Page 85 of His Mansion

“Are you okay?”

Oh God.There was only one possible answer to that question. “I have never in my life been better. Derrick, if I said I wanted Nathan to go ahead and get this published, what would you think?”

He considered for a moment, his expression somber. “I don’t know, there’s a shot of my bare butt in there, you know.”

She’d noticed. “That’s my favourite. Think I’ll ask Nathan if I can have a blowup for our bedroom.”

Derrick grinned. “If I can ask for an extra of the shot of your boobs.”

Melanie hit him before carefully placing the album aside and crawling up to straddle his lap. “Serious.”

“I am serious.”

She tugged his chin up and slowly lowered her head until their lips brushed. Familiar, yet magical. His kiss ignited flames inside and warmed her soul.

A solid knock on the front door was the only thing that stopped their caresses from carrying on to the next logical progression.

Melanie abandoned his lips with reluctance. “Save my seat.”

“Permanently.”

Images from the incredible offering Nathan had produced still flooded her mind. Somehow they would track him down and let him know their decision. Tell him to stop in and visit them soon.

Melanie swung open the door and stared into a familiar pair of blue eyes above a cocky smile.

A happy squeal escaped as she threw herself into Nathan’s arms. Melanie clung to his neck with one arm, squeezing his neck tight as she laughed and cried and pounded on his shoulder with her free hand.

“It’s you. It’s you.”

Nathan laughed and squeezed the air from her lungs with his hug. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

He managed to place her feet back on the floor only a second before being caught in a hug by Derrick. Melanie couldn’t stop her heart from racing. Nathan was back.

He’d left without saying a word.

She thumped him on the shoulder again for good measure. “You ass. What the hell were you thinking, running out on us?”

Nathan followed Derrick into the living room. “I was thinking you needed to move on, and so did I.”

He had a point, but Melanie was still pissed. “You could have said something before you disappeared.”

“And what’s with the magical appearance right now?” Derrick asked. He pointed at the photo album on the coffee table. “Were you in the delivery truck with the packages?”

“Sort of.” Nathan gave a sheepish smile. “I dropped off the book and I’ve been parked on the street up the road waiting until one of you picked it up. Felt like a complete ass every time one of your neighbours walked by and eyed me like I was a crook casing the joint.”

Melanie checked him over. He looked good. Trim and strong, still as dashing as ever.

But he didn’t make her body ache like he’d done before.

She glanced at Derrick. He smiled and held her hand, all warm and intimate in his. Both of them at ease. This was their home now, and Nathan was simply a good friend come to visit.

A deep sense of peace rolled over her. “Come on—I’ll make us coffee.”

Melanie led them into the kitchen and got the water going as conversation spilled around them. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but in the end, it seemed most of them came down to one thing.

Were they all happy?

Nathan sipped from his cup before pointing between them. “So, what’s up with you guys? One house, I hear.”

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