Unintended Love: A contemporary romantic novella (7 page)

She shook her head. “No, I wasn’t. Yes, I am confused, but no, I wasn’t using you.”

Right then, a helicopter flew low over them heading to the campground. The loud rhythmic beating of its engine and rotor stopped Melanie from saying anything else and reminded her that in part, what Alex had said might true. She did feel confused and there was lot to consider.

Even though she had found him too irresistible to deny while they were lost in the mountains together, the last few days had done nothing to change her mind about being involved with a man in a dangerous profession.

If anything, it only made sense that her close call with death should strengthen that resolve.

Alex put his hand on the small of her back and guided her towards the path. “Come on, I think that’s our ride.”

“Alex, I...” She didn’t want to leave things like this between them, but she didn’t know what to say. Alex bent down and kissed her cheek. He looked at her sadly.

“No worries,” he said. “Let’s just move on.”

Melanie, still at a loss for words, simply nodded.

When they arrived at the airport, he grabbed up the makeshift backpack and turned to her.

“I guess this is it,” he said flatly and held out his hand for her to shake.

Melanie took his hand marveling how even now, his touch was so pleasurable.

“Thank you, Alex. For saving my life, and...well for everything.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

For a split second, she saw the warmth come back to his eyes. Those deep, brown eyes had really been the start of her powerful attraction to him. But the warmth faded again.

“Don’t worry about it, Melanie,” he said.

Then he walked away.

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O
nce she got beyond restricted area, Martin spotted her right away and ran over. He took her pack then gave her a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.

“I’ll bet you really want a shower, then a hot meal,” he said.

Melanie turned her head and sniffed her shoulder. “I guess I could use a bath.”

“Yes, and then I’ll give you a proper welcome.” Martin grinned at her.

She knew that look. It was his version of a leer.

She grabbed him and pulled him to her and kissed him long and hard. She felt him tense and he was the first to break away.

“Melanie, I missed you too. Let’s go take a shower together.”

She didn’t want to take a shower with Martin. From that moment she knew that it would never work out between them. She was going to have to break it off, but this wasn’t the right time.

He drove her the few miles to her house, and his expression reminded her of a sad puppy when she claimed exhaustion as a reason why he shouldn’t come in.

“Tomorrow, then,” he insisted. “I’ll call you in the morning. Not too early, and we’ll have brunch.”

Then he kissed her, and she felt very little. If she’d had any doubts before, she knew then that it was over. Suddenly she was more tired than she could ever remember being.

After he pulled away, she went across the street to pick up Angel, her cat, from the family who was watching her.

When she got back she took a long shower, threw a frozen dinner in her microwave, and after eating collapsed on her bed and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

It seemed like only minutes had passed when Melanie awoke to her land line ringing from the phone on her nightstand. For a moment, her heart leapt thinking that maybe it was Alex, but then she remembered Martin’s invitation to brunch.

It had been a rough week so far, and apparently this day was going to be difficult as well. Still, for both their sakes, the kindest thing was to be honest and to end it with Martin as soon as possible.

She dressed casually, throwing on an old favorite pair of jeans and a crisp white shirt, and only accenting her outfit with small, gold hoop earrings. She pulled her hair back into a pony-tail and rubbed on a bit of light pink lip gloss.

On her way out, she glanced in the mirror which hung on the wall by her front door and was surprised. The woman reflected back at her was glowing with health and good looks. She supposed the shaky sadness she was feeling on the inside, hadn’t yet caught up with all the good that walking, along with having lovely sexual experiences in the wilderness had done for her. 

Martin had wanted to pick her up, and had sounded disappointed when she’d insisted on meeting him at the small, casual diner where they’d had several meals together in the past few months. He was waiting at a table when she arrived.

“Hi, I told the waitress to bring you coffee.”

“Oh, good, thanks,” she said.

On the drive there she had thought about how to approach the subject. She hadn’t broken up with anyone since she was a teen, and she had never said no to a proposal. Sam was the only man who’d ever asked her to marry him and that had been right out of high school. What was she supposed to say?

“Martin...”

“Are you ready to order?”

Melanie was interrupted by a cheerful young waitress who poured her out a cup of hot coffee and topped off Martin’s. She hadn’t planned to stay, but she was hungry.

“I’ll have blueberry pancakes, orange juice and a side of bacon, please.”

She made a mental note to make sure to pick up the tab.

After a while Martin seemed to notice how quiet she was while he talked on about his ideas for their wedding.

“Melanie, what’s wrong? If you don’t like the idea of getting married in Greece, just tell me.”

“Martin, we need to talk...” she began.

He leaned back and frowned. “I don’t like the sound of this already.”

She saw the expression of worry in his eyes, but breathed deeply and plunged ahead.

“I had a lot of time to think the last few days. I don’t think it’s going to work with us.”

Martin was quiet for a long time, but she resisted the urge to explain. She was sure that it was kinder.

“It’s that pilot. What’s his name? Alan?”

“Alex. And no it wasn’t him.”

This was the truth. It may have been the time she spent with Alex that made her realize that Martin was the wrong man for her, but he wasn’t the reason she was breaking things off. After all, it was possible that she would never see him again.

Alex probably wasn’t right for her either, although for completely different reasons.

“Are you sure? You sounded so distant on the phone when we finally found you. I felt almost like I’d interrupted something.”

Melanie looked Martin in the eye.

“This is about you and me, not me and Alex. You are so great, Martin. Everything I should want in a man,” she said solemnly.

Martin stared back at her, a look of understanding dawning.

“But not everything you do want.”

“I guess not. I’m so sorry.”

“Not as much as I am, but I can’t really do anything but try and understand. Can I? You don’t suppose we just went too fast, do you?”

She shook her head. “No. That wasn’t it.”

“Oh well,” he said, “I’m ready to get married. I’d hoped it would be you, but someone else will come along.”

“Right,” she said.

She realized that she really hadn’t known him well at all.

Then the waitress was there, placing steaming plates of food in front of them and easing the silence that had grown between them. Martin poured ketchup over his hash-browns and began to eat, his appetite apparently not hampered by Melanie’s rejection. Melanie felt relieved and suddenly very hungry.

Martin paused between mouthfuls of food.

“So, tell me about the plane crash. You didn’t say much yesterday.”

And so for the rest of the meal, Melanie recounted almost everything about the previous three days. She did leave a few things out, a few things that she knew she would never tell another soul as long as she lived, and certainly not Martin. 

Later that day, Melanie lay in bath water that had grown lukewarm. A hot bath was her usual way to feel better, and today she’d made the water scorching.

She re-lived the scene at the diner, seeing Martin’s handsome face as his expression had changed from excitement to disappointment. But one woman was as good as another for him it seemed. That didn’t actually help the misery she was feeling, although it made it even clearer that she’d done the right thing.

The true source of her misery was Alex. She couldn’t get him out of her mind or her heart. It felt as if the memory of him had permeated every cell in her body. She missed him.

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T
he phone had been ringing all week with calls from friends and curious acquaintances wanting to hear the story of her survival. The search for her and Alex was apparently big news, and everyone was interested in the details. But it was still a surprise when Cary Andrews from the local news called requesting that she grant an interview.

Her first instinct was to say no, but Cary, a new journalist with the station was very persuasive.

“So many people were praying for your safe return, Miss Michaels. The whole city was watching your story, hoping that you were all right, and worried that you weren’t. It’s up to you, of course, but they really want to see for yourself that you are alive and well.”

Melanie sighed. “What time do you want me there?”

“Wonderful! But can we come to your home? It adds such a personal touch to the story.”

“Well...”

She peeked into her living room. It wasn’t too bad she decided quickly. There were piles of books and papers strewn about, a thin layer of dust covering the table tops, and orange tufts of cat hair adding an interesting pattern to the carpet. Nothing she couldn’t clean up by tomorrow morning. “Okay, I guess.”

“Wonderful! And Mr. Ryan already said yes too. So we’re all set.”

“Mr. Ryan already said yes to what?”

“To the interview. Everyone will want to see you two together!” The woman sounded a bit breathless in her excitement. “We’ll be there to set up tomorrow morning at seven. See you then.”

She hung up as Melanie opened her mouth to object. Then, as she placed the phone in the receiver, it rang again. She recognized the gravelly voice right away and her heart started a slow pounding in her chest.

“Melanie?”

“Hi, Alex.”

Look, I won’t keep you. Did Cary Andrews call you? I just want to make sure it’s ok with you about the interview tomorrow. She said you wouldn’t mind, but that woman is pushy.”

Melanie laughed. “A bit, yeah.”

“I don’t see the harm, though.”

“It’s ok, Alex. I told her yes.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Tomorrow.”

The next morning Melanie woke at five am. After rolling out of bed, she put a pot of coffee on to brew then got into the shower. As the hot water beat on her back, she sang loud and off key.

She was happy. And she knew that it was because Alex was coming to her house in less than two hours. She dried herself off and searched in her closet for something to wear and the happy feeling stayed with her.

She hadn’t known she’d wanted a second chance with Alex, but it must be true. Because why else would she feel so glad to see him again? She’d been missing him before he’d ever come into her life. Just like in that silly song that got stuck in her head for hours every time she heard it on the radio.

Since it was clear to her now that she wanted to be with him so much it hurt not to be, she decided to heed her mother’s warning and not run away from a man she was so attracted to.

But could he forgive her? And did he want her still, or even feel close to the same way she did?

The clothes she picked out to wear that morning were not chosen because she was going in front of the cameras, but because she would soon be in Alex’s view. After putting on and taking off five different outfits she was finally dressed. Before going out of her bedroom she glanced around and noting the scattered piles of clothes and open drawers, firmly closed the door.

She had just poured her third mug of coffee when the doorbell rang. A gang of people filed in, lugging cameras and other equipment, and right behind them was a pretty blonde woman she recognized from the morning news, Cary Andrews.

“Here we are. Right on time!”

Cary stuck out her hand. “Hello, Melanie. Oh wonderful! I love that dress. We’ll have make-up work on you a bit. Is Mr. Ryan here yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, let’s get set up. I’m sure he’ll turn up.”

She turned to an older man who stood nearby holding a large case. “Mario, work on her, will you? And I’ll need a touch up before we shoot.”

Then she addressed a small, older woman dressed in jeans who was screwing a large camera onto a metal stand. “Do you think we can have this wrapped up in half an hour? We need to be back at the station before eight.”

Her make-up was finished and another of the crew was telling her where to sit on her couch, when Alex walked in through the front door that had been left open.

Melanie saw him first and her sudden happiness at the sight of him made the color rise in her cheeks. His wavy dark hair was still damp from his shower and he was freshly shaved. His tan looked even darker against the white dress shirt he wore with the collar unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up. He was more dressed up than she had expected, and she was glad she’d settled on her jade green silk dress.

He stood near the entrance, taking in the chaos of activity, until he saw her and their eyes met. She smiled at him and the hope grew when he smiled back, that she was forgiven. There was no mistaking the admiring look that he gave her.

Cary spied him then and waved him in.

“There you are! Perfect timing. Oh my gosh! Aren’t you gorgeous?” she exclaimed. Then she looked over at Melanie slyly. “Maybe this story has more meat on it than I first suspected.”

Within minutes of Alex’s arrival the interview began. To Melanie’s dismay, Cary Andrews seemed determined to focus on a possible relationship between her and Alex, rather than on how they had found their way out of the wilderness of the Cascade Mountains. She was also somehow under the impression that Melanie was engaged.

“Melanie, I asked your fiancé to join us today, and he declined. Can you tell us anything about that?”