Melanie returned the smile and went inside. Above a large entranceway and to the left of the door, she saw the sign for the diner – the best food in town – or so the establishment claimed.
Trevor Knight was watching for her arrival, and hurried over. “You look lovely this evening, Miss Braxton.”
Melanie grinned. “You mean as opposed to the track pants I wore earlier?” When he reached for her arm, she added, “I recall that we agreed to use first names last week.”
“We did, Melanie. Thank you for coming.” His dark eyes flitted with something akin to stars twinkling in a night sky – like a light in the darkness.
“I said I’d be here.” Melanie tore her gaze from his probing eyes. Their intensity possessed the power to reach inside her soul and dredge up all the unwanted trash she sought desperately to keep from him.
He escorted her to a table at the far end of the room next to a picture window framing the oceanfront and a setting sun. “A very romantic spot you picked.” Now, why had she said that? Her brain appeared to be malfunctioning.
“I love a gorgeous sunset, but if you want to think romantic, I can handle that, too.” Trevor did not attempt to hold back his grin.
“Mr. Knight,” she began, “I barely know you, but I do apologize for my Georgia sass. It gets me into trouble far too often. I shall attempt to be more careful in the future.”
Trevor laugh was rich and contagious. After she was seated, he joined her his face still smiling from her comment. “You do have sass. I prefer that to a boring, old maid.”
“And now I’m labelled as an old-maid? However, will you recover from such blunders so early into our meeting?”
“I shall order the best Champagne the hotel has to offer to make up for it.”
“Get me drunk? Is that your intention, sir?”
Trevor grinned. “I see you are a handful, and without alcohol. I should hate to see you under its influence.”
“Then skip the Champagne – I don’t drink,” Melanie said.
“A girl after my own heart,” Trevor said. “I keep it in my home for guests or business, but I never touch the stuff. Orange juice in a wine glass fools the best of them.”
“Are you afraid to show the world that you have the gumption to say no to the glow?” Melanie asked.
Trevor relaxed in his chair. “And you, my dear, are black and white in your beliefs – a wonderful attribute.”
“Don’t put me on a pedestal, Trevor. These days I’m more confused than absolute. It’s a condition that gives my sassy nature far too much rope – enough to single-handedly hang myself on numerous occasions.”
Melanie opened the menu as the waiter came forward.
“Drinks, sir?” he addressed Trevor.
“Yes. Two large Champagne glasses of pure, untainted, orange juice.” The server nodded and walked off.
“Thank you,” Melanie said without glancing up. “The steak looks delightful, with a baked potato and steamed mixed vegetables.”
“Perhaps an appetizer to start? They have a combination plate that includes a variety of tasty morsels. Or salad? A girl needs her greens,” Trevor said.
“The appetizer is enough with the meal, thank you,” said Melanie.
Two stemmed goblets of juice arrived, and Trevor placed their order with the waiter then lifted his glass to toast. “To a wonderful surprise meeting, so soon after your brief visit to Knight Manor.”
She clinked her glass against his and smiled. “I did enjoy it, despite Chrissy’s determined efforts to maintain a vast chasm between our two worlds. Do you and she have history that might fuel such a need for division?”
“Nothing I am aware of, except that she sees dollar signs when she looks at me and suspects I am as corrupt as her father turned out to be.”
“She doesn’t discuss her past with me to any great extent, but she does get her back up in any discussion centering around wealth,” Melanie said. “Perhaps that was the similarity that bound us. I recognized the turmoil raging inside and couldn’t leave her rebel-butt to live on the streets.”
“So, you invited her into your home. That was a kind gesture.”
“She used to…” Her voice trailed off. She warned herself to be careful not to use the past tense. “She does pay her half of the rent. We’ve learned together how to live within a tight budget.”
“Totally unnecessary. Chrissy has access to a trust fund that would allow her to live comfortably and still discover her destiny.”
“I suppose not using one’s tainted inheritance speaks highly of one’s character.”
“I suppose, but it’s all hearsay. No one is demanding her father’s funds back, so I have no reason to suspect her inheritance is in jeopardy.”
“Perhaps you don’t know everything,” she said, testing the waters.
“No perhaps about it. My niece is as tight-lipped as her father was. I’m just the little brother that inherited the confusion when Father, Mother and Charles passed away quite suddenly.”
“How convenient for you to hold the reins on the family dynasty.” She smiled, but when he took a reflective stance and gazed out the window, she continued in a different direction. “I understand Chrissy has a sister as well?”
Trevor focused on his dinner guest. “Yes. An angry sister, Chelsea. Although my parents and brother both provided her a substantial legacy, she also wants the Manor and everything my spoiled, big brother managed to set up for Chrissy. I understand why Chrissy wanted to leave such a volatile atmosphere, but I dare to believe God can intervene to bring Chelsea’s heart around. It was my parents’ wish that I be patient and love them all into the Kingdom.”
“You’re a devout Christian?”
“Yes. It’s the only sanity I can offer this misguided world.”
“I ran from such sanity, disillusioned by my own
