Living Lies Read Free Page B

his intent. She strained to recall the precise words he had used when he called.
    “Maybe he’s returning some notes or a book he had borrowed,” she pondered out loud.
    What if, she thought, filling with horror and humiliation, he shows up at the door with Carolyn on his arm?
    “You’d look like a complete idiot,” she said, looking down at her legs, bare to mid-thigh.
    Melanie reconsidered her outfit and purposely put a damper on her excitement. Pulling on a pair of dark jeans and a red sweater that was warm though less fashionable than Jen’s outfit. Tying the laces of her black work boots that had never seen a day’s work, she grumbled at her lack of confidence and slipped back into student mode.
    Combing out the curls and clipping back her auburn hair, she scaled down the makeup and looked more like the girl he saw daily in class. She glanced at her watch. It was 6:58.
    He’ll be late , she thought just as the doorbell rang.
    “Oh, shit,” she said, dragging all the cosmetics off the counter and back into their basket. “I’ll be right there.”
    The thick rubber soles of Melanie’s boots barely hit the tiled hallway as she bounded to the door. Sucking in a deep breath with every intention of letting it out slowly, an unsubstantiated remedy to cure erratic nerves, she forced it out in one sharp gust and opened the door. Danny Ashe. Her heart swelled as she stole a quick glance over his shoulder, verifying that Carolyn was nowhere in sight.
    “Hi,” he said, looking around. “Are you expecting someone else?”
    “No, come inside,” she giggled. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, excitement and nervousness.
    “These are for you.” He smiled, the light catching golden streaks in his brown eyes, she embraced the flowers she hadn’t even noticed he was holding.
    “Thank you, I’ll put them in water.” She tucked her face into the petals and breathed in the fragrance. Trish had half a dozen vases in the kitchen cupboard and Melanie knew exactly which one she would use.
    He trailed her into the kitchen where she contemplated hopping onto the counter to reach the top shelf before he asked, “Can I get that for you?”
    “Please, the blue one.”
    As he brought down the vase they were just inches apart and Melanie could feel her blush rising from beneath her sweater.
    “You look really beautiful.”
    “Thanks,” she felt awkward accepting the compliment distracting herself by unsystematically arranging the flowers. “I need a second.”
    “Take your time,” he said, his hands shoved deep inside the pockets of his heavy canvas jacket.
    Oh My God , she cautiously glanced at him before gliding back to the bathroom. She held her breath, unplugged the curling iron, took one last look in the mirror and smiled.
    It is a date with Danny. Her heart sputtered as she unclipped her hair and grabbed her lipstick.
    Danny had draped his coat on the back of a chair, his back toward her when she returned. Melanie took a moment to admire the Levi’s that lightly hugged his muscular contours.
    “You have a nice place,” he said, turning when he realized she was behind him. Assessing a photo that had been taken at Sea World in September. Trish had dated a guy who fed the dolphins and had arranged a private showing for the girls. In the picture they were all making faces and Trish had tried to give rabbit ears to the dolphin. “You seem to have good friends. I’ve seen you together at the club.” He smiled, and looked embarrassed as he placed the frame back on the crooked TV unit she’d got from a second-hand store. “So, are we ready to go?”
    He ran his hands through that perfect blond hair. How many times had she dreamed of this moment?
    “I’m ready.”
    The warmth of her happiness spread from the pit of her stomach to her cheeks and despite the cool evening air she felt toasty. He opened the door and Melanie climbed into his faded, old red Jeep. The CJ-7 had seen better days – it smelled of motor