It was only seven in the morning, but Melvina could hear the phone ringing as she stood beneath the hot spray of water. She had the rain shower head installed when she’d remodeled the bath last summer. As the phone rang again and again, she cursed her best friend, Mona, and her video chat torture tactics. Damn Eli. Did he have to tell Mona everything she did? Knowing she wouldn’t get any peace until she answered the ever-ringing phone, Melvina toweled off and wrapped the soft cotton around her, tucking it in to secure the top.
“Hey, Mona. Don’t you work anymore?”
Mona pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “Of course I still work. It’s a clause in my trust fund, as you well know, but I don’t have to be there until nine.”
“Well, I’m kinda in a hurry this morning. I’m supposed to meet Maurice at the library for a Spring into Reading course and then I promised Pop I would help out for a few hours.”
“But it’s your day off, and I wanted to invite you to lunch.” Mona complained as if it was her own freedom at stake.
“The fill-in-girl’s sister had her baby and things haven’t gone so smoothly. The baby is having some difficulties.”
Mona’s eyes went soft, “Oh, I’m sorry. Okay then.” She waited a beat, her eyes rounded, as if she was waiting for Melvina to say something else. “Melvina Rayanne Banks, if you don’t tell me what the whole town is talking about, I’m going to have to unfriend you.”
Melvina wanted to laugh at Mona’s empty threat. “Mona, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I guarantee half of it isn’t true, and unfriending is something you do on social media. I don’t do social media.”
“You know what I mean, Mel!” Mona paused, pressing her lips together as she waited.
Melvina didn’t budge.
“Well, why don’t we get together for dinner and you can tell me what is true.” Mona pulled out a bright pink makeup pencil to line her almost nonexistent lips, using the phone as her mirror.
Remembering she was pushed for time, Melvina set the phone down and ran a comb through her own hair as she responded. “I can’t. I’ve got a Blossoms meeting tonight.” Dabbing moisturizer over her face, Melvina added, “Actually, I really could use your advice because I truly don’t know what I’m gonna do. How about we meet for a drink at Bubbles around five. I’ll give you the skinny before I go to the meeting at seven.”
“Done! We’ll catch up then. I’ve got to tell you about the thing I bought for Jorden. Oh, by the way, there’s a package on the way to your house. I ordered it yesterday, so keep an eye out. It should arrive today.”
Melvina watched her brow furrow as she stared at her own reflection in the bathroom mirror. “It’s not my birthday.”
“It will be soon enough, but it’s just a little something I saw online that you could use to tend your garden.” Melvina glanced down at the phone to see Mona moving a wand of mascara over her eyelashes.
“Okay. Thanks, Mona. You’re such a sweetheart.”
Maurice and the ten other students who signed up for the spring reading course were a joy to read with. They spent most of the morning going over language drills and a few small quizzes to find out what the students already knew. The kids were different ages, so Melvina divided them into three groups. She put Maurice in charge of the boys at his table to help build his confidence. He had come a long way since she’d first met him at the beginning of the school year, but his father’s recent disappearance was affecting his performance. The school year was almost over and there wasn’t much time to recuperate.
He’d gotten two Cs and a D on his latest report card and he’d flunked physical education last quarter, alarming Melvina. The boy could run faster than a jackrabbit, so she knew things were off. The mentor program couldn’t develop quickly enough in her book. Maurice and the other kids needed positive role models. If there was anything that would keep her involved with the Blossoms, it was heading up the programs that helped their small community. Thinking of Maurice, she tried to tamp down her desire to quit the treasury position over Celia’s petty insults.
Melvina drove to Bubbles feeling slightly self-conscious in Pop’s catering van. The mechanic had called a couple of days earlier and she was wondering how she would survive until the work was done. Apparently, they were waiting on a part from China.
The elegant lounge was casual enough, but even the trucks in the parking lot were squeaky clean and new. Pop’s van had seen better days and was at least a decade old. At least she’d worn nice, fitted jeans that hugged her curves and made her derrière look like she’d done a thousand squats. The silky coral blouse with a wraparound, fluttery fringe complemented her slight tan and made her waist look trim. The red, strappy heels she’d bought at Devil’s Diva gave her a boost of confidence. She reminded herself that she couldn’t stay more than an hour chatting with the meeting looming over her head.
She didn’t know what advice she could expect Mona to come up with, but God knew Mona had tons of experience in this department. She’d juggled more men than a circus clown juggled bowling pins.
The cool air conditioning assailed her as she breezed into the restaurant to find her friend sitting at a plush booth near the front window. It was still early, and the lounge was mostly empty.
Mona smiled, motioning Melvina to join her. Without preamble, Mona jumped right in. “Spill the beans,” she blurted.
“What have you heard?” Melvina countered warily.
“Only that you are two-timing Manny Owens with that hot new chef we met the last time we were in this very booth.”
Melvina felt her heart race with guilt, but not sure why. She didn’t have commitments to either Manny or Riley. “Who told you that?”
“Eli told me he saw you in some fancy black car last night when he was closing up. Jorden and I were at the café for a late-night ice cream after hot-hot sex. Then we went back to my place and did it all over again,” Mona giggled. “But that’s beside the point. I was talking to Loretta Harrington, who said she’d heard from Manny’s sister, Trish, that Manny had called her to get his truck detailed for some reason. And she thought it was for a hot date, and—”
Melvina held her hand up. “Enough, Mona. I can’t handle all the gossip. Especially when it’s about Manny. I don’t want to be a part of it—and I can’t believe Eli was the start of this thread. I’ll have to talk to him about not talking to you. You’re the worst gossip I know!” Melvina tried to sound angry, but it was impossible when Mona’s pink lips were pursed with pushy curiosity, waiting for all the juicy details. Melvina complied, indulging her friend with the specifics of her date with Manny at Braised, then how Riley had swung by the next day. She spent more time talking about the garden and Riley’s nephews than the two kisses.
“Seriously, that’s it? I tell you every detail of my love life, even show you Jorden’s assets and all you have to share is some measly kisses without any steamy details.” Mona’s voice carried, and the two women in the booth across from them turned to look.
Melvina shushed Mona. “And that’s exactly why. Would you take it down a notch? I’m working myself into a migraine just thinking about running into both men at the meeting. Riley is catering the event, and Manny—well for obvious reasons—will be there.” She rubbed her temples, then took another sip of her wine spritzer. She couldn’t afford to be tipsy but needed enough to take the edge off. She silently reminded herself that she had nothing to feel ashamed or guilty of, but her conscience reminded her what a good man Manny was, how she’d been crushing on him for years, and how she’d only just met Riley.
What’s wrong with me? Why am I acting like such a ninny?
She chalked it up to her years as the chubby cupcake girl. She wasn’t exactly experienced in the relationship department, and even though she was forty years old, it suddenly felt like she was back in high school.
Mona dug in her purse that was shaped like a big daisy. “Migraine? I got just the thing to fix you up.”
Melvina waved her off, “Oh no, been there done that and have the chocolate covered shoes to prove it!”
Mona plopped her Pez dispenser next to Melvina’s wineglass. “It’s just a pain reliever. I know how you work yourself into a frenzy worrying about things. You won’t be able to make it through the meeting without it.”
“You’re probably right. If I take something now, I can probably head off sleeping in the dark tomorrow on my day off.” Melvina chased the blue pill with her spritzer. “Is it Aleve?”
Mona shrugged and finished her martini. “I don’t know. Probably some generic brand I picked up.”
Melvina rolled her eyes and smacked her own forehead with her hand. “You don’t even know what you gave me?”
Mona’s eyes widened with pretend innocence. “Don’t worry, I’m ninety percent sure its generic naproxen.” Pausing a moment as she looked up like she was searching for a pair of socks in her brain.
Melvina’s mouth dropped. “Ninety percent! What about the other ten?”
Mona grabbed her keys. “I better drive you.”
Melvina didn’t feel much different than she had at the restaurant. She was a little more relaxed and confident as she entered the hotel. They kept a separate dining room available for such meetings. She circled her menu selection with the small pencil near her place setting and put it to the side for the waiter to pick up. She wasn’t hungry after the cocktail with Mona, but she did feel a certain zing of confidence and something else she couldn’t name.
Melvina watched as a few of the firemen she knew, along with Manny, filed in through the dining room door. In dark denim jeans that lay snug against his muscular thighs and a light blue button-down casually rolled up at the sleeves, he was the picture of raw masculinity and he was headed her way. Manny wasn’t a large man, but his broad shoulders and kind confidence heightened his attractiveness. His country gentleman ways were oh, so appealing. Manny bent down and placed a kiss on her cheek, whispering a breathy hello in Melvina’s ear. He took the seat next to her, which momentarily thrilled Melvina, then terrified her as Riley entered through the same door.
Riley moved with ease across the room, brushing off a few of the Blossoms’ coos of hello before being waylaid by Celia. His eyes scanned the room, landing on Melvina. His lips pressed together in a stiff line as Celia asked him a question. He pointed toward the other seat next to Melvina, but Celia pressed the matter by holding his bicep and pointing to a chair at her table. Another Blossom joined the conversation, smiling and nodding to him and Celia. He finally shrugged, letting himself be led to the center of the long table.
Melvina felt a moment of regret and then relief as she remembered Manny was sitting right next to her. Both men were too hot for their own good. Riley in his lightweight designer denim that hugged him in all the right places and Manny with his fresh soap and earthy cologne. The excitement was too much for her to concentrate on her own notes as the meeting was called to order.
Celia gave her opening speech, thanking Riley in an elaborate introduction along with Manny and his accompanying firemen. Manny moved to the center of the table where Riley stood. After a few moments of discussing the pageant, there were more than a few giggles and guffaws as the chief elaborated on the firemen practicing their catwalk strut and pole dancing in the firehouse. “I’m told that Robert, or Ro-bear, as we call him now, has perfected the twerk. Don’t ask me what that is, because I’m not sure I want to know.” Manny’s warm Texas drawl sent a jolt of heat through her. She loved his sense of humor and his ability to laugh at himself—or in this case, Ro-bear.
Riley chimed in with a culinary story from the last barbecue he hosted for his fireman brother’s friends. “…It was then that Joe and the boys broke into a line dance that looked like it had been choreographed by the Dallas Cheerleaders. That’s when I knew this would be an event that I didn’t want to miss.”
Melvina was glad he hadn’t called it a beauty pageant. Riley and the chief seemed to really hit it off. Melvina knew it should be awkward with the two men she was interested in standing side by side, staring straight at her.
Get ahold of yourself, Mel.
The two men were engaging with all the members at the meeting. It was just her gaga brain playing tricks on her. They didn’t have eyes only for her. A steady throb started to pulse at the juncture of her thighs, and she was having a hard time concentrating.
It was then that Celia mentioned that Riley should emcee since his brother’s model girlfriend had politely bowed out. Manny nodded his agreement, but then added, “You and Melvina would be great!”
Riley turned to Melvina. The throbbing she’d been trying to ignore now zinged. She crossed her legs, trying to quell the steady pulse that sent naughty thoughts racing to her brain. She didn’t fear public speaking but couldn’t imagine herself on stage, holding a microphone and making funny comments while half-naked men paraded in front of her, especially with Riley standing next to her as Manny looked on. It conjured up an entirely new illicit picture to think about. She shifted in her seat, trying to think of mundane chores she had to do tomorrow to stop her libido from running wild.
What is wrong with me?
You need to get laid, that’s what.
Stop it, Melvina. Focus.
Melvina’s brain seemed to be playing tennis with itself. Shooting comments around like a wayward tennis ball. Did Manny just volunteer her as emcee? “Um—I’ll stick to baking, thank you.”
The Blossoms applauded with zeal at the chief’s suggestion. She knew she was well liked amongst the ladies who had elected her for three terms in a row.
Riley clapped loudly with them, “Great! Maybe we can pair the competition with a bake-off. We can call the whole thing a Hot Buns Competition.”
The peals of laughter and cheers that followed made it hard to resist the challenge. She joined in the chuckles clapping lightly, but her body was on a high of its own. Melvina was gazing at the two men standing in front of the room with more than community appreciation. Her nipples tightened from the silky material of her blouse brushing against her. Remembering Riley’s lips on her neck, Melvina’s breasts ached to be touched. Manny held up an arm, trying to quell the hoots of appreciation, and Melvina admired his thick biceps, remembering how they’d wrapped around her when they’d kissed.
She’d never been one for fantasies, but the idea of being sandwiched between Riley and Manny was hard to shake from her mind at the moment. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but she was on high alert and the pulse between her legs continued throbbing. She was starting to worry she would leave a wet spot on her chair. She took a sip of water, hoping it would cool her down.
“Melvina,” Riley called to her, “What do you say?”
“Sure, I’ll take on your buns any day.” She was aware of her double-entendre, and the ladies around the room squealed again with delight. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one drooling in the room. Manny and Riley were a good-looking pair.
Celia’s face was pinched with what Melvina recognized as maximum irritation. The Blossom president liked to be the one coming up with the ideas for promotions, and Celia’s red face and narrowed eyes was a reminder to Melvina that Celia did not like sharing the spotlight. Especially when it came to male attention.
Melvina decided to throw Celia a bone. “But I draw the line at baking hot buns. I’ll leave the emcee position up to our Blossom president. She’s much better at public speaking than I am.”
Celia smiled broadly. Riley and Manny nodded at each other with less enthusiasm, but the fate of the contest was sealed. Riley would provide all the smoked brisket and Melvina would make all of the buns, except for the batch Riley would make for the small competition. They would invite a few of the neighboring bakeries to take part and help boost the revenue for the event.
When the coffee and tea was served and the dessert was finished, the ladies gathered around the guests to say goodbye, chatting up a storm. Melvina made good use of the distraction to let herself out of the hotel banquet-meeting room. She made a quick exit to the valet. She texted Mona, but there was no immediate reply.
“Damn it, Mona,” she said out loud as she plopped down on the bench near the front door. She crossed her legs in frustration and felt her pants tug against her women’s center. She quickly uncrossed them, tugging self-consciously at the fabric over her knees.
“Need a lift?” Riley’s rich voice sizzled into the night air, assailing her with a shiver that had nothing to do with the breeze.
Melvina waved her hand at the empty pickup area. “Mona dropped me off and said she would give me a ride home, but I guess she’s caught up somewhere. I’m sure she’ll remember to come fetch me eventually.”
Riley extended his hand to her. “Come with me. Text your friend that you’re all taken care of and I’ll bring you home.”
Melvina couldn’t think of an excuse not to and if she hesitated too long, Manny would be out any second and then what?
More complications, that’s what.
“Okay.”
