Page 17 of Romancing Melanie
To say his mother was excited by the paternity test results was an understatement. In between kisses on Noah’s cheeks, and kisses to Connor’s head, she cried tears of joy, all while repeating “I knew it, I just knew it.”
Noah sat beside Mel on his mom’s small couch, his arm stretched on the back of it behind her. Molly had embraced Melanie when they walked in and thanked her profusely for helping Noah with Connor. She had accepted the idea of Noah staying with Mel until the paternity results came in easily and hadn’t questioned how CPS had agreed to that at all. Noah was grateful he didn’t have to admit to his mom about the lie they had constructed, as he knew she wouldn’t approve. Yet he didn’t fail to notice the glances she sent his way, bouncing between him and Mel on the couch, or the little smiles that came to her face. He suspected Molly Carlisle was seeing what he could see. That he and Mel were meant to be together.
After an hour, they somehow managed to pry Connor from Molly’s arms, and headed to The Lucky Strike to meet their friends for lunch. Noah was excited to show off his son to the rest of his friends, and marveled at how much had changed in his life in the short time since he had last set foot in the pub. Instead of walking in a single man, working there as a manager and spending his time with friends, now he was a father. He had different responsibilities, different priorities, and different goals, and he couldn’t be happier about it. But something was missing, and Mel was the answer.
He had enough sense to realize she needed time to process everything that was changing so rapidly between them, but he still felt impatient. He wanted her to open her heart and mind to the idea of being with him, truly being with him, and he wanted it now. It was hard being the odd man out of their group of friends, all of whom were now coupled up, and he wanted to put an end to that—with Mel.
When they walked into the pub, which was virtually empty seeing as it was just before lunchtime on a weekday, Noah spotted their friends all sitting in the large booth near the back that they all liked the best. Carrying a sleeping Connor in his car seat, he headed that way, knowing Mel was right behind him. Reagan was the first to spot them, and a smile split across her face as the curvy redhead stood up and hurried over.
“Oh my god, Noah, you have a baby!” she exclaimed.
“I sure do. Paternity test proved it today—I’m a dad,” he stated proudly to the group. Everyone let out cheers, and Connor squirmed in his seat. “Oh, shit, quiet guys, he needs to nap,” Noah said hurriedly. Then he set the car seat on a table that was next to the booth and pulled up a chair so he could be close to his son.
One by one, his friends came up to see Connor and congratulate Noah. Their support and love felt good, really good. When Anna handed him a giant gift bag, he was surprised. “What’s all this?”
“We figured you might need some stuff, with Connor being a surprise and all. So, we went shopping!” Anna gestured to the group. “It’s from all of us, Mel told us what you already had.”
Noah was touched. “Wow, thanks, guys, this is amazing.” He looked inside the bag and saw all kinds of clothes, toys, pacifiers, blankets, and many more things he couldn’t even identify right away. “This baby stuff is daunting to say the least. But knowing I have all of you here to help really feels great.”
Callie leaned over and nudged her elbow at Melanie who was sitting beside her. “You’ve got us, and we hear you’ve got a built-in co-parent right here. How is it living together anyways?”
Noah didn’t miss the glare Mel shot her friend, and he briefly debated letting her answer. But he was tired of hiding his feelings, and most importantly, wanted their friends to know how much he appreciated everything she had done.
“Mel has been awesome. The little man loves her, and I don’t know how I could have survived without her.” He winked at Melanie, then frowned when she stood up abruptly from the booth and walked toward the back of the pub, where a hallway led to the restrooms, the office and the back door. Noah watched her go, confused and worried about why she had responded that way. He hadn’t even revealed their kiss.
“What’s that all about, Noah? Did something happen between you two?” Callie asked, concern lacing her tone.
“I have no idea, but I’m going to find out. Keep an eye on Connor, guys.”
Noah was determined to figure out why Mel had walked away when all he had done was express his gratitude.
He found her sitting on the couch in Jake and Ryan’s office, her head in her hands.
“Mel, what’s going on? What did I say?” He sat down beside her cautiously.
She looked up at him, and his heart cracked to see the conflicting emotions in her eyes.
“You didn’t say anything, Noah, this is on me. I have no idea what is happening to me. This week, with you and Connor, has been wonderful, but…” she trailed off.
Noah seized on her statement, holding on to the emotions bubbling to the surface in her words. “There is no but. You’re right, it has been wonderful. And it could be even better, if you would just give me, give us, a chance. Would it really be so bad to be in a relationship with me? I know I come with some extra baggage now, but I won’t hurt you, Mel, I’m not Darren.”
She stood up and began to pace the small room. Noah had to cross his arms to stop himself from reaching out to her.
“I know you’re not Darren. But how can you say you’ll never hurt me? How can anyone ever promise that? You can’t.” She stopped her pacing and looked at him, indecision warring with heat in her eyes. “Yet I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting you, Noah. We’re good as friends, really good. And I don’t want anything to change that. No strings; no commitment. I may be tired of resisting whatever this chemistry is between us, but I won’t fall in love with you, Noah Carlisle, I can’t.”
She strode over to him, and Noah got the second biggest surprise of his life when she straddled his legs on the couch, threaded her fingers in his hair and pulled him in to her lips for a kiss.
The second her lips touched his, Noah came to life. His hands wound their way around her torso, crushing her breasts into his chest. He could feel her grind in his lap as their tongues tangled together, with their kiss growing hotter and hotter by the second. He broke away from her mouth with a growl, and she moaned in response, leaning her head back and exposing the long column of her neck. He sucked and kissed his way down to where her neck met her shoulder, and when she gasped as his lips hit that point, he stayed there, teasing her for a moment.
Time lost all meaning, as they made out on the worn leather couch in the back of the pub. This chemistry, this explosive heat between them, this was what Noah had been waiting for. He had suspected that he and Mel would come together like fireworks, but this was even more than he could have imagined.
Finally, reality burst their lust-filled bubble, when the sound of voices in the back hallway filtered into Noah’s ears. It was probably just a customer, but still, he realized this was not the time, or place, to take what he wanted from Mel.
“We need to go home, now,” he growled.
Mel shook her head, but the passion in her eyes eased his frustration at the fact that she seemed to be backing away, yet again. “No, we still have to go grocery shopping. We’re out of formula.”
And with that reminder of his new life, Noah let his head fall back against the couch and laughed. Here he was, with the woman of his dreams on his lap, and he had to end it to go and buy formula.
