“We don’t have time for breakfast,” Danielle screeched. “It’s ten o’clock in the morning. In case you forgot, I have you scheduled for the final slot on the Today show. Even if we leave now, I’m not sure we’re going to make it! And you both look like you just crossed the finish line of a sex marathon.”
“I did cross it,” Melody said brightly, looking at the camera. “Several times.”
Beat’s rich laughter flooded the apartment.
Danielle shook her head in bemusement. “Just when I thought we’d peaked at snowball fight, you two go and prove me wrong.” She waved her hands around in a flurry. “Just . . . get dressed in something. Anything. I am not going to disappoint Hoda Kotb.”
Melody didn’t want that, either, because who didn’t adore Hoda? She jogged into the bedroom and threw open her closet, her eyes landing on the brightest, most fashion forward dress in her closet because she felt daring and alive and bursting at the seams in that moment. She reached for the red chiffon cloud with billowed sleeves that only reached the upper middle of her thighs, removed her robe and threw on the dress, along with a pair of sparkly, vintage heels. Next, she dashed to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth, splashed cold water on her face, applied deodorant, snatched up her makeup kit—which she planned to make use of on the ride to Manhattan—and skidded back into the living room.
Danielle looked impressed. “Go off.”
Beat turned to witness her entrance and fell back a step, whistling. “Damn.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Never taking his eyes off her, Beat lifted her borrowed coat from the peg and closed the distance between them, holding it open behind her so she could slip in her arms. Beat took another minute to button and tuck in his own shirt then put on his jacket, before wrapping an arm around Melody’s shoulder. He relaxed when he saw the security team was now waiting outside of the apartment door to escort them to the SUV.
Still, he leaned down and kissed her temple, saying, “Stay close to me.”
She leaned into his warmth. “Always.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
They arrived with four minutes to spare.
Beat stood backstage with Melody watching Hoda tease the upcoming segment, their sides heaving from the mad dash into 30 Rockefeller Center, then down a maze of hallways to the Today show soundstage. He dodged the makeup sponge that a young woman in a headset attempted to dab on his face, thanking her with a polite smile. And basically, just went back to staring at Melody—a habit he would never, ever be kicking.
His shoulders were lighter today, along with his head. He’d been living with misplaced guilt for so long, he’d grown used to it. Learned to carry it while acting normal. But Melody . . . she’d come along and helped him peel it off. Maybe he would never be a man who took his advantages for granted, but that was a good thing. As long as he could look into this woman’s eyes and hold nothing back, he was free.
This incredible lightness, the exhilaration of being in love, made Beat want to do something impulsive. Like propose to Melody on the Today show.
Was it too soon?
On paper, yes. Way too soon.
But they would know better. They would know they’d always been soulmates, they’d just been living separate lives. This reality show was the last resort that turned out to be the best decision he’d ever made. It brought them together and he’d be forever grateful for that.
What if I just do it?
What if I just ask her to marry me?
She would say yes. He’d move to Brooklyn or she’d join him across the river. They would get married with no cameras around, just the two of them. He would lay a map out in front of her and ask her where she wanted to go until this pandemonium died down. Budapest, Bruges, Bali. Anywhere. As long as they were together.
Someone shouted a one-minute warning and Melody squeezed his hand.
She gave him the most trusting look while Danielle ran a brush through Melody’s hair and everything was right in the world. They might not reunite Steel Birds, but as soon as Christmas Eve came and went and the live stream went dark, he would come up with the money to pay off the blackmailer, whether the money came via a loan or the network’s coffers—and he’d be over that final hurdle.
Nothing but time to spend on Melody.
God, his chest was going to split wide open from carrying this much optimism. When was the last time he’d felt any at all? It was her. It was this miracle standing beside him.
That does it. I’m proposing.
Hoda’s voice rose once again from the soundstage and a stoic man stood in front of them counting down their entrance on his fingers without a word. The host turned her smiling face toward the backstage exit and they were directed to a row of chairs.
Three chairs.
That didn’t necessarily strike Beat as odd. Maybe the next segment had three guests?
“And now! They are the worldwide phenomenon that has shaken the internet this week, making them household names overnight. The Today show gives a warm welcome to Beat Dawkins and Melody Gallard!”
Beat helped Melody on to the high seat, blocking her lower body from view while she crossed her legs and arranged the dress, because that sucker was hot as hell, but it was short. If they’d arrived in time to spend a single second alone in the green room, Beat was positive his hands would have been beneath that thing, exploring every sweet inch of her. God, he’d never been hornier in his life and his thirst for Melody was unquenchable.
Finished arranging herself, Melody gave him a grateful smile and he leaned down to kiss her mouth, before taking his own seat, squinting into the powerful lighting.
“Well, consider me flustered!” Hoda enthused, fanning herself with the cards in her hand. “In fact, consider the entire world flustered. I can’t even begin to imagine what a wild ride Wreck the Halls has been for you both—but that’s the thing! I don’t have to imagine it, because I can watch every single second of the journey. Did you expect your lives to be turned completely upside down?”
Beat squeezed Melody’s knee, keeping his hand there. Go ahead, he mouthed.
“No, I don’t think we anticipated having to don disguises to escape Prospect Park,” she answered Hoda with a small smile, but she stopped herself and thought for a moment. “Maybe we didn’t expect this degree of interest, but I think we knew we had to be ready for everything. The Steel Birds have always been a fascination and we wanted to reunite them. Naturally people would be interested.”
Hoda nodded eagerly. “Yes, but somewhere along the line, the show became more about you two than the band! Did your romance begin to take shape during that famous—and mysterious—night in the attic? Or was it before that?”
“Before,” Beat said, leaving it at that.
“Before,” Melody echoed, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Hoda tilted her head. “Are you going to give us any clue about what happened in the attic? You know I have to ask!”
Melody gave him a serious look. “I think it’s time.”
His brows drew together. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Melody took a deep breath, blew it out, and looked at Hoda. “We played Uno.”