Page 45 of All Inn Thyme
“In a little bit.”
“Well?” she asks.
“Well, what?” I ask.
“Are you going to kiss me or not?”
“Waiting on you,” I say as I kiss her softly, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close.
She surprises me with how bold and outgoing she is despite everything that’s happened to her. Watching the real Mellie unfold is like opening a present that with every peel of the gift wrap, I anticipate her even more.
Now that the boys are in the house, I can kiss her for real.
“Ty,” she moans into my mouth which only makes me kiss her even harder.
It’s then I know: I’m starting to fall for her.
15. mellie
Maybe Ty needs you and Kase as much as you need him.
After he leaves for work,the butterflies are leaving me on a high and I need to talk about it with someone. When I’m with Ty, I just feel different, more like myself, but a new me that I don’t recognize. It scares me a little, but in a good way. And the best part about that amazing kiss? He was waiting for me to do it. He wants me on my time, when I’m ready. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. But then again, aside from Evan, no one has ever done anything nice for me like this before. Not without wanting something in return or being sorry for hurting me.
I shut the door and pull out my phone. I send a message to our group text with Allie and Beth.
Mellie
911. I’m starting to catch feelings, ladies. I need help.
Beth
OMG. I’m on my way. I’ll bring drinks. Allie, bring treats.
Allie
Finishing up at the bakery. I can be there in 30 min.
Beth
I want to hear everything!
Allie
Don’t start without me!
Mellie
We won’t.
* * *
After getting the boys tucked into bed with Nova, I put on shorts and a hoodie and go out to the firepit area to wait for Beth and Allie. The air is cool for a spring night after some much needed rain. I find some dry firewood off the wood pile by the pole barn and get a fire going.
I stop and survey the gardens with pride. Everything is growing so well. I’m amazed at what I’ve been able to do out here with a dream and a whole lot of sweat and hard work.
Beth pulls up in her SUV. When she steps out, her jacket pops open to reveal her baby bump. I remember when she first came to the inn and hid in her room writing romance novels, all timid and closed off. Then she and Evan fell in love, and now they’re having a baby. I don’t know if I’m ever going to have that, a love like theirs.
Being with Bradley was traumatic for me. I’ve never been someone to take bullying without putting up a fight, yet I found myself beaten down to almost nothing by the very person who was supposed to protect and love me. He couldn’t handle me being a strong woman with opinions and dreams. He made sure there was almost nothing left of me by the end. I had to rebuild all of that here, and most of that took place out here in the gardens. That’s where I worked through so much trauma and hurt to get to where I am today.
