Nine

 

 

“NO,” BRADEN SAID.

The surprised look on her face wasn’t unexpected. Unsettling her nerves gave him a small but harmless taste of satisfaction. He played babysitter for her dog all day and his nerves were a bit shot as well. She could join him in the uncomfortable seat for a minute. “You look as famished as your pooch over there.” His gaze moved to Tweeny who was busy licking the empty dish. “Let me cook you some dinner and then we’ll discuss the reason I’m here.” He left his phone in his pocket and switched mental directions.

“You want to eat with me? And you’re willing to make the food?” she asked as if she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“That’s what I said.” Braden kept his face neutral. He didn’t know why he’d offered to make her dinner, but he was starved after a whole day of one-handed demolition on the house while making sure Tweeny didn’t escape or eat anything she shouldn’t. He decided not to tell Melanie about the unfortunate incident of removing a half-eaten package of beef jerky from the dog’s throat. “And I need to use your kitchen. Mine is currently in a state of destruction.”

Melanie glanced over her shoulder at the kitchen. “I guess that would be alright.”

“Great. I’ll be back.” Braden turned to retrieve the needed ingredients from his house.

Tweeny yipped and he heard her nails clicking against the tile floor behind him. He looked back in time to see the pink and white dog hauling ass out the door. Melanie caught her round the middle and scooped her up. The dog battled for release from capture. Braden returned to them.

“Cool it, dog. I’ll only be gone a minute,” he said, then looked at Melanie. “Your dog is strange.”

“Thanks. I’ve been trying to pin down what’s wrong with her.”

Braden grinned at her quick response. “Give me five minutes. We’ll be better equipped to clear the air between us after a good meal.”

He retrieved the necessary groceries and brought them back to Melanie’s house. He noticed the grill on her patio and hoped there was propane in the tank. Before going inside, he lit the barbeque grill. The whoosh of flames confirmed his idea of cooking outside. He knocked on the sliding glass door and saw her standing in the kitchen. Melanie waved him in. No barking greeted him. Tweeny lay sprawled on the dog bed, asleep.

He moved to the kitchen counter and set his grocery bags down. “Did you drug her?”

“No, but that’s not a bad idea,” Melanie said, staring at Tweeny. “What did you do to her today? Normally after she eats, she terrorizes the backyard for a good two or three hours.”

“She helped me take out some old cabinets. We took a drive to the store. And I may have given her a little too much jerky.”

“That must have done her in. Thanks again for keeping her out of trouble today.”

“It’s not a big deal.” Braden unpacked a few items from the bag and set them on the counter.

“I’m honestly shocked you came back. I wouldn’t have. That dog could drive anyone away.”

“She’s not that bad. Maybe she only needs some firm direction.”

Melanie laughed and looked at his selection of food and drinks.

“Not that I’m trying to tell you how to train your dog,” Braden added.

“If you were, I would thank you again. I don’t know anything about dog training.”

“I never would have guessed.”

She smacked his stomach with the back of her hand, a playful smile lighting her face. “It’s not my fault. I’ve never owned my own pet before.”

“Really? That’s uh—” He was going to say it was strange, but now that he thought about it, it wasn’t that unusual.

“Do you have a dog?” she asked in return.

“No. I’m not home enough to take care of an animal the way they need. I like dogs. I owned one as a kid. That was before I moved to Granite Lake.”

She pressed her lips together and made an acknowledging sound. Her attention turned to the packages on the counter. “Steaks?”

“With onions, mushrooms, and garlic. I bought some fresh rolls from the bakery.”

The eyebrow raise didn’t tell him much about his dinner choices. “What?” he asked.

“Did you start my grill?”

“I did and these are going on as soon as I put a little salt and pepper on them. I guess I should buy my own grill since I don’t have a working stove over there.”

She nodded, then her gaze shifted to the wine and beer.

“I brought wine in case you don’t like beer.”

Melanie moved to a lower cabinet and opened it. She rose, holding a cutting board. “I have a zucchini we could add to the garlic, onions, and mushrooms. Do you like squash?”

“Sure,” he said, wondering how badly he screwed up by bringing steaks and alcohol. He’d dated enough women to know that some of them ate differently than men.

“It’s great on the grill.” She opened another cabinet and produced an unusual looking metal sheet covered with holes. “Will this grill pan work for you?”

Braden flashed a wide grin. “It’s perfect. And now sit down and let me pour you a drink. I got this.”

Melanie hesitated a moment as if making a decision. She grabbed a tall glass of water from the counter and moved to the other side of the kitchen island. She planted herself on a bar stool and watched him open the package of steaks.

“I’ve never had someone cook for me in my own kitchen. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to sit here and let you do all the work.”

“That’s unfortunate. Didn’t your ex ever cook?” he asked, trying to keep things casual.

“He didn’t know how to boil water until I showed him,” Melanie said. Then as if she were embarrassed about admitting one of her ex’s faults, she dropped her gaze and took a long drink of water.

“He sounds like a jackass,” Braden said. The thought of her marrying a loser upset him more than he cared to acknowledge.

“It’s all in the past now, right?”

“It is,” Braden said and rinsed the vegetables before chopping them.

He asked about her family and she filled him in on her sisters and parents as he finished prepping the meat and veg. He loaded up the grill and returned to the kitchen.

Braden opened cabinets and drawers, searching the kitchen.

“Can I help you find something?” Melanie started to rise from the stool.

“No, ma’am. Stay right there.” He slid the bottle of wine across the island to within arm’s reach of Melanie. With the bottle opener and two glasses in hand, he took the seat next to her. Braden opened the wine and filled their glasses. “It’s a California red blend. This is one of my favorites. Do you drink wine, Mel?”

Her nickname fell from his lips with ease. Everything about being here felt easy, he realized. It’d always been like that with her. She’d become his best friend in high school without him even realizing it. Sure, he’d had guys to hang out with, but it’d always been Melanie who he felt the most real with. Like he could always be one hundred percent himself around her.

“I haven’t tried very many wines to be honest.”

Even though he felt at ease, she seemed to be holding back more than she wasn’t, and he was sorry for it. But maybe he earned her reserve. He’d been the one who disappeared, after all. If she didn’t trust him enough to speak openly with him, it was his fault.

“Why is that?” he asked.

Melanie moved her hands from the counter to her lap. He watched her bite her lower lip before answering.

“We never had it in the house. Dylan liked beer or liquor and I never bought alcohol for myself. Sienna was... She is.... I’m going to go check the grill.” Melanie slid off the stool and was out the patio door in a flash.

Braden followed her without hurry. Melanie didn’t want to talk about her daughter and her marriage. That much was clear. Braden wouldn’t push her, but curiosity about Melanie’s life had him wondering.

The sound of sizzling beef mingled with the savory smells of garlic and onions. Melanie wielded the spatula with attention to detail.

“I’ll take over,” he said and placed himself in her personal space. “You’re letting me do something for you today.”

“You’ve already done a lot.”

He took the spatula from her without asking.

“It’s no problem. I mean that. It feels good to be useful. I’ve had too much time off with this shoulder injury.”

“Having help is not something I’m used to.” She backed up without protest and leaned against a patio chair.

Braden flipped the vegetables and checked the steaks. “Did you carry most of the weight of parenting on your shoulders during your marriage?” he asked. His hunch about her previous relationship wouldn’t be quieted.

“Yes and no. Dylan was a good father.” She sat on the edge of the chair.

“But.” Braden closed the lid on the grill and turned. He didn’t move to her like he would have liked to. He wanted to kneel in front of her and confess she could tell him anything. The realization he wanted to protect her from any and all hurts startled him. She startled him at every turn, apparently.

“But,” Melanie straightened her spine. “What I was struggling to say inside was Sienna had some health challenges when she was younger. I was afraid to drink alcohol because there was always a chance she might need me. I could never forgive myself if I was buzzed and something happened. Do you have any kids, Braden? It’s hard to explain the rationale to someone who doesn’t have children.”

“You did hear me tell you that I don’t own a dog because I’m not home enough to take care of them, right?”

“I did.”

“It’s even more important with children. The answer is no. I don’t have any of my own. But I did hear you say that you made incomprehensible sacrifices for your daughter, as any responsible parent will do.”

“She has a lot of allergies and asthma. Her health issues can be life threatening. I’ve learned so much and changed my way of life to keep her safe.”

“I may not understand what you’ve done for your daughter, but I know what it is to give part of yourself for the benefit of others.”

Melanie rose from the chair. “Of course you understand. You were in the Coast Guard, weren’t you? What I’ve done for Sienna is peanuts compared to protecting an entire country and the waters around it. I think our food is done.” She moved to the grill, but she wasn’t getting her mitts on his food. Not under his watch.

Braden raised the lid of the grill. She stood by his side and they peered at two large steaks and a mound of mixed vegetables.

“Here’s where we'll have to agree to disagree. A mother doing her best for her child is more difficult and just as honorable as any soldier performing his duties.”

She bumped him with her shoulder, but didn’t reply. He saw the soft smile on her lips and it about melted his insides.

“If you really want to help with dinner, find us a couple of plates. I’ll be right in.”

 

* * *

 

Melanie sipped the last of her wine and set the glass on the coffee table. They’d finished the bottle. She suspected Braden drank more than she had, but she wasn’t keeping score.

Braden picked up the wine bottle, tipped it toward the evening light filtering in through the living room windows, reaffirmed it was empty, and set it back down. He leaned back against the couch cushion. “Are you glad you tried it, or am I a terrible influence on your self-discipline?”

“Is both the correct answer?” she asked.

“Good enough for me.”

“It’s really good wine. Too good. I might be a closet lush after tonight,” she said and felt more relaxed than she had been in a long time. “I have something to confess.” She met his gaze straight on.

“Whoa. Hold up a second. I’m here tonight to tell you about Justin. You don’t owe me any confessions. I owe you one hell of an explanation. But since I respect women, and you’re offering to go first, you can have the stage if you want.”

Melanie tapped the point of her chin considering his words. She took a deep breath and spilled forth her thoughts before she lost her nerve. “I haven’t eaten a steak in three years. And I liked it. I liked it a lot.”

Braden laughed out loud. “That is about the last thing I thought you would ever say.”

She held up her hand in the stop gesture. “I’m not done,” she said with a seriousness she hoped he could see on her grave face. “I haven’t eaten a bread roll, let alone two, in at least a year. It was delicious.”

Braden swallowed and stopped laughing. Her ruse was working, but it didn’t last. She was about to crack.

“You don’t eat bread. I really am corrupting you, aren’t I? Are you going to be sick?”

The sudden worry in his eyes broke her and she started giggling.

“Why didn’t you say something before we ate?” Braden shifted on the couch, leaned in close, and placed his palm on her forehead.

“I don't have a fever, silly. Wait, maybe I do. The wine makes my face really warm.” She turned on the cushion and removed his hand from her head. Melanie leaned in and kissed his cheek quickly. “Thank you for dinner. It was wonderful. Sienna can’t eat gluten. She’s also dairy intolerant and she’s allergic to peanuts. I wasn’t kidding when I said I changed my lifestyle for her. But she’s not here, and she’s safe, and I have to remind myself of that every few minutes. Having dinner with a friend is such a normal thing to do and yet, I never do things like this. And I haven’t felt this good since before Sienna went to her father’s. It’s kind of surreal having you here again, in this house.”

“It is. I don’t want to be a downer here, but now it’s my turn, and you need to know about Justin.”

She sat back and prepared, or tried to prepare, herself for whatever he was about to say.

“I know you never wanted to talk about your parents or what your home life was like before we met. I was okay with that. I really was,” she said.

“You have no idea how much that meant to me back then. I couldn’t talk about it and Justin was a big part of the problem. It wasn’t only my brother though. He’s exactly like my father.”

“Braden.” She reached over and touched the back of his hand. “Are you sure you want to tell me? I never wanted to force you into talking about them and I won’t ask you now. We’ve moved on with our lives. Will it really make a difference?”

“I want you to know. I wanted you to know when we were seniors, but I didn’t know how to tell you, or maybe I was scared to tell you. It took time, but I’ve accepted that they’re related to me and I can’t change them. I’m not like them and I don’t talk about my brother or my father to almost anyone, but you deserve to know.”

“I always wondered what happened that night,” she said carefully. “Why you didn’t show up.”

Braden dropped his gaze, but she noticed the uncertainty in his eyes before he looked away.

“I’ll tell you everything, but first you need to meet Justin. You saw my brother next door with his girlfriend. I don’t want to know what Justin and Alana were doing before I arrived, but there can’t be any doubt in your mind that it was me.” Braden shook from top to bottom like an exaggerated shiver. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened an app for facetime.

Justin answered and Melanie was speechless. Now that Braden was here, she saw the differences between them easily, but there was no doubt they were identical twins. Justin wore his hair longer, but it was still a casual business length, and thick, rich, and dark. The way she remembered Braden’s from high school. Braden currently had his hair shaved into a buzz cut. She assumed it was because of his military days or possibly to do with his game warden position. Melanie watched the screen but stayed out of sight.

Justin said, “Hey man, how’s the house? Did you tear out the kitchen yet?”

“It’s almost done. The shoulder’s slowing me down.”

“Slacker. I think you’re faking it.”

“Think what you want. I’ll have the roll-off dumpster filled by the end of the week. How’s Atlanta treating you?”

“Alana’s a fucking bitch. She’s not speaking to me again. I may come back to California and leave her here with her uppity family.”

“I didn’t say Alana. I said Atlanta,” Braden reiterated.

“I heard you. Alana is fucking pissing me off. And she’s got this friend that is all over my junk. I’m about to say to hell with Alana and start screwing her girlfriend. Maybe I can do them both before the bitch finds out about it.”

“Get a moral compass and staple it to your forehead. Are you going to make an offer on the office complex?”

Justin laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with my morals. More people should live the way I do. Everyone’s so uptight, including you, dude. And yeah, I’m negotiating a deal now. It’s too good to pass up. The place doesn’t need anything. I’ll resell that son-of-a-bitch and make seventy-five K overnight.”

“Cool, man. I’m happy for you. I got to go. Later,” Braden said.

“Later. Call me when you’re done with the lower level.”

Braden disconnected the call. “I didn’t want to introduce you when he was like that. Do you mind?”

“I don’t mind.”

“He’s an asshole. I wouldn’t want you to have to talk to him. Jesus, the way he talks about his girlfriend makes me sick.”

“I’m sorry.” She squeezed his hand.

“Don’t be. He’s always been like that. I don’t know how I turned out so different from him and my dad.”

“You’re lucky?” Melanie guessed.

A derisive snort escaped from Braden and he shook his head. “Maybe.”

“Where are your parents?” she asked.

“My mom lives in Oregon with her husband. I don’t see her often. My father passed away seven years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. We didn’t get along. I was in the Gulf of Mexico when it happened. I didn’t come back for the funeral.”

Justin’s appearance needed to percolate in her system for a minute. How was she supposed to respond to a surprise like this? More information would help her accept the news.

“Is your relationship with your father and brother the reason you never told me about them?”

Braden turned on the couch to face her. “I should have told you and I can’t take back my actions. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I know that’s probably hard to believe. When I came to live with my grandfather, I never wanted to see them again. I thought if I could start over and live my own life, I would be happier. I was for the most part. You helped me a lot and I’ll never forget it. I don’t expect you to understand why I didn’t tell you about them, but that time in my life is difficult to explain.”

Melanie wanted to know more. She wanted to know everything about him just as much now as when they were younger. The depth in his eyes revealed there was so much more to his story. She wouldn’t ask too much. If they were going to renew a friendship and be neighbors, she wanted to be neighborly, not nosy. If she were patient, he’d tell her why he disappeared without a goodbye. “Do you think it’s strange we both moved here as teens because of our families? Is it serendipitous or merely coincidence?” Melanie asked, reflecting on the past. Their similar circumstances helped cement their friendship as teenagers, but they were adults now and everything had changed, hadn’t it?

“Your father had financial problems—and mine had mental health problems,” Braden said, one corner of his mouth lifted in a sad smile that tightened her chest. “And we returned to Granite Lake at almost the same time.”

“I never thought I would live here again. After the divorce, my grandparents offered the lake house to me and Sienna for as long as I need it. I wanted a change from the Midwest and here I am.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” Braden's hand lifted and he reached for her cheek. He retracted before touching her and rose to his feet.

His abrupt change in direction shook her wine-woozy mind. Melanie hadn’t forgotten their kiss earlier in the day and wondered if he wanted a repeat encounter. If she were being honest with herself, she did. She wanted to know if all the feelings and sensations she experienced when his lips touched hers were a one-time deal based on surprise and being out of practice, or if the tingles and world dropping out from under her was because of him specifically.

Without a word, Braden strode across the room to the dining table. “Tweeny, get down. Drop it,” he ordered.

Tweeny jumped to the floor and trotted to her dog bed. A steak bone lay on the floor next to the chair she had been standing on.

“Why does she listen to you?” Melanie asked, not really needing an answer. “She would have curled her lip and flipped me the bird if I told her to drop the bone.” Melanie rested her cheek against the couch cushion and stared at the dog. Tweeny’s head lay between her paws and she appeared repentant. Melanie wasn’t falling for it.

“I have an alpha dog tone of voice.”

Braden didn’t return to the living room. Melanie gave up trying to stare the mutt down and saw Braden cleaning up their dinner dishes.

“Are you telling me I need to sound more like a man?” Melanie pushed to her feet and moved to help clean up.

“I wouldn’t suggest such a drastic approach for dog obedience, but you’re free to do as you see fit. I hear testosterone therapy is a real thing these days, but there may be adverse side effects besides deepening your voice.”

“I think I’ll pass on the testosterone shots, but I should probably look into dog training classes.”

“Seems like a better solution.”

They met by the kitchen sink. Braden rinsed plates as Melanie placed their glasses on the counter. She’d never had a dinner date in her home with any man other than her husband and wasn’t sure what came next.

“How’s your shoulder?”

Braden shut off the tap, but didn’t move from her side. “About as expected. I was hard on it today. I think your balm helped though.”

“That’s good. You can take it with you if you want.” Melanie stepped over to the end of the kitchen counter where the tin of salve still sat from the morning. She held it out to him and the gesture felt like the closing of the night. The parting gift wasn’t an intentional move, but it was already done and she reminded herself that she wanted to be a good neighbor, not a needy lonely divorcée.

Braden took the tin, but his hand paused, fingertips touching her own. “Can I see you tomorrow?”

She hesitated. He saw it. She was mortified. Freezing in place had nothing to do with not wanting to see him again but had everything to do with the surprise of being asked out and unsure how to respond. This wasn’t the first time her response to him didn’t come out right this evening. Melanie wanted to march into the bathroom and give herself a lecture on how she should stop acting like such an awkward idiot.

“Yes,” she said quickly.

But he’d seen the delay. His back stiffened as he took the salve.

A buzzing from the direction of his pants caught her off guard. His gaze dropped to his pocket and back up again.

“You’re vibrating,” she said.

“I know.”

“Does it tickle?” What was the ever-loving matter with her? She all too easily pictured her daughter doing a face palm. Who asks a person if their phone is tickling them? Especially when said phone is so near his privates! And for the love of Pete, stop staring at his crotch! Melanie needed to end the evening before she continued to embarrass herself beyond repair. She blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear her vision and hopefully her head.

The side of Braden’s mouth twitched. He cleared his throat. “It’s not quite that thrilling,” he said, deadpan.

A laugh escaped her lips and he grinned back at her before retrieving the phone. What he didn’t know was that she wasn’t trying to be funny. The laugh was more of an emotional release about her ridiculousness than anything else.

He checked the screen, frowned, and stuffed the phone back in his pocket.

Braden stepped around her and walked to the patio door. “It’s my lieutenant. I have to return the call. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

* * *

 

Braden entered his living room and switched the light on. As much as he might like to relax and call it a day, he needed to return Lieutenant Zion Weatherton’s call. He passed by the futon, the single piece of furniture in the living room which doubled as his couch and his bed, and paced the kitchen as he spoke.

“I have news,” Zion said.

“What’s up?”

“Your old cabin has been broken into,” he said.

“When did it happen?” Braden asked.

“Last night.”

“Any gang signs?”

“None. The bureau called to let me know an hour ago. They have the evidence file and are conducting an additional investigation of their own.”

“If they’re following up on the local department’s work, they must think the break-in is related to my situation.” Braden and Zion didn’t use any names or details when they spoke on the phone. The furtive conversation was in everyone’s best interest.

“Yes. I was informed that there’s been an unusually high amount of hits in the search databases on your brother and his business.”

Braden listened and let the news sink in. Zion wouldn’t share the intel if it wasn’t important. “He’s currently out of state.”

“That’s good. Is he planning on heading your way any time soon?”

“I’m not sure when he’s coming back,” Braden said.

“You may want to advise him to stay out of the area.”

“Will do,” Braden said.

“I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.” Zion paused before asking, “Everything else going okay?”

“So far, so good.”

“Let’s keep it that way,” his boss said and hung up.

Braden stopped pacing and dialed Justin.

Justin answered and said, “You again? Twice in one night. To what do I owe this honor? You must be getting lonely all by yourself.”

“I’m not lonely, asswipe.”

“You met someone. Good for you, bro. I worry about you being alone. It’s not right hanging out in the woods by yourself all the time. You’re—”

“Could you shut your trap for a minute? First of all, I like being in the woods. It means I don’t have to deal with jackasses who won’t stop running their mouth.”

“Harsh, dude. But I heard you say you’re not lonely. Does that mean you met the sexy broad next door?”

Braden’s temper flared but he tamped it down. Justin would act like Justin regardless of a verbal warning.

“She’s cute and convenient. I’d do her, but she’s got a kid. I don’t like extra baggage,” Justin said.

“Shut up and listen to me for a minute. When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know. A month? Maybe longer. It depends. I’m held up waiting on a permit for the new building and the inspector keeps postponing our appointment.”

Braden cut off Justin’s rant before it turned into a twenty minute speech about the never-ending delays of construction. “Hey, you need to let me know as soon as you figure out when you’re headed back, all right?”

“Is something up? You sound more serious than your normal douche bag self.”

“Man, why do I even bother to call you?”

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to talk to me either. I’m an asshole,” Justin said.

For once, they agreed on something. “Yeah, something’s up. I need you to do me a favor and watch your back.”

His brother made a dismissive sound. “Whatever’s happening, I’m not worried. I can take care of myself. You’re welcome to join my demo team here in Georgia.”

“No, thanks. I’ve got enough to do here.”

“Your call,” Justin said.

“I’m going to keep working on the house. Keep an eye out and let me know if anything unusual comes up.”

“Sounds like fun,” Justin said.

“It’s not. Be careful over the next few weeks.”

“Whatever you say.” Justin sounded disinterested, but Braden thought he got his point across well enough for now.

“Talk to you later,” he said and hit the button to end the call.

With work responsibilities and family obligations out of the way, Braden settled onto the futon and let his mind escape to the evening he shared with Melanie. The flush in her cheeks from the wine they’d shared was about the cutest damn thing he’d ever seen. Justin wasn’t wrong in his assessment that the neighbor was cute. She definitely was, but she was so much more than that. Melanie hadn’t lost her sense of humor over the years. She made him laugh and she was prettier and sexier than she’d been in high school. To his surprise, the attraction he felt for her hadn’t diminished an ounce. If anything, it had increased, and the revelation shocked him. How was he going to live next door to Melanie and not constantly be distracted by her? Focusing on the house remodel was the first and only answer that came to mind. But he’d asked her out and she said yes. The house could wait a day.

Braden bent forward and tucked his hand under the futon. The gun was right where he’d left it and the hard steel gave him a small amount of reassurance that he would protect himself if gang members decided to pay him a visit. He unlaced his boots and toed them off before stretching out on the futon. He found a comfortable position that relieved pressure on his shoulder and drifted toward sleep. The memory of Melanie’s playful laugh teased his inner ear, but it was the frame of dark lashes around her sky blue eyes and the promise of tasting her full, velvet soft lips that followed him into dreamland.