All They Need(75)

She certainly didn’t want him to propose. Even the thought of getting married again made her dizzy with anxiety.

Calm down, Miss Melodrama. You’ve barely been seeing the man a week. You are getting way, way, way too far ahead of yourself. Remember what you said to your sister? You’re taking it as it comes. Moment by moment, day by day.

Mel refocused on the pathway, shifting along a few feet and tugging at the weeds, tossing them into a pile. After a few minutes, her heart rate normalized.

Her sister may have had good intentions, but Mel could definitely have done without her probing questions and unsolicited observations this morning. She’d already decided not to obsess over what might happen with Flynn, and she needed to stick to that undertaking if this was going to work for her. For both of them.

Resolute, she pushed her sister’s and her own doubts away and concentrated on her garden.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN



FLYNN CALLED MEL the following evening when he got home from work. They talked for nearly an hour while he made himself stir-fry chicken and vegetables, discussing her latest bookings and their various ongoing garden projects. As always, her voice sounded sultry over the phone and he found himself remembering key moments from their last encounter as they talked.

Mel stealing one of his curry puffs at the Thai restaurant where they’d had dinner then laughing throatily at his mock-outrage.

Mel on his sofa, a knowing look in her eyes as he popped open the stud on her jeans.

Mel sleeping beside him, her body curled loosely, her hair spread across the pillow and his shoulder and chest.

“Pick somewhere nice and I’ll take you out tomorrow night,” he said impulsively.

They’d been discussing the soil quality at Summerlea and there was a small pause on the other end of the phone.

“You don’t have to take me out.”

“I want to.”

“You’re afraid of my cooking, aren’t you?”

“No. I want to show you off.”

“To whom, exactly?” She sounded amused.



“Anyone and everyone. What about that French place in the village?”

“Too posh.”

He remembered her discomfort when he’d taken her out for lunch at that Spanish place. “Fine. Then we’ll go to the local pub. How does that sound?”

“More my speed.”

They talked for another five minutes before winding up their call. The thought of the weekend ahead kept his head above water the following day when various loads of manure hit assorted fans. He was wading through the most recent disaster when he glanced at his computer and saw that it was nearly six. He’d planned to leave at six-thirty, but he was savvy enough to know he wasn’t even close to being done for the day.

He reached for the phone and called Mel, explaining the issue and telling her that he was going to be late.

“I have no idea what time I’ll get down there,” he said apologetically. “Do you still want me to come over?”

“Why don’t we do this? Give me a call when you’re twenty minutes away and I’ll meet you at Summerlea. I’ll bring something to eat and we can have a glass of wine and you can wind down and not have to worry about being anywhere.”

“It sounds like a lot of trouble. Especially when I’m supposed to be taking you out for dinner.”

“It isn’t. Drive carefully, okay?” Her voice was soft, concerned.

His chest got tight as he imagined what it would be like having Mel to come home to every night. “I’ll see you soon.”

He threw himself into work and managed to drag himself away from his desk by eight-thirty. He hit the road, yanking his tie off as he drove toward the freeway entrance. He hit heavy rain halfway there and shook off his tiredness to concentrate on the wet, dark road. He exited in Frankston and hit speed dial.

“Thunderbirds are go,” he said when Mel picked up.

“I’ll see you in ten.”

He was opening the main gate at Summerlea when she pulled up behind him. Even though it was still drizzling, he abandoned the task to approach her car. She wound down her window but before she could get a word out he leaned in and kissed her.

“Hey,” he said when he finally came up for air.

She looked gratifyingly dazed. “Hey.”

“You look good.”

“You look tired.”

“I’m very resilient. Give me ten minutes and I’ll prove it to you.” He gave her his best dirty look.