A Hero to Rescue Me (Hero's Crossing) (2 page)

“What do you mean you no longer require my services? I’ve worked here for three years!”

This couldn’t be happening. Melanie had gotten to work her usual thirty minutes early to find the office manager, Ms. Clarkson, cleaning out her desk. The older woman looked a bit sheepish as she fired her, not meeting Melanie’s eyes.

“I’m really sorry, Melanie. This is a family business, you understand. We’ve hired Mr. Fetterly’s young niece to do reception. She’s working her way through college.” Working? The Fetterly clan was steeped in money. If the chit was working, it was at some parent’s insistence.
Not
because she needed the money.

“Good morning, Gladys!” The overly cheerful, male voice made Melanie’s stomach lurch. Had she once found his softly spoken, high-pitched voice pleasing? As if someone had pulled blinders off her eyes, the reason for her sudden unemployment clicked into place.

“I can’t believe you did this, Dan.” She turned to face the man she’d once thought she loved.

Hands up defensively, Dan answered, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Your sister is the only niece Mr. Fetterly has! You did this to get even with me!”

“If I’m not mistaken, James told you when he hired you that the position was only temporary. The receptionist is always filled by a member of the family.” Dan smiled sweetly, as if explaining things to a simple-minded child.

“I’m also an accountant for this firm. Is she taking over that too? Funny how this comes on the heels of our argument last night. With no warning? You expect me to believe this is merely a coincidence?” What the hell had she ever seen in Dan? Had he always been this cruel? Had she been so desperate for a man that she’d just not wanted to see it?

Dan shrugged. “Believe what you want to. You still don’t have a job.” The easy smile he’d proffered only moments before turned into a sneer. “I wonder what social services will think about your...living arrangement...now that you have no job or any way to care for a child?”

If Ms. Clarkson heard the exchange, she gave no outward sign, busily scooping things from Melanie’s desk and dumping them into a box. She’d get no help from the older lady, the lady who had seemed to adore Abigail. Strange how her betrayal hurt worse than Dan’s.

“It won’t matter, Dan. You can do everything in your power to take Abigail from me—which will fail—but I will never let you back into my life. Ever.”

With a nod at Ms. Clarkson, she raised her voice. “Just throw that out with the trash.” Then she looked Dan squarely in the eyes. “There’s nothing here I want.”

Melanie was surprised to realize how true that statement was. She’d worked at the law office for three years as both a receptionist and an accountant. In those three years, she’d seen more greed and injustice than she’d ever thought to see in her life. Everyone was out for something, and the lawyers of this office were only too happy to provide. For a price.

It would be hard, but she knew this had been coming for some time. Too bad it couldn’t have come at a better time, but she knew there was no way she could be part of this any longer.

Pushing past Dan, Melanie stepped into the cool, fresh air, inhaling deeply. What a shit storm. No matter—she’d pull through this. She’d land on her feet with room to spare.

***

When Chase stepped out of his car, the first thing he noticed was the clean, fresh air in the little Kentucky town. His family lived in Lexington. While not a big as New York or Chicago, it was still a city. Even the suburbs had a lingering smoggy smell from time to time, making him long to buy one of the sprawling horse farms away from all the hustle and bustle. He’d told Melanie he’d meet her and Abigail in Lexington, but it was a nearly a two-hour drive from her home and he wanted to make sure they got there safely. Thinking he’d let them follow him up there, he’d driven down.

If he were truly honest with himself, he just wanted to find out more about the two ladies who had changed his life. Had it not been for their letters, Chase had no doubt he wouldn’t have made it home.

Double-checking the address, he walked the two blocks from where he’d parked in the quaint little town to an apartment complex. The building looked old, but the grounds were immaculate, the entryway clean and welcoming. Unlike some apartments in the city, there wasn’t an intercom system outside the building. Instead, a security guard sat inside reading a paper at a desk with computer monitors surrounding him.

When the guard didn’t stop him, Chase frowned but continued on to the elevator. Following the address on the envelope, he easily found her apartment. Would she be home? He glanced at his watch. Eleven-thirty. She was probably at work, but he knocked anyway. A few seconds later, he heard footfalls, then the door opened…

To reveal an angel.

For several moments, all Chase could do was stare at her. The clearest ebony skin he’d ever seen on any human was draped in a white, strappy sundress. Not a blemish marked her anywhere. Her skin color was very dark with the slightest reddish hue underneath that seemed to make her glow. Full lips, shiny with gloss, beckoned him to taste, while shining curls cascaded over her shoulders like a silky, onyx waterfall.

Dear God, please let this be Melanie Wade…

“Can I help you?” She sounded irritated, her brows drawn together slightly as she waited impatiently for him to explain his intrusion into her domain. Then he noticed the tearstains. A rage seemed to boil inside him, barely kept from the surface by a will honed in battle, that someone had made her cry. This beautiful angel who had rescued him from the pits of despair should never hurt enough to cry.

Taking a deep breath to clear his roiling emotions, Chase cleared his throat. “I’m Chase Carver.” When her eyes widened and her lips parted in a shocked “O,” he continued. “I’m hoping like hell you’re the Melanie Wade who’s been helping Abigail write to me.”

“Oh, my goodness!” She stepped aside, snagging him by the arm and yanking him inside. “I’m so sorry! My manners!”

“No, it’s my fault. I should have called first, but I didn’t have your number. I know this is a bit awkward.”

“Not at all! Please sit down.” She practically dragged him to an oversized chair. “Can I get you something to drink? Iced tea perhaps?”

“That would be nice,” he said with a smile, more to give himself time to process everything and get himself back under some semblance of control than because he wanted the drink. He’d known he’d been too long without a woman, should have sought out someone to slake some of his lust on before returning to civilized company, but he never imagined any woman hitting him this hard. None ever had before.

“I’m so glad you stopped by.” Handing him a tall glass of iced tea complete with a lemon slice on the side of the glass, Melanie sat across from him on the couch. “Abigail got the tickets. She was absolutely delighted.” Her smile seemed to light the room. Chase found himself smiling back in spite of his earlier discomfort at her tears.

“I’d hoped she’d be. I actually hoped you’d let me go with you when you left for Lexington. Not, like, in the same car,” he sputtered, feeling like he sounded like an idiot. “I’m sure you’ll want your own ride. But, you know, you can follow me or something. I’d feel better knowing you weren’t alone on the drive in case something happened.”

For several long moments, Melanie simply stared at him. Then, to his utter and complete horror, she dissolved into tears.

Maybe it was the shock this morning of losing her job. Maybe it was the callous way Dan had treated her and Abigail. Melanie didn’t know. All she knew was this man, Chase Carver, who she’d never even met, who had been a physical reality for all of five minutes, was treating her with more kindness and respect than Dan had the entire two
years
they’d dated. Dan had never offered to take her anywhere just so he knew she’d be safe, had never expressed concern over her wellbeing whatsoever. This stranger’s demonstration of how a real man treated a woman only proved how stupid she’d been to stay with the bastard all this time.

“What’d I do?” Suddenly, Chase was on the couch at her side, his arm draped over her shoulders while he tipped her face up to meet his gaze with the other hand. “Tell me. Jesus, I’m so sorry!”

Melanie snorted a laugh through her tears, swiping at her cheeks. “Silly man. It’s not you. Rather, it’s not your fault. You just reminded me of how a man
should
treat a woman. That’s all.” She sniffed, reaching for a box of tissue sitting on the coffee table and dabbing at her eyes and nose. “I’ve just had a bad morning.” Lord, he was going to think her a basket case! “I’d really appreciate you letting us follow you. Driving in the city is not my favorite thing to do, but you’re right to think I’d want my own transportation. I don’t like being at the mercy of others.”

“Are you sure you’re OK? If you need me to break someone’s arm or something, just point me in the right direction. I’m your guy.”

Laughter welled up inside her, but she could see from his expression he was only half joking. How long had it been since anyone had come to her defense? Maybe her brother-in-law before he’d left for the Army. Too long.

“No worries. Long, boring story when there are many exciting things to discuss.” Flashing him what she hoped was a bright smile, she got to her feet. “Let’s go get something to eat. Lunchtime is here, and my hips won’t be happy until I’ve fed them. Pizza good for you?”

When he flashed her a lopsided grin, standing beside her, looking down at her smaller frame with teasing affection, Melanie’s heart melted on the spot. Just that fast, knowing nothing about him other than what he’d told her and Abigail in his letters, Melanie fell head over heels for Chase Carver.

“More than good. Fantastic. And so are your hips.” He waggled his eyebrows at her as he took her hand, helping her to her feet.

For long moments, they simply stared at each other. Had she ever seen a man so devastatingly handsome before? Melanie had always thought Dan was a good-looking guy, but Chase… Now,
this
was a man women dreamt about.

He wore a black T-shirt that looked to be at least one size too small. Chest muscles bulged, straining the material, as did his arms. With every movement, she could clearly make out the definition of his abs flexing and punching beneath the thin material. The shirt was tucked in neatly to a pair of faded jeans that hugged thick, strong thighs. Forearms dusted with dark hair that looked soft as down also rippled with muscle; a vein running from the bend in his elbow up his biceps disappeared into the sleeve of the too-tight shirt. Melanie was surprised at how much she wanted to strip that stupid shirt off him and explore all those muscles.

As if he’d caught her staring, Chase’s grin widened. She could almost hear him rasping out,
Like what you see?
, so clearly that she almost answered,
absolutely
, before she caught herself.

“Shall we go then?” Was that her voice, all breathless and stuff? He was going to seriously think she had lost her mind.

He held the door for her, then waited until she’d locked it. On the way down the hall, his hand lightly found the small of her back. Every cell in her body was acutely aware of exactly how close he was, of where his hand was. Any time he removed it from her back, she felt bereft. It was as if every single thing inside her that was female recognized him as her male and wanted her to dig her claws into him and hold him so he couldn’t escape. How sick and twisted was that? She’d just met the guy, for crying out loud!

In the elevator, he didn’t give her space either, staying by her side, actually twining her fingers with his. She steadfastly refused to look at him, afraid she was so transparent he’d see how badly she wanted to rip the clothes off that fabulous body and have her way with him. Just when she was deciding whether or not they’d get caught if she pushed the emergency button and stopped the damned thing to make out right there, the door opened at the ground floor.

She sighed at the same time he growled. There was no way she couldn’t look at him then. Lust mirrored her own in his eyes before he dropped her hand and looked away, still waiting for her to exit the elevator first.

“Sorry,” he muttered as she passed.

“No reason to be sorry.”

When they exited the apartment building, he again held the door for her, walking beside her to her car where he opened the door and shut it for her before climbing in the passenger side. This whole situation was so surreal, Melanie wasn’t sure how to act or what to say.

“Look,” he said when he’d closed his door and fastened his seatbelt. “I’m not usually like this. I’m coming on a bit strong, but I don’t meant to. I’m just…I don’t know…drawn to you. I know from your letters that you’re great with Abigail and that you’re witty and intelligent. I know you’re a very beautiful woman. But, more than anything, I remember your letters. You don’t know it, and there’s no way to explain, but yours and Abigail’s letters kept me sane when I might have lost my mind. There’s no easy way to say it, so I’m just laying it out there for you.” He gave her that lopsided grin again. “I guess I’ve got a bad case of hero worship and, quite frankly, I don’t even want to try to shake it off.”

There was no way to stop the grin tugging at her lips. “You’re so honest, it’s refreshing. Honestly, Chase, I’m glad our letters helped. Yours certainly helped us.” At his raised eyebrows, she started to elaborate, but was interrupted by the loud rumble of her stomach. “Ohmigod! That was so embarrassing!”

Chase burst out laughing, the skin around his eyes crinkling with easy laugh lines when he did. “I think we’d better go get that pizza before you decide you’re going to devour me.”

Melanie almost groaned at the image
that
statement brought. Instead she grinned at him and took off for the restaurant. This promised to be an interesting lunch, to say the least.