AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How presumptuous of you.”
Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t like the taste of her words on my lips.
“No,” I told her, finally. “A member of my church.”
She coughed, choking on her martini.
“Well, a potential member, actually.”
“Here…you’re meeting…in a bar?”
“They have tables and chairs.” I motioned around the place. “Ambiance and…very attractive scenery.” I smiled. “What more could a man want?”
Maybe she rolled her eyes. Maybe she bit her lip. I was already too far gone to pinpoint which.
I extended my hand. “I’m Tom.”
She took it in hers. I wondered if she was always so accepting. “Mel.”
“Nice to meet you, Mel,” I said, trying out her name on my lips. Her skin was smooth and warm, her handshake soft. The kind of woman you could break and have fun doing it. The kind of woman I married.
She blushed again. God, she was attractive. Classically beautiful, properly so. Model perfect. A tilt of the head, a glance up and down. Curiosity, everywhere. “What?”
“Nothing.” This time it was me who looked away. I forced myself to take a sip of water. Reminded myself, I’m married. Not dead. What harm could a little banter do? “Short for Melinda?”
“Huh?”
So, beautiful. But not so quick on the uptake. Guess you can’t have it all.
“Your name. Is Mel short for Melinda?”
“Oh.” She shook her head. “No. For Melanie.”
“Hmmm,” I said spotting Sam Watson across the bar. The meeting that morning hadn’t gone as well as I would have liked. Not once I’d presented him with the numbers. This isn’t normally my job. I’m an accountant, not a salesman. I’m here filling in for Adam, our actual sales guy—the one who supposedly has the flu and chose not to suck it up. That left Mark, our leader, with no choice but to send me. I don’t like to disappoint Mark, and that is how I’ve found myself here, both in this town and in this bar, both of which I hate.
Sam Watson is a very close third. He wanted into New Hope, he assured me. He likes the idea of the church, of the exclusivity, the chance to invest his almighty dollars. The tax deduction is also a nice incentive. But he’d countered for a lower percentage of a tithe. A percentage I couldn’t agree to even if I wanted to. In addition, he’d wanted us to waive the membership fee, and that I was for sure unwilling to concede. Which put us at a standstill. Meaning our second meeting had to work in my favor.
Melanie glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m afraid I’ve been stood up.”
Suddenly, I had an idea. Suddenly, I was glad for her appearance. I needed The Watsons on our books. They would be very good for business, and also, I was determined to win. I knew there would be hell to pay if I let Mark down.
“Sam,” I called, motioning him over.
“Join us,” I said to her.
She sat up a little straighter. “I can’t.”
My eyes locked on hers. “Sure you can.”
For a second, she looked taken aback. But then, she downed her drink and offered a shrug. I took that as a yes.
“Tom,” Sam quipped taking my hand. His eyes were on Melanie. “Sam,” I said, squeezing harder than I needed to. “Always a pleasure.”
He broke grip first. “And who is this?”
“Melanie,” she stated, welcoming his hand. I got my answer. She’s not hesitant.
Sam placed his other hand on top of hers. He held it there for two seconds too long. That’s how I knew it was pretty much in the bag.
