Read The Meltdown Match (A Romance Novella) for Free Online

important.
    “I’ve been thinking more about the fisherman with a sixth sense idea, and I’m liking it more and more,” she said.
    Mitch wondered if she’d said that to be nice—something that might put an end to the awkward silence—because the fisherman idea had been a joke. It stunk.
    He played along anyway. “Yeah?”
    “It’s a good thing I don’t have my laptop or notebook with me. I’d probably start jotting down some notes.”
    He had no idea what to say to that. “I have a notebook inside if you’d like.”
    “No.” She waved his suggestion aside. “I was only joking.”
    But was she? Mitch changed the subject, and after some painful small talk to get them through dinner, Courtney insisted on doing the dishes. “It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done today,” she said, picking up his plate. “Besides, I’ve wanted to take a peek inside ever since you brought me here, and this is my chance.”
    Mitch followed with the glasses. “Want a tour?”
    “Of course.”
    Together, they made quick work of cleaning up, and once the last dish had been loaded, Mitch held out his hand, hoping she’d take it. “Ready?”
    She hesitated a second, then placed her hand in his. It felt soft and small and perfect, especially when her fingers tightened around his and she returned the pressure of his grip.
    He gave her hand a tug and led her down the hall. “The house has four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a den, vaulted ceilings, and a lot of stone and wood. I wanted it to have more of a chalet feel.”
    Courtney peeked inside each bedroom as they passed. Although they were pretty much empty, with little to no furniture, she seemed to like what she saw. In the master bedroom, she relinquished his hand and took her time looking around. Mitch shuffled his feet as he waited, wondering what she thought. With only a bed and nightstand, there wasn’t much to see, but the stone fireplace was cool, along with the wooden beams on the vaulted ceiling.
    Courtney finally faced him and cocked her head. “This room is beautiful, but it’s too empty. Take that fireplace, for example. It’s gorgeous, but where’s the loveseat to curl up on? And these hardwood floors—” Her foot tapped the boards. “Spectacular. But it could really use a rug to cozy it up. And those windows.” She gestured toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned the far end of the room. “Talk about an amazing view. You need a comfy recliner right there.”
    A teasing glint appeared in her eyes as she approached him, resting both hands on his chest and shaking her head in mock disappointment. “I have to say, I’m feeling a little let down. You could really use a woman’s touch in here.”
    With her standing this close, touching him and smelling faintly of citrus, he had to disagree. His room had never felt less empty. “Are you volunteering?” he said.
    “Give me some time and a decent budget, and you’ll wonder how you ever called this place home before.”
    Mitch covered her hands with his and stared into her beautiful green, almost blue eyes. “I don’t know. It’s feeling pretty homey right now.”
    A moment passed when they booth stood there, saying nothing. Mitch’s heart rate increased to the point where Courtney could probably feel it pounding beneath her fingers. Now was his chance to do what he should have done before, to pull her to him and find out if her heart was racing as wildly as his.
    Confusion appeared in her eyes, and her hands pulled free from his, dropping back to her side. “You said there was a den?” Her voice sounded a little shaky.
    Mitch resisted the impulse to curse and nodded toward the doors. “Yeah, that way.” Without taking her hand this time, he led her down the hall and to the right, toward a small alcove outside a set of dark, wooden doors. He paused with his hands on the handles, hoping against hope that she’d like what was on the other side. Then he drew in a breath and swung