might not be open. I’ll wait to make sure Liam’s around so you can get your motorcycle back.”
Spence got out and headed for the door. Sure enough, it was locked. He pounded on it a few times with his fist. He waited a few seconds to see if there was any response and then tried again. This time, he heard someone on the other side of the door. Luck was with him, because it was Liam who opened the door.
“You survived, I see. I had my doubts.”
“So did I.” Spence laughed. “Thanks for taking my keys.”
“Anytime. I’ll go get them.”
While Liam disappeared back into the bar, Spence jogged back over to where Melanie was waiting for him. He leaned down to look at her. “He’s getting my keys, so you can go. Thanks again for everything, and I’ll let you know about the cottage this afternoon.”
“Sounds good. I should be home in a couple of hours.”
He patted the top of the car. “See you then.”
Spence started to walk away but immediately turned back. “If you don’t have plans for dinner, why don’t I pick up something for both of us? Do you have a preference?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “I’m not picky, especially when I don’t have to do the cooking.”
He’d made the offer on impulse, but it pleased him more than it should have that she accepted. “Okay, then. I’ll drop by around six.”
“See you then, Spence. Tell Liam hello for me.”
Spence stood back out of the way as she drove away, the whole time debating whether he’d actually deliver her message. He had no claim on Melanie. She was only being friendly, so there was no reason to be a jerk about it. It wasn’t as if this dump was the kind of place she’d start hanging out in on a nightly basis.
The man in question reappeared. Liam tossed Spence his keys. “It’s in the garage in back. Come on, and I’ll unlock it for you.”
As he unfastened the old-fashioned padlock on the door, Liam gave Spence a sheepish look. “I have a confession to make. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a Harley that nice. I took it for a couple of laps around the block before I put it away.”
Spence wanted to be mad, but he owed the guy for how he’d treated both him and Melanie the night before. Liam had gone above and beyond for the two of them. “Not a problem. I would’ve done the same.”
He climbed on and started the engine. “Thanks again. And Melanie said to say hi.”
Liam nodded. “Your lady is good people. Stop in again sometime.”
“Will do.”
Spence revved the engine and headed back toward Melanie’s to check out the cottage. As he did, he realized he should’ve told Liam that Mel wasn’t his. Next time, maybe he’d do that. But then again, maybe not.
Chapter 6
M elanie let herself into the corner office, one of several that made up the second-floor interior balcony. It used to be her father’s, and it still felt strange to think of it as hers. It didn’t help that the factory down below was eerily quiet. During the workweek, a constant cacophony of machinery echoed throughout the two-story structure as the employees made the custom-order doors, cabinets, and other wood products that were the company’s mainstays. As a librarian, she was used to working in relatively quiet conditions. Here in the small millworks that had been in her family for generations, silence was a rarity.
Since taking over the company after her father’s death, Melanie had slowly become more accustomed to the endless racket made by power saws, nail guns, lathes, and forklifts, but some days it was still too much. Whenever she really needed to concentrate, she came in on weekends, when the crew was off.
At least today, she didn’t plan to stay long. The payroll report was finished, and Melanie just needed to review it before signing off so the paychecks could go out on Wednesday. It was one of the jobs she always saved for when she was alone. Reading the numbers always left her feeling a bit sick. No matter how many
Spence got out and headed for the door. Sure enough, it was locked. He pounded on it a few times with his fist. He waited a few seconds to see if there was any response and then tried again. This time, he heard someone on the other side of the door. Luck was with him, because it was Liam who opened the door.
“You survived, I see. I had my doubts.”
“So did I.” Spence laughed. “Thanks for taking my keys.”
“Anytime. I’ll go get them.”
While Liam disappeared back into the bar, Spence jogged back over to where Melanie was waiting for him. He leaned down to look at her. “He’s getting my keys, so you can go. Thanks again for everything, and I’ll let you know about the cottage this afternoon.”
“Sounds good. I should be home in a couple of hours.”
He patted the top of the car. “See you then.”
Spence started to walk away but immediately turned back. “If you don’t have plans for dinner, why don’t I pick up something for both of us? Do you have a preference?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “I’m not picky, especially when I don’t have to do the cooking.”
He’d made the offer on impulse, but it pleased him more than it should have that she accepted. “Okay, then. I’ll drop by around six.”
“See you then, Spence. Tell Liam hello for me.”
Spence stood back out of the way as she drove away, the whole time debating whether he’d actually deliver her message. He had no claim on Melanie. She was only being friendly, so there was no reason to be a jerk about it. It wasn’t as if this dump was the kind of place she’d start hanging out in on a nightly basis.
The man in question reappeared. Liam tossed Spence his keys. “It’s in the garage in back. Come on, and I’ll unlock it for you.”
As he unfastened the old-fashioned padlock on the door, Liam gave Spence a sheepish look. “I have a confession to make. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a Harley that nice. I took it for a couple of laps around the block before I put it away.”
Spence wanted to be mad, but he owed the guy for how he’d treated both him and Melanie the night before. Liam had gone above and beyond for the two of them. “Not a problem. I would’ve done the same.”
He climbed on and started the engine. “Thanks again. And Melanie said to say hi.”
Liam nodded. “Your lady is good people. Stop in again sometime.”
“Will do.”
Spence revved the engine and headed back toward Melanie’s to check out the cottage. As he did, he realized he should’ve told Liam that Mel wasn’t his. Next time, maybe he’d do that. But then again, maybe not.
Chapter 6
M elanie let herself into the corner office, one of several that made up the second-floor interior balcony. It used to be her father’s, and it still felt strange to think of it as hers. It didn’t help that the factory down below was eerily quiet. During the workweek, a constant cacophony of machinery echoed throughout the two-story structure as the employees made the custom-order doors, cabinets, and other wood products that were the company’s mainstays. As a librarian, she was used to working in relatively quiet conditions. Here in the small millworks that had been in her family for generations, silence was a rarity.
Since taking over the company after her father’s death, Melanie had slowly become more accustomed to the endless racket made by power saws, nail guns, lathes, and forklifts, but some days it was still too much. Whenever she really needed to concentrate, she came in on weekends, when the crew was off.
At least today, she didn’t plan to stay long. The payroll report was finished, and Melanie just needed to review it before signing off so the paychecks could go out on Wednesday. It was one of the jobs she always saved for when she was alone. Reading the numbers always left her feeling a bit sick. No matter how many
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