Page 3 of Rescuing the Writer
Melbourne’s shoulders drooped as he put his bags down. “Okay. Thank you.”
She nodded, then gestured at me. “Waylon will give you my card.”
Within minutes, she’d hooked the RV up to her tow truck. I knew better than to offer help. Doreen didn’t appreciate men mingling in her business, thinking they knew better. I waved goodbye as she slid back in her truck and carefully drove off.
“Now what?” Melbourne muttered, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. I could see the gears turning in his head, his big, expressive eyes clouded with stress. It didn’t sit well with me, seeing him so out of sorts.
“You could crash at my place until you’ve found something else. It’s not much, but it’s quiet and out of the way. And I’ve got a spare room.” The words tumbled out before I could second-guess them.
His brown eyes met mine, surprise etching his features before they softened into something that looked a lot like relief. “Wouldn’t want to impose?—”
“It’s no imposition.”
“Are you sure?” A hesitant smile emerged. I could see the wheels turning in his head, weighing his options.
“Positive.” The rightness of the offer settled into my bones. Something about Melbourne tugged at me, something beyond the thrill of having a well-known author in my passenger seat.
“All right then.” A genuine smile broke through. “Lead the way, Deputy Rozzell.”
“Please, call me Waylon.” A warmth spread through my chest as I led him to my car. Almost automatically, I held open the passenger door for him.
He flashed me a smile. “Oh, a man with manners. I appreciate that.”
“All part of the job.” An unfamiliar flutter tickled my stomach. I hoped my voice didn’t betray how much I valued his approval.
I slid behind the wheel, let Auden know I was on my way home, and started the engine.
“Are you off-duty?” Melbourne asked. “Or am I now keeping you from doing your job?”
“My shift doesn’t end till eight, but Auden—Sheriff Frant—will have no problem with me stopping by my house real quick. It’s not like he can’t reach me in case I’m needed urgently.”
I felt strangely aware of Melbourne sitting next to me. He wasn’t saying anything, but he was watching me, and somehow, that made me a bit nervous. What did he think of me? Other than I was way too young for him—not that I thought he’d even be remotely interested in me.
I knew from reading his bio on the back of his books that he was openly gay—one of the reasons I’d picked up a book of his to begin with. I’d still been in the closet, but I had known. Hell, I’d known since I was fifteen. I just hadn’t been ready to accept it. I’d feared the town wouldn’t accept it, but then Auden had come out, and no one had even batted an eye.
But even though I’d told my mom, boss, and coworkers I was gay, I hadn’t acted on it. No way was a man as experienced as Melbourne interested in a gay virgin like me. Right?
As the silence settled between us, it gave me too much space to think. What was I doing, bringing a virtual stranger into my home? A man whose books I’d devoured late into the night, whose words sparked a fire in me I hadn’t known existed. The weight of potential implications pressed down on me—a mix of excitement and trepidation.
“Waylon?” His voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For…all this.” He gestured vaguely around the car, but his gaze locked on mine, earnest and intense. “It’s more than I expected from a small-town deputy.”
“Doesn’t feel right, leaving someone stranded.” The words sounded hollow because it wasn’t just that. It was more, so much more, and I couldn’t even begin to explain what or why.
“Still,” Melbourne insisted, “you’re going out of your way.”
He was right. I was going out of my way—out of my comfort zone, my neatly plotted life course. But looking at Melbourne, with his too-long silver-streaked hair and his eyes that seemed to see right through me, I didn’t regret it.
2
MELBOURNE
Iwas in trouble.
Not because of the temporary demise of my RV—though that was a problem and the amount it would cost to fix it would make my wallet weep.