One Week to Win His Heart

Melody hung back, anxious for a look, a word, something from George to reassure her. Instead, he gave her a wide berth and for the first time since she’d met him he went through the door before her.

She felt hurt. Didn’t he realise she needed some reassurance? Had Andy not interrupted them, George would have kissed her and there was no way she would have fought him. She’d wanted it just as desperately as he had.

Feeling suddenly cold and bereft, Melody rubbed her arms as the first spark of anger ignited deep within. Why was it she felt as though she’d done something wrong when she knew she hadn’t? She surmised it was because both Ian and Emir, whenever things had gone wrong or hadn’t gone the way they’d wanted, had always shunned her, shutting her out, making her feel as though everything had been her fault.

Didn’t George want her? Was he just playing with her? She shook her head, not wanting to believe it. Her old neuroses were rising to the surface. Emir had told her he hadn’t wanted children but his decision to follow his pregnant mistress to Germany had helped Melody realise the truth—namely that Emir hadn’t wanted to have children with her. He hadn’t wanted to marry her. Now George was acting the same. Now that he had her dangling from his hook, he wasn’t interested in more. Was that the case? Was he only interested in the chase?

She followed him into Rudy’s room. How dared he pretend nothing had almost happened between them? Why hadn’t he given her a little smile or a yearning look to let her know that they were still in sync, that they could still have these unspoken conversations even when other people were around?

She hated feeling like this, having her thoughts all jumbled when she needed to have clear, calm and collected thoughts. More to the point, why was she allowing him to have such power over her, to affect her in such a way? Her anger grew and it encompassed herself as well as George.

Perhaps she should thank Andy for interrupting them. Perhaps she should consider this a lucky escape. After all, if they had kissed, then she would have had more physical sensations to fight. Perhaps she was better off.

‘Would that be right, Melody?’ Andy was asking her, and she realised that everyone in the room was looking at her expectantly—except George.

‘Uh—well—um…’ she stumbled, not at all sure what Andy had asked.

‘I think you’re spot on, Andy,’ George answered. ‘Good work.’

‘Ah—absolutely,’ Melody responded, finally finding her voice. Her hostility towards George diminished a bit as she acknowledged that he’d just rescued her. She needed to get out of there, to sort out her emotions before she made a fool of herself. ‘If that’s all you need…’ she glanced at Rudy and then at Andy, her gaze eluding George’s ‘… I think I’ll head home. It’s been a very hectic day and tomorrow promises to be no less so. Call me if you need me,’ she told Andy as she turned and headed to the door, the burgundy dress swishing around her ankles.

‘I’d better be going too,’ George announced to the room.

‘Aw—come on,’ Astrid purred, and Melody watched as the other woman crossed to George’s side and linked her arm through his. ‘Surely you don’t have to go just yet? Now that we’ve got Rudy settled, we can all relax and have some fun.’

‘Ugh,’ Melody groaned softly, and continued to the door one of the bodyguards held open for her. ‘Relax and have some fun,’ she mimicked softly as she stormed over to the lifts. ‘That man doesn’t know his own charm and probably has every woman he meets falling in love with him.’ She assaulted the down button, pressing it repeatedly.

‘Mumbling to yourself?’ George asked from behind her, and although Melody’s body shivered in excitement at the sound of his voice, she didn’t turn around. Instead, she pressed the down button again.

‘I’ll walk you out.’

‘There’s no need,’ she replied between clenched teeth.

George watched as she pressed the button again, muttering something about slow hotel lifts. He frowned, unsure why she was so angry. ‘It’s no trouble,’ he told her.

Melody spun to glare at him. ‘I don’t care if it’s an imposition to you or not, the fact is that I don’t want you to walk me out. I’m a big girl, George, and I’m more than capable of riding in the lift, walking to the valet desk and waiting for my car.’ She pressed the button. ‘That’s if this lift ever gets here.’

‘Why are you angry with me again?’ He spread his arms wide.

‘Oh, this is all my fault?’ Her temper was at boiling point. She was cross with him, cross with herself and cross with the lift. She glanced around for an exit sign and stormed over to the door marked ‘Stairs’.