âWe have a history, and itâs not going to be easy.â
âEspecially since the attraction is still there.â Might as well put that on the table, Rafe thought.
Melina hesitated then nodded. âBeing attracted isnât the issue. Itâs what we do about it.â
He knew what heâd like to do about it. For the first time since theyâd met, they had their own homes, which offered privacy, a place where they could spend a whole night together, where they wouldnât have to check out by 10:00 a.m. They could shower together in the morning, linger over breakfast wearing only robes, easily disposed of.
The silence escalated between them. He wondered if her thoughts were headed down the same path as his.
Dear Reader,
Reunion stories pose a particular challenge for a writer. Readers sometimes ask, âIf their relationship didnât work the first time around, why should I expect it to work the second time?â
Itâs a good and valid question. I happen to like reunion stories for a couple of reasons: because the coupleâs past gives them an emotional footing for the present, and because âsecond chancesâ is a theme I love. Combine those reasons with the fact so many of our books feature heroes and heroines in their twenties and thirties, and itâs the perfect storm for me. We change so much in our twenties that itâs not surprising weâd be open to a second chance at love with someone from our past.
It isnât easy, of course. Nothing worthwhile is, as the saying goes. But I think a complicated past can make for a richer, deeper and truer relationship.
Mendozaâs Return is a reunion story. Melina and Rafe are plunked smack in the middle of their own perfect storm to weather some rough seas in search of smooth sailing. I hope you enjoy their voyage.
Susan Crosby
SUSAN CROSBY believes in the value of setting goals, but also in the magic of making wishes, which often do come trueâas long as she works hard enough. Along lifeâs journey sheâs done a lot of the usual thingsâmarried, had children, attended college a little later than the average co-ed and earned a BA in English. Then she dived off the deep end into a full-time writing career, a wish come true. Susan enjoys writing about people who take a chance on love, sometimes against all odds. She loves warm, strong heroes and good-hearted, self-reliant heroines, and she will always believe in happily ever after. More can be learned about her at www.susancrosby.com.
For the Broderick familyâ
Sean, Kelly, Chase, Cameron and Jorieâ everyday heroes. Youâre an inspiration.
Melina Lawrence looked over her shoulder and winked at her sister Angie, the most effervescent bride Melina had ever seen.
âDonât trip!â Angie mouthed just as the wedding planner signaled to maid of honor Melina to begin her walk down the aisle.
Melina smiled, both at her sisterâs teasing caution and the beauty of the moment. The church was full. Happy faces greeted her with each step. Then about halfway down the aisle she spotted someone who didnât belong in the crowdâRaphael Mendoza. Rafe Mendoza. Rafe, the love of her lifeâin high school, anyway, and a little beyond. Homecoming king to her homecoming queen. They were voted most likely to wedâ¦.
But they hadnât.
He came sharply into focus, the guests around him blurring into a muted montage of color. Why was he here? He lived in Michigan, fifteen hundred miles from Red Rock, Texas, where he was born and raised. Where theyâd gone to high school together.
Donât trip. The muscles of Melinaâs cheeks ached as she tried to maintain her smile. All of her senses overloaded so fast it was dizzying. He gave her the slightest of nods as she moved past him, her pulse pounding in her ears so loudly she couldnât hear the music.
Donât trip. Her legs kept moving but felt numb.
When she could see clearly again, she noticed the expressions on the faces of old friendsâsympathy, but also peopleâs blatant curiosity of a gossip-worthy event.
Angie must have invited him to the wedding but hadnât bothered to tell Melina he was coming. Then again, her sister still believed in fairy tales and happy endings. Sheâd never given up on Rafe and Melina finding their way back to each other. Angie had adored Rafe as the big brother sheâd never had. Adored him so much, sheâd gone into an extended and dramatic period of mourning for him ten years ago, after Melina and Rafe broke up when Angie was only twelveâ¦.
It was the look on her motherâs faceâfull of understanding and maybe even a little annoyanceâthat drew Melina back into the moment. She managed genuine smiles for her mother and Gramps, seated next to her, then noted the panic in her about-to-be brother-in-lawâs eyes. She smiled consolingly at the very sweet Tommy Buchanan, then took her position alongside seven bridesmaids. The guests rose for the brideâs shining moment, Angieâs gaze locked with Tommyâs all the way down the aisle.