Be with Me (Return to Haven 2)

Her side of the bed. That was the point they were at in this relationship. Was that a label?

“Zach said he was going to start the heavy work in the kitchen today because that’s where the bulk of our renovations will be.” Jax shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “He had to run out and get a few more things, but when he comes back, we need to go over anything you want changed now, because once he starts, there’s no going back.”

Livie nodded. “I know, I know. I’m just nervous and I don’t want to make a mistake in this. We’ve tied up so much of our money and now we have these grants.”

Melanie took a seat on the old, worn plaid sofa in the current lobby. “There’s nothing to worry about. Anything worth having is worth the risk, and I believe you guys are going to make this airport something your father would most definitely be proud of.”

Livie smiled. “I hope so.”

Melanie’s cell chimed from her purse. She reached across the sofa and pulled it out, only to find Neville’s assistant’s name staring back at her.

“Still having issues?” Livie asked. Apparently the heavy sigh and the eye roll gave away the unwanted caller.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Melanie assured her. “Excuse me.”

Melanie stepped outside and around the corner where the building hadn’t been touched yet. No debris or equipment there, and complete privacy.

She swiped the screen. “Hello?”

“Melanie, so glad I caught you. Neville has scheduled a meeting with you next Tuesday at eleven.”

Taken aback, Melanie pulled the phone away and glared at it as if she’d heard the demand completely wrong.

“I’m not meeting with Neville.”

“He said you’d say that,” his assistant stated. “He did say he’d let you choose the meeting place, but Tuesday at eleven is his only opening for quite some time.”

Melanie snorted. Arrogant son of a bitch. He demands a meeting and acts like he’s doing her a favor by carving out this time.

“I’m not coming to Atlanta or anywhere else to meet,” Melanie reiterated. “I’m not going to answer any more of your calls or his. You can pass that along to him.”

“Um, he says that he has some information that you will want to know.”

Melanie stilled. “What type of information?”

“I’m not at liberty to say, but trust me when I tell you that you’ll want to hear him out.”

Melanie weighed her decision. What the hell was he up to now? This little impromptu meeting sure as hell wasn’t for her benefit, and he wasn’t giving her this supposed information because he was concerned about her. No, whatever game he was playing would benefit one person. Neville.

However, if she went and met with him face-to-face, maybe she could put this part of her past to rest once and for all. Perhaps he just needed to see that she was a different woman now. She was stronger, more determined than ever to own her life and put him behind her for good. He was used to the weak Melanie. He wouldn’t even recognize the woman she’d become.

“Fine,” Melanie conceded. “I’ll text him with the location.”

Melanie disconnected the call before his assistant could argue or ask for the location of the meeting. Pulling in a deep breath, Melanie had a knot of tension in her belly. Had she just made a date with the devil?

No matter. She wanted to get this over with. She wasn’t doing this for Neville, she was doing this for herself. To face her past one final time, to prove that she’d come out on top despite all she’d been through. To face the monster one last time.

Melanie gripped her phone and headed back inside. Livie and Jax were still discussing the office versus lobby, but Livie quickly turned her attention to Melanie.

“Everything okay?”

With a slight nod, Melanie smiled. “Fine. What can I do for you guys today?”

“I’m going to be in the kitchen with Zach when he arrives,” Jax stated. “I have no scheduled flights or lessons today.”

“I plan on picking Piper up from school in a bit and we’re going to do a little shopping. Care to join us?”

Melanie hadn’t been shopping for herself in some time, but she was also saving every last dollar that came in through her sites. Eventually she was going to have to get a place of her own and save for her baby.