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“You okay, TJ?”
He snapped to reality as Melody stood in the middle of the kitchen, watching him along with his mother. “Fine.” Smiling weakly, he set the glass baking dish on the wooden trivet. “Lost in thought is all.”
“Okay.” Her eyebrows, fine and dark, reached for the sky as if to say she didn’t believe him. But she let it go and handed him a paper bag.
“What is it this time?” With a real grin, he snatched the bag and peered inside. No one baked quite like Melody. And no one, not even his mom, went to such pains to create gluten-free goodies for him now that there were many options on the shelf for those who, like him, suffered from Celiac disease. It was no picnic, but he’d found the right diet to keep him healthy and happy after several years of chronic pain and indigestion in his early twenties. Melody’s regular offerings were a big part of that diet.
“Almond blueberry scones.”
“Almond flour?”
“Naturally. There’s a loaf of potato bread and six cinnamon apple muffins made with rice flour.”
“Melody.” He hugged the bag to his chest. “I couldn’t live without you.”
Her response was a wink. “Good thing you don’t have to.”
Lucy came into the room and took over the conversation until Ben and his wife Charity showed up with baby Azalea, who immediately stole the show. Ben slumped into a chair. TJ wasn’t sure he’d ever seen his brother look so tired. They had been close growing up, only two years apart, although no siblings ever got closer than twins. But TJ missed his old bond with Ben. Marriage had pulled him away, and now the baby filled his time. It was the way of life, but he missed the old days.
“Is she sleeping through the night yet?” He sat beside his brother and looked at Azalea, now cooing in Melody’s arms. Man. Mel looked good with a baby. No wonder Ben didn’t care for TJ’s company anymore. He had better views.
“Not yet.” Ben attempted to smother a yawn with his arm. “But last night was worse than most. I’ll survive.” His eyes drifted to his daughter, his expression melting. “She’s worth it.”
TJ chuckled. Such a softie. He’d be the same one day, he knew. If that day ever came.
No one paid attention to him again until after lunch when he found himself beside Melody for dessert.
“How’s the play coming along?”
“Oh, you know.” She flashed a smile, the single dimple in her left cheek indenting. “With me in charge, what could go wrong?”
The confidence she wore like a favorite sweater. It was all an act, wasn’t it? False bravado to cover what she saw as grave shortcomings.
“Of course,” he said quickly when she gave him a funny look at the lengthening silence. “But if you ever need me for anything, you know you can ask, right?”
“Yeah.” The way she cocked her head said he was being loopy. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He shoved a spoon of chocolate pudding into his mouth. Another dairy-free masterpiece by his mother. She was becoming a health nut, but it wasn’t hurting his taste buds at all. “Besides the play, anything else new?”
She opened her mouth, then paused. The skin between her eyebrows knit together with indecision. “No. Not that I can think of. Same old, same old.” She was about to tell him about Jeremy and changed her mind. He was positive. So, why hadn’t she? He’d lost count of how many boyfriends she’d had over the years. Every single one was a stab to his heart. But never before to his knowledge had she hidden one from him.
Sudden and overwhelming discouragement slugged him in the gut, too strong to hide, and he stood up, abandoning his pudding. He made his way down the hallway to the bathroom although he felt no need to use it. He just needed to be away from Melody to gather his bearings.
Everything felt so complicated now. He couldn’t do this. The hole he’d dug was already too deep. The only way out was to man up, confess his deception, and admit his feelings, letting the chips fall where they may.
He could do that, right?
Determined, he jerked the door open—and plowed promptly into a person waiting in the hallway. It was Melody, now staggering in attempts to catch her balance. He reached to keep her from falling from his impact, his hands settling onto feminine hips as her backside collided into the wall opposite the bathroom door. A soft grunt expelled from her mouth, one inch below his due to their proximity in height, and then she stared into his eyes. He shifted his weight, bracing one arm on the wall beside her head.
“Why did you follow me to the bathroom?” His fingers began to tingle from the contact with the sweet curve beneath his hand, but still, he didn’t loosen his hold on her even when he knew he should.
“To find out why you’re mad at me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, and her breath fanned across his cheek. “What did I do?”
Everything. Absolutely everything.
He didn’t move, caught up in the thin golden ring in her irises that surrounded the much darker brown circle. The combination made her eyes so beautiful.
He became aware of the dim lighting in the hallway that seemed to provide a cloak of privacy.
