Melvina Rayanne Banks, don’t get above your raisin’.
Melvina never understood what Granny meant by those words. Why would any grandmother ever tell her grandchild not to aspire to be something better? Now she got it. Their mother, Rayna, had always wanted more. She wanted to be in the spotlight and a part of the fancy culture that was available in the big city. She left her family for what? Who knew? Rayna must have changed her name or maybe met her end. She wasn’t famous and the few times Melvina searched for her on the internet, there wasn’t a thread of new information.
Riley would have been the perfect man for Rayna. He was all polished, southern charm. As one of the wealthy elite of the metropolis, he probably got invited to big soirees and sophisticated events. The highlight of her social calendar always involved the name Magnolia Blossoms written in the invitation. Melvina knew she didn’t want to leave Magnolia. Pop, Eli and Mona were everything to her. No matter how many times she had dreamed of running off and starting a successful bakery in a bigger town or city, she knew she loved Magnolia. She could still have her dream, but she was sure now it would happen here at home. There was a lot of growth in the surrounding areas, and it was only a matter of time before she could save enough to make it all happen.
Melvina shook off her self-loathing.
I’m a good person and I deserve a good partner. I deserve love and success. I deserve a good life.
The self-help recordings swirled through her brain.
She was letting her imaginary social class separate her from a man she really liked. Riley had shown her nothing but good manners, and he’d even introduced her to his family. He was amazing with children and animals, and though he had seen her with Manny on a date in his restaurant only a few nights before, he was an exemplary model of politeness to Manny. And the best part was, he talked and acted like he wanted a relationship with her.
As for her abilities in the kitchen—well, she was just as good as Riley James Nash, and she was going to prove it. When she won the blue ribbon for the Hot Buns Competition, the media would spread the word. Then maybe she would feel comfortable in his world.
When she pulled into her drive, Humphrey lay on the top step of the porch and his long basset ears hung down like two pigtails touching the step below. Eli sat next to him in his basketball shorts and tennis shoes. He was either on his way to the gym or on his way back. Melvina waved to him as she got out of the car.
Eli and Humphrey both stood. Her brother’s long legs were a great contrast to Humphrey’s short ones. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been here for over an hour.”
Melvina looked at him perplexed. “Was I supposed to be here?”
He smiled sheepishly. “No, sorry. I’m just used to you being home on your day off, or not gone for long, and there’s nothing to eat.”
Melvina couldn’t hide her own grin as she looked up at his towering stance. “Sorry, little brother. It appears I have a life.”
He raised his eyebrows and pressed his lips together as he blew out a breath.
“I heard.” He pulled something from his gym shorts pocket and quirked his head in question as the string of tangled lingerie hung from his index finger. “You want to explain why this is in Humphrey’s toy box?”
“Give me those.” Melvina grabbed them, scowling up at him as she tried to suppress her laughter. They still had the tags on them, or she knew her brother would have never mentioned the mangled ball of satin and lace.
“You mean there is more than one item here?” he gawked.
Melvina walked through the front door and made a bee-line to the kitchen. She looked in the fridge and pulled out a carton of whole milk. She stepped into the pantry, pulling out all the items needed to make gluten-free pancakes for Eli. She loved feeding people, but her little brother made her feel warm inside with all his praise of her cooking, so it was a joy to bake for him. Cake would take too long, so pancakes would have to do.
“Mona,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “She thought it was funny, sending me those strings she calls underwear.” Melvina shook her head as Eli laughed.
He watched her as she heated the stove and poured oil in the pan. “I should have known. You need me to help?”
“With the pancakes or Mona?” Melvina smiled, knowing the answer.
“Something in the kitchen. Mona’s your friend,” he pointed at her as he shook his head, eyes wide in denial.
Melvina looked at him with a sassy tilt of her head. “Oh really? Then why are you two always gossiping about my life?”
Eli ducked his head and studied a magazine on the kitchen island as he rocked back on the barstool. “It’s not gossiping when you’re talking about family to family. And since you brought it up, what’s up with you and the chief, then this other guy?” He looked at her now with pointed interest, shoving the magazine aside as she handed him a glass of chocolate milk.
“It’s none of Mona’s or your business,” she countered, but then thoughtfully confided. “I don’t know, Eli. Truth be told, I don’t know what’s going on. Celia is all over me about the IRS audit, and I know she has the hots for Manny, but now Riley, too, and I haven’t done anything, but suddenly both of them asked me out.”
Melvina shook her head as she flipped two cakes onto the plate and handed it to Eli. The microwave dinged, indicating the syrup was hot and ready. Eli scooped a chunk of butter on top of his pancakes before dousing them with syrup.
Melvina’s mouth opened in shock. “What is that?” She pointed to the glob of butter. “Are you my brother? Is the no-saturated-fat phase over?”
Eli shoved a big bite of pancake into his mouth and moaned, speaking around the bite. “Everyone’s got to cheat sometimes, Melvina. Man cannot live on meat and vegetables alone.”
Melvina laughed. “Glad to hear it, as long as we’re talking about food and diets.” The comment brought her thoughts back to Mona, and she wondered how her best friend was getting on with Jorden after the ex-wife’s visit. “You seen Mona?”
Eli nodded, then washed down the cakes with the glass of milk, pounding his fist on his chest as the food settled. “She was at Pop’s right before I came here. She was meeting her new beau, I guess. When I left, they looked like they were having a serious discussion. However, you are derailing the subject. What’s between you and this famous chef guy? The whole town’s talking about how you broke the chief’s heart.”
Melvina shook her head, slapping her dishtowel on the counter. “I don’t know, Eli. One day I’m Melvina Banks, Magnolia Blossom treasurer who volunteers at the library, the next I’m a sultry heartbreaker.” She heaved a deep sigh. “We both know that no one ever pays attention to me unless they are talking about community work or the café, and now, all of a sudden, I’ve got two men interested in me. Manny takes me out and I think that it’s all great, but I like Riley, too. He picked me up and we spent the day together. There was nothing to it really, but I have this feeling….” She paused. “And then he took me home when Mona hung me out to dry, and well, that’s enough of that story.” She waved her hand in the air as if to bat her thoughts away. “By the way, if Mona EVER offers you something from a Pez dispenser, for the love of God, don’t take it!”
Eli about fell off the kitchen stool as his hands came up to keep the milk he’d just swigged from shooting out of his mouth.
Melvina covered her face with her hands, peeking out at Eli through her fingers. “Oh my God! She told you, didn’t she?”
Eli continued laughing as his face turned red.
“I’m going to kill her,” Melvina said. “Is nothing sacred in this family?”
After Eli regained his composure, he picked up his gym bag and knelt down to scratch Humphrey behind the ears. “So, who’s it going to be? The chief or the chef?”
“It’s not that easy, but I think Celia made that choice for me. She sent Manny over to Braised, where he saw me with Riley.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
Melvina sighed. “It does after last night.” She blew out a breath she’d been holding as she looked down at Humphrey wagging his tail.
“That doesn’t mean anything either. It’s not like you have a commitment to the chief or Riley. If you still like Manny, there’s plenty of time, but it sounds like you haven’t made up your mind, yet.” He stood.
Wrapping his arms around Melvina, he rested his head on top of hers. She loved Eli’s hugs. He always knew just what to say and his reasoning was true. She was single. There shouldn’t be this feeling of pressure. Manny was a nice guy. Would he wait for her?
“You’re right. I’ve liked Manny a long time. Now here I have the chance and I can’t quit thinking about Riley. I don’t even really know him. He just breezed in here and swept me off my feet. He’s big-time celebrity chef, and I’m just a small-town baker. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You may live in a small town, but you are not just a small-town baker, Mel. You are part of the glue of this community, and no matter who you choose, he will be lucky to have you.” Eli backed away, looking her in the eye. “I mean that.”
Touching her nose with his index finger, he smiled and headed toward the door. She heard his keys jangle as Humphrey followed him out.
Melvina stroked the big yellow cat who jumped on the counter. She knew her brother was right. She needed to remember his words later when she might forget. Humphrey busted back in through the side doggie door, strings of lace and satin dangling from his mouth as he made his way to his plaid plush bed. Melvina snapped a picture and sent it to Mona captioned Humphrey loves his new toy.
Riley wasn’t sure what had changed Melvina’s mood and made her rush out of Braised, but he knew it had something to do with the Magnolia fire chief showing up. They’d been on a date recently. Hell, he had sent them champagne, but when Melvina obviously showed interest in him last night, he thought her decision was made.
He didn’t think she was the kind of girl to take two different men to bed in one week, but who was he to judge if she did? He would be a Neanderthal to think that way, but he couldn’t hold back the ache in his stomach, thinking that Melvina might have something more going on with Manny Owens than just a first date and maybe a good night kiss. He didn’t have the right to be jealous, but he was. He wouldn’t be if Melvina hadn’t skated out of there like her tail was on fire. He kicked himself for calling her baby and then Mel. They weren’t on that level yet, and he knew he shouldn’t be overly familiar, except—damn, she had been almost insatiable in bed. Riley knew she felt something for him more than just the chemistry they shared between the sheets, not that he could forget the way she set him on fire then and now.
Riley held tight to the bar, not moving when the bartender came up with two racks of glasses. “Just set them down and I’ll put them away, and can you go offer Ran and the boys a cold beer.”
After a few moments of shelving glasses and running a towel over the bar, he went to his office to think. It was his day off, but without being able to see Melvina, he wasn’t sure what else he wanted to do, so he threw himself into paperwork.
The following morning, he drove out to Lexi’s and made breakfast for her and the boys. He offered to take them to the zoo afterward, but Lexi told them they had other plans. “You’re welcome to come along. There’s a children’s author at the library today and Naughty Nana is Damien’s favorite book. Nana, the sheepdog, will be there, and the kids can’t wait to see her.”
The last thing Riley wanted was to go to the library, but he remembered Melvina spent a lot of time teaching kids to read, so he readily agreed to drive them.
Lexi grinned, shaking her head. “I think your sports car wouldn’t look cool with a car seat in it. We’ll take the van.”
He nodded in acceptance. “Okay, I’ll follow you over, just in case I need to slide out early.”
Lexi gave him a knowing look, rolling her eyes as she ushered the boys out to the car.
“Hey, whatever happened to the pretty lady you brought by last week?”
“Nothing. I saw her yesterday. She’s good.”
“Well you should bring her around again. The boys really liked her, and I think she’s good for you. Maybe she can tame your bachelor ways.”
Riley nodded as he got in the car. His eldest nephew ran to the passenger side and jumped in. Riley lowered the window and called out to Lexi, “Is it okay if Gus rides with me?”
Lexi nodded. Riley smiled, giving the other boys a wave. He made a show of peeling out at the end of the drive. He imagined his sister’s irritation, but the whooping of his nephew’s pleasure was worth the set-down he would get when they arrived safe.
Riley was disappointed when he didn’t see Melvina anywhere in the library. He did enjoy seeing Damien so enthused over the story reading, and afterward, when all the kids fawned over the massive sheepdog.
The author, Saralyn Richard, was previously a teacher and had a special way with kids. The boys had recently lost Captain, their Blue Heeler. Actually, the dog had belonged to the boys’ dad and had become the family dog after the wedding. Lexi had put off getting another puppy since the loss of Captain had been like losing her husband all over again. It had broken Riley’s heart to see his sister and the boys so upset.
He loved dogs but didn’t have time to take care of one the past few years or he would have gotten one for the boys to enjoy. Riley would talk to Lexi again. It was time. All young boys needed a furry friend. After purchasing a book for each of his nephews, he darted off to the restroom while they were getting their books signed. He caught a glimpse of a woman with blonde hair in an adjacent study room. She leaned over a long table with the Hispanic kid he had met the other day. When she straightened and looked at him, his heart did a little flip.
“Melvina,” he said with pleasure. “I thought maybe you were working today. I mean, you weren’t out there.”
She smiled as she walked toward him. “And you were?”
He grinned sheepishly. “Lexi and the boys. Damien loves that book,” he explained.
“It’s a good one. I bet they are all over that dog.” Melvina said, smiling as Riley nodded.
“Hey, you want to join us for lunch or the zoo? I’m trying to get the boys to take me to see the elephants.”
Melvina looked back over her shoulder at Maurice. “I can’t. I kinda got something to finish.”
“You guys got much longer? We can wait. The boys really like you, and they would probably love to meet the kid if he wants to come.”
“You mean Maurice?” She smiled, hesitating as though mulling over the idea. Finally, she nodded. “Yeah, I think we could use a break. I’ll call his mom and tell her I’ll drop him at his house afterward.”
Riley’s spirits soared. Now he just needed to talk Lexi and the boys into the zoo.
Melvina enjoyed seeing Riley’s sister and the boys, but seeing Maurice laugh and act his age instead of like an adult was priceless. It was a fun venture for everyone, and Riley feeding the elephants was the highlight of her day. She had a picture of him with the boys all holding bags of peanuts as Maggie, the elephant, laid her trunk over his shoulder and riffled through the bag, giving him a wet smooch after procuring enough of the tasty treats.
Lexi took the boys home after, and Riley insisted on taking Maurice home before dropping her off. Maurice seemed to have had a lot of fun, but in the calm of the aftermath, in the quietness of the car, he seemed to retreat inside himself.
“Did you have a good time?” Riley threw over the driver’s seat as he turned into the small trailer park community.
Maurice nodded, but remained silent. Melvina gave Riley a tight smile for his effort. Rome wasn’t built in a day. As soon as the car stopped, Maurice raced out and headed toward the door. She asked Riley to wait while she went to meet Maria. After a brief conversation detailing their day, she returned to the car, waving as they drove away.
“What’s that all about? I thought he had a good time.”
Melvina shrugged her shoulders. “His dad disappeared a few months ago, and since then Maurice has been struggling. I thought today would be good for him, but maybe it reminded him of happier times with his dad.”
“Or maybe he has a crush on you and doesn’t want to share? I see the way he looks at you. The night I dropped you off at the library and met the little guy, I could tell he had it bad. I used to feel that way about my biology teacher, Mrs. Frasier.”
“Are you jealous?” She teased. “I bet you had a lot of crushes, but I don’t think Maurice has a crush. He’s just vulnerable right now. I’ve talked to the fire chief about letting him wash some of the trucks with them on Sunday. He really could use a good male role model. That’s really why I said yes today. I thought he could use some time around a man who cares about family.”
“So is that how you see me? A family guy? What about my famous chef status? You said Pop would be impressed.” He joked, smiling at her as his eyes twinkled. As his expression sobered, he concentrated on the road. “Seriously, since you brought up the fire chief, can I ask you a question?”
Uh oh, here we go.
The dreaded question she’d been trying to avoid, especially since she didn’t know the answer.
Riley pulled into the library and parked the car next to hers. Most of the cars that had filled the lot earlier were gone, and it was almost closing time. “What’s up with you and Manny Owens? I mean, I know that it’s technically none of my business, but I like you and I want to know what kind of chance I have before I put myself out there.” He put his hand on hers, rubbing a finger over the sensitive area at her wrist.
Melvina gulped. It was the moment of truth. “Honestly, I don’t know. I mean, he just showed up and asked me out and took me to Braised, and I had just seen you kissing Celia, so I said yes.”
“I knew it. I knew you were upset by that kiss, but Melvina, you didn’t let me explain. Celia kissed me. I didn’t want it. I got out of there as quick as I could. I saw you, tried to catch you. Damn near got a speeding ticket over it.”
Melvina put her other hand over his, forming a sandwich. It was time to come clean. “Riley, I didn’t go out with Manny because you kissed Celia. I’ve really liked him for a long time. It’s just that he was married, and then widowed, and I felt so guilty for even liking him that way, and he never seemed to notice me until you showed up. Then, suddenly—” she sighed with exasperation.
“When it rains, it pours,” he finished for her. He leaned back in his seat, a crease between his brows. “You still want to be with him?”
Melvina stared ahead, looking at the spray of gold, orange, red and blue of the setting sun. “I really like you Riley, but I hardly know you. We just met. You live in Houston and I live here. Your life is Braised and celebrity chef shows. My life is small town Magnolia, cupcakes, and working at Pop’s.”
“And the fire chief is Magnolia, too. Is that it?”
Silence engulfed her, then she found her voice.
“If you need an answer right now, Riley, I can’t give you one. If I asked you what the future held for you, could you honestly tell me that I’m in it?”
Riley paused in thought. “I’d like you to be, but I hear what you’re saying. I’m a patient man, Melvina. I can wait, but don’t keep me in the cooler too long. I’ve got my pride.”
