Page 42 of A Second Chance Christmas Kiss

He pushed a strand of hair out of my face, and his touch sent warm chills through me. His gaze dropped to my lips. “I remember that Christmas… All I could think about while Grandfather dragged me from meeting to meeting was how much I wanted to get back to Jewel Cove and kiss you.”

I froze, feeling that familiar attraction wash through me. “Really?”

Gently, he reached up and put his palm to my cheek. “Really.”

His touch was warm, and I found myself leaning into it.

Carefully, he traced my lips with his thumb. “That’s seriously all I could think about, but I guess my grandfather stopped it, didn’t he?”

I stared up at him, my heart racing. “No one’s stopping you now.”

He closed the distance between us and lightly brushed his lips against mine. “Melody,” he whispered, pulling back. “I’ve missed you so much.”

My head spun, and I pressed my lips against his. Just like so many times when we were young, our lips moved together in perfect rhythm. My knees went weak.

Charles grabbed me by the waist and pulled me against him, holding me tight.

My hands ran through his hair, and suddenly it was like I couldn’t get enough of this man.

He deepened the kiss, and it was everything that had been missing from my marriage with Peter. It was passionate and tender, exhilarating and the most natural thing in the world.

I didn’t know how long we made out like that, but when he broke away, I was breathless and happy. “Oh my gosh.”

He kept a hand on my waist, steadying me.

“I can’t believe I did that,” I said, suddenly embarrassed.

“Why?” Charles asked, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together as if we were sixteen again.

I laughed even as my eyes burned. All the emotions I’d been holding back started to bubble up.

He smiled wider and pulled me against him, stroking my hair. “It’s okay, Mel. It’s okay.”

Back to “Mel,” the intimate way he’d always referred to me as if I were his again. For all intents and purposes, it felt like I was. Like I’d never been anything else but his.

Our chests heaved and then quieted. His hand pressed my head gently to his chest, and I took comfort there. He stroked my hair again. “I’ve missed you. Oh, how I’ve missed you.”

“I know.” Tears streamed down my face.

He pulled back and shook his head, as if confused. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” I sniffed. “I guess I was so angry at you for so long because I told myself this story that I wasn’t good enough. Especially because of what your grandfather said to me.”

“I hate that so much.”

“Wait, there’s more.” I had to get this out. “Then, over the years, I just tried so hard to be what I had to be for my son, for my husband … and then, last year when it all blew up, I just became numb. Angry. When you showed up and started pursuing me ... I don’t know if that’s what to call it.”

He flashed a smile. “Oh, I’m definitely pursuing you.”

I laughed. “When you showed up, it caught me off guard, and I guess I’ve just played this game with myself that I’m still not good enough for you.” I hated the way my voice broke. “I didn’t want to think about it, but that’s what is at the bottom of my feelings—the idea that I’m somehow stillinconsequential.”

Charles winced and put both of his hands on my hips. “I’m so ticked off that my grandfather said that to you. I don’t know how he could have done that.”

“Because he meant it.”

Charles slammed a hand against the wall beside me and backed up. “But it’s not true. He made you feel that way, and I’m so angry at him.”

I registered his fury, and it made me feel better. “It’s fine. It was a long time ago. I shouldn’t let it get inside my head.”

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