Page 83 of The Matchmaker and the Marine

Melinda smiled to herself, “Now, she’s calling me Mel. Adam must be rubbing off on people.”

She picked up the ingredients she needed for baking the cake and pie and glanced at her cart. Then she headed back toward the meat counter. No reason to buy the turkey now.

Rock music drifted down Melinda’s driveway. Adam smiled the minute he started up the walkway amidst a few flakes of snow. He gave a loud knock on the door and waited. No response. He peeked in through the side windowpane and saw lights on, but he didn’t hear or see Mel coming to the door. He held up his hand to knock again and changed his mind. She had her music up loud and probably couldn’t hear him. Stepping carefully off the slick steps, he wondered if she had ice melt. If not, he’d pick some up for her. He wandered around the garage and to the back door. He knocked again, and this time he saw Mel pop her face around the wall and wave.

“Come in!” she yelled.

The knob turned and Adam frowned. She shouldn’t have her door unlocked.

“Hey.” He raised his voice above the strains of Aerosmith. “I can hear your music from the street.”

She had flour everywhere, including on her face and in her hair.

“What are you making, besides a mess?” He couldn’t help but tease her.

With a quick retort she said, “Apple pie. And if you’re not nicer to me, you won’t be getting any tomorrow.” Putting her hands on her hips, she asked, “And just how may I help you today?”

“Stacey mentioned you were coming to dinner, and since you weren’t packing for your trip I thought I’d drop by and hang out. If that’s okay? Or should I have called first?” He dropped a kiss on her cheek and withdrew a single daisy from inside his jacket. “For you.”

“You don’t ever need to call first.” Melinda wiped her hand on her apron and gave him a warm smile as she accepted the flower. “This is very sweet.”

With a shrug, he dropped his butt on the only empty barstool at the high-top counter. “I swung by the store for my contribution, rolls, and saw some flowers. This one had your name on it.” He looked around. With a grin he teased, “Your kitchen isn’t its normal tidy.”

She laughed. “When I cook, I tend to spread out. I like everything within easy reach.”

She pointed to the stool next to him. He pulled back to discover a bowl of apples. “Apples on a barstool? That’s an interesting place to store them.”

Melinda was patting a circular piece of dough on the flour-covered counter. After dusting her rolling pin, she said, “Maybe instead of sitting there poking fun at the genius of my baking strategy, you could wash your hands and peel them.”

“What if I don’t know how?” he said with a grin.

Exasperated she said, “Adam, you took men into battle. Surely you can use a knife to peel off the skin, cut it into thin slices and then take out a few seeds.”

“Is that all there is to it?” He smirked and tossed his coat over the table. Crossing to the sink, he washed his hands. “For the record, I’ve peeled an apple or two before.”

“Good.” She laughed. She pointed to a drawer. “You’ll find a knife in there.”

He pulled open the drawer. “You sure do love kitchen gadgets.”

She shrugged and smiled. “It’s a weakness.” Before Adam could sit down again, Melinda pointed to the drainer. “You can use that metal bowl for the peels.”

He gave her a mock salute and with a chuckle said, “Ma’am, yes, ma’am.”

She shot him a look that he thought held just the right amount of sass. Which of course made him want to take her in his arms and kiss her. But he vowed to take this budding relationship at a pace he felt she was comfortable with.

“Speaking of calling me Mel, do you know you have Stacey saying it too?”

He pretended to look horrified and clutched his chest. “No, you can’t be serious.”

She flicked a handful of flour in his direction. “Now you’re just being a jerk. I wanted to maintain a more professional image by using my full name.”

His tone softened. “But Mel, well, it suits you. It’s sweet, fun and easygoing. Melinda is so formal.”

She raised an eyebrow and gave him an injured look. “Are you saying I’m uptight and rigid?”

“No, not at all. I can see Dr. Melinda Grayson or Melinda Phillips on your business cards, but when you’re with friends, you should loosen up. They’re both sides of the real you.”

Melinda fell silent. Under her breath she said, “I don’t want anyone to think I take my matchmaker responsibility frivolously.”

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