Melt (Steel Brothers Saga #4)(15)

“No, I need to do this. Thanks, though.”

I closed my door behind me and headed to my desk. I grabbed Jonah’s file and found his number. And of course I got voice mail.

“This is Jonah Steel. Please leave a message.”

Short and sweet. Very Jonah-like. “Hello. This is Melanie Carmichael. I see you scheduled an appointment for this afternoon at three. I’m afraid I have to cancel. As you know, given what happened the other day, I can’t see you professionally anymore. I’m happy to recommend another therapist. I wish you the best.”

Good. That was that. Hopefully he’d get the message.

And then suddenly I knew he wouldn’t. So I got online and looked up the number for Steel Acres ranch. I tapped in the number.

“Steel Acres, may I help you?”

“Yes, please, I’d like to speak to Jonah Steel.”

“I’m sorry. Mr. Steel isn’t in the office. He’s in the pastures, and he’s going to the city this afternoon for an appointment.”

Of course. An appointment. With me.

“May I take a message?”

“Yes, this is Dr. Melanie Carmichael. I have to cancel his appointment for this afternoon. Please let him know.”

“Did you try his cell phone? He won’t be back in the office today.”

“I did, but I would appreciate if you could also try to get the message to him.”

“Of course. I’ll do my best.”

But it wouldn’t happen. Jonah would not get my message, or if he did, it wouldn’t matter. He would show up in my office at three o’clock today.



“Sorry, I didn’t get a message.” His eyes glinted with mischief.

He had gotten my message, all right.

It wouldn’t do any good to fight him on it. He was here, so I’d say my piece in person.

“Mr. Steel.”

“Jonah.”

“Fine, Jonah. You cannot be here. You know why—because of my unprofessional behavior the last time you were here. I should not have kissed you. That effectively destroyed any doctor-patient relationship we had.”

“Well, you’re the only therapist I want. If I can’t talk to you, I don’t want to talk to anyone.”

“Jonah, you’re putting me between a rock and a hard place. I want you to have therapy.”

“Then give me therapy. Here I am.”

I sighed. “Look, I have this hour available. Let’s talk if you want to talk. But it will be like two friends talking. This won’t be therapy. I won’t charge you for it.”

“That doesn’t seem very fair.”

I shook my head. “I feel very strongly about this. I won’t charge you. Just two friends talking.”

He smiled. “What if I want to be more than friends?”

“Oh my God, you’re not making this easy.”

“Good things never come easy, Melanie.”

“Just sit down,” I said. “Since you’re determined to be here, let’s at least talk about something.”

“Okay. Last time you asked me to think about what I was truly responsible for.”

Had I? Normally I reviewed the patient’s file prior to a session, but because I didn’t have any intention of having a session with Jonah, I hadn’t. “That’s right. So let’s start there.”

“I am responsible for the beef ranch.”

“And?”

“That’s it.”

“All right. So you’re responsible for the beef ranch. Technically, that’s all you’re responsible for.”

“Yes.”

“Now, what do you feel responsible for?”

He sighed. “Everything. I feel responsible for everything, Melanie.”





Chapter Seven





Jonah




Her beautiful emerald eyes focused intently on me. Melanie Carmichael was an old soul. Until now, I had never believed in any of that crap. But those eyes… They had seen things. Things I couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“You know what I mean, don’t you, Melanie?”

She chewed on her bottom lip.

She knew.

“Yes, I do know what you mean. For people in your situation, it’s very common.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean you know. You, personally, know.”

She said nothing, just looked down at her hands folded in her lap.

“You gnaw on that lower lip of yours any more, and you’re liable to draw blood.”

“We’re not here to talk about me.”

“Why not? This is just a friend talking to a friend, remember? This isn’t therapy. Those are your rules. Not mine.”

She looked at me, her green eyes glaring. “What makes you think I’m your friend?”

“Isn’t that what you said? It would be like a friend talking to a friend? I think you’re the one who said we were friends, Mel.”

“No one calls me Mel.”

“It’s a spunky name.” I smiled. “I feel like you need a little spunk in your life.”

“You don’t know me well enough to know what I need.”