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CHAPTER 4: TAKING CHANCES

THE NEXT DAY

Joe takes the kids to school, while Mel is still frustrated with her relationship status. It's not that she can't get a boyfriend, because she most certainly could, but she feels like she's cheating on Joe. The worst part is, Joe feels the same.

"Joe!" Mel called.

"Yeah Mel?" Joe asked.

This was the first time Joe had seen Mel all morning. She had bags under her blood shot eyes and her hair was a mess.

"I called in sick today. I don't feel so good." said Mel tiredly.

"You don't look good either." Joe said playfully

"Watch it Longo, I'm not in the mood!" Mel snapped back.

"It's been a while since Mel snapped at me like that." Joe thought.

Mel went upstairs to get ready for the day. When she was done she looked fine. She didn't look sick, because she wasn't. She was sad. Mel went back down stairs.

"Feeling better, Burke?" Joe asked concerned.

"A little. Do you wanna do something?" Mel asked nervously, taking a chance.

"Like what?" asked Joe.

"I don't know. Maybe go shopping, I think I need some retail therapy." said Mel giggling.

"You sure you want me to come? You seem like you need some space?" Joe asked.

"No Longo!" Mel thought. "I need you!" Mel admitted to herself. She felt empty and cold without him. Even though she couldn't be 'with' Joe, she still could still be around him, and that was enough.

"Just come with me. I'm going to need someone's opinion on what I buy." Mel teased.

Joe got the keys. Even though he thought it was crossing the boundaries they both adopted, Joe opened Mel's car door for her, taking a chance.

"Thanks." said Mel, blushing slightly.

They were on their way to the mall when Mel took a chance "Hey Joe? Instead of going to the Mall can we just drive? I have a place we can go that one of my exes used to bring me." Mel asked.

"Yeah, that might be nice." Joe said.

They drove for about forty five minutes when they arrived to a dirt road. Mel advised Joe to turn down it. They came to an old sign that said "The Rocks: Open to everyone!"

"This the place Burke?" Joe asked confused.

"This is it!" Mel exclaimed.

Mel and Joe hiked down to a big swimming hole. Above the swimming hole, there were two huge and beautiful water falls. The water was clear and deep, and there were rocks to sit on (or jump off.) The place was empty only the two of them.

"Wow. It's even better than I remember it!" Mel yelled over the sound of the falls.

"It's beautiful!" Joe yelled. "Ever swam in it?"

"No." Mel admitted.

"Let's go!" Joe said taking off his shirt and shoes, and then jumping in. Again he was taking a chance.

"Wow! Why does he have to do this to me!?" Mel wondered not being able to keep her eyes off Joe's sexy muscular body. "He is even more built than I thought." Mel thought while watching the muscles in his body flex as he swam thought the water. The sight made an electrical spark run through Mel's body fueling the fire Mel always felt when she was around Joe.

"I don't have a bathing suit." Mel said.

"And your point?" Joe asked from the water, while he winked at her.

"Ew gross!" Mel laughed.

Mel took off her nice shirt and shoes leaving her in a tank top and shorts. Mel jumped in taking a chance. They both laughed and then Joe splashed Mel.

"HEY!" Mel screamed.

They got into a slash fight, and swam around a while. After about an hour Joe got out of the water.

"Where are you going Longo?" Mel questioned.

"Come on!" Joe said hiking all the eat to the top of the water fall.

Mel and Joe stood on the edge of the fall's when something terrible happened.! Mel slipped and plummeted into the water below. It was a long fall and without thinking Joe jumped in after her.

"Mel!" Joe screamed.

He finally reached Mel who was floating on top of the water eyes closed. Joe was worried and he began crying while carrying Mel to shore. He laid Mel on the ground and began CPR. Before he even gave her the breath Mel was on top of him kissing him with growing passion.

"Gotcha." she said roughly against his lips.

Joe was thinking of a million things he could say about how worried he was and she can never do that to him but all he said was "Later."

The kiss continued, and while Joe tried to keep his hands to himself, Mel's hands were all over him. She stroked his chest and neck, and grabbed his arms. When they finally stopped kissing Joe released all of the tension he was holding inside while trying to stay within the boundaries. Mel took a huge chance crossing the line like that!

"Burke, we really can't do this." Joe said disappointedly.

"We tried that and it really didn't work out." Mel said a matter- of -faculty.

"So what do you suggest?" Joe asked dropping his voice down an octave trying to sound seductive.

He secretly knew Mel loved when he spoke in that deep, sexy voice.

"I think we need to take the chance! We have both been testing our boundaries by taking chances anyway. I knew I said we couldn't, but life would be boring if people always did what they were supposed to do!" Mel stated.

"Burke? When have you ever done what your supposed to do?" Joe said playfully.

"Exactly." Mel said flirtatiously.

"So?" Joe asked.

"We are going to sneak around." Mel said. "And believe me, if anyone knows how to be sneaky it's me. I've had TONS of practice!" stated Mel excitedly.

"Mel I don't know if it will work, but I think it's worth a try." said Joe positively. "No one can know! No one, because if anyone finds out we are screwed!"

"Deal!" Mel said as they walked back to the car.

When they finally got home it was a little after two and Lennox and Ryder would be home soon. Then they quickly got changed and ate. Mel and Joe both realized that even though they are now secretly together, they didn't act much differently because they were already in love before. It was very quite when Ryder and Lennox entered the house. "Let the sneaking begin" Mel thought. She smiled at Joe... TBC