What She Needed Read online

  Melissa looked at the clock. "Can he get packed up by evening?"

  "He doesn't have a whole lot to his name. I'm pretty sure he can throw it all into a few bags by tonight."

  "Great," she replied. "Let me go back to the store and stock the house for him."

  "You are the kindest woman I know," George told her, "and I'm not just saying that because you are my sister. I truly mean it."

  Unsure she deserved the compliment, Melissa felt herself blush. "Thank you." With a sigh, she added, "Let's just hope that a little bit of kindness can go a long way."

  Melissa’s nerves fluttered as she sat in the small house, waiting for Dylan to arrive. She hoped he would end up being as sweet as his eyes had implied, and the hardness on his face would turn out to be just an act. She wondered what his upbringing had been like in order for him to turn to a life of crime so young. Her childhood hadn’t exactly been spectacular, but she’d managed to stay out of trouble. Maybe Dylan’s parents had been even more hateful than her own had been.

  That thought was frightening.

  George’s car pulled into the driveway, and Melissa found herself wringing her hands. “Relax,” she said out loud, shaking her arms loose. She was just so desperate for this to work out that she would have been heartbroken if he turned out to be unreceptive.

  She watched them get out of the car, but then she disappeared from the window and sat on the couch, pulling out her phone and staring at it as if she'd been sitting there all along. The front door opened, and George walked in with Dylan behind him. “Oh, hi,” she remarked casually.

  “Hello, my favorite little sister.”

  She didn’t look at Dylan while she walked over and kissed George on the cheek. She decided to wait for an introduction, which came a moment later.

  “This is Dylan,” George said. “Dylan, this is my amazing sister, Melissa.”

  She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.” Dylan’s handshake was firm, but his eyes were fixed on her shoes.

  George put his hand on Dylan’s shoulder. “This woman is doing you a huge favor—a favor that can be undone at any moment for any reason. I want nothing but respect from you. Got it?”

  With his gaze still toward the floor, Dylan softly said, “I’ll be polite, sir.”

  “That’s right. I know you will.” George patted his shoulder before inviting him in further with a sweeping gesture of his arm. “Come on. Take a look around your new place.”

  With that, Dylan raised his glance and made eye contact with Melissa for the first time. He curled his lips into a slight, shy smile before scanning the room. “It’s nice.”

  With each passing second, Melissa felt more and more confident that she would be able to help this young man.

  “Well," Melissa began cheerfully, "this is the living room, obviously." Pointing to the modest table in the corner, she added, “And there is your fancy dining area. The kitchen is right here.” She took a few steps and pointed toward the small galley kitchen. “I’ve stocked it with some groceries already—just your basic stuff. It’s got all of the dishes you might need…pots and pans, silverware.” She opened a cabinet and revealed the glasses inside.

  Dylan followed her, poking his head around the corner to see better, nodding slightly.

  “If you come this way, you’ll see the bedroom and bathroom.” She showed him the two rooms, which were situated off the main living area. “You’ve got a closet over there, which should be big enough. You’ve got the dresser to work with, too, so hopefully you have enough room to store your clothes and stuff.”

  Again, Dylan only responded with a nod.

  “It isn’t much,” Melissa concluded, “but it should have everything you need. And if it turns out it doesn’t, I’m more than happy to go out and get you something.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” he said softly. “Thanks.”

  “You’re awfully quiet,” George noted. “Are you still okay with this arrangement?”

  Dylan looked up and smiled slightly at George. “I am. It just hasn’t sunk in yet, I guess. I’ve never had my own place before.”

  “Well, no parties,” George told him. “You’re still getting random drug tests, remember?”

  “I know.” The subtle grin remained. “I wouldn't be able to have a party anyway; I don't know anybody here. It’s just the privacy will be nice, that's all.”

  “Well, you’ve got cable and movies on demand,” Melissa told him, walking over to the coffee table. “It’s all on this one remote." She picked it up. "It’s pretty simple, but if you can’t figure it out, I can help you.”

  “It’s the same one my aunt had,” he replied politely. “I know how to use it.”

  “Great,” Melissa said. “So you already know the channels, then?”

  “I do.”

  An awkward silence threatened to ensue, so Melissa asked, “Do you need help bringing in your stuff?”

  “I think we’ve got it,” George replied. “Come on, Dylan, let’s get your suitcases.”

  Without a word, Dylan followed George outside to the car.

  Melissa stood silently for a moment, trying to absorb what she’d just seen. Dylan seemed like a sweet young man who had apparently made some pretty bad choices along the way. Maybe he’d had a lousy upbringing, or perhaps life had just beaten him down one too many times. She'd need to hear his story. Either way, he didn’t appear to be a hardened criminal—at least, not yet. He seemed to be early enough in the process to still be reachable. She was optimistic that she’d actually be able to help him.

  She also had to acknowledge what he could give her in return. Her life was so monotonous and uneventful, and he had the potential to provide her with something to do, perhaps for a long time. An involuntary smile splayed across her lips.

  This new arrangement had the potential to be life-changing for both of them.

  George left shortly after the luggage was brought in. “I won’t stay too long,” Melissa told Dylan. “I’m sure you want to unpack and get acquainted with the place.”

  He shrugged one shoulder, avoiding eye contact. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not bothering me.”

  “I do want to exchange numbers with you and find out your work schedule. I’m your ride for the next few months until you get your own car, so I’d like to jot down the times you'll need me.”

  He lifted his eyes and looked at Melissa, softly asking, “Why are you doing this?”

  “Giving you rides?”

  “Any of this.” Dylan gestured around the living room. “Giving me rides. Letting me stay here for free. You don’t even know me.”

  Melissa smiled compassionately. “Well, my brother knows you, and he thinks you deserve a chance.” She sat down on the arm of the sofa. “And, honestly, I want to help you.” This time, her eyes lowered to the floor. “I’ve seen my bother help people for fifteen years now, and I don’t really feel like I’ve done anything worthwhile during that time. That’s why I asked him to find someone who could use a hand. I wanted to do something nice for someone.”

  Dylan was quiet for a minute. “Well,” he eventually whispered, “I appreciate it.”

  “It’s no problem.”

  A long moment of silence ended when Melissa cleared her throat. “Okay, so about that work schedule…”

  Chapter 3

  The smell of garlic bread filled the car, making Melissa hungry. She waited in the parking lot of the auto parts store, seeing Dylan walk out five minutes after the end of his shift. He looked around for a minute until he spotted her car, and then he unceremoniously started heading in her direction.

  The second he got in the car, he announced, “My God, that smells good.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” Melissa told him. “It’s your dinner.”

  He looked over at her. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.” She patted his leg. “Buckle up.”

  He didn’t say anything, simply doing as he was told.r />
  “It’s nothing special,” Melissa added as the car pulled out of the space. “It’s just some baked ziti, garlic bread and salad. Oh, and I made a chocolate pie, if you like that.”

  “I’ll never turn down pie.”

  “I didn’t think so. How was work?”

  She could see him glance at her out of the corner of her eye. “It was okay. It was work. You know how it is.”

  “Actually, I don’t.”

  “You don’t work?”

  “Nope.” Melissa turned onto the main road.

  “Do you have kids?”

  “Nope.”

  “Huh.” Dylan stayed quiet for a minute before he added, “That sounds great.”

  “It’s not, actually.”

  “How is that not great?”

  She shrugged, gripping the wheel. “It’s just boring, that’s all. My husband is gone a lot. Like right now, he’s in England.”

  “England? What’s he doing in England?”

  “Work.” She looked over at him.

  “What does he do?”

  “Cyber security. And he’s good at it, too…one of the best in the world. It’s great in the sense that he’ll never be out of a job, but it’s bad because he’s never home.”

  “He must make good money.”

  “Yup. Enough for me to stay home. And enough for us to set up a second house to help someone out.”

  When Dylan didn’t respond, she peeked over at him. He was just looking out the window. She wondered what he was thinking.

  “It’s not that long of a drive to get you to work,” she continued. “That’s at least nice.”

  “Yeah, it’s not too bad. I wouldn’t mind if it took a little longer, though. It feels good to be out. I get a little stir crazy stuck at home.”

  “Well, do you want to go somewhere? Like, run an errand or something?”

  He shook his head subtly. “Nah. Not with dinner in the car. Maybe tomorrow, though, if you’re willing.”

  “Yeah,” she replied. “I’d be willing.”

  They stayed quiet for the short distance to the house. She pulled in the driveway, saying, “Here. I can help you carry in dinner.”

  “Thanks.”

  Melissa grabbed the ziti tray with potholders while Dylan brought in the rest. He unlocked the door and held it open for her as she went in first. She thanked him and made the short walk to the stove, setting the hot pan down on the burners. He put the other dishes on the table.

  “Well,” she said, turning toward him. “I guess I’ll get going and let you enjoy this.”

  “You’re not staying?” he asked. The innocent expression on his face struck her.

  While Melissa had secretly hoped for the invitation, she was still surprised by it. “Do you want me to?”

  He shrugged, saying, “You made it; you should at least have some. Besides, didn’t you say your husband isn’t home?”

  “He’s in England.”

  “There you go.” Dylan seemed to struggle to find the right words. “You shouldn’t eat alone.”

  Melissa found that response to be endearing. “Well, if you’re willing to have me, I’d love to stay.”

  “Good." An adorable smirk appeared on his face. "Now...which cabinet has the plates?”

  “So,” Melissa asked as she poked at her dinner. “I guess there’s an obvious question I haven’t asked you yet.”

  He flipped his long hair back with his hand. “What did I do to end up with an ankle bracelet?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Probation violation. I got caught with a bag of weed.”

  “By my brother?”

  He shook his head. “This was in Missouri, where I’m from. I didn’t move here until a month ago.”

  “And you moved here to live with your aunt?”

  “Yeah. I needed to get the hell out of Missouri. I realized I would never get out of trouble there.” After taking a drink of water, he added, “I had gotten arrested a bunch of times, and every time I’d get released, I’d fall right back into my old ways...meaning, I’d inevitably get caught again. It was the people I hung out with. I had been friends with them since we were kids, and I could never stay out of trouble when I was with them. I knew if I didn’t do something different, I was going to spend the rest of my life in jail.”

  “Your aunt invited you stay with her?”

  “I wouldn’t say she invited me. I would say she ‘reluctantly agreed’ when I asked.”

  Melissa didn’t reply, simply because she wasn’t sure what to say.

  “My aunt has a four-year-old. I don’t think she wanted me around him.” A look of shame appeared on his face. “I can’t blame her, really. I don’t know if I’d want someone like me around my kid, either.”

  Melissa’s eyes grew wide. “You have a kid?”

  “No.” For the first time since she’d met him, Dylan laughed. “But if I did have a kid, I wouldn’t want him around someone like me.”

  Melissa was happy to see him relaxing a little bit. “But your aunt did let you stay…”

  “Yeah, she did. I think it was mostly out of obligation, though. That’s why I’m actually pretty grateful to have this place. I knew I wasn’t really wanted there, but I wasn’t allowed to leave.” He lifted the leg with the monitor. “I just hung out in their guest room, mostly, playing video games. This will definitely be a better way to spend the next few months.”

  She glanced over her shoulder at the television. “Do you want a video game system here? I don’t think there is one.”

  “Oh my God. You’d do that?”

  “Sure. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that before. I can pick one up after I leave here and bring it back, if you want.”

  He looked genuinely touched. “That would be amazing. I can’t believe you’d be willing to do that.”

  “It’s no problem. I’m sure it has to get boring being under house arrest.”

  “You have no idea. And it’s even worse since I don’t know anybody here.”

  “That has to be hard.”

  He gazed off into the distance, looking at nothing. Regret was plastered all over his face. “It is.”

  She reached over and patted his arm. “I’ll get you that video game system. That’ll make it better.”

  “Yes, it will.”

  “You’ll have to let me know what games to buy…and what system, for that matter. I have to admit, I don’t know a whole lot about that stuff.”

  “You wouldn’t,” he said with another slight laugh. “You have a life.”

  “Not really,” she muttered.

  He glanced up at her with just his eyes, his sinister grin causing her breath to catch just a little. “What do you do during the day?”

  “Umm…” she began, trying to ignore what had just happened. “I’m not even sure. Clean? Watch TV?” She was struck by her inability to answer that question. “Time just goes by. I don’t even really know what I do.”

  “I know that feeling.”

  Melissa felt sympathy for him. “You’ve got, what, one more month of this?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s not too bad,” she told him. “You can do it.” She refrained from mentioning that she’d been doing this for several years already and still had a lifetime to go.

  “Like I said, it’ll be easier here,” he replied. “Thanks again for letting me stay.”

  “You don’t have to keep thanking me. Just work on staying out of trouble, and we’ll call it even.”

  “Oh, believe me, I will,” he said with wide eyes. “One more arrest, and I’ll be going away for a long time.”

  Melissa approached her king size bed, wondering why it needed to be so big if she slept alone most of the time. Nevertheless, she got into her side and put her head on her pillow, pulling the covers up to her neck.

  Thoughts of Dylan immediately popped into her head. There was something about him that got to her in a way she knew was wrong. His smile had an undeniable
seductiveness to it, and that little bit of shyness played perfectly against his rugged exterior. She shouldn't have been quite so affected by him; she was a married woman, and Dylan was substantially younger than she was. However, Jim wasn’t there to prevent her mind from wandering, so she allowed it to go wherever it took her.

  She wondered what Dylan looked like without a shirt on. She imagined he had tattoos, and with that long hair, he had an air about him that definitely did the trick. She wasn’t ordinarily attracted to that type—she usually preferred a shirt-and-tie man, but something about his soft brown eyes and hardened look triggered a stir in her that she couldn’t deny.

  She started to imagine Dylan was there with her, flashing her that seductive look from the other side of the bed. In her mind, he was soon above her, staring at her with those eyes as the tips of his hair landed softly on her body. Without thinking about it, she began rubbing her stomach with her hands, working her way up to her breasts. She closed her eyes, keeping Dylan’s face in her mind, pretending her hands were his. After spending a good deal of time under her shirt, she slid her hand down past her waistband, sucking in a shaky breath as her fingertips reached their destination. She began rubbing, slowly at first, her eyes fixated on Dylan’s in her head. Her rubbing became more furious as she envisioned him inside of her, imagining what his face would look like on the verge of orgasm. Before long, she reached her climax, releasing an exhale that relaxed her whole body.

  With a smile, she rolled over onto her side, pretending Dylan was lying there next to her, just as content as she was. Within minutes, she drifted happily off to sleep.

  Chapter 4

  “You said yesterday that you wanted to make the drive home take longer today,” Melissa mentioned from the driver’s seat.

  “Only if you’re willing.”

  “I don’t mind,” she said. “I’ve got nothing else going on. We can make a few stops if you want.”

  “You’re not going to be embarrassed to be seen out in public with a guy wearing an ankle monitor?”

  “Not at all.” She glanced over at him. “Are you going to be embarrassed to be seen with an older woman with limited fashion sense and an extra pound or twenty to lose?”