Natural-Born Protector / Saved by the Monarch by Carla Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page A

Haven.”
    “And maybe question Dean Lucas?”
    She nodded. “From what you told me he was probably the last guy Lainie was dating.”
    His impulse was to offer to accompany her, but he knew she’d be okay talking to Dean in broad daylight in public. She didn’t need him and he needed some distance. “Then I’ll just say good-night.”
    As he walked out of Lainie’s town house he tried to summon up a mental image of his wife, Rebecca, but all he could visualize was how Melody’s blouse had given him a tantalizing glimpse of her breasts, how she’d looked at him as if he were her own personal hero all evening.
    He didn’t want to be her hero, but if he were perfectly honest with himself he’d admit that he wouldn’t mind taking her to bed. It had been far too long since he’d had the warmth of a female body in his arms, enjoyed the release that came with making love. And Melody was the first woman in a long time to remind him of that.
    But he was certain the last thing on her mind was an uncommitted night of sex. She was focused solely on her goal—to catch a killer—and at the moment his sole focus should be keeping her safe from any trouble her investigation might bring her way.

Chapter Four
    “ W hy on earth would you want to involve yourself in a matter for the sheriff?” Rita asked Melody, her raised voice drawing the attention of other diners in the restaurant. After spending the morning packing away some of the items in the town house, Melody had rushed to meet Fred and her mother for lunch.
    Fred placed a hand on Rita’s to calm her, but his look at Melody was just as outraged as her mother’s. “Melody, Dean Lucas is a hooligan. You have no business having anything to do with that young man.”
    Melody couldn’t believe Fred had actually used the term hooligan and she couldn’t believe that she’d been stupid enough to tell them that she was doing a little investigating into Lainie’s murder on her own.
    “I’m just asking a few questions here and there. Don’t you both want to know who killed Lainie?”
    “Of course we do,” Fred blustered. “But that’s Zack West’s job. He’s a good man. He’ll eventually find the guilty person.”
    “Eventually isn’t soon enough for me,” Melody replied.
    “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, too,” Rita said. She reached over and grabbed Melody’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “You don’t even need to stay there to pack up the rest of the town house. Fred and I can do it. I just want you safe and happy, not involving yourself in this ugliness.”
    Melody pulled her hand from her mother’s. “I owe Lainie this. It’s something I need to do, and stop worrying about me.”
    “How’s the packing coming?” Fred asked, in an obvious ploy to change the subject.
    “Slowly, but it’s getting done,” Melody replied. She twisted her napkin in her lap, wishing she were back at the town house plotting her next move.
    “I understand there’s a wall in the town house that needs to be painted. You want me to send one of my men over to take care of it?” Fred owned a large construction firm.
    Melody looked at him curiously. “You haven’t been in the town house before?”
    “Not inside,” he replied. “Lainie kept telling us she was going to invite us over, but every time we’d bring it up she’d tell us the place wasn’t quite ready for company.”
    “She was trying so hard to be independent,” Rita said, her eyes radiating the sadness of a mother’s heartbreak. “Fred didn’t want to intrude on her privacy.”
    “Just say the word and I’ll get a couple of men inthere to do whatever needs to be done to get it on the market as soon as possible so you can get on with your life,” Fred said.
    Melody laughed. “I’m beginning to think that the two of you are trying to get rid of me.”
    “Don’t be silly,” Rita exclaimed. “You know I love having you here, but I know you’ve begun a new life in Chicago and