Chapter 20
Brody
I wake up even before my alarm. I’m not surprised. Even though yesterday was insanely busy and stressful, and even though I stayed awake watching my girl peacefully sleeping for almost an hour, it was still relatively early when I joined her in slumber.
I know she’ll want to be at her desk soon.
And I’ll go out for a run and then make use of the first-floor gym.
There was no workout room when I first arrived, but the four of us have taken over one of the weird parlors and converted it into a gym since then.
We don’t have every piece of equipment we want in there yet, but we’re getting close.
The property is large enough that I can easily put several miles under me without leaving the grounds. I’m grateful that I’ve moved my woman into the mansion because I won’t worry about her safety while I’m jogging. There’s no way I could have left her this morning if we had slept at her cottage.
She suddenly rolls over and smiles at me. “How long have you been awake?” she asks, reaching for my cheek.
“Only a few minutes.” I kiss her. “I was giving you a bit more time.”
She pushes to sitting, groaning. I suspect she’s sore. She glances down at herself. “I’m naked.”
I chuckle. “Yes. I like you that way.”
“I need clothes and coffee.” When she turns to slide off her side of the bed, I pull her back, flatten her into me, and stroke her cheek. “First, I need a kiss.”
She covers her mouth. “Gross. Morning breath.”
“You smell like an angel. Is mine bad?”
She shakes her head. “No,” she says against her palm, “but please let me brush my teeth.”
I kiss her forehead. “Okay, fine, but then you’re going to kiss me.”
When we reach the bathroom, she looks around, snags my T-shirt from last night off the top of the pile in the hamper, and pulls it over her head.
I allow it only because she’s adorable wearing my clothes.
It hangs almost to her knees. Plus, I’m not going to risk pissing my woman off on our first real-life morning together.
As badly as I’d rather drag her back to bed and eat her pussy until she screams, that won’t endear her to me on the work front.
She operates on a strict schedule during business hours.
I need to adhere to those hours so she feels a sense of normalcy and can get her writing done.
I won’t interfere with my girl’s career.
After we brush our teeth, she turns to me and surprises me by jumping into my arms and wrapping her limbs around me before kissing me like she’s missed me terribly for days.
I’m totally down for this. I’ll let my woman brush her teeth first every morning if she’s going to press her wet, hot pussy against my abs while she reminds me why I’m alive.
I carry her into the bedroom, flip on the lights, and tuck my hands under her bottom, still kissing her. When we reach the bed, I sit her on her sweet ass and break free from her lips. “Lie back, naughty girl.”
She frowns as she obeys me. “Why?”
I push my shirt up her body and gently touch her breasts.
“Brody…”
“I just want to make sure I wasn’t too rough with you, baby.
” When I’m satisfied that she’s going to be deliciously sore, but not so much that she’ll wince all day, I pull my shirt back down and kiss her one more time.
“Get dressed, temptress. I’ll make you some coffee.
One inch of cream. Do you like to have more than one cup? Should I bring up a carafe?”
“No. One is fine.”
“And you’ll go down in a while and eat breakfast?”
“Yep. Is that okay?”
“Yes, baby. You can eat whenever you want. Is there a specific time you like to have breakfast?”
“Maybe like eight? But I don’t want anyone to go out of their way for me. I can manage.”
I shake my head. “Gretchen is in her element, and that extends to breakfast, too. She cooks a full spread every morning, but if you have specific preferences, just let her know. I’m sure she’ll get things rolling in the kitchen soon.”
“I’m easy, but I feel weird wandering into the kitchen and being waited on.”
“You’ll get used to it, baby. I’ll go with you today. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. It’s your home now.”
Her face falls. “Right… Do you think the sheriff is going to find prints on that package?”
“I don’t know. I’ll call him this morning. Dallas is going to spend more time going through your Ring doorbell footage, too.”
“I hate that he didn’t find anything yesterday. If someone walked up to my mailbox and stole a package, that would be on the system.”
“I know. He’ll look again. He was frustrated yesterday. He thinks he missed something.”
Melody sighs. “I’ll talk to my assistant and get the routing information. Maybe that will help?”
“Definitely.” I kiss her one more time, then reluctantly stand and pull her to her feet. “Get dressed. I’ll bring coffee.”
I back out of the room. When did I become such a sap that I don’t even want to leave my woman to go to the kitchen?
After jogging down the steps, I emerge to find Gretchen already at work. She smiles. “Coffee?”
“Thank you. I’m going to take a cup up to Melody. She’ll come down in a few hours to eat.” I head to the fridge, open the door, grab the creamer, and fix my girl her caffeine fix.
“Tell her to let me know if there’s anything specific she likes to eat in the morning. Yogurt? Granola? Hot meals? Whatever she needs, I’ll make sure to have it for her.”
“Thank you, Gretchen. It means a lot to us that you’re here.”
“I’m just so glad this house is filling with young people in love. The mansion is coming out of a deep sleep. Soon it will be fully alive.”
“You’re a gem among gems.” I fill my own cup and take both upstairs.
Melody is already at her desk. I come toward her from the side and set her coffee near her elbow, not wanting her to think I’m snooping. I can’t see her screen.
She grabs the mug and takes a sip. “Perfect. Thank you.”
What’s perfect is my girl. She’s wearing a white tank top that doesn’t quite hide her white bra.
Her gorgeous hair is in a messy bun on top of her head.
Various notebooks and sticky notes have taken up residence on the desk.
She looks ready to roll. When I entered, she was already intently staring at the screen with her mouse in hand.
“You’ve got your phone, right?”
She picks it up from next to her and gives it a shake. “My boyfriend even charged it for me overnight.”
I grin. “Text or call if you need me. I’ll be back in a few hours to go to breakfast with you.”
She turns back to her screen, waving dismissively at me.
After eating, I escort my girl back to her office and then join Dallas downstairs in one of the rooms he’s claiming as his own office. The door is open, so I step inside, but hesitate because Arianna is with him. He’s sitting at the desk, and she’s standing between his legs.
“Sorry. I’ll come back,” I say as I turn around.
“No, stay,” Arianna calls out. “I’m leaving. As soon as this neanderthal finishes lecturing me about library safety.”
Dallas growls. “Baby, with that attitude, you’ll end up standing all day because your bottom will be too sore to sit on that cute stool behind the checkout counter.”
She shoves at his shoulders, trying to extricate herself to no avail. “Dallas… I’m going to be late.”
I chuckle. This house is filled with people who make me laugh.
“You’ll drive straight there, call me as soon as you’re inside the building, and stay put until I get there.”
“Yes, Master,” she sasses.
He lifts a brow. “There’s still time for me to take you over my knees.”
I continue into the room and sit across from the desk to watch the rest of this show.
Arianna pats her stomach. “You should probably stop spanking me in my condition.”
Dallas grabs her hips, lifts her off her feet, and kisses his wife’s stomach before setting her on the floor. “There is no medical reason why I can’t spank you throughout your pregnancy, naughty girl. If you have concerns, we’ll ask Kinsley at your appointment next week.”
Arianna gasps. “We are not talking to Kinsley about you spanking me. I’d be mortified.”
He laughs. “You don’t think she knows how naughty you are?” he teases.
Arianna squirms in his arms. “I don’t think she knows how overbearing you are.”
He chuckles before kissing her and turning her around. “Be safe, naughty wife.”
She hurries from the room.
Dallas stares after her like a lovesick puppy, and for once, I understand the look. I suspect I now have a similar permanent expression.
I clear my throat.
He jerks his gaze from the empty doorway to me and leans back. “Don’t smirk at me. You’re one of us now. How’s Melody?”
“She’s working. I think she’s in her zone and blocking out what happened yesterday to remain sane.”
“I get it.” He points at the monitor on his desk.
“I’ve been through the footage three times.
She even texted me earlier this morning with the exact date that the package should have been delivered.
It was not. I can only see the mailwoman putting a few envelopes in her box.
So it never made it that far, which means no one from town stole anything out of her box. It wasn’t there to be stolen.”
I frown. “Wait… Did you say mailwoman?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Melody says the mailman in town is just that. A man. Jessop. The sheriff spoke highly of him.”
Dallas rubs his chin. “You’re right. I forgot about that.” He leans forward and jiggles his mouse.
I round the desk to his side and lean over. Sure enough, a woman pulls up to Melody’s house that day and puts a few envelopes in the box. “Maybe he was sick that day,” I suggest. “I’m sure he has people who fill in for him.”
“I’m sure you’re right, but the coincidence is worth looking into.”
“Yes. I’ll make a visit to the post office and perhaps the sheriff this morning.” I shove off the desk and head for the door. I don’t want to bother Melody, so I send her a quick text to say that I’m going out for a few hours. I add a double-heart emoji like the lovesick sap I am.
I chuckle when she responds with a single heart that explodes across my screen.
I’m on my way to the post office when I get a call from Sheriff Johnston, so I connect to the call through my car speakers. “This is Brody.”
“Hey, this is Mark Johnston. Sorry to bother you. I was going to call Melody Thorne when I realized I did not get her number yesterday.”
“I’m actually on my way into town now. I’ll stop by your office first. About five minutes.”
“Sounds good.”
I grip the steering wheel a bit tighter for the rest of the journey. Johnston must have discovered something, or he wouldn’t have called.
Five minutes later, I arrive, and Tonya waves me toward Johnston’s office.
Johnston stands. “Shut the door, will you?”
After doing so, I sit across from him.
He leans back and runs a hand through his hair. “How’s Melody?”
“She’ll be okay. She’s safe at the mansion.”
He gives me a tight smile. “It’s none of my business, of course, but I assume that is a permanent move.”
I take a deep breath. I haven’t discussed staying in Wilde yet with Melody, but suddenly I know for a fact that’s what’s going to happen. “Yes.”
His smile softens. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. But that’s not what you called me for.”
“No.” He sighs. “Before I left last night, I set up my own camera at her cottage. Tucked it up high, hoping no one would notice it.”
I sit straighter.
“Drove by there this morning. There was more vandalism. Same basic filthy harassment. Whoever is doing this is probably hoping to chase her out of town.”
“Why would anyone want to chase Melody out of town?”
He shrugs. “They don’t like what she writes?”
“Jesus. Have you checked the video?”
“Yes. I don’t know who it is because the vandal was wearing a mask and it was dark, but I believe it’s a woman.”
“I think I know who it is.”
Johnston leans forward. “Go on.”
“Dallas has been scouring old footage from Melody’s camera. The day the book was supposedly delivered, it wasn’t the regular mailman doing the route. I don’t know who it was, but it was a woman. I was actually headed to the post office to speak to the postmaster when you called.”
Johnston nods. “Shouldn’t be too difficult to find out who runs the route when Jessop is on vacation or out sick.” He stands. “I’ll go talk to the postmaster.”
I’m slightly deflated since that had been my plan. “Okay. I’ll go check on her car.”
Johnston pauses as he’s rounding the desk. “Her car?”
“Yes. When she came out of the library to go home on Saturday, the battery was dead. I found myself suddenly very glad she either left the lights on or had a faulty battery.” I grin.
Johnston frowns. “Are you sure that was the problem?”
I stiffen, my face falling. “Fuck.” Why didn’t I consider that possibility?
Johnston holds up his hands. “I’m not suggesting anything, I’m just curious if you’re certain that was the problem, under the circumstances.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “I had Winston tow it yesterday. I told him we would be busy all day and I would check in with him today.”
Johnston squeezes my shoulder. “You do that. I’ll head to the post office. Meet you at the mansion afterward. We need to include Melody in whatever we find.”
I nod. “Agreed.” I turn and jog toward my truck. Why the fuck didn’t it occur to me that perhaps her car breaking down was not a coincidence? It’s still possible, but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end now.
Minutes later, I walk into Winston’s Autobody. Winston himself happens to be at the counter. He’s wiping his hands on a cloth as I approach the counter.
“Hey, Brody. I was going to call you this morning. It took longer than expected to figure out what was wrong with Melody’s car. I finally solved the problem about ten minutes ago. It’s fixed, but you’re not going to like what I found.”
I wince. “Not the battery, then?”
“No. Took me a while to eliminate the other possibilities and check the fuses. Brody… Someone removed the ignition fuse.”
“Fuck.”
“I heard that Melody’s house was vandalized yesterday.”
I nod. “Yes. Again today, too. Someone is fucking with her.”
Winston cringes. “Who would mess with Melody Thorne? She’s such a nice lady. Quiet. Keeps to herself. I can’t imagine her ever making an enemy.”
“I can’t either, Winston.” I hand him my credit card. “I can’t take the car just now. I’m in my truck. I’ll send someone to get it out later.”
“No problem.” Winston hands me back my card. “Hope you figure out who’s fucking with that girl.”
“Sheriff Johnston is on it. I think he’s close.”
“Good.”
After pocketing the keys, I turn and leave the shop. I’d like to get back to the mansion before Johnston arrives.