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It was probably a blessing that Melody couldn’t see Harvey’s unwavering stare otherwise she might have chastised him for being rude to someone she worked with. As it was, however, she was rather taken aback by his sudden closeness.

Dumbstruck, flabbergasted, and maybe a bit… excited?

Warm breath brushed against her ear when he spoke and she felt each syllable like an electric spark rushing up her spine leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. If it wasn’t for the fact that Harvey was no actor, she would have believed he had grabbed one of her romance books off the table and decided to act out one of those Alpha scenes from one of those werewolf books she had out on the table.

Honestly, if she had reason to believe that he’d spare a moment to look at them she would have been sure to keep them in her room. Not exactly fine literature like the classics with Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet.

Blood rushed to her face, tinting her skin a pale pink hue and the tips of her ears a brilliant red. “I-uh. Um.“ Melody tried to shift but his arms around her shoulders kept her in place and made it hard, if not impossible, for her to turn around. “I- I didn’t realize you were inside already.” Melody stammered. How long was he watching?” She wondered while trying to wedge her hand between his arms to wiggle free but eventually surrendered and rested her hand there instead.

“Cameron, this is Harvey. Harvey, Cameron. He’s one of the lead performers in the Don Quixote.” Intentionally she left out the part that Harvey was her roommate because honestly, with how he was behaving, she didn’t know where this was going.

Melody blinked back in surprise at his reply to her and had to wonder if he could suddenly read minds. Then again being roommates for as long as they had been, it wouldn’t be surprising if he picked up on her tells and perhaps thought she was uncomfortable chatting with Cameron by her posture, maybe? Who knows...

That being said, he should be thanking his lucky stars that she didn’t swing her arm back and hit him below the belt for pulling her against him so suddenly. He knew her knee-jerk reactions to being startled yet chose to tempt fate anyway.

Still, with Harvey leaning comfortably against her, Melody was left with options.

She could end this here and now and just confess to Cameron that they were roommates and he had brought some of the fabrics she had forgotten at home to work for her so she wouldn’t have to take time off. But that might lead into a conversation about her forgetfulness and next thing she’d know the two would bond over her incompetence and hook up later to talk about her shortcomings.

Another choice she had was to slip out from under the weight of Harvey’s arms and leave him there in this male dominance power play he had initiated while she took the box to her workstation. Melody knew full well that Cameron could easily dance circles around her roommate, however, Harvey was not unfit nor was he an eyesore to look at either. Something she’d know very well since he was laying on her couch shirtless only a few days ago.

A thought that would have made her blush deepen if they didn’t so easily start entertaining the idea of leaning into him a bit. One thing she did have to consider though was that she was still at work after all so she couldn’t play too much into it but with his chin resting on her shoulder, his breath stirring the hair beside her face.

Harvey’s pointed stare bore holes into Cameron’s hazel eyes, a perfect distraction for her as she turned her head and pressed a small quick kiss against his temple. An act of affection that could be taken so many ways and it would fall on him to explain. ’“Thank you. I appreciate you bringing me my things. Next time though I’ll meet you out at the car so you don’t have to wait around.” Mel estimated how long it’d take him to get to the theater but seemed that she forgot to take into account that this was not rush hour which would have easily taken almost 35 minutes off the clock.

Suddenly feeling like the third wheel, Cameron shifted his gaze up to the high vaulted ceilings, completely bare with the exception of wires and the walkways that connected the spotlights and other theatrical equipment. Acted like he was bored with their display, as his patience with the man who had interrupted his conversation was rapidly growing thin.

“You are such a gentleman.” Her tone and expression softened as if to wordlessly add how blessed she felt to have him back in her life. But then Cameron, rather loudly, cleared his throat reminding them both that they weren’t alone.

A couple of new eyes peered over at the trio curiously and at the edge of her peripheral vision, Melody could have sworn she saw Stacia grab a doughnut from the table and lean against it as if she was enjoying a scene from a play unfold before her.

“A knight in shining armor, truly. However, this area is for employees and performers only. Unless you’re on the guest list, you can’t stay back here.” The easiest way to get rid of competition was to remind them that they didn’t belong.

Almost immediately Cameron’s s**t-eating grin from thinking he’d tactfully gotten rid of his current competition turned sour. His blue eyes turned cold as he leveled an icy stare in Harvey’s direction but before he could object, Melody turned an apologetic smile in his direction.

“I’ll be right back.” She then directed her attention to Stacia who seemed to be struggling to suppress a burst of laughter. “I’ll meet you over at the workstation so we can start placing the patterns and pinning them.” Her co-worker stuck out her lower lip in a pout that deserved an award for the best child impersonation, mockingly upset that the real-life drama was at its end.

“Roger,” she gave Melody a thumbs up before pushing herself away from the table and walking over to Cameron. “C’mon,” she looped an arm through his and tugged him over to where the box was. “I’ll have you carry that for me while she escorts Harvey here outside.” Cameron opened his mouth to object but Stacia held a hand up. “That is unless you want to ask the handsome gentleman over there to carry it over there first?”

His lips pursed into a thin line as whispered, “Traitor,” into her ear.

“You lost this round, better luck next time,” Stacia slapped him on the back, pushing him towards the fabric-filled box.

Melody tried not to let the disappointment reach her eyes. For a few moments there it felt like they were both riding the same wavelength, what with him reading her thoughts and answering without being prompted. Almost like they were playing a game of tennis, smashing the ball into each other's court until one of them slipped up, pulled away, and let this face fade.

But rather than causing the other to stumble and fall it seemed like they had both just stopped moving now that their audience was gone. Funtime was over and it was time to act serious now. But still he held her hand, for show perhaps, at least until he left the building.

Either way, it made her heart wrench inside her chest as guilt washed through her for so boldly kissing him without considering the full repercussions of her actions.

“I appreciate what you did back there,” Melody commented quietly as her hand numbly slipped from his. “I’ve suspected for a while that he has intentionally broken the seams on some of the outfits so he has a reason to come back to my sewing area and chat.” That or he just offers to take other performers' uniforms to get mended. “But at least now I can hopefully work without being bothered.”

She knelt in front of the boxes, moving items from one to the other and consolidating what she needed before picking one up and holding it between them. “I owe you,” she added with a sincere smile.

Even after the door had closed behind him, Melody remained rooted in place while her stomach did back flips, front flips, and summersaults only to tie itself into a horrible knot.

“Hey!” Mel jumped and nearly threw her box in the air at the sudden clap on the shoulder that snapped her rather rudely out of her trance. “Going to stand here all twitterpated for the rest of your shift or are you going to head back there,” Stacia pointed over her shoulder with a thumb. “And help me finish this last petticoat?”

“I swear you’re going to be the death of me.” Melody would have put a hand on her chest to help calm her racing heart but as it was both arms were full. “Is Cameron gone yet?”

“Yeah, he’s back on stage rehearsing the next act,” her co-worker confirmed.

“Alright, let’s go get this done then.” The two women turned and walked through the set of double doors that led to their sewing area. Four hours should be enough time if they both focused on getting this completed together.