Free Unintended Love: A contemporary romantic novella by Harley O'Riley

James is an engaged woman.”
    Cary looked disappointed.
    “Wonderful! Well, thank you both.”
    It didn’t take long at all for Cary Andrews and her crew to pack up and leave, and soon it was only Alex. He sat on the couch and made no move to leave.
    The butterflies in Melanie’s stomach grew more active. “It looks like you’ve saved me once again,” she said. 
    “That woman’s a bitch. What happened between us is nobody’s business.”
    “Well, thank you, anyway.”
    “No problem. I guess I’ll go then.” He looked at her for a long moment, and then he stood up. “You look beautiful in that dress by the way.”
    It was awkward between them. Melanie started to hold out her hand but it felt wet and sweaty, and if she wiped it on her silk dress she knew it would make a dark mark.
    “Hey, do you want to stay for breakfast?” she asked impulsively.
    Alex flashed her a quick smile. “That would be nice,” he said, “but won’t Martin mind?”
    “He might, but we broke up,” Melanie said quietly.
    “What?”
    “I broke it off with Martin,” she said more loudly.
    Alex’s eyebrows rose in surprise but the corners of his mouth twitched with a suppressed smile.
    “Oh, well then yes I would love some breakfast. We could go out though, if you want.”
    “No, I want to cook for you. Just sit back and relax, it won’t take long.”
    Alex looked around the room. “Do you mind if I look at your books?” 
    “Go ahead.” Melanie laughed. “Pick a pile, any pile. They aren’t very well organized.”
    When she returned from the kitchen, the sight of him sitting in the leather recliner by the fireplace, book in hand, with her fat tabby cat purring on his lap, made her heart expand in her chest. He looked like he belonged in her home.
    Something about the sight of him there seemed natural and almost familiar. And it wasn’t that he reminded her of Sam, because they were nothing alike. Besides, Sam had never sat in that chair and he had barely tolerated her cat.
    Alex looked up and their eyes locked. The small shock of something, familiarity or déjà vu, grew stronger.
    “The pancakes are ready,” she said.
    Breakfast was pleasant enough. Melanie found out a bit more about Alex, even though they stayed on fairly surface subjects. He told her he lived in a house that he was building on some family property, and that he rented a small place on the island through the summer. She also learned he only flew paid flights during the summer months.
    “Why only the summer?”
    “Because it’s the busy season and I’m helping my uncle out. Flying is more of a hobby for me really.”
    “Then what is your vocation?” 
    “My vocation?”
    “How do you make a living?”
    Alex grinned at her. “I do know what the word means, Melanie. I have a few websites I run. It pays the bills. What about you? You were a nurse, I know that. What’s your vocation these days?”
    “I will have to figure that out. My husband was into dangerous sports as well as being a firefighter. I insisted he have a good life-insurance policy, so I’m okay for now.”
    “What happened to your fiancé?”
    “He wasn’t my fiancé. I guess I realized that he wasn’t who I really wanted.”
    Melanie looked at him then, not able to say the words, but hoping Alex would understand anyway, that he was the one who she thought she wanted.
    An awkward silence grew between them.
    “Do you want more pancakes?” she asked finally.
    Alex leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. “I don’t think I have room.”
    “That’s good, because I’m out of batter.”
    Alex looked at her quizzically then pushed away from the table and took his dish, and hers, to the sink. Melanie watched him rinse them off and admired the easy efficiency of his movements.
    She didn’t want him to leave yet, and the thought of it was almost painful.
    “Do you have plans?” she asked.
    “Plans?”
    “For your day. Do you need to get somewhere?”
    She was