resembled melting marshmallows, like Angie.
She seemed so young. Last year at his mother’s funeral she’d looked somber, her clothes dark and sedate, as expected for the occasion. Now she looked like a starlet at a Hollywood premiere, all bright and sparkly. She was twenty-two years old and married.
Rafe’s glance slid to Melina as she danced, stumbling a little, the best man catching her before she fell. If all had gone according to Rafe and Melina’s plan, they also would’ve been married right after college graduation. They would have traveled a little before starting law school. Down the road they’d planned to open their own practice—together. Later, when the time was right, they would’ve started a family. It was all mapped out.
Their plan had been set into motion when they were fourteen. He had lived in Red Rock all his life, but the Lawrence family had come to town when Melina was a freshman. Rafe fell in love with her the first time he’d laid eyes on her. For him, that was it. He’d never strayed. The Mendoza men were known for their passion—about life, work and their women—and Melina had loved him hard and completely in return.
Rafe had never doubted that love. At least not until she’d made choices without talking to him. His passion hadn’t died, it had shifted—away from her, from them, and into his career instead.
It seemed like a lifetime ago. Was a lifetime ago. He’d followed the plan, finding more success than he’d dreamed possible, thanks to some lucky breaks, good timing and a few smart, risky choices. Melina had made a one-eighty turn in another career direction. He wondered if she had regrets about that, if she’d reacted emotionally instead of logically then couldn’t—or stubbornly, wouldn’t—go back.
The gimmicky dance ended. Rafe watched Melina fan herself, her cheeks flushed, her blond hair tumbling free around her shoulders, the swell of her breasts glistening. She was even more beautiful now as a woman than—
She headed straight toward him, across the room, then through the exit to the courtyard. The air had cooled, night settling in. She stopped, closed her eyes, breathed deeply. Rafe inched farther into the shadows, away from the soft glow of thousands of tiny decorative lights that turned the space into a kind of fairyland.
He didn’t know what to say to her. Words usually came easily to him, but he had no idea how to start a conversation with the woman he’d once loved, the one who’d hurt him more than he’d ever thought anyone could.
He’d intended to leave the reception before now, to get away from the possibility of making small talk with her. He didn’t know why he hadn’t taken off, especially since he knew only a handful of people beyond the Lawrence family, who didn’t seem to care much about talking to him, anyway.
He’d been debating going to see Melina ever since he moved back, had even checked out her Facebook page, knowing he needed answers after all these years so that he could find that “closure” that people talked about, needing it in order to move on with his life. Especially now that he intended to make Red Rock his home again.
Melina opened her eyes then, keying in on him as if she’d known all along he’d been watching her.
“I thought you’d left,” she said, hesitance in her voice and body language.
Was this it? His opportunity to get answers? “I wasn’t interested in flapping my wings,” he said, keeping the conversation going.
She half smiled. “I wasn’t so lucky.”
They stood about ten feet apart. “How are you, Melina?”
“I’m doing very well, thanks. And you?” Polite, cool words.
“No complaints.” He took a few steps toward her. “Thanks for the card you sent after my mom died. It meant a lot.”
Her expression changed in an instant to one of sympathy. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be at her funeral. I was on a cruise, my first vacation in years, and I didn’t hear about her passing until I got home and the funeral was over.”
“I know. I understood.”
“I admired her so much.” She reached out as if to touch him, then let her hand drop. “I felt so bad that I hadn’t stayed in touch. But I couldn’t, you know? I just couldn’t.”
He understood that, too. He wouldn’t have stayed in touch with Angie except that she hadn’t let him go. She’d written and called now and then, always hopeful there would be a reconciliation, but Rafe had cut off all other communication with the Lawrence family.
“Tommy seems like a good match for Angie,” he said, changing the subject, but also leading up to the issue—that he and Melina had been a good match once, too.
“I agree. She needs a Prince Charming like him. He’s big on romantic gestures. It was his choice to have the reception here instead of at the church. He wanted her to feel like a princess.”
“I was surprised to see how much this part of town has improved,” he said. “The only eyesore left is the old Crockett building. I’m surprised it hasn’t been razed by now.”
Melina went silent for a few seconds then eyed the reception hall. “I should get back.” Her entire mood changed, her expression, her posture, everything.
“You might want to wait a few more minutes,” he said, spotting a conga line forming.
She looked tempted but said, “I have responsibilities as maid of honor.”
Her comment took Rafe back in time—not in a good way. “And we all know how seriously you take your responsibilities.”
Her blue eyes turned icy. “And my commitments. I suffer no guilt from what I did, from the choice I made. My grandparents needed me. I acted honorably. Can you say the same?” She gathered her skirt with both hands and swept past him, leaving a trail of unfamiliar perfume and righteous indignation in her wake.
What the hell did that mean? How had he acted dishonorably? She’d dropped the ball, not him.
Rafe swiped a hand down his face. He should’ve trusted his instincts and stayed away. Or at the least left after congratulating the happy couple. This wasn’t the time or place for a serious dissection of a painful time in his and Melina’s past.
The desire to satisfy his curiosity about her had overruled his usual caution and common sense, dredging up memories that should’ve been buried long ago—for both of them. He’d thought his were expunged. He’d assumed hers were.
As a lawyer he should’ve known better than to assume anything. Ever.
Chapter Two
Sunday passed in a blur for Melina. First came a wedding breakfast with just the Lawrence and Buchanan families, then Melina and Jay, Tommy’s brother and the best man, drove the newlyweds to the San Antonio airport for their flight to Hawaii.
They all stood at the curb of the departure area, unloading luggage and saying goodbye.
“I saw you and Rafe talking,” Angie said into Melina’s ear as they hugged. “Are you going to see him again?”
“Red Rock is a small town.”
“That’s
