Page 32 of Melissa's Mates (Blissful Bets)

Melissa listened to the lyrics and smiled at them both. She eased back to the foot of the bed and crawled off. Cracking the door, she saw the same tattooed guy who brought her flowers. “Hey, Londyn, put that song on repeat for me, please.” They smiled at each other, and she laughed when he winked. Maybe he wasn’t so bad. There was something about him that she liked.

Melissa motioned for Channing with her finger. “This is one of my favorite songs, and I can’t dance. You made it easier for me the last time, and I really feel like having fun at the moment, so can you please help me?”

“Anything you wish.”

Closing her eyes, she listened to words. Channing’s heat molded against her from behind, and she felt him grasp her nude hips. “Now, feel the music throughout your body. Let go, and move to the beat.”

He began to sway her gently back and forth. Each string of the guitar coursed through her, stirring something deep inside. Before she knew it, her hips grew a mind of their own and began to rotate with every gentle move she made. Opening her eyes, she noticed Connor was leaning forward on the bed with his mouth parted.

“You said you couldn’t dance. That is the sexiest, most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed in my life.”

Melissa laughed and could feel herself grow embarrassed. “I can’t dance. It’s Channing’s doing, not mine.”

“I’m not doing anything but holding your hips. You’re a natural.”

A knock on the bedroom door cut off what Channing was about to say next. Connor growled. “What?”

“You know I wouldn’t interrupt if I didn’t have to.”

“Hold on.” Connor grabbed his boxers and slid them on, heading out the door. Melissa didn’t wait, she grabbed the first article of clothing she could find, which happened to be one of Connor’s T-shirts that was sitting folded on top of the dresser. She quickly pulled it on, happy it went all the way down to her knees.

She almost didn’t hear Londyn’s hushed words. “I told her to leave, but she won’t go. She said she was going to break the windows out of your truck if you didn’t come out and talk to her.”

“Tell her to give me a few minutes. And make her wait outside.”

Sickness flipped Melissa’s stomach. She didn’t hesitate. Grabbing her panties and jeans, she put them on as fast as she could.

“Connor, what’s going on?” Channing’s voice even sounded uneasy.

“Nothing. I’ll explain when I get back in.”

Nope, Melissa was not going to stick around to find out. If she knew anything about women, she knew this one obviously had feelings for him. And from the story of his past, she knew that he didn’t have a sister, so she was betting this was a girlfriend or lover.

“Channing, will you take me back to Julie’s?” His eyes grew big as he pulled his shirt down over his pants.

“No, don’t leave. Please.” Connor rushed forward, nearly stumbling on the jeans he was putting on. “It was before I found you. Since I came to watch over you, I haven’t left your side. There’s been no one else. Let me get rid of her real quick, and then we can continue.”

“But you’ve known about this pull we’ve had for weeks. You’re telling me you haven’t seen your girlfriend in all of that time?”

“Fiancée, honey. And I saw him last week, if you really want to know.”

Melissa spun around. Her eyes connected with the most startling pair of violet she’d ever seen. For what felt like minutes, she couldn’t move. The blonde was just as breathtakingly beautiful as her friend Sarah. Bile rose to her throat against the woman’s words.

“Fiancée?” She looked at Connor, shocked.

“Girlfriend,” he corrected. “And I broke things off before I went to the island. As for the timing on when we say each other, that’s a damn lie, Michelle, and you know it. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

Melissa shook her head against the confusion. Her mouth opened as she raised her hand to stop their arguing. No thoughts were getting through. She felt lightheaded against the jumble of emotions pouring through.

“Mel, listen to me. I love you. No one else.”

“Yeah, didn’t you use to tell me the same thing? Oh, I love you Michelle. There’s no one else, but you. I can’t believe you’re doing this to us, Connor. Make the girl go, and we can pick up where we left off. I can understand you have cold feet. We’ll pretend this never happened.”

“Listen to me, Michelle. I said it was over weeks ago, and I meant it. I’m not having cold feet. We didn’t have the same interests then, and we sure as hell don’t know. You need to leave.”

Melissa felt panicked. She had to get out of here. “Channing, please.” She begged him with her eyes. If she didn’t escape soon, there was no telling what would happen. Between her mouth and her uncontrollable outbursts, there was only so much she could take.

“Connor, give me your keys.” Channing held out his hand, but never took his eyes off of Mel.

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