Say Goodbye to Melody

by Velvet Vaughn

  Instead of Ben when he stepped out of the stall, Luke was waiting for him. He held up a tube of antiseptic cream and bandages. He made a circular motion with his finger. The universal sign to turn around. He did so and suffered through Luke gently slathering the cream over the injuries and then bandaging them up. With a slap on his uninjured shoulder, Luke sauntered off. He dressed quickly and headed to meet Noah.

  He didn’t need much sleep, so when he’d woken early and decided to head to the gym, he’d left a note for Melody. She didn’t need to be at work for another hour, so he had time to learn what the brothers had discovered.

  “What did you find out,” he asked Noah as he approached. Ethan had joined his brother.

  “Melody’s neighbor across the street had a security camera. It took both of us watching it twice, but we caught a black-clad form rounding her house and then entering through the front door. It was quick and stealthy and no matter how much Pete and his crew worked on the tape, the quality is so poor, you can’t tell if it’s a man or woman.”

  “Whoever it was, Grant, they had a key,” Ethan added. “No hesitation. It would’ve taken at least a small pause to pick the lock, but this person was inside in seconds.”

  “What about when he came out with the boxes? Could you tell then?”

  Noah shook his head. “He didn’t.”

  “Didn’t what, show his face?”

  “He didn’t come back out,” Ethan told him.

  “I was afraid of that. Her sliding glass door had been unlocked, so I figured the perp went out that way.”

  “There’s a small alleyway where someone could’ve parked and come around the front to use the key,” Noah said. “Perfect set-up because there were no cameras back there and none of the neighbors heard anything.”

  “What about traffic cams in the area?”

  “Too hard to pinpoint. Nothing around the time of arrival on any of the feeds. But there are several back roads that don’t have cameras.”

  Ethan held up a flash drive. “We burned a copy for you to check out if you want to get a look at the perp.”

  “If you two couldn’t tell, I won’t be able to, but I’d still like to see it.” They all headed to the offices. After playing the tape, Grant’s assessment was the same. The bulky black sweatshirt concealed the body, making it too hard to determine if the figure was male or female.

  #

  Melody woke with a smile on her face, despite all that had happened to her. She’d made love with Grant Colton! And not just once, but three incredible times.

  She reached out for him, her heart sinking when she realized his side of the bed was empty. She glanced at the clock. She didn’t need to be at work for another thirty minutes. Plenty of time for a quick shower. Too bad Grant wasn’t here to wash her back.

  She chuckled to herself. After one night, she’d become a sex maniac. But that wasn’t a surprise since Grant was a sex god. He wasn’t satisfied for her to climax once or even twice each time. It was three the first, three again the second and four the third time. Could a person die from too much between-the-sheets action? If so, what a way to go.

  She practically floated from the bed. She winced at her protesting inner muscles. She was sore, but it was so worth it.

  A quick check of her phone revealed missed calls and texts from both Raine and Deanna. They’d seen the video, which was trending, and were worried. She sent quick texts back, letting them know she was fine and that she would be in as soon as possible.

  Despite all that had happened, she felt like she could conquer the world. She and Raine would make more product and they’d have enough on hand for the grand opening. Then the infomercial the next week would go well. Grant would catch whoever was harassing her…and then what? After the threat was gone, would he still want her to stick around? What if his reasons for wanting her had been that she was convenient? She was living in his house, for goodness sake. Can’t get much more convenient than that scenario. What would happen on his next case if he had to protect a woman and move in with her? Would he have sex with her, too?

  Her euphoric mood evaporated as she trudged to the shower. She turned on the taps and adjusted the dials. When it was the perfect temperature, she stepped inside. Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and let the water cascade over her face and down her body.

  “Need your back washed?”

  She gasped and water clogged her throat. She spun around choking and landed against Grant’s hard chest. His arms engulfed her, and he gently rubbed her back until the coughing stopped. “Morning.”

  All her insecurities washed away like water down the drain. “Good morning.” She lifted to her tiptoes to kiss him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He tasted like the very essence she needed to breathe. The sensation of their slick bodies pressed together was amazing. The kiss quickly turned desperate. Her hand snaked down his body and wrapped around him as much as possible, stroking his long length. He groaned and broke the kiss. “This’ll be over before it starts if you don’t let go.”

  She wanted to taste him like he had her last night. She sank to her knees, but he lifted her up and in one fell swoop, pinned her against the wall. He rolled on protection with one hand and then he was slamming into her.

  “Not fair,” she panted. “I wanted to…you know.”

  “Next time.” He devoured her lips, absorbing her cries. He slid his arms under her knees and opened her wider. She should be embarrassed, but it felt too good and he hit all the right spots. It was over much too quickly as she splintered apart, her entire body shuddering with her release, which set off his.

  Holy cow. She had nothing to compare it to, but she couldn’t imagine anything more amazing than what just passed between them. It wasn’t just sex, at least not for her.

  He slowly lowered her to the floor. Once she was steady on her feet, he cupped her face with his hand, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “Did I hurt you?”

  “You’ve ruined me for all other men.” She froze. What made her blurt that out?

  Grant’s eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared. “Good.” Then he crushed his lips to hers again. The kiss went on and on and she would’ve stayed there all day, but he broke contact and dropped his forehead to hers. “If we don’t stop now, you won’t be getting to work any time soon.”

  She sighed. She was already late. Deanna and Raine would be at the shop by now. She needed to fill more bottles, so she did need to get there as soon as possible. They washed quickly avoiding contact or else they truly would never leave.

  She glanced at his backside as he stepped out. The bandages were wet and the one on his back was peeling off. “I need to change your bandages.”

  He glanced over his shoulder and cursed. “Luke would be pissed. He just changed them.”

  “It’ll only take a second.” She picked up the tube of cream from the counter and slathered it on before replacing the bandages. Grant headed to his closet to change. She’d brought her clothes in earlier, so she quickly dressed. She didn’t have time to dry her hair, so a ponytail would suffice. A quick swipe of Harmony, some mascara and lip gloss and she was good to go.

  #

  Grant kept an eye on the rear-view mirror as he drove Melody to work, checking for any tails, but spotting none. He planned on setting up shop in her office. After the latest attack, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

  He’d texted Mason last night to run checks on Elliot Kingman, including his alibi for the two attempts on Melody’s life. He’d meant to show her the video from her house, but he heard the shower running and all thoughts fled but the image of her naked under the cascade of water. His feet moved of their own accord and before he knew it, he was taking her up against the tiled wall of the shower.

  He winced. He’d been a little rough. She didn’t deserve the full brunt of his passion, but she not only took it, she gave back as good as she got. She matched him perfectly. He’d been able to let himself go and knew she’d be there with him. I
t was an incredible feeling. Life-changing.

  After he parked, they walked around to the back entrance. It was inconvenient, but he didn’t want her exposed on the street any longer than necessary. They’d leave the same way. Mason would keep an eye on the front after closing time for any suspicious cars lurking around. He’d also make sure Raine and Deanna were safe.

  Melody hurried to the front to speak with her employees. After dropping off his laptop in her office, he did a quick check of the security equipment. Everything was in working order, so he headed into the showroom. Deanna was fawning over Melody, having seen the video from last night’s incident. Raine was nowhere in sight.

  Deanna sighed when she spotted him, her hand slapping her chest. “Wow, you saved Melody’s life. I’ve never seen anything so heroic in real life.”

  Melody was smiling at him like he was her hero. Thankfully, the bell over the door rang as two women stepped inside. His cue to leave.

  “Grant? Grant Colton?” He turned to see who addressed him. “Oh my gosh, it is you.” The redhead threw her arms around his neck, her ample chest pressed against him. An exotic mix of jasmine, fresh cut magnolia, and tuberose filled his head. He recognized the scent. Pure Tiffany. She’d worn the same fragrance in high school. He’d saved up for months to buy her a bottle of the outrageously expensive perfume. “It’s been forever, sugar. She ran her hands over his chest and squeezed his biceps. “Oh, my,” she murmured.

  He gently removed her arms and stepped back. “How are you, Ginger?”

  “I’m good.” She was running her hungry gaze up and down his body. Then she shook her head and held up her left hand, wiggling her naked ring finger. “Divorced.” She picked up his hand and murmured her approval to find it naked as well. “What are you doing back in town, Grant? I thought you were off saving the world.” She tilted her head and smiled slyly. “That is why you broke up with me.”

  Interesting. She was rewriting history. She’d been the one to break up with him. She’d been head cheerleader, and he the star football player, following in his older brother’s shadow. They were the cliché high school power couple. They dated their entire junior and senior years. He’d been her first and like Melody, she’d been a quick learner. They burned up the sheets as only teenagers could. When he told her he was joining the military to help support his family, she’d dumped him faster than a tango yanking a pin from a grenade.

  He thought she’d be impressed that he was doing what he could to support Luke and take care of Ben and Kaitlyn. He’d turned down several scholarships to top-tier Division I schools in order to help Luke out financially. If he’d have accepted a scholarship, his schooling would’ve been free, but he would’ve spent all his time studying or practicing. By joining the Navy, he had a paycheck.

  He thought Ginger would wait for him, or at least support his decision. He’d been dead wrong. It didn’t take as long as he thought to get over her. War had a way of shifting your priorities and he realized that what he felt for her hadn’t been real or lasting. Puppy love, maybe. The last he heard she’d gone off to college, married and moved away.

  He glanced at Melody to find her watching the exchange with open curiosity. What he felt for her was definitely not puppy love. Real love? He wasn’t sure. He thought about her constantly, worried about her safety and was happier than he’d ever been when she was around. Was that love?

  “Grant?”

  “Hum?”

  “I asked what you were doing back in town.” She stroked his bicep again as she glanced at her friend, a stunning blond with big hair. “Grant was a Navy SEAL.”

  “Oh, just like Bradley Cooper!”

  Yeah, just like. Except Cooper was a pampered Hollywood actor playing a part in American Sniper. Grant lived and breathed it, had the battle scars to prove it.

  “I retired from the military and now I’m working for my brother’s company.”

  “Oh my, I read about them all the time. They do incredible work.”

  The blond snapped her fingers. “You’re the guy from the video last night. That’s why your name sounded familiar.”

  He shook his head, but she ignored him. “Yes, you are.”

  “What video?”

  The blond scrolled through her phone and then held it to Ginger. “Check this out.”

  Ginger gasped as she watched the scene unfold on the screen. It started just as Melody stepped off the curb and ended after he picked her up and carried her to the sidewalk. “Grant, you could’ve been killed.”

  Huh, she sounded like she actually cared if he lived or died. He had an exponentially higher chance of getting shot and/or blown-up and/or dismembered in the military, but she didn’t seem to care when he left for boot camp. Now, after all these years, she acted like it mattered?

  The bell over the door jangled and six giggly high-school girls entered. Grant hoped he could use their arrival as a diversion to make a break for it. He was done catching up with his old flame.

  Ginger was still drop-dead gorgeous, tall with long, mahogany hair, crystal blue eyes and a killer body honed by hours of gym time with a trainer. If anything, she’d grown more beautiful as the years passed. Her parents were wealthy, and she’d always been dressed in expensive designer clothes, looking like a million bucks. Still did. He glanced over at Melody, who was talking to one of the girls who’d entered, and all the air left his lungs. She simply took his breath away. She smiled at something one of the girls said and he had to take a step back.

  He turned to tell Ginger goodbye, but she was looking at Melody with a narrowed gaze. She’d obviously seen where his attention had been directed. She turned to him with a seductive smile and reached into her purse—Chanel—and extracted a silver case. With a snap, she opened it and withdrew a card, handing it over to him. A diamond encrusted bracelet circled her wrist. Even if he had been the least bit interested in renewing their…friendship…he couldn’t afford her.

  “I’m a real estate agent in town. I moved back for good. I’d love to get together for dinner, catch up…maybe more?” Her brows lifted on the last word.

  He smiled gently and handed the card back to her. “I’m sorry, Ginger, I don’t have time to get together and I already have a house. But thanks anyway. It was good to see you.” He nodded at her friend and turned to leave but Ginger grabbed his forearm, stopping him. She stepped closer again and brushed her breasts against his arm before tucking the card in his shirt pocket.

  “We were good together, Grant. The best I’ve ever had. We could be again. Think about it.”

  Before he could answer, she spun around and grabbed her friend’s arm, leaving the store without purchasing anything.

  Melody was still busy with the girls, so he headed to her office, digging Ginger’s card from his pocket. He didn’t even glance at the glamour shot on the front as he ripped it into tiny pieces and tossed it into the trash can.

  #

  Melody could do nothing but stare at the stunning woman fawning all over Grant. She looked like she’d stepped right out of the pages of Vogue. The woman was intimately running her hands over his arms and chest and it was all Melody could do to keep from launching herself in the air and scratching the woman’s eyes out.

  They had a history. Obviously. The woman was too familiar with him. Had they dated in the past? More? She didn’t like the crush of jealousy that came over her when she thought of Grant having sex with another woman. She knew there’d been others, still, seeing one in person was almost more than she could stomach.

  Thankfully a group of high-schoolers arrived and she focused her attention on helping Deanna while keeping one eye on Grant. The girls were friends with Lauren Dianetti and they wanted some of the cream that had Lauren’s skin glowing.

  She let out a relieved sigh when the redhead finally left the store. She’d tucked something in Grant’s pocket and Melody just knew it was her phone number. Would he call her?

  She had to get a handle on her insecurities. She was a bus
inesswoman now, making her mark in the world. No time to doubt herself.

  The girls gathered around the counter while Deanna gave them a demonstration on how to use the product. She started to make her exit so she could get working on more inventory when the bell rang again, indicating another customer.

  She feared she’d see the redhead when she turned, but it was a different woman. Melody smiled and greeted her. “Would you like to try Harmony?”

  “Actually, I was just in here a while ago and purchased a set.” She held up the bag. “I was excited to use it but when I got home and opened the bottle, it looked different from the product that woman showed me.” She indicated Deanna.

  Alarm bells rang. “Different how?”

  “Well…” the woman dug in her bag and lifted out the bottle. “Is it supposed to be green?”

  Melody gasped. “Green? No. Let me see.”

  She pressed the button to dispense the liquid and almost threw up when it squirted into her palm. Green. Her cream was the color of a ripe lime.

  Someone had tampered with her product.

  “I am so sorry. We will refund your money and I will personally send you replacements. I’ll be making more today.”

  She led the woman to the counter and pulled Deanna aside, telling her what happened. Deanna’s eyes widened but she was a professional, so she didn’t let her shock show. She took charge of hustling the high schoolers out the door, handing them one of her business cards instructing them to come back next week during the grand opening for a special discount. Quick thinking. Then she refunded the woman’s money and took down her address, so they could send her untainted bottles. As soon as she left, Melody flipped the closed sign and locked the door, falling against it.

  “How could this happen?” Deanna asked.

  “I don’t know. How many bottles did you sell today?”

  “Not many. I think there were only two others.”

  “Did you get their contact info?” At Deanna’s nod, she added, “Can you call them?”

  “Absolutely.”