Protecting Melody (12 page)

She came out five minutes later and opened the truck door. “Head around back. There’s a door back there we can use. Our room is on the first floor, on account of Baby.”
 

Tex started the truck and followed her directions. The parking lot was mostly empty when Tex parked. They each got out, Melody holding Baby’s leash while Tex carried their bags.
 

Melody used the swipe card to get them into the building and led the way to their room. She opened the door and Baby pranced into the room as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
 

Melody unclipped Baby’s leash and turned to Tex. “I’ll take the bags. You go on and get changed. I’ll get Baby some water.”
 

Tex put his bag on the floor and handed Mel’s bag to her. “I feel like I’m breaking some alpha man code here.”
 

“What do you mean?”
 

Tex ran a hand through his hair then answered. “I should be the one telling
you
to go and relax. I should be taking care of Baby . . . I’m haven’t done a good job of taking care of you so far.”
 

“Bull,” Melody told him, putting her hand on his arm. “I’m not eighteen years old. I’ve been taking care of myself and Baby for a while now. And you are doing more for me right now than you’ll ever know. You came for me and you found me. I was scared out of my head, I’m still terrified my stalker is going to pop up behind us and attack me. But with you here . . . I feel like I have a fighting chance. I know you’re hurting, and I hate that. So me letting you get changed and get off your feet . . . well, off your foot. . . isn’t going to mean you have to turn in your man-card. Okay?”
 

Tex took a faltering step to her and tagged her behind the neck. He drew her to him and put his lips against her forehead. “Thanks.”
 

Putting her hands on Tex’s waist, Melody leaned into him and asked, “For what?”
 

“For being a great traveling companion, for trusting me, for letting me take you home, for knowing I’d kill to lay on that bed and get off this leg.”
 

Not knowing what to say, Melody simply said, “You’re welcome.”
 

Tex lifted his head, looked her in the eyes, then leaned down. He kissed her once, hard, running his tongue over her bottom lip, but not giving her time to deepen the kiss. He pulled back. “Go see if you can find an episode of COPS. I’ll be right out.”
 

Melody watched Tex as he turned and entered the bathroom. She stood there for another moment, until she heard the water in the sink come on. She shook her head, kicked off her shoes, and walked over to the dresser. She put her bag on top and dug through it until she found a clean T-shirt to sleep in and another pair of boxers. She dug in another small bag and got Baby’s bowl out and filled it at the sink with water. She put it on the floor and went back over to the television and turned it on. She stood in front of it flipping through the channels.
 

When Tex walked out of the bathroom she was still standing there. “I can’t find it,” Melody told Tex in a mock devastated voice.
 

“It’s okay. I’m not sure we’d be able to stay awake to watch anyway.”
 

“Don’t think you’re getting out of it. I’m making it my mission in life to introduce you to the best show on TV today.”
 

Tex shook his head at her. “God, you’re cute. Go on. Your turn in the bathroom.”
 

“Don’t touch that leg. I’ll take care of it when I get out.”
 

“Okay.”
 

“I mean it, Tex.”
 

Tex grinned. She read him so easily. “All right. I’ll wait.”
 

“Thanks. Get comfortable, I’ll be right out.”
 

Tex looked behind him at the king size bed. He hadn’t told her what kind of room to get, but she’d chosen a room with only one bed. He didn’t want to read into that, but he couldn’t help it. He pulled back the covers and climbed in, propping the pillows up behind him. Placing the lotion on the bed next to his hip, he put his head back and closed his eyes. He felt Baby jump up on the bed. She padded up to him, lay down next to him and nudged his hand.
 

Without opening his eyes, Tex ran his hand from the top of Baby’s head, to her tailbone, then he did it again. Then again. The soothing motion must have relaxed the dog because he felt her practically melt into the bed next to him.
 

When Melody walked out into the bedroom not too much later, she smiled at the man and dog on the bed. Both were fast asleep and were snoring quietly.
 

Melody didn’t want to wake Tex, but knew he had to get his leg off. She walked over to the other side of the bed, and carefully broke the suction on his prosthetic. It popped off and Melody heard Tex’s voice above her head.
 

“Sorry I fell asleep.”
 

“It’s fine. I got this. Close your eyes.” She watched as he did just that. Feeling gooey inside that this alpha ex-SEAL was trusting her to do what he needed done, she got back to work. Melody peeled off the liner and reached for the lotion. Melody worked it into his stump, making sure to not put too much pressure on the sore spots, but pressing hard enough on his overused muscles to try to ease some of his aches.
 

When she finished, she wiped her hands on the sheet, figuring the staff would wash the sheets before the next guests stayed anyway. Before moving away from Tex, she leaned down and placed a soft kiss right on his stump. She sat up and looked up. Tex’s eyes were open and he was staring at her in wonder.
 

Without another word, Melody walked around the bed and climbed in on the other side. She didn’t have the heart to move Baby, so she spooned her dog and faced Tex. He’d turned to watch her progress as she walked around the bed and he was now on his side facing her. They both smoothed their hands over the dog between them, and when their hands nudged each other, Tex grasped Melody’s fingers with his own.
 

As if they were in church, Tex kept his voice low and reverent. “No one has taken care of me like you just did since I was a little kid.” He cleared his throat and continued, “I don’t know what you see in me, Mel, but it feels good.”
 

“You’re a good man, Tex. You’re sexy as hell and if we both weren’t exhausted I might be tempted to show youjust how sexy I think you are.”
 

Tex grinned sleepily at her. “I’ll be damned if I try to convince you otherwise.”
 

“Good. ‘Cause you wouldn’t be able to.”
 

“You always sleep with Baby?”
 

Allowing him to change the subject, Melody snorted. “Not hardly. She had a nice fluffy dog bed that she used to sleep in at the side of my bed.”
 

“Looks like that’s changed.”
 

“Yeah.”
 

They looked down at the dog’s side, which was moving up and down under their clasped hands.
 

“She’s a great dog.”
 

“Yeah,” Melody repeated.
 

“I’ll look after her too, Mel.”
 

Melody looked over at Tex in surprise. “But—”
 

“No buts. She means something to you so she means something to me. I’m not going to let him kill her if I can help it.”
 

Tears filled Melody’s eyes, and she pulled Tex’s hand up to her mouth, kissed the back of it, then brought their hands back to Baby’s side. “Thank you,” was all she could get out, and her voice hitched anyway.
 

“As much as I love your dog, she better not get used to sleeping between us. I’m not into doggy voyeurism.”
 

Melody shut her eyes and chuckled. She opened her eyes again and found Tex still watching her intently.
 

“Get some sleep, Mel. One more long day on the road before we get back to Pennsylvania. We’ll have to figure out what’s going on and what our next step is. But I’ll tell you this, as soon as things calm down, and we have a minute to ourselves where we aren’t exhausted or trying to figure out what a crazy person will do next, I plan on showing you how much you’re starting to mean to me.”
 

Melody bit her lip and nodded. She couldn’t wait.
 

Melody turned off the engine to the truck and gripped the steering wheel tightly. She and Tex had talked that morning and decided to push through and go all the way to Pennsylvania. About halfway through the trip, Melody had convinced Tex to let her drive. Once again, he wasn’t happy about it, but his leg was hurting more and more and he’d reached a point where it was too painful for him to drive. He’d given her a million instructions and had only shut up when she’d snapped that she wasn’t an idiot and had been driving since she was sixteen.
 

To his credit, he hadn’t resisted when Melody had insisted he allow her to drive. After his lecture, and her snarky response, he’d only nodded and when they’d stopped to let Baby take a break, he handed her his keys, kissed her, and headed for the passenger side of the truck.
 

Melody had tried to push down how nervous she was to be back at her apartment complex. The last time she’d been home she’d been scared out of her mind and Melody wasn’t sure she’d ever see it again.
 

On one hand, she was glad to be back at her place, but on the other, she was scared. She trusted Tex, but was still terrified to be back in her hometown where everything had started.
 

“Hey, look at me.”
 

Melody jumped when Tex put his hand on her shoulder, and she turned her head toward him. She could just make him out in the dim light of the parking lot.
 

“It’s going to be all right, Mel. I’m going to take care of this for you.”
 

Melody nodded jerkily.
 

“Stay there, I’m coming around.” Tex got out of the truck and went around the front, not breaking eye contact with Melody as he walked around to her side. He opened the door and as Melody stepped out, he crowded her against the side of the truck.
 

Tex put his hands on the seat behind her and leaned in. He sighed as Mel put her arms around his waist and held on to him. He could feel Baby nudging his arm, but he ignored the dog for the moment.
 

He rested his chin on Melody’s shoulder and turned so he could whisper into her ear. “I know you’re scared, but I’m so proud of you for staying strong. You aren’t alone anymore. I’m here.”
 

He felt her breath hitch once, before she locked it down again. He buried his nose into the space between her neck and shoulder and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace.
 

They stood there in the parking lot for a few minutes before Tex finally pulled back. He brought his hands up and framed her face. “I mean it.” His words were simple and heartfelt.
 

“I know. I feel like I’ve dragged you into this, whatever
this
is.”
 

“Mel, you didn’t drag me into anything. I brought myself into it. And if I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be.”
 

Melody licked her lips and finally, after a moment, whispered, “Okay.”
 

Tex leaned toward her and kissed her on the lips. “Now, give me your keys and you and Baby stay here for a moment while I go and check your apartment out. I’ll be right back and we can go inside and get some sleep. Tomorrow you can call Amy and we’ll start figuring out what’s going on. Hop back in and lock the doors and if you see anything that is out of the ordinary, or that scares you, lean on the horn and call me.”
 

“Do you think he knows I’m here? Am I in danger? Are
you
in danger?”
 

Tex put his forehead against Melody’s and put his hands on her waist and squeezed. “Calm, Mel. No, I don’t think you’re in danger. There’s no way in hell I’d leave you sitting out here by yourself if I did. It’s just a precaution. I have no idea if he knows you’re back in town yet, but I won’t be gone longer than a couple of minutes. You haven’t been home in months, and I just want to make sure all’s well with your place before we go sauntering in there.”
 

Tex didn’t mention that he wanted to make sure the stalker hadn’t broken in and destroyed everything in her apartment. It was a possibility and he wanted to spare Mel that. He honestly didn’t think the stalker knew they were back in town yet, so she should be safe enough while he checked things out. Tex drew back and put his hands on either side of her jaw and looked her in the eyes. “I wouldn’t deliberately put you in danger, Mel. Okay?”
 

Melody sighed and then nodded. She reached into the truck for her purse. Baby, thrilled she could reach Melody’s face, licked at her until Melody laughed and pushed her away. “Move, Baby, I gotta get my purse so we can go inside.” As if she understood, Baby sat on her haunches and watched as her mistress pawed through her bag and pulled out the key ring she hadn’t used in at least half a year. She turned and dropped it into Tex’s outstretched hand.
 

“Be careful.” At Tex’s raised eyebrows Melody blushed, but refused to look away from him. “I know you were a SEAL and you could probably just look at someone and scare the hell out of them, but we don’t know what this person is capable of.”
 

“I will. Promise.” Tex didn’t waste time reassuring her, he just kissed her on the forehead and said, “Climb back in and shut and lock the door. I’ll be back before you know it.”
 

Melody did as Tex requested and watched as he strode confidently across the parking lot and disappeared into the hallway that led to her apartment. Baby whined next to her, and Melody pulled her into her lap, both to comfort the dog and herself. Baby had always been affectionate, but now that they’d been separated for so long, she was even more so. The dog nuzzled into
Melody and rested her muzzle on Melody’s shoulder. The two sat in the truck and waited for Tex to reappear.