Glancing over at her brother, she asked, “Will Dak Navarro be at the wedding, Stonewall?”
Her brother looked at her curiously. “Why are you asking?”
“Because I’m curious. So please stop ‘big brothering’ me and tell me. I can take care of myself.”
Stonewall didn’t say anything, and Mellie knew why. He knew, better than most, about Dak Navarro’s reputation with women.
Still, she wasn’t lying when she’d told him she could take care of herself. When he’d been eighteen, Stonewall had gone to prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That meant Mellie and Granny Kay had been left to fend for themselves in a neighborhood that was no longer safe. So, they’d both started going to the gun range, to learn to shoot, and had taken a series of self-defense classes.
By the time Stonewall was released, the neighborhood had gone through a revitalization and resurgence. A lot of the abandoned homes had been renovated, and new businesses had opened. The riff-raff was eventually driven out. Now the Magnolia Oaks community was the most sought-after diverse area in Charlottesville, consisting of young professionals, artists and revelers who enjoyed the numerous nightlife hot spots in the area. Granny Kay’s home actually quadrupled in value. She loved being one of the eldest neighbors amid ‘a sea of young folk’, as she put it. Her new younger neighbors adored her and spoiled her rotten, and Granny Kay did the same for them.
Mellie had made the move at the right time and purchased a house on a street shaded with huge magnolia trees, just around the corner from her grandmother. She loved her home and was glad she’d made the investment when she had. And living so close to Granny Kay made it easy to check up on her, even while they both had their own space. And, as far as men were concerned, she could take care of herself there, too. She had no trouble recognizing a jerk a mile away. She knew when a man was drawn to her looks and nothing else.
She recalled a time as a teenager she’d felt sorry for herself when it seemed all the men in her life had deserted her. Namely, her father, her grandfather and then Stonewall when he’d gone to prison. Seeing she was headed toward ‘abandonment issues’ when it came to men, Granny Kay had taken the bull by the horn and shown her granddaughter that when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade. Granny Kay had lost the same three men – son, husband and grandson - but she’d persevered, stayed grounded and became stronger. Mellie knew that her grandmother was her role model, and Granny Kay had taught her that no matter what, life goes on and only the strong survived. “I know you can take care of yourself, Mellie,” Stonewall interrupted her thoughts to say. “But…”
“But what, Stonewall?” She figured it was a good thing they were having this discussion now and not at the wedding, just in case the intense attraction she’d felt for Dakota Navarro hadn’t been a figment of her imagination. And even if it hadn’t been, that didn’t mean she had to do something about it. Heck, he could very well be bringing a date to the wedding.
Her brother didn’t say anything for a moment, but just studied her. Finally, he added, “I couldn’t help noticing at my wedding, that you and Dak were very much attracted to each other.”
Mellie just grinned. “Hey, you were the groom. You should have only had your eyes on the bride—not noticing what was going on between me and Dak.”
Stonewall leaned over and kissed Joy on the cheek. “Trust me, I couldn’t take my eyes off my beautiful bride, but I didn’t miss the looks you and Dak were giving each other. Anybody who saw you two together would have noticed.”
“I didn’t notice,” Granny Kay chirped.
“Umm, neither did I,” Joy added.
“Well, she was, and he was. I saw them both,” Stonewall said.
“And like I said—” Mellie replied, grinning, glad to know the attraction had been mutual and not just a whimsical moment created by her brain, “—you should have only had eyes for Joy. I can take care of myself.”
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. “I hope you didn’t say anything to Dak about it, Stonewall.” Was that the reason she hadn’t seen Dak again since that night? He’d practically disappeared after the reception, and she hadn’t seen him since. In a way, she had expected a call. He could have easily gotten her phone number from Stonewall…or maybe not.
“No, I haven’t said anything. Even though I don’t act like it, I do know you can take care of yourself.”
Mellie smiled. “If there’s anyone you need to be concerned about, Stonewall, it’s Dak.”
Stonewall lifted a brow. “Meaning?”
She placed her glass of iced tea down. “Granny Kay didn’t raise a fool. If—and that’s a big if, since I haven’t seen or talked to Dak in two years—he and I decide to take our attraction to the next level, he’ll discover real quick that I’m not like any other woman he’s known before. So, you might want to consider warning him about me.”
Joy giggled, Granny Kay let out a laugh and Stonewall actually looked worried. Mellie was pleased to see that her brother’s concern seemed to be for his friend, not her.
DAK KNEW THE MINUTE Amelia entered the church, but he refused to glance over his shoulder to look at her. He had, however, saved a spot next to him on the pew, hoping that she would take it. Drew didn’t have any family and had made Granny Kay an honorary grandmother. As a result, the older woman would be escorted in by an usher and led to the front row.
He picked up Amelia’s scent the moment she began walking down the aisle and knew the moment she paused by his pew. When he glanced up at her, he immediately felt a deep kick in the gut. She was more beautiful than he had remembered. Her glossy black hair appeared longer and now fell past her shoulders. He balled his hands into fists, stopping himself from reaching out and sifting his fingers through the luxurious strands.
“Is the seat next to you taken?” she asked in what sounded like a breathy voice.
“It is now,” he said, standing and moving aside so she could sit beside him.
Once seated, she smiled and said, “Thanks.”
“It’s my pleasure, Amelia.” He knew all her family and friends called her Mellie, but he liked the name Amelia and thought it suited her better.
“How have you been, Dak?” she asked, in a whispered tone.
“I’ve been fine. What about you?”
“Overworked. Putting in far too many long hours at the hospital,” she said.
“Sounds like you need to take some time to relax.”
“Trust me, I intend to.”
Before he could respond, the wedding began. He tried not to notice how close they were sitting, or that whenever she shifted, their thighs or legs would touch. When that happened, he felt a rush of sensation race through his body. More than once, he glanced down at her hands that were clutching a small purse. They were beautiful hands, with fingernails that were polished a candy-apple red, matching her lipstick. A short while later, hearing a couple of sniffles, he glanced over and saw her crying. Weddings obviously made her cry. He recalled she’d cried at Stonewall and Joy’s wedding, too.
Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. “Thanks,” she said, dabbing her eyes.