Page 24 of Forbidden Secrets
Bradford’s behavior confirmed what Gage knew: Bradford was an asshole.Even if it wasn’t a date, dude should have walked Melanie to her car.
Gage pushed through the double doors.
Melanie paced across the covered boardwalk in front of the bar.A late-model truck roared up the alley from the parking lot.Gage recognized it as Bradford’s.He floored it, tires squealing as he sped onto Main Street.
Melanie spotted Gage, her arms crossed under her breasts, face reflecting anger and misery.The glint of tears infuriated him.
Her long look reached him—unspoken but raw—and something clutched in his chest.He didn’t want this.Didn’t want what she stirred up inside him.He was finally starting to get his footing again.
But instead of walking away, he crossed to her.
“What the hell did he say to make you cry?”
“Nothing.”
She took a breath and held it for a second, the kind you took when you were trying to stop crying.“Dammit.I hate crying.It’s stupid and weak.”
He didn’t agree but let it pass.“I’ve learned that when women say ‘nothing,’ it usually means something.”
“I guess ‘nothing’ means I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough.Take a walk with me.”
Her gaze flew to his and gave him a glimpse of swirling emotions.He wanted her to agree more than he should.
“I’d like that,” she said, and the tightness around his heart eased.
They strolled along the covered boardwalk that was part of the town’s charm.There were only a few other couples out, probably because it was so damn cold.Their breath puffed in front of them before being whipped away in the stiff breeze.They passed closed shops, their glass windows reflecting lights that twinkled like stars under the overhead rafters.
They passed the hobby shop and Melanie jumped, grabbing his arm.A leering vampire hung from a post, bony fingers extended.
“Holy shit, that scared me.The old guy from this shop freaked me out the other day with the demon bats.”She motioned up and Gage tipped his head back to look.
“Cool decorations.”
“Not cool.I like fun Halloween, not creepy Halloween.”She shivered but released his arm.
“I dig the community buy-in.”He shrugged when she glanced at him.“This town goes all in to celebrate holidays.”
“I see that now.I didn’t appreciate Sisters when I was younger.”
“You were a kid.Kids take their hometown for granted.”
“True.But I value it now.Downtown is charming, and I like how the shopkeepers coordinate the seasonal decorations.”
They stopped before the lighted window display for Retro Days featuring vintage Halloween costumes.“Oh my gosh.I wore a Velma costume from Scooby-Doo like that one when I was in fourth grade.It’s the second time tonight I’m feeling ancient.I swear fourth grade wasn’t that long ago.”
“Mateo’s mom owns this place.”
“Antonia?Really?She was so fun when we were kids.”Melanie looked wistful.“Matty, Delaney, Keeley, me—we were all in the same class through elementary school.Mrs.Reynoso was always one of the room moms.She had a way of making every kid feel special.I’ll need to stop in to say hi when she’s open.”
She blew on her hands and rubbed them together.Gage took her hand in his and tucked it into his pocket.
She gave him a side-eye look but didn’t pull back.He didn’t want to examine too carefully why her fingers twined with his felt exactly right.They reached the end of the commercial district and crossed the street to the other side.The wind was picking up, cold enough to cut through you.
Holding hands, even for warmth, took this thing between them a big step past simply being neighbors.He didn’t want to be attracted, but that didn’t seem to matter because everything about Melanie appealed to him in a way that made her impossible to ignore.
Another issue?Gage needed to come clean and tell her what he knew about her past.He withdrew their clasped hands from his pocket and drew her into a sheltered alcove.They were standing close enough that if he wanted to kiss her, he’d only need to tip down his head.
