“Really?”
I nodded. “I had a girlfriend, but we broke up a year ago. I’m not perfect.” I ran a hand through my hair and decided to be honest. “I tried Tinder, but I discovered that wasn’t for me. I’m not that guy.”
She pursed her lips. “I tried Tinder too. The first guy I met up with was so awful I threw a drink in his face and walked out. It wasn’t for me either.”
I grinned at her admission, wanting to assure her. “Since then, I’ve only dated a couple times. I’m not a player. I promise,” I vowed.
Miranda huffed out a sigh. “No, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. My last attempt at a relationship went badly, so I guess I’m a little jumpy.” She squeezed my fingers. “And I like you too, Colin. More than I should.”
I studied her for a moment. “I’d say I’m sorry your relationship went south, but I’d be lying. If it hadn’t, you wouldn’t be here with me right now. And that makes me incredibly happy, if I’m being honest.”
“Thank you.”
I grimaced. “I’m afraid to see what else is hiding in the car. Or my apartment. She stayed with me for two days, and I’ve been so crazy at work I haven’t checked. I hope I won’t find leftovers in my oven again. It took me weeks to get the smell out of the place when I turned it on, only to find she’d left a plastic takeout container in it and it melted.”
Miranda giggled. “She sounds… fun.”
“I adore her, but she is, ah, unique. You’ll meet her one day and see for yourself.”
She smiled, once again relaxed. “I will?”
“Yeah, I think you will. Now, how about that cheesecake?”
“Perfect.”
I walked Miranda to her door, the rest of the date thankfully smooth and disaster-free. We’d talked more and shared lots of laughs. Discussed the hospital, the worries of dating someone we worked with. Both of us agreed we felt something for the other that was different and we wanted to explore it. I showed her some pictures of my Nan and family, including Jennifer, so she knew I wasn’t simply telling her stories to cover my ass. We discovered we both had Nans named Sandy, and she told me more about her life. I was surprised to discover one of her favorite hobbies was rock-climbing.
“I love the challenge and the high when I beat an obstacle. When I reach the pinnacle, it’s so amazing.”
I confessed to never having tried it or having any interest in doing so before now.
“Maybe you can convince me to try it.”
“I’d like that,” she said.
She unlocked her door and turned to me, silence falling between us. Our eyes met and locked. I lifted my hand, cupping her cheek and stroking the soft skin. “Thank you for your patience and understanding tonight. And your help.”
She leaned into my touch. “Anytime.”
“I hope the next date goes smoother.”
“There’ll be a next one?” she asked quietly.
“If you want one.” My gaze flickered to her mouth, then back to her eyes. “Lord knows I do.”
“Yeah, I do.”
There was no thought. The next breath, my mouth was on hers. Her lips were soft underneath mine, and she moaned as our tongues slid together, touching for the first time. She tasted of tea and cherries, sweet and addictive. She wrapped her arms around my neck as my hands settled on her waist, pulling her close. I groaned as the kiss deepened, our mouths moving together, exploring and discovering each other. We were lost to anything but each other. The feel of her fingers moving restlessly over the skin of my neck. Sliding through my hair. The low sounds of pleasure coming from her throat. Despite the difference in our height, she was perfect in my arms, her body molded to mine. The world around us ceased to exist until the elevator door opened and her neighbor walked past us.
“There is a reason we have keys,” the woman muttered.
I pulled back, meeting Miranda’s startled gaze.
“I guess we got carried away.”
“I guess so.”
I grinned. “You better get inside before I ravish you some more.” I winked. “I’ll save that for the next date.”
She smiled. “I look forward to that.”
“Me too, Miranda. Me too.”
You’ve met the Vested Interest family
It is time for the next generation
A Merry Vested Wedding - Available NOW!
Nothing says romance more than a wedding at Christmas.
Marrying the love of your life, surrounded by your nearest and dearest at the most festive time of the year? What could be more perfect?
For Brayden Riley and Addison Ridge, it’s their dream wedding.
’Tis the season. Love and peace reign.
Right?
A waylaid maid of honor, a mischievous family member, and a father having trouble letting go are all typical blips in an otherwise ordinary wedding.
And one Christmas secret even Santa didn’t see coming.
Add in a snowstorm over the holidays, and one thing becomes clear.
Christmas may never be the same again.
A glimpse into the next generation of BAM - ABC Corp.
The Contract Series
The Contract (The Contract #1)
The Baby Clause (The Contract #2)
The Amendment (The Contract #3)
Vested Interest Series
BAM - The Beginning (Prequel)
Bentley (Vested Interest #1)
Aiden (Vested Interest #2)
Maddox (Vested Interest #3)
Reid (Vested Interest #4)
Van (Vested Interest #5)
Halton (Vested Interest #6)
Sandy (Vested Interest #7)
Vested Interest/ABC Crossover
A Merry Vested Wedding
ABC Series
My Saving Grace (ABC Corp #1)
Insta-Spark Collection
It Started with a Kiss
Christmas Sugar
An Instant Connection
An Unexpected Gift
Mission Cove
The Summer of Us Book 1
Standalones
Into the Storm
Beneath the Scars
Over the Fence
My Image of You (Random House/Loveswept)
Changing Roles
Happily Ever After Collection
Revved to the Maxx
Heart Strings
The Boss
About the Author
NYT/WSJ/USAT international bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of thirty-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.