Melissa and Joey

Episode 19: Season 3: Part three

Mel saw that Joe was putting the lasagna in the oven for dinner when she walked into the kitchen. She was about to reach for the vodka on the rack when she noticed that Joe had placed the bottle on the island, and had it already waiting for her.

"How did you know I'd want to go straight for the hard stuff?"

"I know you Burke, one glass of wine isn't going to cut it. Not for you anyway," Joe gave her a quick smile and set the timer on the oven. He started preparing the salad.

"Sometimes you read me so well." Mel took two shot glasses from the cabinet and poured herself a drink and him one as well. She pushed his shot glass closer to him and downed half of hers in one swallow. "Yeah, that hits the spot, right there. Hey can I talk to you for a second Joe?" She felt her heart racing a mile a minute at the thought of what she needed to say and wondered about what his reaction would be when she said it.

"Sure, what's on your mind Mel, did you buy a new pair of shoes that didn't quite fit your feet right?" Joe placed some sliced tomatoes into the bowl next to him.

"No," Mel glared at him for the sarcastic remark and said, "My shoes are fine. I've been thinking about the phone number your little brunette bimbo gave to you earlier." She exhaled slowly and took another drink.

Joe set the salad aside and leaned his hands on the island as he said, "I doubt if she's a bimbo, but what about it?"

"I don't think- you see the point I want to make-oh, why is this so difficult to say?" Mel paused before she told him in a quick outburst of words, "I don't want you to call her, okay?"

"Okay," Joe said the word slowly and turned around to place one of the knives he'd been using in the sink. "Why don't you want me to call her Burke? Do you have something against women who aren't blondes?"

"Not necessarily," Mel gave him another annoyed glance because she knew he was baiting her on purpose. He wanted her to spell everything out for him, damn it. Then fine, she would. "I don't want you to call her because I think we have something going on here, you know, between us. And I'm not sure what it is yet, but I think you were right back when you said it could be worth a shot to give this thing a try." Mel felt like she was eating a handful of nails as she admitted he was right and telling him the rest wasn't any easier.

Joe gave her a heated look and smiled gently. Then he paused and said, "Wait, so you're saying I was right then?"

Mel sighed having known already that he would probably act like a total douche about this. "Yes, you were right."

"Can you say it three times fast and add Joe at the end?"

Mel shook her head at him and pushed away from the counter, "Don't push your luck Joe."

Joe laughed with amusement and before she left the kitchen to go up to her room he called out to her. "Hey Mel, just so you know, I had already decided not to call her right after she left." He showed her the trash can where he'd tossed the receipt containing the woman's phone number.

"Great, so I made your ego even bigger than it already is all for nothing?" Mel rolled her eyes at him. "Thanks Longo."

"Anytime . . . Hey Mel," Before she turned on the stairs to leave the room his eyes filled with want as he gazed at her. "Thanks for telling me, I'm kinda glad you did."

"Anytime Joe," Mel turned to look at the trash can and the number inside. She glared at the contents and said, "Suck it you slutty brunette lady."

Joe laughed as he glanced at her, "Wow. You do have a thing against brunettes."

"No," she felt the spark between them even as she corrected him. "I only have a thing against brunettes who happen to be interested in you."

Joe gave her a surprised look and then nodded, "Okay. Good. Let's keep it that way."

Mel laughed softly as she thought that it looked as if tonight would be the end of their six day drought after all.

End of part three, episode 19 of season 3. I deleted episode 20 because I simply cannot fit writing fanfiction into my schedule. I'm going to start working at getting my Bachelor's degree in English in the Spring. So I will have two jobs, one full-time and the other working toward full-time, and part-time college classes; plus all the small details of my own personal life as well. There is simply too much going on with work and in my life to keep this up, but I enjoyed getting your posts and your pm's for my posted chapters. :o) Melissa and Joey, Season 3 will be marked as complete for now. I might at a later time, reopen this story depending on whether or not I like what they do with the real tv show. Thanks again for taking the time to read my chapters in this story. Take care-BronwynW