dropping her cloth napkin onto the table.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Let me get you some more water.” Mel twisted to go.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mr. Montgomery piped in, the firmness in his voice stopping Mel in her tracks. His chair scraped across the decking as he stood to help his wife up. “Kids, come along.”
“But I’m hungry,” Ryeland’s little sister grumbled.
Mrs. Montgomery cast her daughter a stern glance. “Ashley, you heard your father.”
“I can take care of them,” Ryeland said and something in Mel’s stomach tightened when he ruffled Ashley hair in such a loving way. “I’ll run them back once they’re finished.”
“Ryeland, I’m going to need your help with your mother.”
Ryeland’s confused glance bounced back and forth between his mother and father before landing on Mel. He stood and mouthed the words, “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” Mel worked to keep her composure as the other guests in the restaurant watched the actions of the family. The last thing she wanted was for Judith to think she’d run the Montgomerys out of the restaurant. Jaelyn was right. They were important people and this incident could be the end of her job. “I hope you’re feeling better soon, Mrs. Montgomery. If there is anything I can do please let me know.”
Ryeland grabbed his wallet and pulled out a few bills. Mel closed her hand over his. “That’s not necessary.”
“But—”
“Ryeland,” his father called out as he guided his wife toward the steps leading to the back courtyard.
“What are you doing later?” he asked quickly. “Can I see you?”
Mel looked at his folks, then turned back to him. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He stared at her for a moment, then his silver eyes lit as understanding slowly dawned. “Wait. What? No, Mel.” He shook his head and she caught the now-familiar scent of his cologne as it fell over her, a reminder that she still had to return his shirt. After the way his folks had acted, she certainly wouldn’t be walking up to his door and delivering it herself. “This has nothing to do with you. I’m sure she’s not well because of the long drive here. It’s probably just exhaustion.”
“Ryeland,” his father bellowed.
He tossed the bills on the table, despite her protest. “Meet me at the Cave when you get off,” he said quickly, then turned to hurry to his family before she could either accept or decline the invitation.
Mel glared at the money. It reminded her of her father’s gambling. Perhaps because she felt as insignificant and worthless now as she did all those years ago when her father had used her as collateral in the illegal, high-roller poker game that took place at the resort once a year. Her heart pounded faster, her breath a little harder to catch as those cutting memories bombarded her.
With a bevy of unwanted emotions welling up inside her, she left the money where Ryeland had tossed it and grabbed the discarded menus. Even though she’d long ago hardened herself and tried not to care what others thought of her, there was nothing she could do to swallow down the sick feeling welling up into her throat.
“What the hell was that all about?” Jaelyn asked as Mel dropped the menus back at the hostess counter.
“Mrs. Montgomery said she was sick,” Mel said, shoving her hands into her apron so Jaelyn couldn’t see them shaking. “But I get the feeling it has more to do with me.”
Jaelyn gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Mel, I’m sure you’re wrong.” She blinked up at her friend, and Jaelyn’s eyes softened. “Maybe this will cheer you up. Jared just dropped a package off to you.”
Mel’s head jerked back with a start, surprised. “What? What’s going on?” Why would the resort’s concierge be bringing her a package?
“Beats me.”
Mel opened the brown paper bag and peered inside. “Oh. My. God.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You’ve got to me kidding me.” Her heart gave a little leap when she pulled the sticky note off the box of tampons and read the one word written on it: Truce. She smiled despite herself, and something inside her stomach took flight.
Truthfully, even if she did call a truce, after the way his parents had acted there was no way the two could ever be friends, which meant she wasn’t going to waste another second thinking about him, or about the sweet—yet oddly disturbing—package he’d sent her.