The Meltdown Match (A Romance Novella) by Rachael Anderson Read Free Book Online

and got to work.
    The story came together like no story had before. Scene after scene played out in her mind, and characters became fully formed as her fingers flew over the keys, failing to keep up with her thoughts. Although she’d always been told to write what she knew, Alaska had never seemed that exciting of a place to set a book before. But now, it was perfect.
    As the hours passed, her stomach started rumbling. Courtney leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms behind her in satisfaction. Then she rose and went to the kitchen, where she pulled out the bag of groceries and chopped vegetables for gourmet hoagie sandwiches. Mitch had mentioned that he sometimes came home for lunch, and she wanted to have something ready for him if he did.
    Soon the rumblings of the garage door sounded, followed by Mitch walking in the door. He tossed his keys on the counter and headed straight to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her soundly enough to make her toes curl. How many times had she dreamed of this happening? Mitch holding her, kissing her, wanting to be with her.
    Excited flutters ran through her stomach as she smiled against his lips. “I could really get used to this,” she murmured.
    “Me too.” He drew back and ran his fingers up and down her arms. “Get much done on your story?”
    She nodded. “I practically have the whole thing outlined, and I owe it all to you. Not only did you inspire me with the idea, but you gave me the most wonderful place to write it.”
    “Yeah, well, don’t think it doesn’t come with strings attached.”
    “What kind of strings?” She nodded her head toward the counter. “Because I brought you some of my mom’s cinnamon rolls and made you the best sandwich you will ever taste in your life.”
    His gaze flicked toward the table and back to her. “That should cover about half.”
    “Only half?” Her fingers traveled from his waist to his chest to the back of his neck, where they interlocked. She backed him against the counter and pulled his mouth to hers in a kiss that hopefully made up for the other half. When she finally drew back, she felt weak and had to tuck her head against his chest as she struggled to catch her breath.
    His arms tightened around her, and he rested his chin against the top of her head. “Wow, Salt,” he said. “I’ll take one of those anytime.”
    She poked him in the ribs. “Not if you keep calling me that.”
    He chuckled. “But it fits so well. I mean, think about it. Salt makes almost everything taste better, the same way you make my life better.”
    Courtney muffled her laughter in the fabric of his shirt before peeking up at him and shaking her head. “That was the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said, and my name is Courtney. Say it with me now. Court—ney.”
    “But it doesn’t have the same ring to it.” He tried to kiss her again, but she broke free and shook her head.
    “Just wait until I come up with an equally fitting nickname for you. You’re going to be sorry you ever called me Salt.”
    He pulled out a barstool, sat down, and reached for one of the hoagies. “I’m quivering with fear.”
     

Courtney entered the city offices and took the stairs two at a time. Only thirty minutes earlier, she’d officially finished her rough draft, and it was time to celebrate by taking Mitch out for lunch. The book was coming together quicker than any of her others, and although she still had mountains of revision ahead of her, she’d reached a huge milestone and couldn’t wait to tell him the news.
    Ever since The Meltdown Match, her scattered life and question mark of a future had become a little less scattered and a little more certain. For the first time since she’d left for college, Courtney wasn’t afraid to stay in Heimel permanently. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to sink her roots more deeply into the place she’d never really pulled them from. She wanted the life that Mitch had shown her during the past