A Heart to Rescue Read online

  His hand at the same of her back reminded her of her earlier thoughts of seducing him if she had dared to invite him up to her condo. She wondered if she still would at the end of the night. The idea exhilarated her.

  She looked up at him through her thick lashes and saw that he looked happy and relaxed. She wanted to pinch herself to see if what was unfolding was actually happening. When she woke up that morning, the most she had to look forward to was eight long hours serving rowdy, drunk customers at Rumbling Rock. In the span of less than twelve hours, her life had been turned upside down. It scared her to admit that she was glad. As an extra bonus, she was able to have dinner with a smart, successful, and single man. Her life was looking up.

  They stepped into the restaurant, and Mel immediately saw what drew Nate to the location. The lighting was dim, and she could make out forty or so tables stretched throughout the room. From her vantage point next to the hostess stand, she could only see couples at each of the tables. There were deep booths lining the walls. The heavy mahogany wood and red and gold tones through the room reminded her an old-time dinner club. The restaurant had been designed for privacy. In the back corner on a small stage, a three-piece band played light jazz loud enough to be enjoyed, but also soft enough that it would not interrupt conversation at the tables.

  “Why haven’t I ever heard of this place?” Mel said, not meaning to say the words out loud.

  “Ardore is truly one of Spring City’s best kept secrets. They fill up night after night with absolutely no marketing or promotion, and it’s been open for over twenty years. I found it almost by accident when I was doing my own field research on the area’s competition,” Nate said in her ear.

  “Nathan, how nice to see you again,” said a soft, throaty, female voice.

  Mel turned and stared at one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Dark brown hair shone even in the dim lighting, framing olive skin and intelligent, piercing deep brown eyes. The woman moved around the hostess stand and embraced Nate. Then, as she gave him a peck on the cheek, Mel had the full view of her curves wrapped in a fitted red dress that fell to her ankles. A flare of jealousy crept up inside of her as she saw the woman’s hand linger a moment longer than she would have liked on Nate’s arm.

  “Daphne, this is Mel,” Nate said. “Daphne, I’d like you to meet my friend, Melanie.”

  Mel was secretly delighted that he had used her full name in his introduction, but even as he said the words, Mel could see his appreciative glance taking in Daphne’s enviable figure.

  “Hello, Melanie,” Daphne said, extending her hand.

  “Hi,” Mel replied, shaking Daphne’s hand and then pulling it away. She wanted to be outside of the other woman’s orbit as quickly as possible. She saw a slight tightening of Daphne’s lips as she looked Mel over. It was clear that Daphne didn’t approve.

  “I was telling Mel about your fantastic food. I know it’s a huge favor on such short notice, but I’m hoping that you can find a table for us,” Nate said.

  “Of course, Nathan, anything for you,” Daphne said. Mel had a feeling that Daphne meant for those words to encompass more than just finding him a table. Again she looked Mel over from head to toe and then she sniffed. “Give me just a minute and I’ll get you seated.”

  “Thanks, Daphne,” Nate said. He slid his arm around Mel’s waist and pointed at a small bar that she hadn’t noticed before that was off to the left hand side of the stage. “Let’s grab a drink while she finds a table.”

  Mel relaxed into his side and allowed him to guide her through the dimly lit room to the back and then gingerly poised herself on the edge of one of the bar’s tall stools. Nate took the stool next to her and moved it a few inches closer. “Don’t want to interrupt the band while we chat,” he said.

  She didn’t care if he wanted to sit in her lap. She just smiled. The bartender took their drink order, and soon two club sodas sat in front of them. “I’m not a big drinker,” she said. She could have used a glass of wine to calm her nerves, but she didn’t want to drink in front of Nate.

  “I wouldn’t have minded if you had something, but the gesture is appreciated,” Nate said. He raised his glass. “Cheers. Here’s to new acquaintances.”

  Mel clinked his glass. She was almost certain now that this was a date. She wanted to ask him, but couldn’t make her mouth form the words. She’d feel like a complete ass if he told her it was just a job interview.

  “You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” Nate said.

  “Not at all,” she lied. “So how do you like Spring City so far?” The question was semi-lame and she knew it, but she wanted to know more about him and that seemed like a safe starting place.

  “It’s very different than what I’m used to, but not in a bad way.” He shrugged. “The pace is a bit slower, but that’s exactly what I was looking for.”

  Mel remembered all the pictures she sorted through online of Nate at various events and openings. “Your life was pretty glamorous before you came here. No regrets about settling down in one place?”

  “If you know what you want, then it doesn’t really feel like settling,” Nate said. He leaned closer to her as his gaze lifted to the stage. “I love jazz. What’s your favorite kind of music?”

  “I’m a country girl,” she said. “But even I can appreciate a good jazz tune or two.”

  “So, unlike me, you’re a local,” Nate said, switching back to the previous topic.

  Mel made a face. “Yes. Born and raised here. My parents moved to Florida a few years ago though, so I don’t have any close family in the area anymore.”

  “You must have stayed then because you liked it.”

  And just that quickly, they tread into one of Mel’s emotional minefields. She was saved from answering by Daphne’s appearance next to Nate’s elbow.

  “Nathan, I have your table ready,” she said, not bothering to look in Mel’s direction.

  A few minutes later, Mel found herself ensconced with Nate in one of the deep booths that offered an unobstructed view of the stage. With pursed lips, Daphne promised that their server would be over shortly and then turned on her heel with an annoyed flick of her hair.

  “I hope you weren’t going to try to get me a job here,” Mel said, watching the other woman flounce away. Mel noticed that Daphne’s movement through the tables drew the eyes of almost every man in the restaurant; every man except the one sitting next to her. He was looking at Mel.

  “Why’s that?” Nate said, taking a sip of his drink.

  “Pretty sure your friend there doesn’t think too highly of me,” Mel said.

  Nate looked confused and then he jerked his thumb toward the front of the restaurant. “You mean Daphne? She’s really very sweet.”

  “I’ll bet,” Mel grumbled.

  “You’re cute when you’re jealous,” Nate said.

  Mel choked on her sip of soda. “I’m not jealous. I barely know you.”

  “Well, we’ve already established that you know something about me. I know a little bit about you. And for the record, I’m not interested in Daphne. I’m interested in you.”

  Mel’s heart started to race faster. “Me? Why?”

  Nate shook his head and laughed. “You are a complex woman, Mel. I admire that. Does it offend you to think that I’m interested in you?”

  Mel was afraid of saying something else stupid, so she just shook her head. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as Nate leaned in close and his lips grazed her earlobe. “I’m happy to hear that.”

  Mel thought she was going to swoon. She cleared her throat. “Maybe you should tell me about this job that you think you can line up for me.”

  “Let’s order first,” Nate suggested.

  The server arrived at their table as if on cue and recited the specials. Nate steered Mel toward one of his favorites, and then they were alone once again.

  “So you were saying about this job?” Mel pushed. She wanted to keep them on a s
afe topic until she had time to catch her breath and figure out how to act. She was definitely on a date. She had to play it cool.

  “I told you that I did a little research on you too. You have a Master’s in Art History and have exhibited your own work in galleries all over the state. Personally, I have to say that I don’t think the restaurant industry is probably the best use of your skills.”

  Mel’s spine straightened. Just like that, they were back in the minefield. “I don’t paint anymore, and I think that I’m the best judge of where I’d like to use my skills.”

  Nate continued on as if he hadn’t heard her reply. “I saw several pieces of your work on a gallery website. I have to say, I was surprised to see an artist of your caliber choosing to serve beer in a joint like the Rumbling Rock.”

  All the relaxed, happy feelings that had been coursing through her body moments before were gone. She was on the defensive. “It’s a job. It served its purpose.”

  “What was what? From what I could tell, you completely disappeared from the art scene six months ago and you had been doing pretty well for yourself.”

  “I don’t really want to talk about it,” Mel said, scooting a few inches away from him. She was trying to calculate how she was going to get home if she decided to leave, which she was almost ready to do.

  Nate’s hand on her arm stilled her. “Mel, I’m not trying to upset you. You can talk to me. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who is impartial. I learned that one first hand.”

  Mel looked down at his hand. She knew that her self-imposed exile was going to come to an end at some point. She just thought that she would feel more ready to deal with it when it did.

  She closed her eyes and sighed. Maybe he was right. She just had to get it all out there. “I worked in one of the galleries downtown. I started there right after college and grew really close to the owner. Her work was everything that I wanted mine to be. She mentored me, introduced me to everyone there was to know to help me build my network, and even sponsored my early shows to help me get my feet wet. Lacy was my best friend.”

  “So far, doesn’t sound horrible,” Nate said.

  Mel drew in a shuddering breath. “My ex, Harrison, was an artist too. I met him during one of the shows, and we hit it off even though he was so different from me. Lacy was very supportive of him as well, and that really helped us out when we first got together. Harrison was selling a bit more than I was at the time, but that didn’t matter to me because I never saw him as competition.”

  “But let me guess, he saw you as competition,” Nate said.

  “I had no idea,” Mel said as she fidgeted with her clutch. “Some of the things he said to me towards the end were so vile and nasty. He must have been bottling those feelings up for quite awhile. Then one afternoon, I came home from the gallery early because I wasn’t feeling well, and I found Harrison in bed with another woman.”

  “Oh, that is awful. I’m sorry, Mel,” Nate said, reaching for her hand.

  Her eyes lifted his, and she dropped the bomb. “He was with Lacy.”

  Nate’s eyes widened and then he winced. “Ouch.”

  “Ouch is an understatement,” Mel said. “I quit the gallery and kicked Harrison out of my condo. Then when they went public with their relationship, I didn’t know how to deal with it. I cut everyone associated with them out of my life. Which pretty much meant that I had no one left. That wasn’t even the worst part.”

  “There’s more?” Nate’s probe was gentle.

  “I lost the inspiration to paint,” Mel said, her voice choking. “Everything else I could deal with, but losing that part of me almost broke me. I thought that, given enough time, it would come back, but it’s been six months since I’ve felt the urge to pick up a brush. That was the part that was the most devastating. I blame them for robbing me of my talent even though I know that is completely irrational.”

  There was a silence as the food arrived. At the first bite, Mel had to admit that the food was delicious. She wondered if she had said too much too soon and if whatever had begun between her and Nate was already over.

  “My ex-wife was a piece of work,” Nate said. “I was traveling so often that she was able to fool around all the time. I suspected it, but my work kept me busy, and honestly we grew apart. Plus I won’t say that I was a total saint. I told you already that there was a lot of partying and late nights in my life at that time.”

  Mel was relieved. He was talking, and he wasn’t judging her. She nodded as he looked up as if to confirm that she was still listening.

  “I loved her once, but she changed into a different person. She seemed to relish throwing all of her indiscretions in my face. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I stopped drinking the day I moved out. I refused to let her negativity and bitterness about me and how she felt I had ruined her life have any kind of influence on my life anymore. It was…liberating. I felt like I had been set free. Then today, my brother called to tell me that he was getting married. To Olivia, my ex-wife.”

  Mel gasped. “Did you know they were together?”

  “No.” Nate shook his head. “I was blindsided by the news. The only thing I could think was that she was using him to try to get back at me, and he was making the biggest mistake of his life. The conversation ended in a screaming match, and we said some pretty unpleasant things to each other. After that, the only thing I could think about was that I needed a drink.”

  It all made sense to Mel now. “So you ended up at Rumbling Rock.”

  “Thing is, I sat there staring at that drink and questioning if I was going to let her win. Would I crumble and give into the rage that I felt inside? All of that stuff just kept spinning through my mind, and I couldn’t stop it. But then a beautiful, spunky waitress put a glass of water in front of me and gave me a choice not to give into the temptation to drink. In that moment, it all fell into place again. I won.”

  Mel reached out and took Nate’s hand. “I’m glad I was able to help, Nate.”

  He took both of her hands into his and turned them over, kneading her palms with his thumbs. “I’m telling you this because these hands were meant to paint. Don’t let yourself be distracted by the stupidity of those other people. You can be in control again. You just have decide that you want to be.”

  His thumbs were sending shivers of warmth shooting through her hands, and Mel almost thought for a moment that she could do what he said. But he didn’t quite understand, even though he empathized with her situation. “I appreciate you trying to help me, Nate. But I can’t. It doesn’t work like that.”

  A shadow crossed his eyes. “I’d like you to come in and update the artwork in my restaurants. I’m also still doing consulting, and I’d like you to join my design team. I think you’d be a perfect fit.”

  The offer was so unexpected that Mel didn’t know what to say. “That is really generous of you, Nate, but I can’t ask you to do that. You don’t even know me.”

  “I’ve been in the business a long time, and I may not know all there is to know about art, but I know talent when I see it. Don’t make a decision right now. Just say you’ll think about it.”

  Mel opened her mouth to try to decline again, but at the stern look on Nate’s face she sighed. “Okay.”

  Nate smiled triumphantly. “Great.”

  The rest of dinner was spent talking about various places where they both had traveled, and Mel discovered that Nate was even more charming and outgoing than she first suspected. It felt good to laugh and forget about everything for a couple of hours. She couldn’t explain it, but everything about the evening felt right. She found that she wanted to trust that feeling and not let it go. Nate had found a crack in the wall she had built around herself, and for once, she didn’t mind.

  After sharing a decadent chocolate dessert, Mel sat back from the table. “I can’t eat another bite,” she said.

  Nate reached around her and pulled her closer to him. Her heart skipped a beat as she found herself staring up into
his dark blue eyes. Then his thumb came up, and he licked it, causing Mel to think all sorts of dirty thoughts about what she wanted him to do with his tongue. Then he rubbed it against the corner of her mouth.

  “Got a little chocolate there. Hmm, it doesn’t seem to be coming off,” he said. When Mel didn’t respond, his head came down, and her eyes closed. She felt his breath as his lips stopped just shy of hers. Then she felt the flick of his tongue on the corner of her mouth, and she pushed her lips onto his, eager for his kiss.

  Nate groaned against her mouth, which made her even bolder. Her mouth opened, and his tongue slipped inside of hers as he deepened the kiss. She reached up and grabbed a fistful of his hair and tried to get closer. His strong hands grasped her waist as he pulled her against him. Feeling his hardness pressing against her thigh, she knew then that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  A clearing throat drew her attention as Nate broke the kiss. Mel turned her head and saw Daphne standing there watching them with a sour expression on her face.

  Daphne’s head snapped in Nate’s direction. “I trust you enjoyed your dinner, Nathan?”

  “It was excellent as always, Daphne. Thank you,” Nate said gruffly.

  As Daphne stormed off in a huff, Mel giggled. “Yea, I’m never getting a job here.”

  “If I have anything to say about it, those hands will never carry another tray in your life. I have an idea. Let’s go back to your place,” Nate suggested, nuzzling against her hair.

  “I’d like that.” Mel wanted nothing more than to find out what other things Nate could do with his tongue.

  “It’s a good thing you said you like driving fast.”

  In what felt like record time, Mel was letting Nate into her apartment. She threw her clutch on the table and turned to him with arms open wide. “Well, this is it.”

  Nate had already crossed the room to the far wall that was lit across the top by soft track lighting. “Wow. These are amazing, Mel.”

  She went to stand beside him, feeling shy and vulnerable. The six-piece collection covered the entire wall. She felt a little bit like she was introducing him to her children. “These were the last pieces that I painted before the end. I was going through a lot of different emotions, and it all spilled out on the canvas. No one has seen these yet. I’m not sure why I haven’t been able to part with them even though I feel like they are my best work to date.”