Her Plus One: Stand-alone Friends to Lovers, Military, Boy Next Door, Home for the Holidays (Pine Haven Holiday Romance Book 1) Read online

  Clay cleared his throat. "Mel, I came over here today because I noticed that your Jeep was leaking oil. I was going to offer to fix it for you."

  Aunt Eve gasped. "Oh no, Mel! I told you to get that checked last week."

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, ticked off at myself for ignoring the problem for too long. "You're right, Aunt Eve. Sorry, between final interviews and moving the last of my stuff into my new place, I forgot. Things have been busy.”

  Aunt Eve nodded sympathetically and checked her watch. "My book club meeting is in twenty minutes, so I’m afraid I can’t help you."

  I walked over and laid my hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it."

  Eve's brows pinched together, then her face relaxed and brightened. Her eyes snapped to Clay. "Clayton, could you drive Melissa into Greenvale?"

  "Oh, no, that's not necessary. I can find another way."

  Clay's eyes locked with mine and an easy smile slid across his face. "I'd love to.”

  Chapter 2 – Clay

  There were a hundred reasons why I had looked forward to returning to Pine Haven but seeing Melissa Monroe topped the chart. Which didn’t make any sense with my pending job about to take me away from home for another four years, but I had to see her. Why? I wasn’t sure, exactly. The deadline to fly back to Alaska loomed ahead of me, and it put into sharp focus how ridiculous it was to hold on to my repressed feelings for the girl next door.

  A relationship with Melissa was out of the question. We’d soon be living thousands of miles apart. But she haunted my fantasies and had since I was twelve. If there were ever a time to make a pass at Melissa, it was now. She was single and hopefully over her little rich-boy, ex-fiancé, and I had a week to take a chance on the girl who had always made me wonder, “what if?”

  I remembered the first day Melissa had moved in with her aunt. Her mother and aunts buzzed like bees between a U-Haul truck in the front as Melissa meandered through the garden in the backyard. She looked like a fairy goddess with her jet-black hair, pale skin, and delicate, feminine features. I was smitten from day one.

  While growing up, I straddled the line between school and sports. I got straight A’s, played football and baseball, and always had a great crew of friends. I never went to a dance dateless, and girls liked what they saw when they looked my way, all except for one—Melissa.

  But to her, I was strictly Leslie McCade’s little brother. It was as though no matter how tall I got or how muscular I became, she cast me as the shy kid next door who tried and failed at any attempt of busting out of that role. Melissa probably still looked at me as Leslie’s kid brother, who tripped over his own feet around her. But I wasn’t that shy kid anymore.

  I’d shocked her when I had told her that she was beautiful. She'd looked up at me with her big, honey-brown eyes and panicked. Maybe I should’ve apologized for being so forward and out of character, but I wouldn’t have meant it. One thing I had learned from four years of active military service, plus four years in a top-notch engineering program and another two working for the Department of Defense, was to trust your gut and act.

  When it came to Melissa, I wanted to act.

  I glanced over at her as she squirmed nervously in the passenger seat. I cracked a smile, somehow our roles had reversed, and I was just enough of an asshole to enjoy it. Now Melissa was the one who struggled with conversation and was a little tense, whereas I was amused and calm. My gaze swept over her. She was the same girl I had tried to catch glimpses of through her cracked bedroom curtains as she dressed in the mornings, but she had changed, too.

  She’d cut her soft, raven hair to shoulder length in one straight, sharp line. The cut made her look artsy and professional and sexy as hell. There wasn’t a single strand out of place, and I wondered what she’d look like in the morning after a night spent with me in her bed. I wanted to turn down a back road, reach over, and pull her onto my lap, and start running my fingers through it. Her once stick-thin figure now sported rounded hips and full breasts. I pictured my fingertips pressing into her supple flesh as I helped settle her onto my lap. I tightened my hold on the steering wheel and tried to focus on the road.

  My imagination had roared to life the moment Melissa had hugged me in Leona’s living room and pressed her feminine curves against me. My shaft instantly twitched and started to thicken. I almost growled when she laid her soft belly against my rod and looked up at me with her doe eyes that always swallowed me whole. Thankfully, I was able to pull away from her hug before she noticed my growing dilemma.

  I had still come on more aggressive than I’d intended, though. I battled to balance sweet courtship and artful seduction with the crushing sense that time was slipping away—and I wanted her. As soon as I walked into her aunt’s house and saw her bent over with her sweet derriere pointed my way while she dug something out of the trash bin, I felt a magnetic pull to her.

  I shifted my eyes over to Melissa. She had her face turned, staring out the window at the approaching skyline of Greenvale. It was an abnormally warm day for November, and the closer we got to the center of the small city, the more people appeared to be taking full advantage of the weather. Restaurants were crowded, and people milled about, many of them with their jackets slung over their shoulders.

  I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. We’d fallen into a comfortable silence on the drive, but the silence wasn’t going to score me a date. “Congratulations, again, on your house. Eve showed me a picture of you in front of it. It looks perfect for you.”

  Her lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Thanks. It is perfect for me. It was past time for me to move out of my aunt’s, and I lucked out finding a house on Bluebird Hollow in my price range. Of course, it’s the smallest house on the street, but it suits me.” She smoothed her hand over the thick envelope in her lap.

  “New house, new job, you’ve got a lot going on, Miss Monroe.”

  Melissa propped her elbow on the windowsill and rubbed over the stress line that appeared between her brows. “Yeah, that’s an understatement. I feel like I’ve been in hibernation for the last two years. I stepped away from most things except for my photography, of course. Within a few weeks of one another, bam, I’m a homeowner and have a new job. It’s a lot, all in one big bite, and it’s a little overwhelming.”

  I nodded silently and listened as Melissa told me about her first photo assignment with her asshole ex. My blood pressure started to spike, and my grip tightened on the steering wheel. I forced myself to relax. “You want me to go along? If he tries anything, I’ll kick his ass the whole back to Harrisburg where he should’ve stayed in the first place.”

  Her laughter filled the vehicle, and I felt victorious.

  Mel smirked, and her eyes glowed with humor. “Something tells me the magazine would frown on that kind of behavior.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t work there.”

  She looked over and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but I do.”

  “Ah, that’s right. Well, how about this—take it moment by moment, one day at a time. You’ve got this, Mel. I believe what’s meant for us finds us. The house on Bluebird Hollow found you. And it doesn’t surprise me that a magazine would want you as their lead portrait photographer. You are talented and a professional who can handle herself. Eve couldn’t stop gushing about you when you went into the den to get your paperwork.”

  The tension line disappeared between her brows, and she laughed. “My aunts are a little biased when it comes to me.”

  I caught her gaze. “Yeah? So am I."

  After a long beat of silence, I glanced over and found her looking at me curiously. I sensed the energy shift between us, but I couldn’t tell if she had noticed and liked my interest or if she was merely amused by it.

  Ah, fuck it. I don’t have time to mince words. “I’d love to catch up with you over dinner.”

  She nibbled at the corner of her lip for a moment before she answered. "Okay, yeah, it would be nice to catch up before you fly out t
o Scotland. Just say when.”

  “How about tonight?”

  Her eyes grew wide, and she stuttered over her words. “Tonight? Oh, I thought that you were meeting up with Scott tonight.”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m going to meet up with him while you’re running errands.”

  She giggled, and the sound of hearing her happy and relaxed made me feel ten feet tall.

  “Don’t change your plans on my account. Plus, I don’t expect you to wait for me. I can get a ride back to Pine Haven later with Tess. She’s been hounding me all week to go out and have drinks for my birthday.”

  I nodded. “Ah, I see. Well, whatever you need, it’s no problem for me to change my plans tonight. I’ll see Scott one way or another every day I’m home. He flew out to Anchorage a couple of months ago, and we were able to hang for a few days.”

  She blinked, startled. “Wow, you two are close, aren’t you?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, of course. Scott’s my best friend and has been since middle school. I’m stuck with him for life now.”

  She giggled again, and my lips twitched. “So, how about this. If you finish your errands and end up wanting to go back to Pine Haven, then text me. I’ll be your personal Uber today.”

  I felt her studying my profile from the passenger seat. “You’re quite the guy, Clay. Okay, if I need a ride, I'll message you. Thanks.” She leaned forward and squinted. “The Socialite is in that big brick building off to the left, so you’ll want to switch lanes.”

  I slowed down and pulled into a temporary parking space in front of the towering brick building. “All right, Mel, good luck in there.”

  She took a breath. “Thanks, here goes nothing.” She hopped out of the vehicle and turned back. “Thanks again, Clay. This was sweet of you to drive me here this afternoon. I doubt I’ll need a ride home, but I appreciate the offer. I’ll be in touch once I finish up here.”

  I nodded and watched her walk confidently toward the building. My eyes feasted on the way her full-cheeked bottom swayed from side to side as she moved. I quelled the insane urge to call her back to the vehicle and pretend she’d forgotten something so that I could watch her walk away again.

  My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket.

  Scott: You’re late. So, unless you're getting road head, you will not be forgiven if you’re not here in the next ten minutes.

  I chuckled and eased back onto the street and made a beeline for Shelby’s restaurant that was only a few blocks away. We’d initially planned to meet in Pine Haven tonight, but I’d texted Scott earlier as I had waited for Melissa. I shook my head and chuckled as I thought back to our rapid-fire text conversation.

  Me: Hey, man, headed your way this afternoon for an hour. Want to grab a beer downtown?

  Scott: In Greenvale?

  Me: Yeah.

  Scott: Bring your shit and stay. Let’s party here tonight. You haven’t seen my new place.

  Me: Can’t. Got a passenger I need to take back to the Haven. Just waiting on her now.

  Scott: Let me guess, your mom?

  Scott: Momma’s boy!

  Me: Right, you’re one to talk. No, not my mom, Melissa Monroe.

  Scott: Fuuuuuuuuuck me.

  Scott: It’s about time.

  Me: It’s just a ride.

  Scott: I love giving rides.

  Me: Got to go. She’s coming.

  Scott: Yeah, she is.

  Me: This is why you don’t have a girlfriend. Shelby’s in 45 min?

  Scott: Spend time with her, not me, dum-dum.

  Me: I’m driving her in for an errand; it’s not a date. Shelby’s in 45, yes or no?

  Scott: You’re just playing taxi? I’m disappointed in you.

  Me: Shelby’s, yes or no?

  Scott: I fist pumped for you

  Scott: Now I’m deflated.

  Me: ...

  Scott: Ah, wtf, see at Shelby’s in 45.

  Already late, I pushed through the door of the restaurant and scanned the bar until I saw the unmistakable outline of my best friend resting his back against the barstool, arms crossed, and head tilted up, watching a game on one of the screens. I glanced down at the bar and smiled when I saw he'd already ordered a beer for me and had it resting beside him at the empty spot at the bar.

  I nodded at the hostess, a young, apple-cheeked brunette, and pointed in the direction of the bar. "I'm just joining a friend at the bar."

  She eyed me closely and spoke in a low voice. "Are you Clayton McCade?"

  Surprised, I nodded. "Yes, I am."

  She blushed. "There are some gentlemen seated at a corner table who asked that you join them."

  I arched a curious brow that made the girl's blush deepen. "Did you happen to catch the name of these men? I was only planning to meet my friend at the bar."

  A hand on my shoulder pulled my attention away from the hostess to the man who’d just walked into the restaurant. I stared into a pair of eyes that mirrored my own and grinned. "Dad. I had no idea that you'd be here this afternoon."

  He clapped me on the shoulder. "Neither did I, but it gets me out of helping your mother string fake leaves over every archway in the house. Know that your sister gets her holiday fervor honestly."

  "Leslie learned from the best."

  Dad chuckled and unbuttoned his trench coat.

  "I'm meeting Scott at the bar, and I'm already late. Do you know what some table of men requesting to see me is about?"

  Dad handed his coat to the hostess and waited until she disappeared into the coat closet. His eyes sparkled with humor, and he lowered his voice. "Sherm just sold one of those mammoth luxury cabins at the edge of Pine Haven off of Bluebird Hollow to Robby Lennox."

  I blinked hard. "Who?”

  Dad rolled his eyes. “Young people. Rob Lennox was the lead guitarist for the old rock band The Howlin’ Wolves.”

  The band name didn’t register, but I nodded anyway. “Wow. Cool. Who would think that Pine Haven would be the home of an old rock star?"

  Dad chuckled. "Certainly not, Sherm! He came over last night with a bottle of fine scotch, and your mom was ready to give him the boot until she heard about his deal with Robby Lennox. Then she poured the drinks for us. I love your mom, but she'll change her tune in a bat of an eye if she thinks there's any chance at social climbing."

  I crossed my arms. "I know. She can't help herself. So, she wants you to befriend the Rockstar, huh? The ladies in her book club will eat up that story."

  Dad clapped his hand on my shoulder. "Not just me, son. Her main goal was to get you introduced to him. She thinks establishing wealthy connections will help you get a job back here. She cooked up a whole plan with Sherm last night. I don't think those two ever talked so much in all the years that they've known each other."

  Shocked, I swore under my breath. I'd forgotten how zealous my mother was with her social scheming. "I'm not a kid anymore. She can't just go around making plans for my life. And as far as employment is concerned, I think I'll allow my credentials to speak for me."

  "Tell that to your mother. I'm going over to introduce myself to Robby. Take a minute and then get Scott. And, for the love of God, tell him no shots until after dinner."

  I blew out an exasperated breath but nodded, chuckling, and walked toward the bar.

  Scott turned in his stool and flung his arms wide open. “There he is, finally! The man of the hour, or shall I say the hour-late man. You’ve been back in Pine Haven for exactly one afternoon, and you've already violated our bro code. What do you have to say for yourself?”

  “It’s great to see you, too, man.” I laughed.

  Scott stood and engulfed me in a big bear hug. He wrapped his hand around one of my biceps like Tess had earlier and shook his head. “McCade. Jesus, have you been fighting grizzly bears up north? You’re even more stacked than the last time I saw you. You might even be able to kick my ass now.”

  I chuckled. “I’m on a base in the middle of nowhere. There’s n
ot a lot to do beyond hike and workout when I’m not on duty. Besides, I’m just trying to catch up to you.”

  Scott smirked. “Yeah, you and the rest of the pack were always jealous of my masculine physique.”

  I smiled. “Truer words were never spoken. You look good, man."

  Scott smirked and rubbed a slow hand over his chest. "I feel good, too. Just ask the ladies of Pine Haven and Greenvale. Since you've been gone, I've been pulling double duty to keep the women around here satisfied."

  A female bartender looked over her shoulder from ringing something into the computer and giggled. “Scott, you are ridiculous.”

  Scott winked at the bartender. "Happy to be of service."

  I shook my head.

  Scott rolled his eyes. “But seriously. It’s your first day back, so I’m going to let you slide this time, but remember, rule number one is the most important of all.”

  I scratched my forehead, trying to think of Scott’s crazy bro-code rules that he insisted our group of friends learn and follow ever since we were in sixteen. “Rule . . . number . . . one.”

  Scott’s brows drew together. “Bros before hoes! Come on, man! You need a refresher on the way this works. Anyway, how was your ride in with Melissa? Did you hear that she bought a little love nest in the woods?”

  I rubbed my hand over some of the stubbled that had already started to form along my jawline. “For someone who now lives in Greenvale, you still have your ear bent toward Pine Haven gossip.”

  Scott shrugged. “Tess York told me, and when it comes to Melissa, Tess is a good source.”

  I chuckled. “You know, for not liking Tess, you certainly spend a lot of time with her. You text one another, chat about each other’s friends. I’m beginning to think all that annoyance you have for her is sexual tension.”

  Scott glared at me over his beer. “I’d rather gouge my own eyes out than try to bed that hellcat. She’s a hot mess. I have no idea why my dad insists that we hire her to decorate the Founders Hotel. That project’s turning into a hot mess, too; Tess must be rubbing off on it. Michael Grove is the new mayor of Greendale, and his pompous ass is already pissing me off. He’s been mayor for practically no time at all, and he’s already sold himself and his decisions to wealthy donors.”