Free SuddenHeat by Denise A. Agnew Page B

doubtful voice rang clear and true. “So,
what do you have planned for the rest of the day besides helping me with
last-minute wedding stuff?”
    Melanie smiled, ready to put aside thoughts of Matt for the
rest of the day. “Absolutely nothing. What does Patrick have planned?”
    “Well, the boys decided a conventional bachelor party
tonight would be dull.” Danelle’s voice had more than a hint of amusement. “So
today they’re going out to play one of those paintball things. You know,
because it wasn’t enough to almost get their asses shot off yesterday.”
    Melanie couldn’t help but laugh at that one. “They’re in the
military. It’s in their blood.”
    “Well, Patrick’s not but he feels left out I guess.”
    After they hung up and Melanie wandered into the shower, she
wished for one moment Matt wasn’t in the military. Maybe they’d have a bit more
time together, a little more chance for a real relationship. But no. Matt was in
a dangerous job that would demand most of his time and energy. She tried not to
think about what it would be like if he was here now, in this shower with her,
making love until they both couldn’t stand. God, she tried not to think.

Chapter Seven
     
    Melanie started when the last patron of the library shut the
front door and it clanged shut with a bang. The nightly cleaning crew was in
the library doing their work but since she was the last employee out of the
building, the place echoed with emptiness. Her wristwatch read nine o’clock.
Matt would be here any second, and maybe she was as nervous about that as she
was anything else.
    She went to the backroom to grab her coat and purse and as
she wandered out front to wait for Matt, she wondered if she’d lost her mind.
After all, if they’d wanted to keep their relationship casual they shouldn’t be
planning a rendezvous tonight. Today had been a hectic day. She’d met up with
Danelle for more last-minute wedding stuff and Thanksgiving plans tomorrow.
She’d learned from Lena and Kathleen that the mall wasn’t open until Friday for
after Thanksgiving sales. No engraved present for Danelle and Patrick. Patrick
had spent the afternoon with Matt, Rick and Jake doing man things like the
rough-and-tumble paintball session out in the woods. Matt had called Melanie
once in the afternoon and he’d told her he’d meet her at the library at
closing.
    I don’t like the idea of you alone in that parking lot so
late at night.
    She couldn’t deny his protectiveness fired up her libido—and
that mushy girly part of her that longed for a man’s affection. That part
worried her. She’d get too used to having this…this…whatever it was between
them.
    She’d talked with Lena earlier in the day and Lena had
admitted Rick had taken her home and they’d ended up in bed together. Melanie
had admitted her liaison with Matt. Melanie hadn’t pressed her friend for more
information but she admitted to being surprised. Lena told her in no uncertain
terms she wasn’t happy she’d succumbed to a night with Rick. He couldn’t
last…or rather, she wouldn’t allow it to last. Kathleen had confessed to
Melanie that she’d had some sort of intimacy with Jake but they’d parted after
an argument and she didn’t think it would happen again. Amazing. Melanie couldn’t
believe it the six of them had fallen into a sexual dance. Half of her wanted
to ask Matt to forget his hotel room and stay at her place. The other half
considered that folly. Wasn’t she asking for disappointment if she did that?
He’d think it was too much and too fast. She didn’t have time to think deeper
about Matt’s intentions or her own. She saw him walking up to the front doors
of the library and left the building to meet him on the steps.
    “Hi,” he said, and reached for her.
    He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her full on the
lips. Warm, soft and thrilling, his kiss awakened hot needs immediately. She
clung to him and he pulled her closer, arm