Unexpected Admirer Read Online Free PDF Page B

did she notice how he looked at her? Had there never been any personal boundaries? Did he always touch her like that? It was no wonder people talked.
    “I think you’re right. I’m just tired.” She shoved the stack of papers into her bag. “I’d better get home.”
    “My offer still stands. I don’t mind grading biology papers.”
    “I’ll call you if I get in a bind.”
     
    As she pulled away from the school she could see the high school football team up on the field. She smiled when she saw Cade on the sidelines, his son Gage on his hip.
    Sadness enveloped her again. Jonah would miss all of that. William had stepped in and done everything he could for Jonah. He’d taken him to Cub Scouts and to the auxiliary’s father/son spaghetti dinners. But it wasn’t the same. Jonah had a father and in one moment that was taken away.
    The ache in her chest deepened.
    She too missed having someone hold her at night, make plans with, and just happily exist side by side. She and Martin had had plans. They’d wanted a house full of children. There had been trips to take and parties to throw. How had it been taken from her so quickly?
    Melissa drove through town and over the Rose Bridge heading home to her son and mother. That was the normal now, and she would continue to make the very best of it.
    As she turned down the street, her house came into view, but something was not right. There was a black pickup truck parked across the street. She’d never seen the truck before, and in a small town, little things like trucks parked on streets stood out. As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed a man was sitting in the truck, and he was looking her way. He rolled down the window as she climbed out of the car.
    The ache in her chest became a flurry of panic. Her mother and son—what if something happened to them? Why was this man parked outside her house?
    She knew it wasn’t the best idea to even leave the security of her car, but motherly instincts took over.
    Melissa hurried from the car and straight through the front door of the house. As she stepped over the threshold, her grip on the door handle slipped. The door slammed into the wall, and she fell to her knees.
    “Melissa!” she heard her mother’s voice ring through the house.
    When she looked up she saw her mother and Jonah standing above her. They were fine.
    But there was someone else standing above her looking down at her on her knees, which now ached against the tile floor.
    Jesse Charles?
    Jesse reached a hand toward her to help her up. She took his hand and stood.
    “Are you okay?” His voice was soft.
    “Yeah.”
    Melissa gave a glance to her mother and son, who stood there smiling.
    Her mother moved closer to her. “Why were you busting through the door? My goodness, girl, what were you thinking?”
    “There’s a truck…outside.” She caught her breath and turned back to Jesse. “Why are you here?”
    “Melissa!” her mother scolded. “Is this how you greet your guest?”
    “Guest?”
    He was flashing that brilliant smile again. “I had a few days off from my tour, and I thought I’d drop by for a visit.”
    “How did you find me?”
    “I texted myself the picture the other night so I had your phone number.” He looked at her son and then back to her. “I’m sorry to have just dropped by.” His smile had gone. “I should have called.”
    Jonah moved in between them. “Mom, he came to take you to dinner.”
    “Dinner? I can’t go to dinner. I have tests to grade.”
    “Oh.” Jesse tucked his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans. “I really should have called.”
    “Nonsense,” her mother injected. “Melissa, a nice man stopped by to take you to dinner. You go. Those tests will wait.”
    She was very sure she had crossed over into some parallel universe. What was Jesse Charles doing in her house?
    “The man…outside.”
    “Bodyguard.” He grinned, but there was a flush to his cheeks. Did that embarrass him?
    “You