by Susan Stoker
Melody remembered that Tex’s SEAL friends lived in California. Maybe he’d call them and they would offer to help. That had to be it. She assumed Tex would text her back to let her know what he had planned. He’d said for her not to open her door. Melody laughed a bitter little laugh. Tex didn’t have to tell her. She wasn’t opening the door for anyone. She didn’t feel safe sitting in the floor curled into a little ball, but it was better than wandering outside or opening the door for someone who may or may not be a stalker bent on hurting her. She knew that for a fact.
Melody closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. Nothing else, just breathing in and out. She could forget . . . for just a moment . . . that someone wanted her dead and she was alone in the world.
* * *
Tex ignored the dirty look he received from the front desk clerk as he walked as quickly as possible through the lobby to the elevator. He preferred the stairs, but his leg was still sore and he didn’t want to push it any more than he already had. Tex knew he had to give it a rest soon, but until he made sure Melody was safe, he wasn’t going to take the time.
Baby was silent at his side. Tex could tell she was tense, but she hadn’t made a noise. Thank God the hotel was pet friendly, even if the clerk wasn’t. The elevator opened at the third floor and Tex got out and followed the sign and headed down the hall toward room 305.
He paused outside the door and quickly sent Melody a text.
In a moment there will be a knock at your door. It’s fine. Look through the peephole first.
Tex took a deep breath and reached down and picked Baby up. He knocked on the door with one hand and held the dog up so that her face was level with the peephole in the door. He could’ve just texted her and said he was there and to let him in, but wasn’t sure she’d believe him. Tex knew of no other way to get Melody to trust him, to open the door, other than to show her Baby, her beloved dog. Of course it was also something a stalker might do, but Tex was hoping Mel would be so surprised and excited to see her dog, that she’d let him in. He’d remind her it wasn’t smart after he was inside with her.
He waited, holding his breath, and suddenly the door was open.
The woman standing in front of Tex took his breath away. She seemed tired, and stressed, but other than the change in hair color, she looked just as she did in the photo Amy had given him. Tex had spent some time admiring Melody’s photo, but he never would’ve imagined how cute she was in person.
Melody was about average height for a woman. She came up to about his chin. She had long brown hair that currently looked like it could use a good wash. She was wearing a pair of ragged jeans that probably should’ve been replaced a few years ago, but they looked well-worn and comfortable. She was wearing a simple T-shirt that showed nothing and everything at the same time. She was curvy. Tex didn’t know sizes, he only knew what he liked, and he definitely liked what he was looking at. He hadn’t really been able to see her curves in the picture of her standing next to Amy, but he approved.
Melody looked stressed, but healthy. He’d seen way too many women since he’d been in California that thought sexy meant starving yourself. Hell, he saw way too many women on his many missions that were scary underweight and would kill for the chance to eat enough to have the curves Melody had.
Her breasts strained against the shirt she was wearing and her hips flared out from her waist in a way that made Tex want to grab them and hold her against him. He would’ve stood there admiring her longer, but Baby was struggling to get out of his arms and he didn’t want to drop her.
Tex set Baby on the ground and the dog leaped for Melody. Actually leaped. If Tex had any doubt in his mind that this was Melody, the dog had just obliterated them.
Mindful of the danger he swore he could actually feel in the air, Tex gently scooted the reunion out of the hallway and into Melody’s room. He watched as dog and mistress jubilantly greeted each other after being apart for so long. Melody ended up sitting on the floor with the fifty pound coonhound in her lap frantically whining and licking the tears that coursed down her face.
“Baby! Oh my God, Baby. I can’t believe you’re here! I missed you so much.”
Melody’s words were halting and as heartfelt as any Tex had ever heard. He waited patiently, leaning up against the door, for Melody to notice him. It was the first time he’d ever been upstaged by a dog, but he loved every second of it.
Melody hugged her dog and buried her head in her scruff. She hadn’t ever expected to see Baby again. The hardest part about leaving Pennsylvania had been leaving her dog. Melody had seen her on an online ad the shelter back home had run. Baby had been emaciated and covered in sores and fleas and ticks. Her sad eyes had sucked Melody in the first time she’d seen them looking at her through her computer screen.
Melody had dropped everything and gone to the shelter that afternoon. The employees told her that the dog had most likely been abused and was scared to death of people. She was set to be euthanized the next day, but the volunteers had wanted to try one more time to get her adopted. Melody had gone into the area where the dog pens were and almost cried when she’d seen Baby for the first time. She’d been huddled against the back wall of her enclosure and shivered uncontrollably. Melody had been allowed to go into the pen with her. It had taken thirty minutes, but Melody had patiently sat on the floor and talked to the dog. She murmured nonsense for every second of those thirty minutes.
Baby had eventually climbed into Melody’s lap, all thirty-five underweight pounds of her, and shivered while Melody petted and cooed to her. Melody had taken her home that night and eventually Baby had come out of her shell. Melody knew she’d never be the most social dog, but they loved each other unconditionally.
The stalker had threatened to kill Baby though, which was why Melody left her behind in Pennsylvania. The note had said, I hate animals. I’ll cut off its head and leave it on a stick in your yard if you don’t get rid of it.
Melody believed it. She’d woken up the next morning to find a headless squirrel on her front porch stuck into a flower pot on a skewer. It was a warning Melody took to heart. She’d arranged to take Baby to Amy’s house the next day and had left Pennsylvania within the week, after dropping off her beloved dog with her best friend.
Melody looked up through her tears at the man standing inside her hotel room. He hadn’t said a word throughout her reunion with Baby. For a second she was scared. Yes, he’d brought her Baby, but it could be the stalker. She was a day late and a dollar short in her thinking, of course. He might have used her dog to gain entry to her room. She was an idiot. Just as Melody started panicking, the man moved.
He leaned over and pulled up the left leg of his jeans, just enough that Melody could see the shiny medal of a prosthetic device.
“Tex,” Melody breathed, hardly believing he was here. Here. Tex was here. She stood up, awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
“Come here, Mel.”
Melody sighed in relief. She took a step toward Tex and suddenly she was in his arms. She wrapped her arms around the man, not exactly a stranger, but not exactly someone she knew, and cried.
She cried in relief for not being alone. She cried because he’d brought her Baby. She cried for being so scared for so long. Melody didn’t feel Tex moving her backwards, but somehow she found herself sitting in Tex’s lap while he settled into the arm chair in the corner of the room.
“Shhhh, Mel. It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe.”
Not wanting to think about how awkward this should be, but somehow wasn’t, and not wanting to think about anything else either, Melody buried her head in Tex’s chest and held on to him even tighter.
Tex tightened his hold on the woman in his lap. His thoughts swung wildly from arousal, to sympathy, to joy that he was finally seeing, and holding the woman he’d slowly gotten to know over the past months. He’d be a liar if he hadn’t thought about her in his arms at least once over the last half a year, but the reality was so much bet
ter.
Feeling the moment Melody got herself together, Tex waited. As much as he wanted to demand she tell him everything and scold her for not getting in touch with him sooner, he couldn’t do it. He’d wait for her to be ready.
Melody took a deep breath. She had to get herself together. She picked her head up and looked around for Baby. She was sitting right at Tex’s feet, just looking at the two of them. When she saw Melody looking at her, she leaned forward and put her head on the arm of the chair as her tail wagged rhythmically behind her. Melody reached out and petted the dog. “God, I missed you, Baby.”
Baby whined and licked Melody’s hand.
“That’s enough, girl. Go lie down. I gotta talk to your mama.” Tex’s voice was affectionate, but stern at the same time.
Melody watched in amazement as her dog did what Tex told her to.
“How’d you get her to do that? I couldn’t ever train her to do anything. Stubborn hound.”
“Mel, look at me.”
Tex’s voice was low and rumbly and it made goosebumps rise up and down Melody’s arms. He was . . . more than she expected. She’d told herself that she wouldn’t care if he wasn’t good looking, but lord. Seeing him in the flesh was overwhelming. He wasn’t good looking . . . he was good looking. Melody couldn’t feel an ounce of fat on him. Tex’s thighs under her butt were rock hard. The chest she’d been lying against for the last ten minutes was also muscular and Melody would bet every dime she had that he had at least a six pack under his shirt. His dark hair was short at least she thought so, but it was his eyes that really struck her. They were a deep brown, and they looked at her as if she was the most important thing in the world. Tex didn’t fidget. He didn’t move. Melody knew he was looking right at her, waiting for her to meet his eyes.
She looked up. Yup. Those piercing eyes were focused on her.
“My name is John Keegan, but everyone calls me Tex. I’m thirty-five years old. I’m medically retired from the Navy. I was a Navy SEAL. My leg was injured in my last mission and they had to take half of it off. I have a prosthetic now. My stump isn’t pretty. I’ve never had a pet, never really thought about it, but having spent the last four days or so with Baby, I’m a convert. I’ve been out of my mind with worry for you, Mel. I met Amy and her family. I drove three days straight across the country to get to you. I swear to you, I might not be whole anymore, but I’m your friend. I’m here to help you. We’ll figure this out so you can get back to your life so you don’t have to run or be scared anymore.”
Melody knew her lip was quivering. She tried to hold her tears back. She’d cried way too much in the last day or so.
She followed his example, her voice low. “My name is Melody Grace. I’m twenty-seven. I eat too much crap and need to lose too many pounds to count. I’m a closed caption reporter, and I’m good at it. I can type one hundred words a minute with only a three percent error rate. In my spare time, when I was lonely, I used to surf the Internet for someone to talk to. I met someone a few months ago that I really liked.” Melody looked down and felt Tex’s hand at her chin, nudging it upward.
“Go on, Mel,” Tex whispered.
“I have a dog, a stubborn dog that I love with all my heart. And I’m scared. I could use some help.”
Tex leaned forward and Melody’s heart rate increased. He kissed her on the forehead and brought his other hand up from her back to her face. He framed her face and kept his eyes locked on hers.
“You’re not alone anymore, Mel. You reached out for me all those months ago, and I won’t let you pull back. We’ll figure this out and make you safe. Make Baby safe. Just don’t cut me off like that again. Please. You have no idea what it did to me when I saw you’d deleted your account.”
“I won’t.” The words were said with barely any audible tone to them, but Tex heard them anyway.
“How long has it been since you’ve gotten any sleep?”
“I don’t know. What day is it?”
Tex swore. “Okay. I’ll deal with that in a second. What happened today?”
“What do you mean?”
“What happened today to make you break your silence and text me? I know it had to be something. You haven’t contacted me once via text . . . until today. What happened?”
Melody fidgeted. God, Tex was way too smart. She gestured toward the letter lying in the middle of the floor behind them. “He found me and hand delivered a note.”
“Hand delivered?”
“Yeah, there wasn’t a post mark and the front desk clerk gave it to me.”
Tex’s mind immediately kicked into gear. If the stalker knew where she was, they had to move quickly. Without tensing, he moved his hand and put it on the back of her neck and stroked her nape with his thumb. He didn’t want to startle her, but he figured Melody was smart enough to know she wasn’t in a good situation and needed to get out of there. Hell, she’d gotten in touch with him, she definitely knew she wasn’t safe.
“Mel, you know I’m here to help you, right?” Tex waited for her to nod then continued. “You’ve done a hell of a job staying ahead of whoever this is.” At her look of disbelief, Tex continued, “Seriously. You’ve done everything right. I have more resources available to me than the average person. That’s why I was able to find you so quickly. But it’s more than obvious that whoever this is isn’t going to stop. I need to know if you’ll let me help you. If you’ll let me make some decisions for you. I need to make a plan, but I can’t if I know you’re going to fight me on every decision I make.”
Melody looked at the man in front of her. Could she give up control to him? She wasn’t the type of woman to let others do things for her. She didn’t like to take handouts. Hell, she didn’t even want to take out student loans when she went to college and had paid them back as soon as she could after she graduated. Could she let this man, this virtual stranger, take over?
“I . . .” She paused, then tried again. “I want to. I’m tired of running, of hiding. But I’m not that good at letting others help me.”
“I know, Mel. Believe me, I know this. That’s why I asked. But I’m begging you to trust me. Let me figure out who’s doing this. Let me help you get back to your life.”
When Tex put it that way, how could she refuse? Melody nodded wordlessly.
“Thank you. I swear to you, you won’t regret it. Now, we need to pack you up and get out of here. We’ll head down to Riverton and spend a few days with Wolf. Then we’ll head back to Pennsylvania.”
“No!”
Tex just quirked an eyebrow at her.
“It’s just . . . go back to Pennsylvania? That’s where it started. My friends . . . my family...”
“I know, Mel, but this needs to end. We need to be in a place where it can end. If that’s where your stalker is from, it’ll be easier to draw him out and finish it.”
Melody nodded. “It makes sense, but—”
“I’ll be there with you, Mel. I’m not going anywhere.”
“But—”
“No buts.”
“Would you let me finish?” Melody sighed in exasperation, smiling to let Tex know she wasn’t really pissed, but that she was also serious.
“Sorry. I have a tendency to take over. Make sure you tell me when I’m doing it too often.”
“I will. What I was going to say is that you must have a life. You can’t just come back to Pennsylvania and spend all your time there. What if nothing happens? What if he waits until you’re gone again?”
“You done?” Tex asked, completely seriously. “Get it all out now. Then I’ll respond.”
“You’re annoying. How did I not know you’re this annoying while we were chatting all those months?”
Tex smiled at Melody this time and tightened the hold on the back of her neck for a moment before resuming his slow sweep of his thumb against the sensitive skin. “Because I’m charming and charismatic?”
Melody just shook her head. She loved the feel of his hand on her neck, ignoring
the way her nipples peaked at the sensual feel of his thumb rubbing against her hairline, she got herself together and continued, getting it all out as he requested.
“What if he hurts Baby, or Amy, or someone else I care about? What if you get tired of being there and start to resent me? What if you get hurt? What if it never ends? I don’t think I can live like this for the rest of my life.”
Tex waited a beat after Melody had finished talking, making sure she was really done. His heart ached for her. He hadn’t really understood how stalking could affect people, but seeing Mel now, scared and hurting, he was starting to get it.
“Mel, I’m retired. That means I get paid every month to do nothing if I want to. I have the means and the time to come home with you for as long as it takes. But it’s not going to take forever. We need to move this back to where it started so it can end. Whoever this is won’t like that you came home. Won’t like that you came back home with me. Your friends will be safe, because you’ll tell them everything. They’ll be vigilant. I have connections. We’ll set up security for anyone you want. We won’t let Baby out of our sight.”
“But what are you going to do?”
Tex sighed. He didn’t like what he thought it would take. “We need to egg him on, Mel. We can’t fight an invisible enemy. He needs to make a mistake.”
“You want to make me bait.” Melody watched as Tex grimaced.
“Want to? Fuck no. What I want is for you to be safe. I want you to be able to live where you want without having to worry about some asshole hurting you, your dog, or even your friends. I want to keep you as far away from whoever is doing this as possible. If I could, I’d lock you away so he couldn’t ever find you. But that obviously hasn’t worked so far, and I’d prefer to be able to take a walk down the street with you on my arm without having to worry about someone shooting either one of us. In order to get to that point, unfortunately, we have to go back to where it started. I need more information in order to figure this out. It pisses me off, and I guarantee I will hate every second of putting you in danger, but I have a gut feeling this is the only way to make it end.” Tex paused for a moment, looking Mel straight in the eyes as he did it.
