I couldn’t help a chuckle at that. “Girls like me are a dime a dozen.”
He pulled my face toward him and gazed straight into my eyes. “You’re wrong, Melanie. There is no one else in the world like you. You are worth everything to me.”
I saw the truth of his words in his eyes. And I hoped he saw the truth of them back in my own.
I leaned toward him and brushed my lips across his. He was salty from sweat. Both of us were coated in shiny dew. I let out a little chuckle. “I think we’re kind of a mess.”
He laughed with me. “But a good mess. A very good mess.” He stroked my damp hair. “Let’s clean up a little, and then I think we need a date in the hot tub.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. You might have some soreness, and it will help.”
“All right. If you think it’s for the best. As long as you promise no one will walk in on us.”
That got a big laugh out of Jonah. “Now why on earth would you think that might happen again?”
“Can you name a time when it hasn’t happened?”
“No. But this bad luck streak has to break sometime.”
* * *
Jonah had poured us each a glass of water with lemon, and we sat in the hot tub, holding hands. I leaned my head back against the railing and closed my eyes, inhaling the steam rising above us.
I opened my eyes and found him staring at me. “What?” I said.
“Just enjoying the view.” He smiled and then took a sip of his water.
I moved toward him, to snuggle into his arms, when—
“Joe?”
The voice came from the deck. I hadn’t heard the door open.
I let out a maniacal laugh. At this point, it had become more humorous than embarrassing. Talon, Jade, and Jonah’s friend Bryce had all seen me naked.
Jonah turned. “Bryce? What are you doing here?”
“I’m really sorry to interrupt you.”
“It’s all right,” I said, still giggling.
“What is it?” Jonah asked.
“I told my mother tonight, Joe. It didn’t go well.”
Chapter Forty–Two
Jonah
I sighed. “Bryce, I’m sorry, man. Can we talk later?”
Melanie stepped out of the hot tub, smiling and not seeming embarrassed. She wrapped herself in a towel. “It’s all right. Talk to him. He clearly needs you.”
She was so damned wonderful.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she continued.