Say Goodbye to Melody

by Velvet Vaughn

  “Tyler, have you been working out?”

  “Sure have. Dante’s been training me. I’ve already gained fifteen pounds of lean, mean muscle. In fact, you want to see a tone and tight derrière?” He jumped up and spun around but Grant clicked off the television before Tyler could flash them.

  She chuckled. Tyler never failed to crack her up.

  “That kid is disturbed,” Grant announced.

  “He is that, but he’s ours and we’re lucky to have him.” Luke addressed Melody. “Have you heard from your cousin since he confronted you in your office?”

  Melody shook her head. Had that just been two days ago? “No, and I was going to call Max and ask about the deed to the property.”

  “He’s out of the country, isn’t he?” Luke and Max were good friends. It was through their connection that she hooked up with the amazing people of COBRA Securities in the first place.

  “Yes, for a few more weeks.”

  Luke typed into his phone. “I’ll have someone pull the deed. No need to bother Max.” He looked up from his screen. “I assume you haven’t told him about what’s happened?”

  She shook her head. “He’d hop on the first plane home. He needs this vacation.”

  Luke sighed. “I hate keeping this from him. He’ll be pissed.”

  That was putting it mildly. Max is and always would be her fiercest protector. “I’ll accept all the blame.”

  “We’ll split it,” Luke said gently. “I’m pretty sure he’d want us to look after you, so he can’t be mad about that.”

  That was true.

  A knock sounded on the door…actually, several knocks…and then the door burst open.

  “Uncle G! Melody!” Sean and Tiff came bounding inside.

  “No hugs,” Luke admonished with a stop gesture. “He’s injured.”

  “Thanks, kids, I’ll get this by myself,” Layla called out sarcastically from the doorway. Luke jumped up and hustled to assist his wife as both kids took turns hugging Melody.

  “Hey, feeling left out here. I’m never too injured for hugs,” Grant insisted, grabbing Tiff around the waist with one arm and Sean the other.

  Their giddy laughter was infectious, but she’d noticed the grimace that he hid with a smile. The kids adored him…and why wouldn’t they? He was amazing. Just then, an enticing aroma drifted to her and she inhaled greedily. Her stomach rumbled. She turned to see Luke carry a tray inside and place it on the breakfast bar.

  Layla hugged Melody and then Grant gently. She whispered something to him and he smiled down at her and hugged her tighter. Layla blinked away moisture in her eyes and clapped her hands. “Come, eat. I know you must be starving since you missed your dinner.”

  Melody stepped forward to see a gourmet meal on fine China, along with a bottle of wine, glasses and even a candle in a crystal holder. With Luke’s help, they unloaded the tray. Layla dug in a drawer and produced silverware.

  “This looks delicious, Layla,” Melody said. “Did you make it?”

  “Of course.” There was a twinkle in her eye. “Okay, fine. Kaitlyn did, but I carried it over here. That has to count for something.”

  “How did you manage to wrestle that task away from her?” Grant asked. “I’m surprised she’s not here wrapping cotton batting around me.”

  Layla sighed dramatically. “It was hard, let me tell you. And you might as well prepare yourself, big guy.” She patted his chest. “There is only so much Dan can do to hold her back.”

  Grant grimaced. “TMI, sis.” Layla’s husky laugh was as sexy and melodious as her singing voice.

  “Grant, a word?” Luke jerked his head towards the door. Grant followed his older brother out into the hallway.

  Melody bit her lip. What was Luke telling him? That she was too much trouble and to drop her case?

  “How are you doing, really, Melody?”

  “It’s been a rough couple of days, but I’m hanging in there.”

  “You’re okay staying here, with Grant?”

  Her face heated. More than okay. “Yes. I feel safe here.”

  “Good. You couldn’t ask for a better person watching out for you. Grant acts like a tough guy, but he’s a marshmallow inside, just like his brother. I adore him.”

  Melody almost said, “Me, too.”

  “And you are always welcome at our house. We loved having you there when you tutored the twins.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  The door opened and the men returned. She couldn’t tell by Grant’s reaction if the talk had been good or bad.

  “Come-on, kids, let’s leave them alone so they can eat.”

  “Aw, Dad,” Sean and Tiff complained in perfect synchronicity. She remembered that from when she tutored them. They were completely in tune with each other, sometimes not even needing to speak to communicate with the other. It’s like they just knew what the other was thinking or feeling. Their twin connection ran deep.

  “You can visit with them tomorrow,” Layla promised them, running a hand down each of their golden heads. Tiffany and Sean were actually Layla’s half-siblings. They shared the same mom. But when she was murdered by the twins’ father, a United States Senator, they begged Layla to take them with her when she returned home to California. They were afraid of their dad. Layla had been a world-famous singer at the time, but when their father tried to have her killed, she faked her death and fled with the twins. A chance meeting on the streets of New York City brought Luke and Layla together and the rest, as they say, is history. The Senator was brought to justice and now resided in a plot of ground somewhere in Georgia, mourned by no one. Once Luke and Layla married, their first order of business had been to officially adopt Tiffany and Sean.

  They each hugged Melody and then Grant and then with waves, they all left, but not before Layla hit the switch, turning off the light. Flames flickered from the candlestick and Melody was glad for the darkness. She was suddenly embarrassed to be alone with Grant.

  #

  Grant followed Luke into the hall. He had an idea what his brother would say, and Grant didn’t want to hear it.

  Luke didn’t disappoint. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Want to fill me in on what you’re talking about. I’m in a fair amount of pain and I don’t feel like reading between the lines.”

  As he’d hoped, Luke’s brows knitted with concern. Play the sympathy card. Worked every time.

  “Are you two involved?”

  “Define involved.”

  Luke let out a frustrated sigh. “Let’s start with that kiss caught on tape.”

  Oh, that. “No, we aren’t involved. It was a reassurance gesture, nothing more. She looked like she needed it.”

  Luke studied him. Grant blanked his face into an expressionless mask. It wasn’t a lie. They weren’t involved—yet. They would be soon. And he did kiss her twice, but the second one was an omission, not a fib.

  “I’ve known her brother for years. She’s not the kind of woman you can play around with and then toss aside.”

  Sudden fury bubbled up and he had Luke pinned against the wall with a forearm to his throat. Luke could’ve resisted. Hell, Grant hoped he did. He was spoiling for a fight. “When have I ever done that to a woman?”

  Luke didn’t answer, just studied him. All the anger fled as quickly as it arrived and he stepped back. “Sorry.”

  Luke ran a hand down his face. “I’m sorry, too. That was out of line. Look, Grant, I know better than anyone how feelings can get involved when you are working on a case. But someone is targeting her, and you need all your wits about you to protect her. When you get personally involved, you might miss something.”

  “I’m well aware of that and I won’t let it happen.”

  “Just promise me you’ll tell me if you do. I’m not forbidding it or admonishing you. Hell, every engaged or married agent met their partner through a case, including me, so it would be hypocritical to warn you against it. I just don’t want you to
let your guard down and she gets hurt.”

  “I don’t want that either. I promise to let you know if I feel like I’m in too deep.”

  Luke nodded at him and headed back inside the apartment. He hadn’t said anything that Grant hadn’t thought about himself. He knew it was a mistake to get involved with a client. Though it wasn’t forbidden, as Luke said, it still presented all kinds of problems. Two physical attacks on Melody in two days meant that whoever the perp was, he was desperate. He might ramp up his attacks since the first two failed. Grant needed to be hyper-vigilant to keep her safe.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Are you hungry, Mel?”

  Melody jolted when Grant’s hand brushed a strand of hair from her face and then lingered. He almost admitted to her that he was starving, but not for food. He didn’t want to freak her out more than she already was. She’d been through an ordeal—several ordeals—in the last forty-eight hours, a point driven home by his big brother.

  At her nod, he dropped his hand and held out the barstool for her to take a seat. She climbed up and then he eased into the seat next to her. Damn, his entire side felt like it was on fire.

  Melody reached over and grabbed the purse she’d placed on the counter earlier and withdrew a pill container while he pulled the cork out of the wine bottle and poured them each a glass.

  “I heard you telling Kayla you didn’t need a prescription for painkillers, but I can see by the strain on your face that you’re hurting.”

  “A little,” he admitted. “More than a little, actually.”

  “Will you take Ibuprofen?”

  At his nod she shook out the pills and handed them to him. He popped them in his mouth and downed them with a sip of wine. Probably not good to mix the two, but what the hell. “Before we eat, how about a toast?”

  She picked up her glass. “What are we toasting?”

  “To new friends.” They clinked rims and each took a sip.

  “Is that what we are?” Her question was whispered.

  “Um, hum.” He eased her glass from her hand and placed it on the counter alongside his. Then he kissed her. He couldn’t help it. She tasted of fruity wine and all woman and it took every bit of self-control he possessed to pull back. His sister had gone to a lot of trouble to prepare the meal for them and if they didn’t eat it, he’d never hear the end of it.

  They picked up their forks and dug in. He was used to Kaitlyn’s delicious healthy cooking, having grown up with it. Melody was still relatively new to it and she groaned in appreciation. His body reacted predictably to the sound.

  “I swear, I don’t know how she does it. Every meal is decadent.” She dug in for another huge bite. “I don’t even know what this is, but it’s delicious.”

  “She knows her way around the kitchen. This is her version of Spaghetti Carbonara made with zucchini.” Kait taught herself how to cook after their parents had been killed in a plane crash on their way to one of Luke’s football games at Notre Dame. Luke forfeited his scholarship and a sure-fire shot at the National Football League to come home to take care of Grant, Ben and Kait. Grant tried everything he could to talk Luke out of it. He insisted he was old enough to look after the younger two, but Luke would hear nothing of it.

  At the time, Grant didn’t realize that if Luke hadn’t come home, the three of them would’ve been shipped off to foster homes. He hadn’t been old enough in the eyes of the state to care for Ben and Kait. The sacrifice Luke made for them was staggering. He never once complained about his destroyed dreams. He’d wanted to play in the NFL from the time he could hold a football. Instead, he went to night school to finish his degree, and then the academy to become a cop before being promoted to detective. And he became an instant father figure to his three younger siblings.

  Grant joined the Navy and sent most of his paycheck home to help with finances. He had no idea that Luke hadn’t spent a penny of it, or that he’d opened an account in Grant’s name and deposited the money in the bank and then invested it. Grant owned a portfolio that he hadn’t known about, and the sum was staggering. He didn’t need a job if he didn’t want one, but there was no place he’d rather be than working alongside his brothers.

  Kait had included dessert so they gobbled it up. A phone buzzed. They looked at each other. “Mine, I think.” He pulled it out to see his sister’s beautiful face on the screen.

  “Hey, sis.”

  “Don’t you hey sis, me. Open your door.”

  Grant didn’t have to worry about disconnecting. Kait beat him to the off button. He dropped his head to the counter and sighed. He’d never get any time alone with Melody if his interfering siblings didn’t leave him alone.

  Proving she had the patience of a, well, Colton, Kaitlyn banged on the door.

  “Sorry about this.” He slid off the stool and with all the excitement of a convict walking the green mile, he opened the door to face his fierce little sister.

  She stood with her hands fisted on her trim hips. Her long black hair was pulled back from her face. She might be older now, but she’d always be the little girl who tried to mother her three older brothers…and did a damn fine job of it.

  “Hey.” He opened his arms and all her anger fled as she threw herself in his arms.

  “I can’t believe you were hurt and you didn’t call me.” Her voice was watery, and he felt bad that she’d been worried.

  “Kait, I’m okay.”

  “I had to see for myself. No one would let me near you.”

  He chuckled. “I really am fine. And thank you for dinner. It was delicious, as always.”

  “It was the best meal I’ve ever had,” Melody said, coming to hug Kait after she finally released Grant. “And I’m sorry he was hurt. He was saving my life.”

  Kait pulled Melody back in for another fierce hug. “I’m so glad he did. You’re okay?”

  “Barely a scratch.”

  Kait crossed her arms and faced him again. “Let me see.”

  “Kait—”

  “Let. Me. See.”

  Grant sighed and lifted his shirt. Both women gasped. Maybe it was worse than he thought because Melody had seen it once already.

  “Oh, Grant,” Kait whispered. Her touch was feather-light as she traced his battered skin.

  “Hon, I’m fine. Really.” He dropped his shirt and turned to her. She bit her lip and nodded, but he wasn’t sure she believed him.

  “Kait?” Dan Bradley came rushing in through the open door. He slapped a hand over his chest and exhaled when he spotted his wife. “Here I thought I was supposed to be the ninja. Your moves put me to shame, babe. Sorry, G.”

  Grant could only chuckle. Dan had been crowned the top US Ninja Warrior, so he truly was one. Grant had been overseas when Dan proposed to Kait atop Mount Mishoita, having achieved total victory. He’d had to settle on watching it on television. Talk about a memorable proposal. Dan rocked that one.

  “I’m sorry.” Kait hugged her husband. “I was worried about Grant.”

  “How’d she do it?” Grant asked.

  “She acted mad that Luke wouldn’t allow her to bring the meal she cooked for you over, so she told me she was taking a long bath, closed herself in the bathroom and cranked her iPod. Took me a few minutes to catch on. By that time, she’d shimmied out the window.”

  Melody burst out laughing. Kait looked pleased with herself. Dan and Grant exchanged exasperated head shakes.

  “Now that you’ve seen that he’s okay—you are okay, right?” Grant nodded. “Let’s go home so they can get some rest.”

  “Okay.” She released her husband to hug Grant again. “I love you, big bro.”

  “Love you, too, Kait.”

  While she hugged Melody, Dan gave him an arm clasp/bro hug. “If you need help, call. I can put my current projects on the back burner for you.”

  “Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it.”

  As they were leaving, Grant called out, “Kait? Will you call Ben and Rachel and make sure to tell them
you know for a fact I’m okay? I don’t need any more siblings visits tonight.”

  “I’m hurt. Truly,” Ben said, appearing in the doorway.

  “I didn’t mean…what I should have…oh, hell. Sorry, Ben.”

  “Maybe I’ll forgive you since you’re wounded. Hi, Melody.”

  “Hi, Ben.” There was laughter in her voice. It was humorous when he thought about it. He’d been away for years doing much more dangerous work. Deadly work. And he gets one burn of road rash and they were on him like white on rice.

  “Show him the injury,” Kait insisted.

  Grant opened his mouth to argue, but snapped it shut. The quicker he showed them, the faster they would leave him and Melody alone. He turned and lifted his shirt. Both Ben and Dan hissed.

  “That’s bad, Grant.”

  “Looks worse than it feels.” Using that theory, it had to look disgusting because it was burning like someone was stabbing him with hot pokers. The pills had dulled the pain, but it was still there.

  After several more minutes talking with his siblings, including a discussion of Rachel’s impending due date, they finally took off. Grant closed the door behind them. “I need one of those ‘Do Not Disturb or Risk Death’ signs.”

  Melody laughed. “You think that would stop them?”

  He chuckled and threw his good arm around her shoulders. “Probably not.” She snuggled against him as he guided her to the couch and they dropped down, side by side. “I’m a little wired to sleep. Want to watch a movie?”

  “Sure.”

  A cell buzzed and Grant almost tossed the remote at the television. If it was another meddling coworker, he’d lose it.

  “Oh, that’s mine.” Melody jumped up and hurried to her purse, pulling it out before it stopped ringing. She looked at the screen and sighed.

  #

  Melody sighed when she checked the display. She didn’t want to have to deal with Elliot Kingman again, but she knew he wouldn’t go away. He’d already left several messages. Might as well get this over with now. She turned her back to Grant. “Hello, Mr. Kingman.”

  “Elliot, remember? How are you, Melody?”

  Just peachy. Someone broke into my shop and my house and stole all my inventory. I don’t think I’ll be able to launch as planned. Oh, and they also tried to kill me. Twice.