Page 74 of Man Scape

“I’m not interested in Deek, or any other dark haired guy out there,” I countered. Obviously, me ditching her in Idaho six years ago because she tried to play sexual matchmaker hadn’t gotten my point across.

She laughed and came back to stand by the island. “Oh honey, not for you. Me.”

I glanced at Roger, then back. Yeah, yuck. “Shouldn’t you stick with onemealat a time?” I wondered.

Taking the lid off the alfredo container, she put it in the microwave and pushed a few buttons to set the timer. So much for my meal planning. “Melly, I like chicken alfredo. I’m not just going to have it from one restaurant. I should try all the places in town that serve it. Enjoy all possibilities. I don’t limit myself.”

I looked to Roger, who seemed… bored. He didn’t care that his woman, girlfriend, significant other or whatever, was spelling out that she planned to sleep her way through the men of Hunter Valley. “You’re okay with her trying every alfredo dish in town?” I asked him.

His shrewd gaze studied me, and not in a good way. “You are quaint, aren’t you? Your mother likes my cream sauce just fine.”

I flinched because… so gross. He didn’t stop but kept right on going with the perv.

“But every once in a while, I like something a little spicier.” He looked me over. “I bet underneath that… Amish look you have going you’re pretty hot.”

I stepped back, trying to give as much space from him as possible.

Ew.

I couldn’t stay in the house while they were here. Fred wasn’t a guard dog and my bedroom door had only a flimsy lock in the knob. If Roger tried to climb in my bed, which it sounded like he wanted to do, I wasn’t sure how to stop him.

Of course, when I fended him off, I would be at fault for being too… Amish.

Right now, the Pearson guys were outside. Mom was harmless with her warped parenting and Roger was gross but no threat when I was awake. And dressed.

The doorbell rang right before the ding of the microwave.

Mom ignored Roger’s very blatant interest in her daughter. Different man, same creepy focus. Where did she pick these guys? Again and again, year after year, she found one casual fuck buddy after another. This was the first time she brought one to Hunter Valley though. Why? What was she up to? She’d never been conniving, only had the devious knack for leading a man around by his dick.

She opened the microwave door and pulled out her heated food, poked it with a fork she pulled from the drawer. Roger eyed me a little too keenly.

I practically ran to find out who was here–probably Deek or Sebastian–but didn’t make it down the hall before my name was yelled. From inside.

“MELLY!”

The walls practically shook with his bellow and the front door smacking the wall. I froze when he stepped into my path. “Daniel,” I breathed.

He’d let himself in, obviously with no intention of waiting. Just like at the vet. Just like at the bar.

There he was, big and brawny. Looming. Blocking out the light from the front windows with his size. And not creepy at all. He saw me. Listened. Heard. Understood.

I left the night before because of Danny, because I didn’t want to come between them. I was temporary. They were father and son. There was nothing between me and Danny, not at all, but I could see why he was hurt. Or at least angry. But now, with this shit show that was my mother and Roger? I had to push Danny and his concerns to the side.

I had no one. I stood up, as best I could, to my mother. But she brought Roger into my home with intentions she knew I didn’t like. She never listened. Never understood me no matter how many times I told her no.

But Daniel was here. He barged right in because he was worried. For me.

I didn’t realize how much I needed him, specifically, right now. He was safety and protection and… and—I flung myself at him and hugged him tight.

36

DANIEL

For a halfpint that she was, Melly had a serious hold. I picked her up and she automatically wrapped her legs around my waist, at least as far as they could go.

She wasn’t shaking, however she felt like she was vibrating. Something wasn’t right.

Sure, she was always eager to see me–when she wasn’t handing me a plant–but this was different.

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