Page 14 of An Unexpected Home

“Hey, Mel,” he said, walking up to her. “How goes the studio?” He had known Melanie since she had been born, same as his cousin Carly, and she was like a kid sister to him.

“Crazy,” she answered. “I feel like we are never going to be ready in two weeks.”

“If you need help, you know all you have to do is ask. And not just me. You know how this town is...everyone is always willing to lend a hand.”

“I know and we appreciate it.”

He wanted to ask about Leah and had to actually force himself not to just blurt out her name. She’d been on his mind since the moment he met her and short of cutting out his brain, he didn’t think it was going to change.

“You know where to find me if you need me,” he told her.

“You can ask, you know?” she said and he gave her a quizzical look. “About Leah? You can ask about her.”

“What? Why would I ask about her?” He knew he sounded stupid but what else was he supposed to say.

“You totally like her.” She said it quietly and he knew she did that so that others wouldn’t overhear.

“Why do you think that?”

“I have never, in all the years I’ve known you, seen you write a note.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked and as soon as the words left his mouth he remembered he’d left a short note for Leah the first night.

“Plus,” she went on, “Carly told me how you acted after you found out about her yesterday. Just admit it, Bran, you know you want to.”

Mel was like a friggin dog with a bone. She would not let something go. Ever. “Maybe I do,” he shrugged, “so what?”

“She’s had such a shitty couple of years.” She shook her head. “Just...don’t play with her. That’s all I’m saying.” She grabbed her bag and left before he had a chance to defend himself.

What he didn’t understand is why she thought he would play with her. Sure he’d dated and yeah never more than a few times, but everyone he went out with knew the deal. He wasn’t looking for long-term.

After he placed his order and got his food, he left the deli and figured he would just eat at his desk. He entered the station but came to a complete halt when he found the woman who had been occupying all his thoughts standing at Katie’s desk talking with her.

“Here he is now,” Katie said, as Leah turned to face him, her face showing embarrassment.

“Chief, this lovely woman has some questions and I thought maybe you could help her?”

“You really don’t have to take time out of your busy day,” she said, waving a hand in front of her body.

“Come on back,” he said. “I was just getting ready to have lunch.”

“Seriously, Brandon, I don’t want to bother you.”

“Brandon?” Katie said. “Do you two already know each other?”

“Leah is living with Carly and Melanie and she will be working at the new dance studio.”

“I think that the new dance studio is going to be wonderful,” Katie said. “Such smart girls to open a place like that here in Cedarville.”

“If I can get the open house approved, you’ll have to come by and check it out.”

“I most definitely will.”

Brandon led Leah down the short corridor to his office, closing the door behind them.

“Have a seat,” he said and did the same behind his desk.

“You can go ahead and eat,” she said. “I’d hate for your food to get cold.”

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