Be with Me (Return to Haven 2)

“So when are you asking?”

Tanner sighed and wished like hell he had all the answers or someone to give him clear insight. “I’m not sure now is the time.”

Jax’s brows drew together. “Why not?”

“I know she’s had contact with her ex,” Tanner explained. “Not that she’s getting back with him, but I think he’s still a threat and she hasn’t opened up to me about it. It’s like she hasn’t trusted me with that final piece of her life.”

“I can’t believe you haven’t called her on it.” Jax crossed the room and opened a cooler, pulling out two bottles of water. “You afraid she’ll lie about it?”

Tanner took the bottle Jax offered. “I don’t think she’d lie if I said something, but I want her to come to me on her own. I know her well enough and she thinks she’s protecting me. She’s mentioned several times how powerful her ex is and how she doesn’t want me to have any involvement with him. She’s not afraid for herself at this point, she’s afraid for me.”

Jax twisted the cap off the bottle and tossed it into the large trash bin in the corner. “You need to confront her, man. This has nothing to do with her not trusting you. That may be how you see it, but as an outsider, I’m telling you she’s afraid. She wants a future with you, that much is evident. But she’s worried her powerful ex will ruin it.”

That’s exactly what she thought, no doubt. He would have to confront her, but he didn’t want her to feel like he was accusing her of anything.

“Livie has told me some about him,” Jax went on. “The guy is a certified asshole. You need help with anything, you know Cash and I have your back. Mel is like family to us, too.”

“Appreciate it.” Tanner finished his water and tossed the empty bottle into the trash. “I just need to figure out how to approach Melanie first without making her even more scared or close in more on herself.”

“You’ve got one strong-willed woman on your hands, that’s for sure.” Jax let out a bark of laughter. “I’m still stunned she sold that shiny new Beemer and gave the money to us.”

Tanner stilled. “What?”

“The money she gave for the renovations.” Jax’s face fell and he muttered a curse. “I figured you knew. Melanie told Livie she didn’t want anything more to do with her ex or that life, so she sold the car, bought that clunker she has now, and gave the rest toward the renovations.”

Tanner couldn’t believe this. Well, he could. This was such a Melanie move. He shouldn’t be surprised at her selfless act, but what shocked him was that she had blown off the reason she’d sold her car. Why didn’t she just come out and tell him the truth?

Just add humble to the list of mysteries surrounding the woman he loved. Some people might think she’d kept that secret because of a lack of trust, but a little secret like this wasn’t an area where she had trouble with trust. No, his Mel didn’t want praise or accolades, she just wanted to help where she could.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Tanner waved his hand. “No, no. It’s fine.”

Jax grabbed his tools and tapped the crowbar against his side. “You should probably have a long talk before you think about buying a ring. But that’s just my opinion—which you asked for, by the way.”

Tanner swallowed and hunkered back down to get to work. “I did ask. I just don’t know why things can’t be easy.”

“Dude, with women they never are. But if you love her, then she’ll totally be worth it.”

Chapter Eighteen

No one is you and that is your superpower.

—Mel’s Motivational Blog

Atlanta was just as stifling as she remembered. All the buildings, the people bustling to and from offices. Melanie had been here all of ten minutes and was already missing the open park in Haven, the wide town streets dotted with lampposts and evergreens with holly flowing from the pots. The holidays in a small town were quite different than in the city.

Melanie pulled her navy blue cardigan around her and waited just outside the small café where she’d chosen to meet Neville. The place was next to his office building, but public enough she felt safe. He wouldn’t cause a spectacle where any of his voters could possibly see what was going on.

“Melanie.”

She cringed at his voice and took just a moment before she spun around. Melanie hadn’t seen her ex in two years, and he hadn’t changed a bit. Obviously still getting Botox to ward off the wrinkles in his forehead. His dark hair still had the same perfect part on the right side. Those dark eyes still looked like they belonged on the devil rather than the mayor.

The old Melanie wanted to shiver with fear, but that woman had been revamped. She’d been made new, and now she was about to show them both what she was made of.

“Let’s get this over with.”

She headed toward the café entrance, but his hand shot out and gripped her elbow. Melanie eyed the way his fingers curled around her sweater, then she glared up at him.