Protecting Melody (20 page)

“I will, Tex. Don’t worry. I will.”
 

Tex walked over to the table and sat in the chair next to Melody. He took her hands in his and kissed them. “How are you holding up really?”
 

“I hate it. How come we can’t figure out who’s doing this? I mean is he really that smart? You’ve seen the letters he won’t stop sending. Hell, even Amy got one the other day, and that scares me more than anything. I don’t understand what he means by, “
You’ll pay
.” Pay for what?”
 

Melody thought about the letter she received just that morning. It’d been taped onto her door. Tex had found it when he walked Baby.
 

You’re a bitch. You’ll always be a bitch. You might have others fooled, but I know you. You don’t deserve anything you have in your life. You’re going to pay for what you did. You better continue to keep that dog on a short leash. If you think that crippled excuse for a man will save you, you’re delusional on top of everything else. Prepare to pay.
 

Melody shivered. “He continues to threaten everyone I love, including you, and I don’t know how much more of this I can take, Tex. I just want it to end!”
 

Tex felt as if his heart stopped beating for a second, then it started again with a thud. He had no idea if Mel realized what she’d just said or not, but he knew her words would be forever engrained on his brain.
 

“We’re closing in on him, Mel. He’s getting more careless. We found a fingerprint on the last note. You know they only arrive in the middle of the night, so I’m fairly sure you’ll be okay in the library today. But I swear to God, I’m doing everything in my power to make sure he doesn’t touch one hair on your head.”
 

Tex waited for her to nod. When she did, he leaned closer to her. “And, Mel, this might not be the time or the place, but I can’t keep it in anymore. I love you. I love everything about
you. I love how you scrunch your nose in your sleep. I love how you talk to Baby as if she can understand you. I love how you put everyone’s well-being before your own. I love how you matter-of-factly help me with my leg every night. You don’t make a big deal out of it because to you, it’s
not
a big deal. I love how you can type a million words a minute and you don’t think it’s amazing. I love how you know everyone in this town and you say hello to each and every one of them. I love how you turn the other way when you know I’m doing something that isn’t quite legal. Basically, I love everything about you. When this is over, if you still want me, I’m moving up here. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass where I live, as long as it’s with you.”
 

Tex’s words seemed to echo in the room. Melody could only look at him in wonder. She didn’t think she’d ever hear those words from him, and he’d done so much more than just say the words. “I love you, Tex.”
 

“I know.”
 

Melody smirked. “You’re a jerk.”
 

“Come here.” Tex tugged Mel out of her chair and pulled her into his lap. She straddled him and ground down against his erection. “I know we don’t have time for this right now, but tonight, I’m going to show you just how much I love every inch of this body.” Tex ran his hands up and under her shirt at her back and stroked the sensitive skin at the small of her back.
 

“Only if you’ll let me do the same.”
 

“Fuck yeah.” Tex leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
 

Melody smirked. She loved it when he did that. It was a secret communication between the two of them now. Each time he did it, she knew he really wanted to throw her down on the nearest flat surface and have his way with her.
 

“All right. I’ll take Baby with me today. You go to the library. Sit out in the common area where the people are. Don’t go in the back to the private rooms. You’ll be able to concentrate enough out there?” At her nod, he continued. “Okay, I’ll drop you off and come back three hours later. I know three hours isn’t enough, Mel. I know you wish you could do what you want, when you want, and where you want. I swear we’ll get there, but for now, please, for me, take every precaution you can.”
 

“I will, Tex. I swear.”
 

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”
 

* * *
 

Melody concentrated on the last announcement being made at the meeting she was listening to over the Internet and typed what she was hearing. The voices from the other patrons in the library had faded the moment she’d put in the headphones and started concentrating on typing.
 

When Melody had arrived at the library she’d said hello to Meredith, the librarian, a woman she’d known her entire life and had settled down at a table to read the latest romance
book by her favorite author. She hadn’t had time to get through it yet because when she and Tex were home, most of the time he’d interrupted her . . . not that Melody was complaining. She read for a while then fired up her computer to get to work.
 

Melody looked up and saw Diane, from the bank, sitting next to her. Melody held up her finger, in the universal symbol for “hang on,” as she finished up the presentation. She signed off the closed caption app and popped the headphones out of her ears.
 

“Hey, Diane.”
 

“Hey, Melody. How are you?”
 

“I’m good.” Melody wasn’t quite comfortable talking to Diane, other than the usual pleasantries, because she didn’t really know her. There was also that whole dating an ex of hers thing as well. Melody thought back to the information Tex had learned about Lee and felt some of her unease about the woman fade. She felt bad Diane had to live with him. No one deserved to be abused.
 

“That seems really interesting. I’ve never seen anyone type so fast before in all my life.”
 

“Yeah, well, I’m actually typing in shorthand, it gets translated and fed back to the people who have the app.”
 

Diane seemed really impressed. “Well, it’s really cool. I’m sure the deaf people really are thankful.”
 

“It feels good to be able to help people.” Melody said, looking down at her watch and ignoring the less-than-politically-correct statement from Diane. “Well, look, I gotta get going. My boyfriend will be here in a bit to pick me up.”
 

“Yeah, I’ve seen him around. He’s hot.” Diane didn’t seem to notice Melody’s unease at the turn in conversation.
 

“Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but aren’t you seeing Lee? I’m not that comfortable with you talking about Tex that way.”
 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I admire you. Seriously. You’re doing great things for people and you seem to have a great life.”
 

“Thanks, Diane.” Melody looked up and thankfully saw Tex sitting in his truck outside. They’d recently gotten his truck back from the shop. They’d cleaned the paint off and replaced all the tires. She’d missed being able to sit right next to Tex as he drove the rental car and being able to have Baby between them when she was allowed to accompany them.
 

Melody stood up and gathered her laptop and book. “He’s here. I’ll see you around.”
 

“Maybe we can get together for lunch or something sometime?”
 

Diane seemed eager to be friends, that was obvious. Melody knew what kind of jerk Lee could be. She’d been lonely before too. “Sure. I’ll call and we’ll set it up.”
 

Diane smiled widely. “Cool! See you around!”
 

Melody waved at Diane as she walked to the front door. Diane waved back and turned to head into the romance section of the library.
 

Melody smiled as she walked up to the truck. Baby was sitting in her usual seat in the front. Tex hopped out as she got to the truck to open her door, as he usually did. Melody had tried to tell him not to bother getting out, that she could open her own door and get into the vehicle on her own, but he’d just smiled and ignored her. Just as Melody reached Tex, they heard her name being called from a few spaces away.
 

Both Tex and Melody turned to see Robert Pletcher stalking their way.
 

“What the fuck, Melody?”
 

Melody took a step backward and bumped into the side of the truck. She heard Baby growling from inside.
 

“Watch it, Robert,” Tex warned, putting one arm out and pushing Mel behind him a bit.
 

“Who the hell are you and how do you know my name?”
 

“We’ve met. When Mel first came back to town.”
 

“Oh yeah, I remember now. You’re the possessive fucker who couldn’t keep your hands off her in the middle of town. I have no idea what she sees in you, some crippled asshole who’s pretending he’s infatuated with her. She’s not that good of a lay, I’m sure you’ve figured that out on your own by now.”
 

The words had barely left his mouth when Tex had him on the ground, his knee at his throat and Robert’s arms locked against his sides by Tex’s hands. “Calm the fuck down, man.”
 

Robert struggled in Tex’s hold, but it was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere until Tex let him go.
 

“Care to explain what your problem is, buddy?”
 

“My problem?” Robert looked up at Melody who hadn’t moved away from where she had plastered herself against the side of the truck. “Melody, what the fuck did I do to you? You think it’s funny to ruin my marriage?” His voice came out as a croak because of the knee in his throat, but it obviously wasn’t completely cutting off his air since he could speak.
 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Robert. I haven’t seen you in ages besides when I got back into town.”
 

“Don’t give me that shit. I saw the note you gave Sheri. You told her all about Brooke. Brooke didn’t mean shit. She was just a way to get off. Sheri’s had three kids and hasn’t lost the weight. The sex isn’t all that great anymore. I needed more. That’s
all
it was with Brooke. But now Sheri wants a divorce and it’s all your fault!”
 

“Enough talking, asshole.” Tex put more pressure on Robert’s throat to shut him up. “First of all, Melody didn’t write you any damn note. She has way too much class for that. She’s moved on and doesn’t give a shit about you and where you’re sticking your dick. Secondly, cheating on your wife is an asshole thing to do. If the sex wasn’t good it was your damn fault for
not taking care of your woman and making her feel sexy and desired. So who else knew about your affair? It’s obvious someone else knew and informed your wife.”
 

“Melody signed the damn note, asswipe,” Robert squeaked out.
 

Tex heard Melody gasp behind him. Dammit.
 

“And I’m telling you she didn’t write it. Are you a handwriting expert? You’ve never thought that anyone could’ve signed Melody’s name to it? It’s all a moot issue anyway. You’re missing the point. The point is that if you’re sneaking around behind your wife, it’s only a matter of time before she finds out. Looks to me you’re getting what’s coming to you.”
 

Melody watched as Tex leaned down and whispered something in Robert’s ear. She couldn’t hear what he said, but Robert went still under Tex’s body. Tex stood up with more grace than people with two uninjured legs probably would, and seemingly unconcerned about what Robert might do in retaliation, turned his back to him. Robert lay still on the ground, making no move to come after either Melody or Tex.
 

“Come on, Mel, let’s go home.” Tex opened the door of the car and urged Mel to climb in. She did and Baby whined next to her.
 

Tex got in behind her and started the engine. Robert had finally gotten up off the ground and was stalking away from the truck without a second glance.
 

“What’d you say to him?”
 

Tex thought about lying or just flat out not telling her, but she needed to know the person he really was. “I just let him know that as a former Navy SEAL I know twenty ways to kill a person that won’t leave a mark. And furthermore, I know people who owe me favors who wouldn’t hesitate for a second to get rid of his body where no one would ever find it.”
 

“You did not.” Melody’s voice was low and shocked.
 

“I did.” Tex glanced over at Mel and quickly looked straight ahead again. “I won’t apologize for it, Mel. He was an asshole. And I wanted him to know that he couldn’t accuse you of shit like that and get away with it. You might not get this, but I hope to hell you’re starting to, but that shit won’t fly with me.
No one
insults you and gets away with it. He knows you’re off limits now.”
 

“What if he’s the stalker?”
 

“Then he knows that I’ll protect you with my life. But I honestly don’t think he is. If he was, he wouldn’t have pulled something so stupid in public. He’d wait and send another fucking letter or something. But if he
is
your stalker, I hope to God he got the point and he’ll stop it. But, Mel, I don’t think it’s him because it’s obvious whoever has been after you, wrote that note to his wife and signed your name.” When Melody didn’t say anything after his announcement he looked over at her. She looked devastated.
 

“So now he’s trying to get everyone to hate me. Is this ever going to end?”
 

Tex glanced at Mel again as he pulled out of the parking space and headed for her apartment. “Yes, it’s fucking going to end. I’m done with this shit.” Tex hated to see Mel
trembling. She was clutching her hands together in her lap. Baby whimpered and put her head in Melody’s lap, as if she understood the stress her mistress was under. Taking one hand off the steering wheel he put it on the back of Mel’s head.