Secret Indiscretions (Carson Cove Scandals 2)

“No, that’s okay.” Melanie shook her head back and forth. “The restaurant is closer

to Alcott Manor than my place. Besides, if you came to pick me up at my apartment, then Charley would have wanted you to come inside and see her for a few minutes.”

“I would have been okay with that.” I shrugged. “Has she forgiven you for putting your foot down about her going to Taylor’s wedding?”

“I think she’s just hoping I’ll change my mind,” Melanie sighed. “It’s just—I can’t.”

“I get it.” I pulled Melanie into my arms and gave her a hug. “Taylor doesn’t know about the Carnation Club stuff, and Bryant wants to keep it that way. I’m sure she wouldn’t have asked if she knew about it.”

“Do you think we’re making a mistake with that?” Melanie leaned back from my embrace and grimaced. “If it was my wedding, I would want to know…”

“Taylor went through hell with Alexis Devereaux.” I shook my head back and forth. “I don’t know if she’s involved in this somehow or not, but it’s best not to put one more thing on Taylor’s plate right now. As far as she knows, Alexis and her brother stopped being a concern the moment they got arrested.”

“Yeah…” Melanie’s eyes spaced out, and she nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

“It looks like the car is here.” I motioned to the black sedan that was turning into my driveway.

And it’s being driven by a guy from Craven Security, just to be safe, even if things have been quiet lately.

Our date with Taylor and Bryant was at Moretti’s. I offered to suggest a different restaurant since Melanie used to work there, but she wasn’t worried about it. We were no longer hiding our relationship, so it didn’t matter if people she knew saw us together. The subject hadn’t really come up at the office. People barely remembered her and those that did, just thought she was the new girl that quit right after she saved my life when I had a medical emergency in the parking lot. I didn’t pay attention to any of the rumors about her departure, but I didn’t hear any that revolved around the secret indiscretions we had my office before she left Alcott Inc. The longer it took for them to find out we were dating, the less of an impact it would have once it started spreading through the grapevine.

“Hey!” Taylor waved as soon as she spotted us and immediately hugged Melanie. “Our table is ready.”

“Awesome.” Melanie nodded, and Taylor led her into the restaurant.

“Only a few more days now…” I patted Bryant on the back as we walked towards our table.

“I’m counting them down,” he chuckled under his breath. “How long do you think it’ll be before I get an invitation to your wedding?”

“Uh…” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s a little soon be thinking about that.”

“I said that once.” He gave me a nudge. “Now look at me…”

“Alright, none of us are driving…” Taylor picked up the menu. “So, margaritas?”

“I think I’ll just get a glass of Scotch.” Bryant looked at me. “Whiskey for you?”

“Sure, why not.” I nodded and shrugged.

I’m back to enjoying a glass versus drowning my sorrows now…

“Oh—my—god! Melanie!?” A squeaky-shrill echoed from a few feet away, and I turned my head to see Lollipop walking towards us—it was more a skip than a walk. “I can’t believe it! You’re back!”

“Hey Lollipop.” Melanie looked at her and smiled. “I’m just having dinner tonight—hopefully you’ve burned my waitressing apron by now.”

“I think Lauren kept it.” Lollipop shrugged. “Alright, well I’m going to be your waitress tonight.”

Bryant and Taylor both mouthed Lollipop in confusion at the same time, which was the same reaction I had when I heard her name. We ordered drinks and looked over the menu while we waited. Melanie explained that Lollipop was a Candy Girl at Carson Cove High School. Taylor immediately tensed up. I got the feeling that she had a couple of run-ins with the group when she was a student there. Lollipop seemed nice enough, but I remembered the Candy Girls as bullies, especially to the kids that didn’t have much. It was clear that hadn’t changed much if they treated Taylor poorly. Bryant noticed the shift in her demeanor and was going to say something, but she seemed to snap out of it once our drinks arrived.

“Thanks again for the ride home.” Lollipop put her hand on my arm.

“No trouble with your parents?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Nah.” She shook her head back and forth. “Is everyone ready to order?”

“I am.” Melanie nodded, and the rest of us echoed her reply.

I had to explain to Taylor and Bryant why Lollipop was thanking me for a ride home after she left our table. After that, the conversation shifted to the custody hearing. There had been no sign of Jackson since he was released. Leo hadn’t even gotten a hit on his credit card, which suggested he had stopped using it—there was a chance he had found out it was being tracked and got a new one issued, but Leo didn’t think that was the case.