GOODBYE, TULSA; HELLO, MALIBU
MEL
By Wednesday morning, Mel closed the sale of her house. It was bittersweet and the family was eager to move in, which put Mel in a little more of a time crunch than she'd intended. She had asked Nikki and Kate over to help her pack, a little surprised that they'd agreed. Sitting around the kitchen for the last time, she looked at the two of them.
"Do you guys hate me?"
"Sweetie, we wouldn't be here if we did," Nikki said softly.
"I didn't intend for things to end up this way," Mel said. "I just want you guys to know that. I didn't intend to come back here and break up Tay's marriage and then break his heart. It just--we just--"
"I know," Nikki said. "It's okay. Hell, he was married anyway when you came into our lives. Right? I mean, nobody saw THAT marriage ending."
Mel smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. That's true."
She glanced up at Kate, who looked back at her, stone-faced for a moment before she spoke. "Look, I'm not really good at--at talking about my feelings or anything like that, so I'm just gonna say it. When you first came around, I didn't like you. Or, well, maybe I just thought I shouldn't. You know, because of Natalie and stuff. I did and said some things to you that were out of the way, things that I regret. But despite all that, you took me in and you made me feel included. And you didn't have to do that. And now I think of you as a sister and one of my best friends. And things happen. They just do. So you and Tay didn't work out. He's my brother-in-law, but if his relationships don't work out, they don't work out. It's none of my business. It's okay that you love Jason and it's okay if he's the one you want to be with. You're still one of my closest friends, no matter what."
Nikki nodded. "Same goes for me, too."
The three women burst into tears as they hugged each other for a few minutes before pulling away and drying their eyes. "Okay, then," Nikki said, taking a deep breath and smiling. "Let's get you on that beach in Malibu!"
-------------
Mel didn't want to go into this meeting Thursday morning. She didn't want to sit there and face Isaac, Taylor, and Zac and she didn't want to face the girls in the front office when she went to clean out her office. She didn't want to deal with any of it. But she had to do what she had to do.
Walking into the quiet conference room, Taylor was nowhere to be found. Mel wasn't sure why she was surprised, but she knew she shouldn't have been. She took a seat next to her attorney and across from Isaac and Zac as they looked back at her. "So...no Tay, huh?"
Ike glanced at his hands and over at Zac. "He, uh, said he would sign off on whatever decision was made here today."
Mel nodded in understanding. "Okay. I get it."
"We don't want your part of the label back, Mel," Ike said suddenly, surprising her. "We didn't sell it to you with the intention of taking it back. We made the decision because we know you have a sound business mind and that you were an asset to this company--and you haven't proven us wrong."
Mel took a deep breath and folded her hands on the table in front of her. "I can't keep it. There's no reason for me to. I can't hold on to a portion of a company I'm no longer going to be involved in. I won't even be around to know what's going on. It's ludicrous for my name to still be associated with it. I mean, especially considering--"
"What's it going to take to change your mind?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. I'm sorry. I leave for California tomorrow and I--well, I have no real intention of coming back."
Suddenly Zac's fist pounded the table. "Goddammit, Mel. Are you fucking listening to yourself? You don't belong in California."
"I know where I belong," she said quietly.
"So, what, once again you and Tay call it quits and you run away again? Are you gonna disappear for another ten years, maybe twenty this time? I wish I knew what the fuck went through your head sometimes."
"It isn't even like that, it's different--"
"Zac," Ike said quietly, in a futile attempt to calm him.
"You know what, just go," Zac said, standing up and ripping the paperwork out of her attorney's hand. He flipped through the pages and signed his name fiercely on each one. "If you really want to be rid of us that goddamn bad--again--just go ahead. I don't give a shit. We didn't need you then and we don't need you now. I don't even know why you ever came back in the first place." Throwing his pen down on the table, he stormed out of the conference room, all eyes watching him leave.
Mel's head dropped into her hands as tears filled her eyes. In an attempt to ward them off, she looked up and took a deep breath. "Just picking you guys off one-by-one, aren't I?" She said to Ike. "Better get it out while the getting's good."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry to see you go. I don't want you to leave. But I understand it. Life happens."
"I just--I wish I could make you guys understand that the decisions I'm making--they're not because of either of you. I'm not 'running away.' I'm simply moving on with my life. These are decisions for me. That's all."
"I know." He nodded toward the door. "They don't hate you. Zac's a little upset, but he'll get over it. And Tay--well, I don't have to tell you that he's stayed relatively quiet through this whole thing."
Mel nodded.
"I just want you to know, there's no judgment here," Ike continued. "What you and Tay had was what you had and it's nobody's business but yours. Had he not been...well, really the first one to give your relationship with Jason his blessing, I might be a little more confused. But things are happening the way they were intended, by whatever higher power that may be."
"He told you what he did?"
"I thought suggesting you call Jason was smart. I thought him giving you a chance at happiness was admirable. I have a lot of respect for my brother for that. And look at him, he was right. He was right, wasn't he?"
In spite of herself, she smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, he was right."
"He only wants you to be happy, too. And so does Zac. And so do I. It'll take them a bit, but they'll come around. Just don't disappear this time."
"I would never."
Ike took a deep breath and straightened up in his seat. "Well, then. Let's do some business and get this out of the way, shall we?"
-------------
A little later, after the crying fest that took place in the business office with the girls--Jeanette being the only one remotely excited since she was still seeing Mac, who lived in LA--Mel carried a cardboard box into her office and closed the door behind her, locking it. Taking a deep breath, she looked around and then she spied the landline phone on her desk.
Sitting down at the desk, she dialed Jason's number and put him on speaker phone. "Hey, gorgeous," he answered cheerfully. "You must have known I was thinking about you."
"Do you have news for me?" She smiled at the phone, feeling instant relief from her active nerves. She was so glad he answered the phone. SO glad.
"I do have news."
"Tell me, tell me, tell me," she said eagerly.
"Your man's about to become the hero in the biggest box office trilogy of the decade. What do you think of that?"
"Oh my god, sweetie, I'm so excited!" Her excitement bounced off the walls in the room and she lowered her voice, embarrassed. "I'm so proud of you, I knew you'd nail it! So what are you doing right now?"
"I'm sitting on the back deck having a celebratory beer, wishing there was a little lady stretched out in her bikini in this chair next to me."
"Please," she said, smiling into the phone. "I did my homework, I know what the weather's like there. It's not near hot enough to be bikini weather right now."
"It is on MY deck," he responded confidently. Her grin widened as his voice came through again. "So how did your meeting go?"
Mel sighed as she stood up, remembering why she was there. "It was...it was rough. Zac hates me right now."
"Was Taylor there?"
"No show."
"Didn't think he would be."
"Really?"
"Did you expect him to be?"
"I mean, it was a business meeting..."
"It was you giving back the only thing you had left of him and your relationship. Think about it."
Mel sighed as she started opening drawers. "Do you have me on speaker?" Jason asked her.
"Yeah. I'm still here. In my office. Packing up. I just--I just needed you to be here with me. Talk to me while I do this?"
"Yeah. Of course. Anything."
"I got the house packed up," she said as she emptied desk drawers and cabinets.
"That fast, huh? I've only been gone two days."
"I'm anxious to do this."
"Anxious, huh?"
"Yes. Extremely excited. I'm sending a truck there, but it'll be a small one. I'm not bringing back as much as I thought I was. I'm donating the majority of it, sent a box or two with Nikki to give to Tay--"
"So you're not gonna say goodbye to him?"
Mel shrugged, not wanting to talk about it. "I already did. Anyway, so the movers are coming early tomorrow and as soon as they get packed up, I'm hitting the road. Early. It'll take me a couple days to get there cause I'll have to stop--"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone," he interrupted her. "Back up for a minute. What the hell do you mean a couple days?"
"Well there's only so fast my Jeep can go."
"You're DRIVING?"
"Yeah," she said excitedly. "I thought maybe I'd stop in Vegas for the night or something--"
"No. Absolutely not, not going to happen," he said adamantly.
"It's not a big deal..."
"Not a big--are you kidding? You want to drive cross country by yourself and then spend the night in VEGAS? You're out of your mind, woman. What you're gonna do, is hitch that Jeep to the back of that moving truck, and then you're going to get on a plane and come home to me. THAT'S how it's going to happen. Period."
"I will NOT start our relationship this way," Mel said defiantly. "If you think I'm going to move all the way out to Malibu just so you can order me around, you have another thing coming."
"Mel, I don't give a shit what you do when you come out here. Honestly. But when it comes to your safety, you don't really have a choice. I'm not going to sit here for twenty-four hours, having a heart attack, while you're out there on the road, alone, in the middle of god knows where! You have no idea WHAT could happen out there."
"I really think you're blowing this out of proportion."
"I said it's not happening and that's final. What you're gonna do tomorrow is once that truck is packed up, and your Jeep is safely hooked up to the back of it, you're gonna go straight to the airport, get on a plane and fly here. As a matter of fact, I'm gonna sit right here while you book your flight so you can tell me what time to pick you up from the airport tomorrow night."
"Jason, I really WANT to drive--"
"Look, if you really have your heart set on a cross country road trip then I'll owe you one and we'll go together and it'll be a blast. But, please, if you really care about my sanity at all, you'll fly home and skip the road trip. Please."
Sighing, Mel was slightly annoyed with her change in plans, but also slightly touched by his insistence, too. Maybe she did need Jason to take care of her. She didn't know. But she couldn't lie--the idea of getting to him faster than twenty-two hours was definitely the selling point there. "Okay," she gave in. "I'll text you my flight itinerary as soon as I book it tonight."
"That's better. Look, don't think I'm a bastard or anything--"
"I don't think you're a bastard--"
"I just need you here. The anticipation is killing me."
She bit her lip and she smiled as she packed the last of her things into the box. "I'm excited, too."
"This is gonna be a big change, you know."
"I know. I'm ready for it."
"You sure?"
"I can't get out of here fast enough."
Moments later, when they'd hung up and Mel took one last look around the office, she opened the door and came face-to-face with Taylor. The blood drained from her face. He had heard every word.
-----------
The next day, Mel stood in the house as the movers moved her things out and into the truck. Nikki had promised to oversee the rest of the things being picked up for donation later and Mel was glad that it didn't seem to be taking the movers long to load the truck.
She couldn't get her mind off of the conversation she'd had with Taylor yesterday after he had opted not to show up for the meeting. He'd apologized for it and claimed that he only came by the studio to see if it was true--if she was really leaving. She'd said she was and that she signed her portion of the company back over and that the movers were scheduled to be at the house in the morning and that the house would be empty by that evening.
And then he had kissed her. And he'd cried. Causing her to cry again. He'd apologized for kissing her, citing that he just had to know--just one last time--that it was all for real. She had to remind him that he knew it was and that she knew she would be happy where she was going. "We're better for each other apart," she'd said to him. "We both know that. We're better as friends."
"We've never been just friends," he'd argued with her. "I don't know how to do that."
She'd smiled at him and told him it couldn't be that hard. And then she told him she'd miss him and he let her get in her Jeep and leave. And that was it.
Then her mind moved to Zac. Zac hadn't contacted her since his outburst yesterday. She hated leaving town with unfinished business like that, but when he got upset like that, there was no talking to him. She'd decided that when he decided to come around, he would, and then they'd be okay again. Which was why she was surprised when he showed up at the house to drive her to the airport.
Standing in the terminal, Zac said to her, "You know, if it was anyone but Jason, I wouldn't be able to wrap my head around it."
"I know," Mel nodded.
"I know he'll take care of you."
"He will," she agreed.
"It's scary, the idea of you leaving. I just--I got used to you again. You know?"
"It's not like last time. I'm not--I'm not a teenager running away from a problem this time. I'm starting a new life."
"One that doesn't include me? Or Tay or Ike?"
"Of course it does. You guys are my family, why would you ever think that?"
"Consider me gun shy, Mel. I don't know."
"I won't disappear if you don't."
"It's just--you're one of my best friends. We've had some times together. You keep my secrets and you hold my head while I puke. You're my drinking buddy. Who's gonna take care of me when I get drunk?"
"You and I both know you're not gonna get drunk voluntarily."
"That's not the point."
"I get your point. I'm not going anywhere, Zac, I promise. You are welcome anytime, no matter where I am. Whether it's Malibu or if I ever go on location with Jason while he's filming--anywhere. There are plenty of adventures left out there for us. Plenty of foreign food that needs to be eaten and plenty more foreign wine to get you drunk on. And it's not like I'm not EVER coming back to Tulsa, either. My parents are here, I'll visit."
"Having you here made things normal again."
She hugged him tightly and thanked him for bringing her to the airport. And then, taking a deep breath, she stepped through the boarding gate and into her new life.
------------
Mel hadn't realized how much she hadn't slept for the past couple of days when it took her nearly no time at all to fall asleep on the plane, only to be rudely awakened by a two hour layover in Atlanta, before she began her five hour flight to LA.
It was the longest five hours of her life.
Her body knew it was supposed to be after seven in the evening, but it was only after five in LA and the late afternoon sun was the first thing that met her eyes as she opened them from her nap in preparation to land. After taking a second to wake up, it dawned on her that she was about to disembark from the plane and right into Jason's waiting arms. That thought alone made her want to barrel through all of these people just to get to him.
When she first stepped into the terminal, she didn't see him. How could you miss a man like that, who stood at a hulking 6'4" above everyone else, with his piercing green eyes and his caramel-colored skin...dammit, where was he?
Mel sighed as she pulled her phone from her pocket. Was she early? Had the plane landed early? Did he go to the wrong terminal? She knew she should have stayed where she was, but at this point she was restless. Texting him didn't seem to be working and she wondered if he got tied up with work somewhere. If need be, she could take a cab or rent a car or something. She had his address.
As she adjusted the tote bag on her shoulder, she stepped out of the boarding area and into the broader atmosphere of the terminal, taking her time as she walked through. Every time she'd ever been in this airport it had been a rush and it was nice, for once, to step off a plane and not have to fight to be somewhere. But damn, where WAS he?
Her eyes lit up when she found Starbucks and she decided to stop for a little bit of liquid fuel she knew she'd need to survive this time change and the rest of the evening. Just this morning she'd been moving out of her house, saying her goodbyes to one of her best friends and brothers, flying through three different time zones all over the country and now it was only five-thirty in the evening and she still had an entire evening left to get acquainted with her new location and new home. It was a lot for a person to take in in one day.
As she reached into her wallet to retrieve her card to pay, a hand cut in line in front of her and handed the barista a card. "This is on me," he said.
Turning around, Mel looked up into Jason's smiling eyes and very nearly burst into tears of happiness. "Jason!" She threw her arms tightly around his neck as he lifted her off the floor.
He planted a kiss on her lips, a light moan escaping his throat and then said, "I'm so sorry I'm late. The traffic out there is fucking insane today."
"It's okay," she smiled. "I haven't been on the ground for long."
"I know, but I told you I'd be here--"
"And you are. What's the problem?"
As she retrieved her coffee from the bar and thanked the barista, Jason took her tote bag from her and carried it for her to the baggage claim. "I only have one suitcase," she informed him. "Just for what I need for the next couple of days until the movers get here."
"You could have brought your entire house to the baggage claim, I would have been okay with that."
Mel smiled up at him and laced her fingers in his. He truly was her hero and she let out a silent sigh as they walked through the airport together amidst the flashing cameras of awe-filled tourists.
Outside in the parking lot, he led her to black, four-door Jeep Wrangler and she smiled as he opened the door for her. "Why doesn't your choice in vehicle surprise me?"
"What? You loved the one we had in Cabo."
"I think it's funny that we both happen to own Jeeps."
He grinned at her. "It's just one more reason why we're made for each other, dear."
The drive was a long one. Mainly due to traffic, but he swore that normally, it was no more than forty minutes when traffic was flowing normally. "You drive forty minutes round trip every day?" She asked him.
"Well, no, not every single day. But the drive is worth the privacy I come home to."
Mel remained quiet for most of the ride, looking out the window and letting her mind wander. At one point, Jason reached over and took her hand. "You okay?"
She looked at him and smiled. "Yeah. I'm okay."
"Taking it all in?"
"Um, yeah," she said. "I'm just really tired."
"I thought you might be. Are you hungry?"
"Um..." She had to think about it. She kind of was, but she wasn't really in the mood to eat, either. She felt funny. She was tired, but her adrenaline was pumping and her nerves were shot--she was nervous as hell, she couldn't deny that. And a little scared. And all she wanted to do was to just sit and let everything sink in, even if it was just for an hour or so. She just needed to chill out. "Um, not...not really...I mean if you are, that's totally cool, but I just--I'm just not. Maybe later, though."
"Okay," he answered.
Mel had no idea what to expect when they pulled up to his house on Malibu Road. She didn't expect to park right there on the street, first of all. "Um, you just--you park this thing right here on the street?"
"Yeah," he answered, matter-of-factly. "It's a relatively quiet neighborhood, pretty safe. Mostly vacation rentals here, I don't always have neighbors."
"Why wouldn't you get a house with a garage?"
"Because I like this one."
Always a gentleman, he opened the car door for her and retrieved her suitcase and tote bag out of the backseat. As she reached up to retrieve her tote from him, he opted to ignore her gesture and carry it himself. She was surprised when he led her the few feet from the Jeep to a small, random, white wooden gate, tucked in by a low brick wall, green shrubbery, and a large tree that hung overhead. Looking around as he unlocked the small door knob, she felt like he was leading her into some type of secret garden or something.
She was in no way prepared for what lie beyond the small, quaint gate, however. When he closed it and locked it behind them, he led her into a spacious, open courtyard with privacy hedges that were neatly-trimmed and stood at least twenty feet high. To the right of the concrete walkway was a patch of grass that ran the length of the courtyard. To the left, a crystal clear pool which lit up under the darkened blue of the Malibu evening sky. Set off by palm trees, the area wasn't fancy, but it was enough for her to be impressed.
As she turned around to get the full view, she realized the two buildings they had come between as they walked into the courtyard. "What are those for?"
"Oh, those are with the house. A guest suite and a gym. I don't use either one of them."
"Not the gym?"
"Nah. They're both empty. I have a gym I go to in LA on a regular basis with my trainer."
"Hm," was her response. Her wheels were turning already.
Looking beyond them, at the main house, she saw nothing but windows. Two stories of them. It wasn't fancy, architecturally innovative, or overly gorgeous. But it had just enough glass to be impressive. She could see right through the front door and out to the beach. This was more than she expected out of him, she had to admit. For some reason, she expected him to live somewhere small--like maybe an apartment or a small, one-bedroom cottage. Not a two-story beach house with a pool and a guest suite and a gym.
"It's nothing fancy," he said, seemingly reading her thoughts. "It's not nearly as impressive as the house you had in Tulsa. It's small, but it's private and it's quiet, and you can't beat the view."
Upon entry of the house, a chill came over her suddenly. "Jesus, it's freezing in here," she said.
"Sorry," he said, stopping to adjust the temperature on the digital pad on the wall. "It was an unusually hot day today, sometimes I don't even realize this thing is running."
Mel stood in the middle of the living room amongst the open floor plan, looking around at her surroundings. To her left was the kitchen and the small dining room area. Immediately around her was the vast, open living space, and to her right was a small hallway. Behind her was a set of open stairs and above her was obviously the second floor. Everywhere you turned there were sliding glass doors and balconies, providing access to the outdoors from all angles. Everything was white. So much white, it was nearly blinding. Her wheels began to turn again. This would take some adjustment, as well.
"So what do you think?" Jason's rich voice interrupted her thoughts.
"It's, uh, it's nice."
"You hate it, don't you?"
She whipped her head around and looked at him. "No. I don't hate it at all! It's just--it's new to me, that's all."
He flashed a grin at her. "You haven't even seen the best part."
"I haven't actually seen any of it," she muttered.
But he was already guiding her across the room and opening the storm door that led outside. They stepped immediately onto a small porch, crossed the small grassy area that lie beyond, and then stopped on the wooden deck that boasted the line of lawn chairs. The wind blew and she could smell the salt from the ocean as she watched and listened to the crashing waves only feet in front of her. "Wow," she whispered.
She sat herself slowly on the edge of one of the chairs as Jason straddled the same one and sat behind her wrapping his arms around her. "Impressive, isn't it?"
"It's beautiful."
"All of this belongs to you," he said. "It's all yours, all of it. If you want it to be."
"You said this was a rental," she whispered.
"With the option to buy."
"Why haven't you bought it yet?"
"I was waiting for you."
"For how long?"
"Since I first moved in several years ago."
"Jason..."
"I, uh, I need to be sentimental for a minute. Okay?" He said as he ran his hands up and down her arms. "I know this is a big adjustment for you, but it is for me, too. And maybe--well, maybe the way I handled some things over the past few years may not have been the healthiest of ways, but--I always knew, Mel. Deep, deep down in my heart, I always knew. And every time--every time I walked through that living room or sat on this deck, or even swam a lap in that pool--I always saw you. I saw you here every hour of every day. When I first pulled up to that tiny gate when I first looked at this house, it had you written all over it. And now that you're here, I just--it's better than any fantasy I ever had. I don't ever want you to regret your decision."
She reached up and she touched her necklace as she stared out at the darkening ocean, taking in his words. He'd waited for her. He'd been so patient and he'd had so much faith and she'd been so incredibly blind. What in the hell had she done in this lifetime to deserve someone who loved her as much as he did?
"I love you so much," she found herself whispering to him.
He pulled her tighter and kissed her cheek close to her ear. "You're gonna be so happy here. I promise."
"I already am. But we gotta do something about all that damn white in there, cause that's not gonna fly with me."
Jason laughed and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You can do whatever you want, it's all yours."
They were silent for a moment, listening to the waves, Mel basking in the warmth of Jason's arms. Then she broke the silence. "What am I gonna do?"
"About what?"
"I'm not the kind of woman who sits at home all day, flipping through magazines and munching on bonbons. I have no company, nobody to write for, no parties to plan--did you know that I have virtually no skills? I mean, nothing steady? I've grown up doing odd jobs if you really think about it. Nothing career-worthy. Except the whole cop thing and you see where that got me."
"You just got here. I don't see why you have to be in such a hurry to take off again. Take some time, get adjusted. Take advantage of the house and the beach. Chill out for awhile. I just want you to be here when I come home. That right there will be all I need."
"You really are too much."
"I love you. I just want to take care of you. If you'll let me. I know you like your independence and all, but I just--I just want to take care of you. The way a man's supposed to."
"You've changed," she observed.
"No, I haven't."
"You have. It's not bad, it's just--different."
"How so?"
"I don't know...in the beginning you were more...I dunno, just kinda go with the flow. And now you're more...structured, maybe? More sensitive? I don't really know how to describe it. I shouldn't have even said anything."
"Well, maybe the 'flow' is just different now. We've both grown as people since then, you know. Back then I didn't have a steady career and I didn't have a plan--I was still flying by the seat of my pants, just doing whatever single guys did. And then--well, then I fell in love and I started to see things a little differently. I haven't changed at all, Mel. I've just grown a little, that's all. You've changed, too."
"I have?"
"Yeah. You're not as tense anymore. You're growing more and more open-minded by the day. You take more things in stride. And you just moved into a house on the west coast. That right there is an accomplishment in itself."
Mel smiled as she turned her head over her shoulder. "It's all because of you, you know. You bring out the best in me."
"What I really want to bring out of you," he whispered seductively into her ear. "Are the most vulgar and obscene sounds that could possibly come out of your mouth. I want you in my bed, without a stitch of clothing, calling my name, and gripping my sheets. Forgive me if I'm being too forward tonight."
"Which way is the bedroom?"
--------------------------------------------------------------
JASON
It took less than twenty-four hours for that woman to already start turning Jason's world upside down.
He had somewhat of a busy week that week. His schedule was chock full of meetings and training and he knew he would feel guilty leaving Mel at home, but he had to work.
Coming home after the gym the next day, with a couple of hours to spare before he had to head out again, he walked in his house and immediately spied the action next to the back deck. His mind was blown at the sight, Mel standing there in her tiny shorts and t-shirt, observing a group of Mexicans as they mixed and poured concrete into a patch of ground they'd dug up by the small group of privacy hedges.
When he stepped out the door, Mel looked up at him and flashed a million-dollar smile. That smile normally made him melt in an instant, but today he couldn't shake the shock. "What's going on here?"
"I'm having a walkway put in," she announced proudly.
"A--a walkway? It's literally feet from here to the deck. You just--you just walk across the grass. I'm not really understanding the need for concrete..."
"Well I don't want my heels to sink into the grass when I walk across and I definitely don't want to come out here after it's rained and it be all wet and squishy..."
"Your--your heels? This is the beach, what could you possibly need to wear your heels out here for?"
"What if we had a party or something?"
Her logic stunned him.
"So let me get this straight," he said, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index fingers. "You have uprooted the grass and had concrete poured--on a rental property, without the landlord's permission--just so you can get from the porch to the deck in a pair of stilettos?"
"They should thank me, I'm only adding to the value of their house."
"Unbelievable," he said under his breath.
Then he glanced down at her and the look in her eyes as she looked back at him made him putty in her hands. How could he say no to her? After all, he had uttered those famous last words: "You can do whatever you want."
And she had taken that and ran with it.
As Jason observed the men's work so far, Mel began to communicate with them, offering them water and then bounding into the kitchen. His heart started to pound as he began to realize the reality of his situation. This wasn't his house anymore. He had to share his space. He had to consider someone else when making decisions. He couldn't come home whenever he pleased and now he had someone to answer to--but at the same time it was everything he ever wanted. It grew old coming home to a quiet, empty house every night. Sleeping alone, eating alone, nobody to kiss goodnight or tell your hopes and dreams to. The single life could be lonely.
Except now he wasn't single anymore. He wasn't lonely, he wasn't sleeping alone. He had someone there who would be glad to see him when he walked in the door, someone who would be a sight for sore eyes after a long, tiring day. Someone to kiss goodnight and make love to until the sun rose. Someone to share a meal with and a walk on the beach as the sun set over the ocean. Someone to spend his life with, every single day.
As Mel came back outside, juggling multiple bottles of water in her arms, he watched her distribute them to the workers and communicate with them in broken Spanish. Broken Spanish? Since when did she speak Spanish? Damn, he had so much to learn.
Dropping his head, he turned around and headed back into the house, rubbing the back of his neck and hiding the smile that had crept across his face.
-----------------
The next day, day three of living with Mel, only brought on more disarray. Having been up since four in the morning, as he was every day, Jason walked in the house at noon after a grueling six-hours in the gym and all he wanted was a nap before he had to shower and meet with the casting directors later that day. The last thing he wanted was to come home to any surprises.
Fat chance of that happening when he parked his Jeep and noticed the temporary tag on the gray Viper he had pulled in next to. As he got out of his Jeep, and looked at the vehicle in awe, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "That's a goddamn GTS Anodized Carbon Special Edition. Holy shit..." He walked around the car in awe. Only fifty of them had been made and he practically salivated every time he laid his eyes on one. She was sleek and sexy and curvy...he nearly got a hard-on upon sight of it. But who the hell would park their Viper on the damn street out here? Especially one of this caliber?
He thought about that car all the way through the courtyard and into the house and, upon entry, found boxes everywhere. It was obvious that the movers had come and that Mel's perception of "I didn't send much" and his perception of it were two different things. He walked in on her as her iPod poured music into her ears that she hummed along with happily as she unpacked. It would have been a completely adorable sight had his muscles not been aching like hell at that very moment. And had he not been insanely curious about the car.
Noticing him standing there, she looked up and flashed a smile at him, removing the buds from her ears and turning off her music. It was in that instant that he put two and two together. "Holy shit, Mel, what did you do?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, confused. "What?"
"The movers came."
"I know," she grinned excitedly. "I'm kind of surprised they came so quickly. You never know with those moving companies, there are always delays and stuff."
"The movers came and your Jeep's not here."
Her smile widened and she giggled. "Did you see it? Did you see it out there? Isn't that the sexiest thing you've ever laid your eyes on?"
"Do--do you know what that IS?"
"Well, yeah, it's a Viper. I traded my Jeep in."
"You didn't trade shit, you made a small donation, that's what you did."
She frowned at him. "You don't like it?"
"I'm just--I'm a little confused."
"I've never had a car like that before. And when my Jeep came and I went for a drive, I looked around at all these cars and--well I got inspired. So I traded. Now I feel like I fit in."
He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to understand her. "Um, fit--I just--Mel, what's going on here? You're barely here 72 hours and you've already uprooted the backyard and spent god knows how much money on a rare as shit sports car. Is there--is there something you're not telling me? Are you not happy? Is this your way of filling a void or something? You're--you're kinda blowing my mind here."
She shrugged. "I'm just--I don't know. Trying to adjust. I don't know what to do with myself during the day sometimes, I guess."
Jason sighed, his heart going out to her. He was forever having to remind himself that she was in a brand new relationship and that she'd just moved halfway across the country on a coast she'd never lived on before. It was as if she'd stepped into a portal from one world to the other. He had to try not to be so hard on her about it. "Sweetheart, you can't just park a Viper as rare as that one out on the street like that," he said gently. "You just can't."
"I know. That's why when we buy this house, I'm going to convert the downstairs of that guest house into a two-car garage, that way both of our vehicles will fit and I'll be less likely to hyperventilate every time I walk in the gate."
"When we buy the house," he repeated.
"Well, I mean, after we've spent some time together here, if we decide we want to buy it, yeah. I'm still deciding. Hey, even if we don't decide to buy, you think the landlords might be willing to convert?"
Jason let out a breath. "Uh, I don't know."
She shrugged as she went back to the box she was unpacking. "We'll just have to see, I guess."
Observing all the boxes, he took one more look around at his surroundings. "So, uh, Martina didn't want to stay and help you with all this?"
Mel rose from the box she was unpacking and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Uh, yeah, about that..."
The hair on the back of Jason's neck stood on end. "About what?"
"She came by this morning. And I let her know her services were no longer needed."
Jason's jaw dropped. He was ready to go bat shit crazy right there in the middle of the living room and he had an extremely hard time keeping his composure. "Um, you did what?"
"I let her go." She looked up and saw Jason's face and she sighed, putting her hand on her hip. "Well it's not like we need her anymore, Jason. I'm here now. I'm not gonna sit around while she cleans the house and does whatever she does. That's what I'm here for. What's the point in making her come around like that? I am NOT the kind of woman who keeps staff."
He gaped at her. Speechless. Praying for the strength, praying hard. "She's not staff, she's my housekeeper! She's been my housekeeper for years, why would you do something like that?"
"I just told you why."
"Without talking to me about it?"
She shrugged, sheepishly.
Jason shook his head and pushed his hair back. "So you're just gonna do whatever the hell you want to then, aren't you?"
Mel narrowed her eyes at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"The--the fucking backyard! Parking a Viper on the street for everyone to see, like an open invitation to just come and steal it! And now you've fired my housekeeper? Goddammit, Melody, you can't just walk into my house and start turning shit upside down like this!"
She took a step back at his statement and he realized what he'd said as soon as it came out of his mouth. He sighed in regret and she was already hardening her eyes at him. In an instant, she stormed out of the living room and toward the bedroom. "Mel, come on--" he attempted to plead as she passed him by.
He followed her to the bedroom as she slammed the door in his face and then he heard it lock. Sighing, exasperated, he let his forehead drop against the door. "Mel, open the door."
Silence.
He wiggled the knob. "Come on, gorgeous, open the door. I didn't mean what I said. Come on."
Listening, he heard rustling in the room. Then he heard the closet door and the zippers. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "Baby, I'm sorry. I just--you shocked me a little, that's all. I've never lived with anyone before, you know that. I'm adjusting just like you are, I'm really trying. Please open the door."
After a moment, the door finally swung open and she came face-to-face with him, glaring up at him hard. "Get out of my way," she commanded through her teeth.
He looked down at her side and saw the suitcase she was holding. "What did I tell you?" he said. "One time. You leave me one time and we're over. I love you, but I'm not playing that shit."
"I'm not leaving you," she spat at him. "I'm getting my own place."
"The hell you are."
"I am. Us living together is obviously not working out and maybe it would be better if we just lived apart for awhile."
"No."
"Please let me through."
"No."
She began to look frustrated and whined in annoyance. "Jason--"
Slowly, he leaned down and pried her hand from the handle of her suitcase, a feat that didn't take much effort at all. His hands then cupped her ass and squeezed gently. "You really think you're going to come into my house, tear up my backyard just so you can parade around in front of me in your sexy shoes, dangle a car in front of me that's made completely out of sex, smell up my bathroom with your lotions and perfumes, and then turn around and leave me?" Gripping her waist, he pulled her against him and picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist. "I can't allow that to happen."
"You love my lotions and perfumes," she countered quietly, her arms hesitantly sliding around his neck.
"More than anything," he whispered.
Carrying her back into the bedroom, he slammed the door behind them. "Well--well you think you can just--just come in here and--and do this and act like sex just fixes everything?"
"Absolutely."
"Well it doesn't. I'm not having sex with you. I won't do it."
"I beg to differ."
As he lay her down on the bed, she didn't fight him when he slipped her pants from around her waist. He didn't figure she would. When he slid his fingers inside her and she whimpered in pleasure, he knew he'd talked her off the ledge. "If after I get through with you," he whispered between sensual kisses on her neck as she moaned underneath him, "If you still want to leave, then be my guest. But I guarantee that when I'm done with you, you'll never want to leave me again."
Aggressively, she grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and yanked him down close to her, kissing him hard and eagerly. He smiled in between kisses. Oh yeah. This was his woman.
MEL
By Wednesday morning, Mel closed the sale of her house. It was bittersweet and the family was eager to move in, which put Mel in a little more of a time crunch than she'd intended. She had asked Nikki and Kate over to help her pack, a little surprised that they'd agreed. Sitting around the kitchen for the last time, she looked at the two of them.
"Do you guys hate me?"
"Sweetie, we wouldn't be here if we did," Nikki said softly.
"I didn't intend for things to end up this way," Mel said. "I just want you guys to know that. I didn't intend to come back here and break up Tay's marriage and then break his heart. It just--we just--"
"I know," Nikki said. "It's okay. Hell, he was married anyway when you came into our lives. Right? I mean, nobody saw THAT marriage ending."
Mel smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. That's true."
She glanced up at Kate, who looked back at her, stone-faced for a moment before she spoke. "Look, I'm not really good at--at talking about my feelings or anything like that, so I'm just gonna say it. When you first came around, I didn't like you. Or, well, maybe I just thought I shouldn't. You know, because of Natalie and stuff. I did and said some things to you that were out of the way, things that I regret. But despite all that, you took me in and you made me feel included. And you didn't have to do that. And now I think of you as a sister and one of my best friends. And things happen. They just do. So you and Tay didn't work out. He's my brother-in-law, but if his relationships don't work out, they don't work out. It's none of my business. It's okay that you love Jason and it's okay if he's the one you want to be with. You're still one of my closest friends, no matter what."
Nikki nodded. "Same goes for me, too."
The three women burst into tears as they hugged each other for a few minutes before pulling away and drying their eyes. "Okay, then," Nikki said, taking a deep breath and smiling. "Let's get you on that beach in Malibu!"
-------------
Mel didn't want to go into this meeting Thursday morning. She didn't want to sit there and face Isaac, Taylor, and Zac and she didn't want to face the girls in the front office when she went to clean out her office. She didn't want to deal with any of it. But she had to do what she had to do.
Walking into the quiet conference room, Taylor was nowhere to be found. Mel wasn't sure why she was surprised, but she knew she shouldn't have been. She took a seat next to her attorney and across from Isaac and Zac as they looked back at her. "So...no Tay, huh?"
Ike glanced at his hands and over at Zac. "He, uh, said he would sign off on whatever decision was made here today."
Mel nodded in understanding. "Okay. I get it."
"We don't want your part of the label back, Mel," Ike said suddenly, surprising her. "We didn't sell it to you with the intention of taking it back. We made the decision because we know you have a sound business mind and that you were an asset to this company--and you haven't proven us wrong."
Mel took a deep breath and folded her hands on the table in front of her. "I can't keep it. There's no reason for me to. I can't hold on to a portion of a company I'm no longer going to be involved in. I won't even be around to know what's going on. It's ludicrous for my name to still be associated with it. I mean, especially considering--"
"What's it going to take to change your mind?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. I'm sorry. I leave for California tomorrow and I--well, I have no real intention of coming back."
Suddenly Zac's fist pounded the table. "Goddammit, Mel. Are you fucking listening to yourself? You don't belong in California."
"I know where I belong," she said quietly.
"So, what, once again you and Tay call it quits and you run away again? Are you gonna disappear for another ten years, maybe twenty this time? I wish I knew what the fuck went through your head sometimes."
"It isn't even like that, it's different--"
"Zac," Ike said quietly, in a futile attempt to calm him.
"You know what, just go," Zac said, standing up and ripping the paperwork out of her attorney's hand. He flipped through the pages and signed his name fiercely on each one. "If you really want to be rid of us that goddamn bad--again--just go ahead. I don't give a shit. We didn't need you then and we don't need you now. I don't even know why you ever came back in the first place." Throwing his pen down on the table, he stormed out of the conference room, all eyes watching him leave.
Mel's head dropped into her hands as tears filled her eyes. In an attempt to ward them off, she looked up and took a deep breath. "Just picking you guys off one-by-one, aren't I?" She said to Ike. "Better get it out while the getting's good."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry to see you go. I don't want you to leave. But I understand it. Life happens."
"I just--I wish I could make you guys understand that the decisions I'm making--they're not because of either of you. I'm not 'running away.' I'm simply moving on with my life. These are decisions for me. That's all."
"I know." He nodded toward the door. "They don't hate you. Zac's a little upset, but he'll get over it. And Tay--well, I don't have to tell you that he's stayed relatively quiet through this whole thing."
Mel nodded.
"I just want you to know, there's no judgment here," Ike continued. "What you and Tay had was what you had and it's nobody's business but yours. Had he not been...well, really the first one to give your relationship with Jason his blessing, I might be a little more confused. But things are happening the way they were intended, by whatever higher power that may be."
"He told you what he did?"
"I thought suggesting you call Jason was smart. I thought him giving you a chance at happiness was admirable. I have a lot of respect for my brother for that. And look at him, he was right. He was right, wasn't he?"
In spite of herself, she smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, he was right."
"He only wants you to be happy, too. And so does Zac. And so do I. It'll take them a bit, but they'll come around. Just don't disappear this time."
"I would never."
Ike took a deep breath and straightened up in his seat. "Well, then. Let's do some business and get this out of the way, shall we?"
-------------
A little later, after the crying fest that took place in the business office with the girls--Jeanette being the only one remotely excited since she was still seeing Mac, who lived in LA--Mel carried a cardboard box into her office and closed the door behind her, locking it. Taking a deep breath, she looked around and then she spied the landline phone on her desk.
Sitting down at the desk, she dialed Jason's number and put him on speaker phone. "Hey, gorgeous," he answered cheerfully. "You must have known I was thinking about you."
"Do you have news for me?" She smiled at the phone, feeling instant relief from her active nerves. She was so glad he answered the phone. SO glad.
"I do have news."
"Tell me, tell me, tell me," she said eagerly.
"Your man's about to become the hero in the biggest box office trilogy of the decade. What do you think of that?"
"Oh my god, sweetie, I'm so excited!" Her excitement bounced off the walls in the room and she lowered her voice, embarrassed. "I'm so proud of you, I knew you'd nail it! So what are you doing right now?"
"I'm sitting on the back deck having a celebratory beer, wishing there was a little lady stretched out in her bikini in this chair next to me."
"Please," she said, smiling into the phone. "I did my homework, I know what the weather's like there. It's not near hot enough to be bikini weather right now."
"It is on MY deck," he responded confidently. Her grin widened as his voice came through again. "So how did your meeting go?"
Mel sighed as she stood up, remembering why she was there. "It was...it was rough. Zac hates me right now."
"Was Taylor there?"
"No show."
"Didn't think he would be."
"Really?"
"Did you expect him to be?"
"I mean, it was a business meeting..."
"It was you giving back the only thing you had left of him and your relationship. Think about it."
Mel sighed as she started opening drawers. "Do you have me on speaker?" Jason asked her.
"Yeah. I'm still here. In my office. Packing up. I just--I just needed you to be here with me. Talk to me while I do this?"
"Yeah. Of course. Anything."
"I got the house packed up," she said as she emptied desk drawers and cabinets.
"That fast, huh? I've only been gone two days."
"I'm anxious to do this."
"Anxious, huh?"
"Yes. Extremely excited. I'm sending a truck there, but it'll be a small one. I'm not bringing back as much as I thought I was. I'm donating the majority of it, sent a box or two with Nikki to give to Tay--"
"So you're not gonna say goodbye to him?"
Mel shrugged, not wanting to talk about it. "I already did. Anyway, so the movers are coming early tomorrow and as soon as they get packed up, I'm hitting the road. Early. It'll take me a couple days to get there cause I'll have to stop--"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone," he interrupted her. "Back up for a minute. What the hell do you mean a couple days?"
"Well there's only so fast my Jeep can go."
"You're DRIVING?"
"Yeah," she said excitedly. "I thought maybe I'd stop in Vegas for the night or something--"
"No. Absolutely not, not going to happen," he said adamantly.
"It's not a big deal..."
"Not a big--are you kidding? You want to drive cross country by yourself and then spend the night in VEGAS? You're out of your mind, woman. What you're gonna do, is hitch that Jeep to the back of that moving truck, and then you're going to get on a plane and come home to me. THAT'S how it's going to happen. Period."
"I will NOT start our relationship this way," Mel said defiantly. "If you think I'm going to move all the way out to Malibu just so you can order me around, you have another thing coming."
"Mel, I don't give a shit what you do when you come out here. Honestly. But when it comes to your safety, you don't really have a choice. I'm not going to sit here for twenty-four hours, having a heart attack, while you're out there on the road, alone, in the middle of god knows where! You have no idea WHAT could happen out there."
"I really think you're blowing this out of proportion."
"I said it's not happening and that's final. What you're gonna do tomorrow is once that truck is packed up, and your Jeep is safely hooked up to the back of it, you're gonna go straight to the airport, get on a plane and fly here. As a matter of fact, I'm gonna sit right here while you book your flight so you can tell me what time to pick you up from the airport tomorrow night."
"Jason, I really WANT to drive--"
"Look, if you really have your heart set on a cross country road trip then I'll owe you one and we'll go together and it'll be a blast. But, please, if you really care about my sanity at all, you'll fly home and skip the road trip. Please."
Sighing, Mel was slightly annoyed with her change in plans, but also slightly touched by his insistence, too. Maybe she did need Jason to take care of her. She didn't know. But she couldn't lie--the idea of getting to him faster than twenty-two hours was definitely the selling point there. "Okay," she gave in. "I'll text you my flight itinerary as soon as I book it tonight."
"That's better. Look, don't think I'm a bastard or anything--"
"I don't think you're a bastard--"
"I just need you here. The anticipation is killing me."
She bit her lip and she smiled as she packed the last of her things into the box. "I'm excited, too."
"This is gonna be a big change, you know."
"I know. I'm ready for it."
"You sure?"
"I can't get out of here fast enough."
Moments later, when they'd hung up and Mel took one last look around the office, she opened the door and came face-to-face with Taylor. The blood drained from her face. He had heard every word.
-----------
The next day, Mel stood in the house as the movers moved her things out and into the truck. Nikki had promised to oversee the rest of the things being picked up for donation later and Mel was glad that it didn't seem to be taking the movers long to load the truck.
She couldn't get her mind off of the conversation she'd had with Taylor yesterday after he had opted not to show up for the meeting. He'd apologized for it and claimed that he only came by the studio to see if it was true--if she was really leaving. She'd said she was and that she signed her portion of the company back over and that the movers were scheduled to be at the house in the morning and that the house would be empty by that evening.
And then he had kissed her. And he'd cried. Causing her to cry again. He'd apologized for kissing her, citing that he just had to know--just one last time--that it was all for real. She had to remind him that he knew it was and that she knew she would be happy where she was going. "We're better for each other apart," she'd said to him. "We both know that. We're better as friends."
"We've never been just friends," he'd argued with her. "I don't know how to do that."
She'd smiled at him and told him it couldn't be that hard. And then she told him she'd miss him and he let her get in her Jeep and leave. And that was it.
Then her mind moved to Zac. Zac hadn't contacted her since his outburst yesterday. She hated leaving town with unfinished business like that, but when he got upset like that, there was no talking to him. She'd decided that when he decided to come around, he would, and then they'd be okay again. Which was why she was surprised when he showed up at the house to drive her to the airport.
Standing in the terminal, Zac said to her, "You know, if it was anyone but Jason, I wouldn't be able to wrap my head around it."
"I know," Mel nodded.
"I know he'll take care of you."
"He will," she agreed.
"It's scary, the idea of you leaving. I just--I got used to you again. You know?"
"It's not like last time. I'm not--I'm not a teenager running away from a problem this time. I'm starting a new life."
"One that doesn't include me? Or Tay or Ike?"
"Of course it does. You guys are my family, why would you ever think that?"
"Consider me gun shy, Mel. I don't know."
"I won't disappear if you don't."
"It's just--you're one of my best friends. We've had some times together. You keep my secrets and you hold my head while I puke. You're my drinking buddy. Who's gonna take care of me when I get drunk?"
"You and I both know you're not gonna get drunk voluntarily."
"That's not the point."
"I get your point. I'm not going anywhere, Zac, I promise. You are welcome anytime, no matter where I am. Whether it's Malibu or if I ever go on location with Jason while he's filming--anywhere. There are plenty of adventures left out there for us. Plenty of foreign food that needs to be eaten and plenty more foreign wine to get you drunk on. And it's not like I'm not EVER coming back to Tulsa, either. My parents are here, I'll visit."
"Having you here made things normal again."
She hugged him tightly and thanked him for bringing her to the airport. And then, taking a deep breath, she stepped through the boarding gate and into her new life.
------------
Mel hadn't realized how much she hadn't slept for the past couple of days when it took her nearly no time at all to fall asleep on the plane, only to be rudely awakened by a two hour layover in Atlanta, before she began her five hour flight to LA.
It was the longest five hours of her life.
Her body knew it was supposed to be after seven in the evening, but it was only after five in LA and the late afternoon sun was the first thing that met her eyes as she opened them from her nap in preparation to land. After taking a second to wake up, it dawned on her that she was about to disembark from the plane and right into Jason's waiting arms. That thought alone made her want to barrel through all of these people just to get to him.
When she first stepped into the terminal, she didn't see him. How could you miss a man like that, who stood at a hulking 6'4" above everyone else, with his piercing green eyes and his caramel-colored skin...dammit, where was he?
Mel sighed as she pulled her phone from her pocket. Was she early? Had the plane landed early? Did he go to the wrong terminal? She knew she should have stayed where she was, but at this point she was restless. Texting him didn't seem to be working and she wondered if he got tied up with work somewhere. If need be, she could take a cab or rent a car or something. She had his address.
As she adjusted the tote bag on her shoulder, she stepped out of the boarding area and into the broader atmosphere of the terminal, taking her time as she walked through. Every time she'd ever been in this airport it had been a rush and it was nice, for once, to step off a plane and not have to fight to be somewhere. But damn, where WAS he?
Her eyes lit up when she found Starbucks and she decided to stop for a little bit of liquid fuel she knew she'd need to survive this time change and the rest of the evening. Just this morning she'd been moving out of her house, saying her goodbyes to one of her best friends and brothers, flying through three different time zones all over the country and now it was only five-thirty in the evening and she still had an entire evening left to get acquainted with her new location and new home. It was a lot for a person to take in in one day.
As she reached into her wallet to retrieve her card to pay, a hand cut in line in front of her and handed the barista a card. "This is on me," he said.
Turning around, Mel looked up into Jason's smiling eyes and very nearly burst into tears of happiness. "Jason!" She threw her arms tightly around his neck as he lifted her off the floor.
He planted a kiss on her lips, a light moan escaping his throat and then said, "I'm so sorry I'm late. The traffic out there is fucking insane today."
"It's okay," she smiled. "I haven't been on the ground for long."
"I know, but I told you I'd be here--"
"And you are. What's the problem?"
As she retrieved her coffee from the bar and thanked the barista, Jason took her tote bag from her and carried it for her to the baggage claim. "I only have one suitcase," she informed him. "Just for what I need for the next couple of days until the movers get here."
"You could have brought your entire house to the baggage claim, I would have been okay with that."
Mel smiled up at him and laced her fingers in his. He truly was her hero and she let out a silent sigh as they walked through the airport together amidst the flashing cameras of awe-filled tourists.
Outside in the parking lot, he led her to black, four-door Jeep Wrangler and she smiled as he opened the door for her. "Why doesn't your choice in vehicle surprise me?"
"What? You loved the one we had in Cabo."
"I think it's funny that we both happen to own Jeeps."
He grinned at her. "It's just one more reason why we're made for each other, dear."
The drive was a long one. Mainly due to traffic, but he swore that normally, it was no more than forty minutes when traffic was flowing normally. "You drive forty minutes round trip every day?" She asked him.
"Well, no, not every single day. But the drive is worth the privacy I come home to."
Mel remained quiet for most of the ride, looking out the window and letting her mind wander. At one point, Jason reached over and took her hand. "You okay?"
She looked at him and smiled. "Yeah. I'm okay."
"Taking it all in?"
"Um, yeah," she said. "I'm just really tired."
"I thought you might be. Are you hungry?"
"Um..." She had to think about it. She kind of was, but she wasn't really in the mood to eat, either. She felt funny. She was tired, but her adrenaline was pumping and her nerves were shot--she was nervous as hell, she couldn't deny that. And a little scared. And all she wanted to do was to just sit and let everything sink in, even if it was just for an hour or so. She just needed to chill out. "Um, not...not really...I mean if you are, that's totally cool, but I just--I'm just not. Maybe later, though."
"Okay," he answered.
Mel had no idea what to expect when they pulled up to his house on Malibu Road. She didn't expect to park right there on the street, first of all. "Um, you just--you park this thing right here on the street?"
"Yeah," he answered, matter-of-factly. "It's a relatively quiet neighborhood, pretty safe. Mostly vacation rentals here, I don't always have neighbors."
"Why wouldn't you get a house with a garage?"
"Because I like this one."
Always a gentleman, he opened the car door for her and retrieved her suitcase and tote bag out of the backseat. As she reached up to retrieve her tote from him, he opted to ignore her gesture and carry it himself. She was surprised when he led her the few feet from the Jeep to a small, random, white wooden gate, tucked in by a low brick wall, green shrubbery, and a large tree that hung overhead. Looking around as he unlocked the small door knob, she felt like he was leading her into some type of secret garden or something.
She was in no way prepared for what lie beyond the small, quaint gate, however. When he closed it and locked it behind them, he led her into a spacious, open courtyard with privacy hedges that were neatly-trimmed and stood at least twenty feet high. To the right of the concrete walkway was a patch of grass that ran the length of the courtyard. To the left, a crystal clear pool which lit up under the darkened blue of the Malibu evening sky. Set off by palm trees, the area wasn't fancy, but it was enough for her to be impressed.
As she turned around to get the full view, she realized the two buildings they had come between as they walked into the courtyard. "What are those for?"
"Oh, those are with the house. A guest suite and a gym. I don't use either one of them."
"Not the gym?"
"Nah. They're both empty. I have a gym I go to in LA on a regular basis with my trainer."
"Hm," was her response. Her wheels were turning already.
Looking beyond them, at the main house, she saw nothing but windows. Two stories of them. It wasn't fancy, architecturally innovative, or overly gorgeous. But it had just enough glass to be impressive. She could see right through the front door and out to the beach. This was more than she expected out of him, she had to admit. For some reason, she expected him to live somewhere small--like maybe an apartment or a small, one-bedroom cottage. Not a two-story beach house with a pool and a guest suite and a gym.
"It's nothing fancy," he said, seemingly reading her thoughts. "It's not nearly as impressive as the house you had in Tulsa. It's small, but it's private and it's quiet, and you can't beat the view."
Upon entry of the house, a chill came over her suddenly. "Jesus, it's freezing in here," she said.
"Sorry," he said, stopping to adjust the temperature on the digital pad on the wall. "It was an unusually hot day today, sometimes I don't even realize this thing is running."
Mel stood in the middle of the living room amongst the open floor plan, looking around at her surroundings. To her left was the kitchen and the small dining room area. Immediately around her was the vast, open living space, and to her right was a small hallway. Behind her was a set of open stairs and above her was obviously the second floor. Everywhere you turned there were sliding glass doors and balconies, providing access to the outdoors from all angles. Everything was white. So much white, it was nearly blinding. Her wheels began to turn again. This would take some adjustment, as well.
"So what do you think?" Jason's rich voice interrupted her thoughts.
"It's, uh, it's nice."
"You hate it, don't you?"
She whipped her head around and looked at him. "No. I don't hate it at all! It's just--it's new to me, that's all."
He flashed a grin at her. "You haven't even seen the best part."
"I haven't actually seen any of it," she muttered.
But he was already guiding her across the room and opening the storm door that led outside. They stepped immediately onto a small porch, crossed the small grassy area that lie beyond, and then stopped on the wooden deck that boasted the line of lawn chairs. The wind blew and she could smell the salt from the ocean as she watched and listened to the crashing waves only feet in front of her. "Wow," she whispered.
She sat herself slowly on the edge of one of the chairs as Jason straddled the same one and sat behind her wrapping his arms around her. "Impressive, isn't it?"
"It's beautiful."
"All of this belongs to you," he said. "It's all yours, all of it. If you want it to be."
"You said this was a rental," she whispered.
"With the option to buy."
"Why haven't you bought it yet?"
"I was waiting for you."
"For how long?"
"Since I first moved in several years ago."
"Jason..."
"I, uh, I need to be sentimental for a minute. Okay?" He said as he ran his hands up and down her arms. "I know this is a big adjustment for you, but it is for me, too. And maybe--well, maybe the way I handled some things over the past few years may not have been the healthiest of ways, but--I always knew, Mel. Deep, deep down in my heart, I always knew. And every time--every time I walked through that living room or sat on this deck, or even swam a lap in that pool--I always saw you. I saw you here every hour of every day. When I first pulled up to that tiny gate when I first looked at this house, it had you written all over it. And now that you're here, I just--it's better than any fantasy I ever had. I don't ever want you to regret your decision."
She reached up and she touched her necklace as she stared out at the darkening ocean, taking in his words. He'd waited for her. He'd been so patient and he'd had so much faith and she'd been so incredibly blind. What in the hell had she done in this lifetime to deserve someone who loved her as much as he did?
"I love you so much," she found herself whispering to him.
He pulled her tighter and kissed her cheek close to her ear. "You're gonna be so happy here. I promise."
"I already am. But we gotta do something about all that damn white in there, cause that's not gonna fly with me."
Jason laughed and rested his chin on her shoulder. "You can do whatever you want, it's all yours."
They were silent for a moment, listening to the waves, Mel basking in the warmth of Jason's arms. Then she broke the silence. "What am I gonna do?"
"About what?"
"I'm not the kind of woman who sits at home all day, flipping through magazines and munching on bonbons. I have no company, nobody to write for, no parties to plan--did you know that I have virtually no skills? I mean, nothing steady? I've grown up doing odd jobs if you really think about it. Nothing career-worthy. Except the whole cop thing and you see where that got me."
"You just got here. I don't see why you have to be in such a hurry to take off again. Take some time, get adjusted. Take advantage of the house and the beach. Chill out for awhile. I just want you to be here when I come home. That right there will be all I need."
"You really are too much."
"I love you. I just want to take care of you. If you'll let me. I know you like your independence and all, but I just--I just want to take care of you. The way a man's supposed to."
"You've changed," she observed.
"No, I haven't."
"You have. It's not bad, it's just--different."
"How so?"
"I don't know...in the beginning you were more...I dunno, just kinda go with the flow. And now you're more...structured, maybe? More sensitive? I don't really know how to describe it. I shouldn't have even said anything."
"Well, maybe the 'flow' is just different now. We've both grown as people since then, you know. Back then I didn't have a steady career and I didn't have a plan--I was still flying by the seat of my pants, just doing whatever single guys did. And then--well, then I fell in love and I started to see things a little differently. I haven't changed at all, Mel. I've just grown a little, that's all. You've changed, too."
"I have?"
"Yeah. You're not as tense anymore. You're growing more and more open-minded by the day. You take more things in stride. And you just moved into a house on the west coast. That right there is an accomplishment in itself."
Mel smiled as she turned her head over her shoulder. "It's all because of you, you know. You bring out the best in me."
"What I really want to bring out of you," he whispered seductively into her ear. "Are the most vulgar and obscene sounds that could possibly come out of your mouth. I want you in my bed, without a stitch of clothing, calling my name, and gripping my sheets. Forgive me if I'm being too forward tonight."
"Which way is the bedroom?"
--------------------------------------------------------------
JASON
It took less than twenty-four hours for that woman to already start turning Jason's world upside down.
He had somewhat of a busy week that week. His schedule was chock full of meetings and training and he knew he would feel guilty leaving Mel at home, but he had to work.
Coming home after the gym the next day, with a couple of hours to spare before he had to head out again, he walked in his house and immediately spied the action next to the back deck. His mind was blown at the sight, Mel standing there in her tiny shorts and t-shirt, observing a group of Mexicans as they mixed and poured concrete into a patch of ground they'd dug up by the small group of privacy hedges.
When he stepped out the door, Mel looked up at him and flashed a million-dollar smile. That smile normally made him melt in an instant, but today he couldn't shake the shock. "What's going on here?"
"I'm having a walkway put in," she announced proudly.
"A--a walkway? It's literally feet from here to the deck. You just--you just walk across the grass. I'm not really understanding the need for concrete..."
"Well I don't want my heels to sink into the grass when I walk across and I definitely don't want to come out here after it's rained and it be all wet and squishy..."
"Your--your heels? This is the beach, what could you possibly need to wear your heels out here for?"
"What if we had a party or something?"
Her logic stunned him.
"So let me get this straight," he said, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index fingers. "You have uprooted the grass and had concrete poured--on a rental property, without the landlord's permission--just so you can get from the porch to the deck in a pair of stilettos?"
"They should thank me, I'm only adding to the value of their house."
"Unbelievable," he said under his breath.
Then he glanced down at her and the look in her eyes as she looked back at him made him putty in her hands. How could he say no to her? After all, he had uttered those famous last words: "You can do whatever you want."
And she had taken that and ran with it.
As Jason observed the men's work so far, Mel began to communicate with them, offering them water and then bounding into the kitchen. His heart started to pound as he began to realize the reality of his situation. This wasn't his house anymore. He had to share his space. He had to consider someone else when making decisions. He couldn't come home whenever he pleased and now he had someone to answer to--but at the same time it was everything he ever wanted. It grew old coming home to a quiet, empty house every night. Sleeping alone, eating alone, nobody to kiss goodnight or tell your hopes and dreams to. The single life could be lonely.
Except now he wasn't single anymore. He wasn't lonely, he wasn't sleeping alone. He had someone there who would be glad to see him when he walked in the door, someone who would be a sight for sore eyes after a long, tiring day. Someone to kiss goodnight and make love to until the sun rose. Someone to share a meal with and a walk on the beach as the sun set over the ocean. Someone to spend his life with, every single day.
As Mel came back outside, juggling multiple bottles of water in her arms, he watched her distribute them to the workers and communicate with them in broken Spanish. Broken Spanish? Since when did she speak Spanish? Damn, he had so much to learn.
Dropping his head, he turned around and headed back into the house, rubbing the back of his neck and hiding the smile that had crept across his face.
-----------------
The next day, day three of living with Mel, only brought on more disarray. Having been up since four in the morning, as he was every day, Jason walked in the house at noon after a grueling six-hours in the gym and all he wanted was a nap before he had to shower and meet with the casting directors later that day. The last thing he wanted was to come home to any surprises.
Fat chance of that happening when he parked his Jeep and noticed the temporary tag on the gray Viper he had pulled in next to. As he got out of his Jeep, and looked at the vehicle in awe, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "That's a goddamn GTS Anodized Carbon Special Edition. Holy shit..." He walked around the car in awe. Only fifty of them had been made and he practically salivated every time he laid his eyes on one. She was sleek and sexy and curvy...he nearly got a hard-on upon sight of it. But who the hell would park their Viper on the damn street out here? Especially one of this caliber?
He thought about that car all the way through the courtyard and into the house and, upon entry, found boxes everywhere. It was obvious that the movers had come and that Mel's perception of "I didn't send much" and his perception of it were two different things. He walked in on her as her iPod poured music into her ears that she hummed along with happily as she unpacked. It would have been a completely adorable sight had his muscles not been aching like hell at that very moment. And had he not been insanely curious about the car.
Noticing him standing there, she looked up and flashed a smile at him, removing the buds from her ears and turning off her music. It was in that instant that he put two and two together. "Holy shit, Mel, what did you do?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, confused. "What?"
"The movers came."
"I know," she grinned excitedly. "I'm kind of surprised they came so quickly. You never know with those moving companies, there are always delays and stuff."
"The movers came and your Jeep's not here."
Her smile widened and she giggled. "Did you see it? Did you see it out there? Isn't that the sexiest thing you've ever laid your eyes on?"
"Do--do you know what that IS?"
"Well, yeah, it's a Viper. I traded my Jeep in."
"You didn't trade shit, you made a small donation, that's what you did."
She frowned at him. "You don't like it?"
"I'm just--I'm a little confused."
"I've never had a car like that before. And when my Jeep came and I went for a drive, I looked around at all these cars and--well I got inspired. So I traded. Now I feel like I fit in."
He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to understand her. "Um, fit--I just--Mel, what's going on here? You're barely here 72 hours and you've already uprooted the backyard and spent god knows how much money on a rare as shit sports car. Is there--is there something you're not telling me? Are you not happy? Is this your way of filling a void or something? You're--you're kinda blowing my mind here."
She shrugged. "I'm just--I don't know. Trying to adjust. I don't know what to do with myself during the day sometimes, I guess."
Jason sighed, his heart going out to her. He was forever having to remind himself that she was in a brand new relationship and that she'd just moved halfway across the country on a coast she'd never lived on before. It was as if she'd stepped into a portal from one world to the other. He had to try not to be so hard on her about it. "Sweetheart, you can't just park a Viper as rare as that one out on the street like that," he said gently. "You just can't."
"I know. That's why when we buy this house, I'm going to convert the downstairs of that guest house into a two-car garage, that way both of our vehicles will fit and I'll be less likely to hyperventilate every time I walk in the gate."
"When we buy the house," he repeated.
"Well, I mean, after we've spent some time together here, if we decide we want to buy it, yeah. I'm still deciding. Hey, even if we don't decide to buy, you think the landlords might be willing to convert?"
Jason let out a breath. "Uh, I don't know."
She shrugged as she went back to the box she was unpacking. "We'll just have to see, I guess."
Observing all the boxes, he took one more look around at his surroundings. "So, uh, Martina didn't want to stay and help you with all this?"
Mel rose from the box she was unpacking and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Uh, yeah, about that..."
The hair on the back of Jason's neck stood on end. "About what?"
"She came by this morning. And I let her know her services were no longer needed."
Jason's jaw dropped. He was ready to go bat shit crazy right there in the middle of the living room and he had an extremely hard time keeping his composure. "Um, you did what?"
"I let her go." She looked up and saw Jason's face and she sighed, putting her hand on her hip. "Well it's not like we need her anymore, Jason. I'm here now. I'm not gonna sit around while she cleans the house and does whatever she does. That's what I'm here for. What's the point in making her come around like that? I am NOT the kind of woman who keeps staff."
He gaped at her. Speechless. Praying for the strength, praying hard. "She's not staff, she's my housekeeper! She's been my housekeeper for years, why would you do something like that?"
"I just told you why."
"Without talking to me about it?"
She shrugged, sheepishly.
Jason shook his head and pushed his hair back. "So you're just gonna do whatever the hell you want to then, aren't you?"
Mel narrowed her eyes at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"The--the fucking backyard! Parking a Viper on the street for everyone to see, like an open invitation to just come and steal it! And now you've fired my housekeeper? Goddammit, Melody, you can't just walk into my house and start turning shit upside down like this!"
She took a step back at his statement and he realized what he'd said as soon as it came out of his mouth. He sighed in regret and she was already hardening her eyes at him. In an instant, she stormed out of the living room and toward the bedroom. "Mel, come on--" he attempted to plead as she passed him by.
He followed her to the bedroom as she slammed the door in his face and then he heard it lock. Sighing, exasperated, he let his forehead drop against the door. "Mel, open the door."
Silence.
He wiggled the knob. "Come on, gorgeous, open the door. I didn't mean what I said. Come on."
Listening, he heard rustling in the room. Then he heard the closet door and the zippers. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "Baby, I'm sorry. I just--you shocked me a little, that's all. I've never lived with anyone before, you know that. I'm adjusting just like you are, I'm really trying. Please open the door."
After a moment, the door finally swung open and she came face-to-face with him, glaring up at him hard. "Get out of my way," she commanded through her teeth.
He looked down at her side and saw the suitcase she was holding. "What did I tell you?" he said. "One time. You leave me one time and we're over. I love you, but I'm not playing that shit."
"I'm not leaving you," she spat at him. "I'm getting my own place."
"The hell you are."
"I am. Us living together is obviously not working out and maybe it would be better if we just lived apart for awhile."
"No."
"Please let me through."
"No."
She began to look frustrated and whined in annoyance. "Jason--"
Slowly, he leaned down and pried her hand from the handle of her suitcase, a feat that didn't take much effort at all. His hands then cupped her ass and squeezed gently. "You really think you're going to come into my house, tear up my backyard just so you can parade around in front of me in your sexy shoes, dangle a car in front of me that's made completely out of sex, smell up my bathroom with your lotions and perfumes, and then turn around and leave me?" Gripping her waist, he pulled her against him and picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist. "I can't allow that to happen."
"You love my lotions and perfumes," she countered quietly, her arms hesitantly sliding around his neck.
"More than anything," he whispered.
Carrying her back into the bedroom, he slammed the door behind them. "Well--well you think you can just--just come in here and--and do this and act like sex just fixes everything?"
"Absolutely."
"Well it doesn't. I'm not having sex with you. I won't do it."
"I beg to differ."
As he lay her down on the bed, she didn't fight him when he slipped her pants from around her waist. He didn't figure she would. When he slid his fingers inside her and she whimpered in pleasure, he knew he'd talked her off the ledge. "If after I get through with you," he whispered between sensual kisses on her neck as she moaned underneath him, "If you still want to leave, then be my guest. But I guarantee that when I'm done with you, you'll never want to leave me again."
Aggressively, she grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and yanked him down close to her, kissing him hard and eagerly. He smiled in between kisses. Oh yeah. This was his woman.