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did. It felt like her life was a jigsaw puzzle, and Clay was the missing pieces. They just fit together so well. She felt safe and happy and whole when she was with him. God, she wanted him. Her body literally ached with need, and she didn t know what to do about it. Giving in to everything he was offering would be effortless if she d allow herself the luxury of letting down her guard, but she couldn t. She hated her ex-husband for damaging her to the point that she didn t recognize hope and happiness even when it was looking her dead in the eye. I m sorry, was all she could manage to whisper. Her heart hurt, and tears stung her eyes, forcing her to blink against breaking down. I m sorry for being me. Don t ever be sorry for that, Clay said with a vehemence that made Melody look up at him in surprise. He responded by reaching out to brush at the stray wisps of hair framing her face, tucking them behind her ears gently. I think you re wonderful exactly how you are. The rest ain t that important, okay? A dark, cynical laugh slipped out of Melody. Most men would say it s pretty darn important. Justin used to force me if he went more than two or three days without. Christ. Clay sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes wide and horrified. Mel You coming, darling? Judy interrupted him as she leaned against the front door of the diner. We re done in here, and we re beat. Yeah, Melody called out, her cheeks hot with embarrassment and wet from tears she hadn t realized she d lost the battle against. She wiped them hastily and reached down, squeezing Clay s big hand in hers. Thanks for the help. Sure, he said, squeezing her hand back. It showed how amazing Clay was that he didn t try to stop her and he didn t expect more of an explanation. He let her turn away and run back into the diner, and there was a huge comfort in that. He just let Melody be herself, the good and the bad, and he appeared to like every side of her. If she weren t about to break down from the pain walking away from him caused, she d have to admit he would be very easy to fall in love with. She dashed up the steps to the diner, forcing herself not to look back. If she did, she d likely run back into Clay s arms, all her issues be damned. Melody jumped past the front door Judy held open, shivering from the cold because the first week of December brought a cold front chilly enough to freeze hell. She pushed her hands tighter into her pockets, thinking she needed to bite the bullet and pay for a good pair of gloves. You okay? Judy asked, frowning at Melody in concern. You look upset. Oh no, Melody lied. Just tired. Judy gave her a dubious look but didn t say anything as she locked the front door. When they left the dining room, they met Hal, who was doing a few last-minute cleanups in the kitchen. He seemed surprised to see Melody walking out back with them. You re not gonna spend time with Powerhouse? he asked. Melody shook her head. She couldn t speak even if she wanted to, because she was fighting tears again. She looked to her feet, seeing the black skid marks on her white sneakers, and knew she needed to take a cup of bleach to them. Come on, Hal said, putting a big arm over her shoulder, ushering her out the back door. What you need is a morning off. Oh no, Melody argued as the cold slapped her in the face once more. I need the money. You need a morning off, Hal reiterated. I ll call Fran to fill in for the early shift. Sleep in. It ll make all the difference in the world. Feeling a little too heartsick to argue, Melody just nodded as she walked with Hal, letting his big body offer her warmth. Maybe she did need a morning to herself, and sleeping in was too tempting to pass up. She d get some extra rest and come in for the night shift feeling like a new woman. Okay. Melody gave Hal a genuine smile when they stopped in front of her old truck. So I ll sleep in cause the boss told me to. That s right. He squeezed her shoulder once more. Now get in that truck and get home before you catch your death. Melody couldn t argue with that, not when the cold was stinging her face and burning her ears. She needed to buy a hat to go with the gloves, and she focused on that thought rather than the heartache over Clay welling up in her chest. Problem was, her hands were so frozen she dropped her keys into the snow as she tried opening the truck. She officially needed a morning to herself; there was no denying it as she bent down and fished for her keys in the snow. Her hands burned. It would be a miracle if she didn t sit there and start crying. Whatcha doing? Hal asked as he opened his car door. Dropped my keys. Melody was still feeling for her keys, squinting past the tears and cold and darkness to find them. When her fingers closed around icy metal, she called out, Found em! Get home, Hal called back, obviously determined to get home, get warm, and then get to sleep because he worked more than Melody did. Night, darling, Judy said and then shut her car door. Melody waved as Judy started her car. Her numb fingers searched for the right key as Hal s car also started up. She found it and finally opened the truck door, knowing Hal was waiting for her to get into the truck before he left. She waved to him in assurance as she crawled into the truck and pulled the door closed. She locked it out of habit and then leaned over to the glove compartment. She used to have gloves in there last winter. There was always the vain hope they were hiding. After searching through the contents, she sighed, her breath a puffy white mist inside the cab. She was going to have to pay for new gloves. There was no sense sulking about it. Melody moved to start the truck, reminding herself she d [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |