Unbreak Me (Second Chances #1) (14 page)

“That’s alright with me,” he glanced at Melanie with a questioning look. “You game?”

“Sure, but I need to go home first and shower. Clean clothes would be nice too,” she blushed.

“I like what you’re wearing,” he eyed the Red Sox sweatshirt she’d put on. “I think it looks better on you than me.”

Melanie turned an even darker shade of red, if that were possible. The girls giggled at their parents and began stuffing food in their mouths.

“I was a little cold when I got up,” she shrugged. She was now secretly happy that she was wearing it. The reaction she was getting from Austin paled in comparison to the reaction her body was having to him. She hugged herself across the chest as she felt her nipples pucker under his gaze and a tremble ran down her spin. The soft loose fabric was her only saving grace in what could be an embarrassing situation.

Austin leaned next to her ear and mumbled where only she could hear, “I like the way my clothes look on you. I wish you were here more often to wear them.”

Melanie turned away slightly with an “Austin,” and pushed on his arm.

“What?” he shrugged “I’m just being honest. This is every man’s dream. A beautiful woman sitting at the breakfast table, hair messed from sleep, wearing his clothes.”

Her face flamed and her center began to throb at the way he insinuated what would happen to cause this scene in the future. She coughed slightly and rose with her empty plate to carry it into the kitchen and place it in the sink. He followed behind moments later for fear that he might have taken their banter too far. He was still feeling his way around with her, and didn’t want to cause her to run from him.

She was standing in front of the sink gripping the edge of the counter as she stared out the window.

“I’m sorry if I upset you,” he whispered into her ear and placed a light kiss to her neck.

“It’s not that, really it’s not. I’m just not used to this in front of the girls. Katie wasn’t old enough to remember the mornings with Sean in the house, and there hasn’t been a morning like this since then,” she slumped farther over the sink. “I want this, I really do. I just don’t know if I’m ready for it yet.”

“We’re not doing anything wrong, you know? Katie’s growing up to be young woman, just talk to her. We’re doing this right. Trust me,” he moved behind her and placed his chin on her shoulder and his hands on the counter on either side of her hips.

“I do,” she turned in his arms.

He glanced at her lips and then moved his gaze to her eyes seeking permission. She nodded slightly, and he leaned in for a soft kiss. The kiss started gentle, but the longer they stayed locked in the embrace the more heated it got. Melanie slowly parted her lips as Austin begged for entrance. He deepened the kiss and moved to press his body into hers, as she moved her arms up to circle his neck and twist her fingers into his soft hair. He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and pulled her even closer to him, making his body‘s desire known. She could feel his erection pushing against the zipper of his jeans in a persistent throb. She trailed a hand down his back, pausing at his waist before daring to drop down to his backside and give his right cheek a squeeze. He groaned as his hips jerked forward into hers, forcing her back against the counter harder. His lips soon left her mouth and trailed along her jaw as he made his way to her neck.

When he kissed the area right below her ear he whispered, “You don’t know what seeing you in my clothes is doing to me right now. That is so sexy, it’s killing me. I’ll never wash this again knowing that it touched your skin.”

She moaned as his hands trailed over her upper body, and he made his way back to her mouth, indulging in one last deep kiss before pulling away. Both looked at each other dazed and flushed with desire.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since last night,” she admitted and then turned away from his gaze.

“Do what,” he cocked his head to the side.

“Pinch your ass. It’s so perfect,” she was visibly embarrassed by her boldness.

“Well, you can do that anytime you want to,” he winked at her. “You better get moving if you’re going to go with us to the zoo today,” he sighed. “I’ll pick you and Katie up at noon, ok?”

She nodded and turned to head into the family room to grab her shoes. Katie said her goodbyes to Hannah, and the mother/daughter combo made their way out to Melanie’s car. Suddenly Katie pulled Melanie out of her silence.

“I could get used to this,” Katie sighed.

Melanie jumped slightly and looked over at Katie. “Get used to what?”

“Family breakfasts,” Katie shrugged nonchalantly.

Melanie raised her brow in question.

“Oh come on Mom, it’s so obvious that Mr. Montgomery is in love with you. Hannah told me he whistles all the time now. Have you seen how happy he looks when you’re around him?” Katie rolled her eyes. “I may be young, but I’m not blind.”

Melanie blushed and smiled at her very observant daughter. “Yes, I’ve noticed.”

“So, are you going to marry him?” Katie giggled.

Melanie blushed even deeper. “He has to ask first sweetheart, and I think that might be a little fast. Don’t ya think?”

“Sure mom, whatever you say. Hannah told me that her dad told her, when you find the right person, you never let them go,” she smiled at Melanie. “I don’t think he’s going to let you outta his sight.”

As the car pulled away from the curb and made it’s way toward Melanie’s house, she thought about what Katie said.
When you find the right person, you never let them go. How serious about her was he? Was she falling in love as fast as he was?
Katie had made it pretty obvious that she was ok with a relationship blooming. That had been the last hurdle that she was worried about.

She smiled and shook her head. This day was sure to be one to go down in the history books.

Chapter 12

September 2012

It was a beautiful fall day outside. The leaves were just beginning to turn. Golds, reds, and splashes of orange dotted the surrounding trees. A slight breeze was in the air, and it caused a few wayward leaves to tumble down the sidewalks. The morning sun had risen far enough to melt away the frost that had descended around them from the night before. It was definitely the perfect day for being outdoors, which is where Austin preferred to be. He had always enjoyed every chance he got to be outside on a jobsite. Unlike many of the families that came from money, Austin was self made and had come from a very humble beginning. After loosing both his parents in high school, he had earned a scholarship to attend Boston College. He’d graduated with honors only to move on to a job where he was little more than a gopher. He worked his way up and soon left the firm to open his own. Two colleagues who had worked with him left, and the three men had created one of the most profitable architectural firms in all of Boston. But in spite of his success, he reminded himself on a daily basis that things could change in the blink of an eye.
His wife, for one, had been taken away all too soon and there was nothing he could have done to prevent it.

Together, Austin and Hannah had packed a picnic and loaded up his truck to head over to Melanie’s. The drive was quiet at first, as both seemed to be daydreaming off in their own world. Hannah had an impish smile on her face as she glanced over at her father, who was lost in his own thoughts.

Austin broke the silence first, “So, you and Katie seem to be pretty close?”

“Yeah, we’re like sisters,” Hannah grinned.

“Hannah,” Austin gave her a warning glance.

“What dad? I know you really like Dr. Andrews. I know that this is your way of beating around the bush to see if I’m okay with things,” she cocked her head to the side. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

“You know me so well,” he laughed and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

“So, what is it that you really want to know?” she giggled.

“Nothing really. I just think it might be nice to have them around more often,” he shrugged.

“You mean like...marry her?” Hannah’s voice hitched as she thought about the possibility of Katie becoming a sister in reality.

“Not right away. These things take time,” he chuckled. “Just wanted your opinion on the matter, that’s all.”

“Dad, it doesn’t matter what I think. It’s
your
life. I’m leaving for college in a few years. You haven’t been this happy in a long time,” she reasoned. “Were you like this around mom?” she turned to him. She rarely talked about her mother, since she had few, if any, memories of her.

“No one can replace your mother,” Austin deadpanned. “She was my first love. We were young and crazy about each other,” he got a wistful look on his face. “But yes, I haven’t been this happy since she was around,” he reached over and patted his daughter’s knee.

“We’re here,” Hannah brought him back to the present, and then jumped out of the truck before he could even get it turned off. She raced up the stairs and pounded on the door as Austin was rounding the vehicle, laughing at her impatience.

A knock, or more like a pounding on the door, startled Melanie and Katie as they were finishing up getting ready for their day at the zoo. Melanie was moving about her room trying to put the finishing touches on herself, and Katie was tying her shoes in the family room.

“Mom, I think I hear them at the door,” Katie called in the direction of the hallway.

“I’ll be out in a minute. I have to finish getting dressed,” Melanie yelled back.

“Ok, I’m just going to let them in. We’ll be in the living room waiting,“ Katie skipped to the door and opened it to let Hannah and Austin enter.

“She’s still getting dressed,” she pointed down the hall. “She said she’d be out in a minute.”

Austin nodded as he walked over to the hallway and shouted down the hall, “It’s just the zoo! You don’t need to be all fancy!”

“I’m coming,” she announced as she opened her bedroom door.

Austin had turned around so he didn’t see her. If he had, he would have led her back down the hall where he could’ve kissed her in private. When she walked into the family room and turned to grab her purse he stumbled over a nonexistent bump in the floor. She grinned at his clumsiness. A small giggle erupted from her lips as she tried in vain to hold it in. He recovered from the shock and stood somewhat dumbfounded.

“What?” she looked at him. “This is ok, right?”

She had put back on the Red Sox sweatshirt that she had conveniently stolen from him earlier that day and matched it with a pair of jeans. She looked down to make sure nothing was out of place.

“Uhhh, yeah. Better than ok,” he scanned her form slowly with a predatory gaze, wishing he could take her and drag off somewhere right then and there.

He didn’t know if she had taken the sweatshirt with her on purpose, or by accident. Whatever her reason, it brought a stupid grin to his face that he couldn’t cover. He couldn’t remember seeing her dressed so casual. She’d pulled her hair back in a low braid and tugged a baseball cap on. The youthful attire took years off her already young appearance. The more he stared at her, the harder is was to turn away.

Hannah looked over and giggled as she slugged him in the gut, “Dad? Ready?”

“Uhh sure, let’s go,” he shook himself back to the present.

Melanie shook her head and grinned. She’d never seen him so flustered and tongue-tied. This was not the Austin that she was used to. Normally he was so confident and sure of himself. It made her feel beautiful and desired to have him react this way.

The four made their way out to Austin’s truck and piled in. The girls climbed in the back of the extended cab and immersed themselves in talk of boys and school. Melanie was absently glancing around as Austin pulled away from the curb to head towards the zoo.

As he was driving, he was having a hard time concentrating on the road. He kept glancing over at her, marveling at how relaxed she looked. He was anything
but
relaxed at the moment. He had shifted in his seat several times trying to adjust himself so that his arousal wasn’t so obvious. He couldn’t believe how this woman affected him. Never in his life had anyone turned him on the way she did, not even his wife. It seemed that every time he was around Melanie, his cock jumped to attention, letting him know that she was there. He shook his head as he moved his hand from the steering wheel to rest on his thigh, strategically blocking it from her view. He silently wondered if
he
had the same effect on
her
.

At the same time, Hannah was glancing back and forth between her dad and Dr. Andrews. She kept smiling and giggling at how tongue-tied and antsy he was getting. She pulled out her cell to text Katie.

Hannah: He’s got it bad. I think he wants to marry your mom. LOL

Katie jumped slightly and pulled her phone out of her pocket when she felt it vibrate. When she saw that it was from Hannah, she looked at her and raised her brows. Hannah pointed at the two in the front of the truck and then at her phone trying to get Katie to understand that she didn’t want them to know what she was talking about. Katie finally understood and nodded as she flipped her phone open. She read the message and sent one of her own back.

Katie: Haha, I think so too. My mom likes your dad a lot. She won’t admit it but she does.

The messages continued to ping back and forth as the girls giggled in the backseat.

Hannah: We need to plan something for them. Let’s see if maybe they’ll let us cook for them one night.
Hannah snickered and sent the message.

Katie:
I can’t cook. Where would we be during this?

Hannah:
We could have it at my house. We’ll hang out in my room.

Katie laughed silently and high-fived Hannah.

“What’s so funny back there?” Austin glanced in the rearview mirror.

“Nothing,” they answered at the same time and erupted in a fit of giggles.

Just then, they pulled into the zoo parking lot and began unloading.

“I packed us a picnic for later,” Austin looked over at Melanie.

“You didn’t need to do that,” she sighed. “I feel bad, I haven’t done anything for this trip.”

“You’re here. That’s enough in my book,” he walked around the truck and grabbed her hand with a grin, pulling her in the direction of the ticket window.

The girls trailed behind the two adults, laughing and shouldering into one another. Katie pointed at them and watched as Austin placed his hand in Melanie’s back pocket after he wrapped his arm around her waist. When they approached the window, he let go of her to pull his wallet from his back pocket.

“Four please,” he told the clerk at the window.

“You don’t need to pay for us,” Melanie gasped as she began to dig in her purse for her wallet. “I can get that.”

“I know you can, it’s not a big deal; we invited you out, it’s our treat. Family day, remember?” he shrugged his shoulders and took the tickets from the attendant.

“But...” Melanie began to argue.

“No buts, here,” he handed her a ticket.

Once they walked through the gate, Austin wrapped his arm around her waist again and placed his hand back in her pocket, this time giving her backside a gentle squeeze. Melanie leaned into his side and mumbled, “Watch it mister.” Katie elbowed Hannah and both girls sighed as they watched their parents.

“It’s so romantic,” Katie looked at Hannah.

“I’ve never seen my dad like this. He always seems so uptight all the time,” Hannah waved her hand at the couple. “Your mom is good for him.”

They both giggled and took off at a jog to the first exhibit.

“Keep your phone on in case we get separated!” Austin yelled at the girls’ backs as they charged ahead.

“We will!” Katie shouted behind her as the two laughed and made their way to see the elephants.

“Hannah knows not to get too far ahead,” Austin assured Melanie as she glanced at him with worry in her eyes. “They’ll be fine.”

Melanie began to relax more and more as they walked from exhibit to exhibit. She leaned her head onto his shoulder and enjoyed the feel of the afternoon sun on her face. The troubles with Zach and issues at the hospital seemed to finally be able to melt away.

oooooooooo

Austin could feel the tenseness in her shoulders begin to slowly dissolve under his attention. As she leaned into him, he removed his hand from her pocket and wrapped his arm around her shoulders instead. She sighed and rubbed her nose against his neck.

“Careful, you’re playing with fire right now,” he groaned.

“That’s ok,” she whispered. “I’m a doctor remember, I can treat a burn.”

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You know you can have that shirt if you like it that much.”

She blushed and looked up at him, “Thank you, but I already claimed it as mine anyway.”

He chuckled and shook his head, “Is that right?”

“Yep,” she smiled. “You aren’t getting it back.” She pulled the sleeve up to her face and inhaled deeply. “It smells just like you, makes me feel close to you.”

Austin just laughed and pulled her tighter to him.

oooooooooooo

The sun was beginning to set as the group of four made their way through the last habitat.

“Ready for something to eat?” he asked.

“Yes!” Hannah and Katie both shouted.

“Let’s go back to the truck, and we can stop at the park on the way home,” Austin suggested.

“Sounds great,” Melanie replied.

Once the group had piled back in the truck, they made their way to the local park. Melanie was so lost in the blissful bubble that had been created for her that day that she didn’t realize they were there until she heard a door slam. The girls had jumped out, and were making their way towards a big grassy area.

“You coming?” Austin had opened her door and was standing in front of her grinning.

“Yeah,” she turned to climb out only to have him pin her to the side of the truck. She giggled as he moved in to claim her mouth. The kiss was frantic and hungry. His hands grabbed her hips holding her against the side of the truck as he pushed his body flush against her. His lips moved hungrily as his tongue swept in and began to duel. A groan escaped him as she ran her hands up his chest to wrap them around his neck. A hand left her right hip only to slide down and grab her thigh. When he moved to tug it upward and bring them to an even more intimate embrace, she released his neck to push on his chest. “Stop,” she panted. “The girls, they might see us.”

Realizing that he was getting carried away, Austin backed up, breathing heavily. “I’m sorry,” he gasped. “It’s just…I’ve been waiting all day for that.”

“Me too,” she cocked her head to the side and smiled saucily as a deep blush caused her already flushed face to darken even more.

“Are you two coming, or are you planning on making out all day?” Hannah shouted.

Austin flashed a sheepish grin at Melanie as he moved around to the back of the truck to remove the picnic basket and give himself time to calm down. The encounter had put him in quite an embarrassing state. Melanie noticed he was using the basket to cover himself, and she couldn’t help but giggle as she yelled towards the girls, “We’re coming!”