Page 32 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
Melanie’s lips tightened before she replied, “I agreed.”
“Okay, we’ll go together then if you want.” My gaze locked onto hers.
“That’d be nice. Hope will be happy.”
“Good, then it’s settled.”
At eight sharp that evening, I pulled over to my house where Melanie and Hope lived. I walked past the security and entered to an ecstatic “Daddy!” as Hope ran to hug me.
“Hey, princess. I missed you.” I embraced her tightly, carrying her through the hallway until I was stopped in my tracks.
Melanie casually emerged from the room, dressed in a form-fitting, deep red dress that accentuated her curves, the straps sultrily hanging on her sun-kissed arms, her chocolate waves left flowing freely.
Goddamn.
She looked incredible. My heart skipped a beat as her gaze, emphasized by thick, long black lashes, locked onto mine. “Hey.” She smiled.
“Hey,” was all I managed to muster.
The moment felt surreal. There she was, the woman after whom I had relentlessly chased for three long years, standing before me, and I held our daughter in my arms. We looked at each other as if time stood still, as if no words were needed and all the things left unsaid didn’t matter anymore.
Until I heard the innocent, “Daddy, where’s Uncle Andy? I miss him.” Uncle Andy. The man I wanted nowhere near my family. The one who conspired with Callan behind my back and who, if it weren’t for the fact that we shared the same blood, would be dead now.
I glimpsed embarrassment on Melanie’s face as I turned to smile at Hope, trying to conceal the hatred I harbored toward my brother. Her Uncle Andy.
“Uncle Anders is away on a business trip, busy with work these days, princess,” I fabricated.
Hope’s big brown eyes fixed on me. “He comes to visit me soon?”
I forced a smile. “Daddy will talk to him, and we’ll see what we can do, okay?”
Hope nodded, beaming. “Yes!”
“Good evening, Mr. Vergoossen,” Betty greeted me shyly as she walked out of the kitchen at the other end of the hallway.
I turned to face her. “Good evening, Betty.”
“Let me take Hope so you can leave with Melanie,” Betty suggested, smiling, as she took Hope from my arms.
I planted a tender kiss on Hope’s forehead before they headed to the living room, Hope waving goodbye to me. I turned back to Melanie, who seemed visibly affected by Hope’s questions.
“I’m sorry she keeps asking about Anders.” Melanie sounded embarrassed and regretful. “It’s my fault.”
I took a deep breath. “No, Melanie. It’s not.” I extended my hand to her. “Shall we?”
She nodded, offering a smile and placing her hand in mine. I led her to the closet by the entrance, helped her put on her coat, and we headed to my car.
We arrived at the restaurant, and Melanie playfully teased me, saying it was typical of me to book the entire place. Perhaps it was, but I wanted privacy. I wanted an intimate setting where we could talk without prying eyes or eavesdropping ears.
The evening flew in a lovely atmosphere, just like in the old times. As if we never went our separate ways. As if we never had to go through this devious road. Being with Melanie, it felt so right.
She shared her experiences in Malta, her pregnancy, how tough it was for her in the final months, and the challenges of being a single mother. My muscles tensed every time at the mention of it because if... if things between us had gone differently, we would’ve experienced that time together, and I’d have loved every second of it.
Eventually, Melanie’s cheeks flushed, and I wasn’t sure whether it was the effect of the wine or my presence. After a few glasses, the tension eased, and we got close. Just an inch away, I could feel her warm breath mingling with mine, our gazes traveling up and down between our eyes and lips. I wanted to kiss her so badly, feel her lips on mine, forget all that had happened, and surrender to these feelings only she could evoke. But I couldn’t. Some things couldn’t leave my mind.
“Melanie... I have to ask you.” I hesitated. “I have to know.”
Her gaze flickered between mine. “Yes?”
