Melt (Steel Brothers Saga 4)

I clenched my teeth. For some reason, the idea that he thought Melanie was just a fuck to me got my ire up. “I’m not fucking her either.”

That was one big goddamned lie. But it struck me that I really didn’t know what was going on between Melanie and me. Did I want a relationship with her? I wasn’t really ready to have a relationship. So why had I started this?

Because something about her drew me. Like we were kindred spirits or something. Both struggling with guilt, both needing an outlet.

Is that what I was to her? An outlet?

She had come to me today, needing comfort. But as soon as things got a little uncomfortable, she had bailed.

The thought slid into me like a knife in the heart. Her embarrassment over the situation had been more important than coming out to meet Jade and to be with me.

What would I have done if the situation had been reversed?

Truthfully, I didn’t know.

Well, it was clear. She wasn’t interested in being a part of my life past fucking. I would have to be okay with that. After all, I was pretty much in the same boat that she was.

At any rate, she had made a choice. I would not push it.

No woman was worth that. If she couldn’t sit down with my brother, whom she knew, and my most likely future sister-in-law when she was welcome, and neither of them minded, perhaps whatever was between us should be over.

I’d let myself get close. But she’d only been using me.

Nope. No more Melanie Carmichael.

I just hoped I could get my body to go along with my mind.

I sent a quick text to Dolores at the office to check on my schedule for the next week or so. She texted back that she could move some things around to free me up for a couple of days.

“Good news,” I said to Talon. “Dolores says I’m free. When do you want to leave?”

“How about tonight? We can take turns driving and see Wendy tomorrow morning.”

“Works for me.” I quickly texted Dolores again, letting her know.

“I just texted Wendy, as well,” Jade said. “She says she can meet with you guys tomorrow. I’ll get you the address. It’s her mother’s home in Denver.”

“You sure you’ll be okay without me for a few days?” Talon said to Jade.

She laughed. “We’ll be fine. Marj and I haven’t had any girl time for a while. Maybe I’ll slip my mother a Valium, and Marj and I can hang out.”

“No parties without me, blue eyes.” Talon smiled.

And I smiled. Seeing my brother smile warmed my heart every time. I had seen more smiles out of him in the last three months than I had in the last twenty-five years.

Damn, that felt good.

A road trip with my brother was just what the doctor—even though she had disappeared and would no longer be a part of my life—had ordered.

Chapter Thirty

Melanie

It was near six p.m. when I got home to my loft. The package from the hardware store sat on my passenger seat, taunting me the entire way home. I might never put its contents to use. In fact, I probably wouldn’t.

So why had I made the purchase?

Maybe as a little bit of a security blanket.