Unexpected Admirer by Bernadette Marie Page A

that the best.”
    “You glow when you talk about this place.”
    “I glow?” She touched her cheeks. “Well, it holds many good memories. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.”
    Obviously she was done talking about it because she opened her door, climbed out of the car, and shut the door behind her.
    Jesse climbed out of the car into the cold wind and followed her up the steps to the large front porch.
    “Watch this board by the door. It’s rotted through.”
    He stepped to the side. Getting hurt the night before a concert was not a good idea.
    When she pushed open the door, he was transported to another time. The wood floors were raw, unfinished, unmatched pieces of wood. The furniture was old and most of it was covered.
    The air was thick with dust, but it didn’t bother him at all.
    “This place is amazing.”
    “It’s not as big as it looks from outside. This is the living room.” She turned to the small space behind them. “That’s the dining room, and the kitchen is through there. The laundry room is just off the back. It doubles as a closed porch and a mud room.”
    “There are bedrooms upstairs?”
    “Three.”
    He felt the smile form on his face. “Can I see them?”
    “Of course.”
    She led him through the old, in-need-of-updating kitchen to a small staircase at the back of the house. As she started up the stairs, the urge to grab her was almost uncontrollable.
    “I like the view.”
    “What?” She spun around and was eye to eye with him, standing the step above him.
    He grinned. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” He lifted his hand to her cheek.
    “Jesse…”
    “One more kiss.”
    He moved in, and his mouth found hers. He wrapped his fingers in her hair and pressed closer to her.
    There was as much urgency in her return. Her tongue found his, her hands came to his chest, and she fell against him as he moved her against the wall and stepped up to the same step with her.
    She was breathless beneath him. What would stop him from taking her right in this secluded house?
    Pride. Honor. Love.
    He pressed his head to hers. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be.”
    “I can’t make myself let you tell me goodbye forever,” he said, gasping for breath.
    “I don’t want to. I’ve grown to have feelings for you, and I don’t know what to do with that.”
    “Come to L.A.”
    She adjusted to look at him. “What? I can’t leave here.”
    “No.” He stepped back and placed his hands on her hips. “Come see me on my turf. After Thanksgiving is my last show on this tour. In L.A. Come be there.”
    “Jonah.”
    “He’ll be fine with your mom.” He kissed her once more. “Please.”
    She watched him as he stood there. How could he convince her more?
    “This still isn’t a good idea. We can’t make it—you and me.”
    “Just come see me. Don’t say goodbye yet if it’s not what either of us want.”
    She let out a long breath, turned from him, and walked up the stairs.
    He gathered his thoughts and followed.
    She pushed open the first bedroom door and stepped in.
    “My grandfather made all this.”
    Jesse walked over to the bed and ran his hand down the poster of the bed. “This is amazing workmanship.”
    “His heart was in it.”
    “What happens to all of this?”
    “It’ll have to go with the house.”
    A tear fell from her eye, and he moved quickly to wipe it away.
    “It’s all going to be okay.”
    “You can’t say that. You don’t live in my life.”
    He felt that more, standing in this house, than ever before.
    He wished he had more words that would soothe her, but he didn’t. They had one shot at this relationship, and their differences were going to tear them apart.
    Just as he took a breath to speak, his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket.
    “Hey, Bryce.”
     
    Melissa turned to give him privacy, but the phone call seemed one-sided. Whoever was talking was talking fast and loud.
    She walked to the door to leave just as he turned off his phone.
    “Sorry