Love Means Nothin'

Melody Gray visits New York City to attend her best friend's wedding, meeting tennis pro John Spencer at the train station, and stopping him from running away from his life. She loves spending time with him, finding herself wishing she could stay with him instead of returning to her abusive father in West Virginia. But she knows her father needs her to take care of him, and since John's famous mother and others surrounding John let her know she doesn't belong, she realizes she'll never be able to be near the man she loves again.

Excerpt

Melody Gray was eating an awful sandwich when a strange man sat down at her table. She hadn't invited him, but he just sat down as if he owned the entire train station diner. That was no way to behave, but she wasn't about to give in and leave. She was tired from traveling from West Virginia to New York City and just wanted something to eat. How rude was this guy?

If this man wanted to cause a problem, she'd let him have it, because her daddy had taught her how to fight. She stared at him, trying to give him the hint that she wanted to be alone. He was certainly handsome, looking like he'd be on the cover of the magazines in her Aunt Shirley's beauty parlor. Blue eyes, brown hair, definitely a ten—this man had it all. But he didn't have manners and that was one thing Melody didn't like—rude people. She'd known enough of them in her life and she wasn't about to be pushed around anymore.

"I was sittin' here," she said.

"I was here first." He pointed toward a smashed can lying on the table. "I just needed to run to the bathroom. But you can stay."

She sat back. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were here." She looked for another table, but the place was packed. "Thank you for letting me stay, because I don't think there's another empty table. I just want to eat and run. I'm in a hurry to get out of here." She looked off into the diner, trying to avoid his eyes. She felt badly, because she'd been the rude one. That bothered her more than anything.

The man reached over and touched her hand, the heat from his fingertips searing her skin. "You're not from New York. Where are you from?"

She yanked her hand away. "West Virginia." How did he do that with his touch? It was like a cattle prod to her skin. Could men really be that hot? And was someone truly that forward? She'd never known anyone like this, intriguing her.

He grinned and leaned closer. "Why are you in New York City?"

Now he was invading her space. She had to move away, so she inched her chair backward, making it screech against the floor. "My best friend's gettin' married and I'm a bridesmaid."

"I'd think you'd be the bride, as pretty as you are," he said. "Where are you staying?"

She knew better than to give him any extra information. "At the hotel where she's gettin' married."

He chuckled as his eyes stayed on hers. "There are a lot of hotels in New York. Which one?"

She tilted her head, wondering why he wanted to know. Was he making fun of her or did he think she was stupid because she was a woman? No one would make her feel like a second-class citizen. Not on this trip and not like at home. "I'd rather not say. I don't know you."