She tips her face back. “Something that is the reason I am awake.” She draws in a long breath. “I suffer from some amount of paranoia.”
“Ah. You’re worried about people finding you.”
“Yes. Irrationally. It’s not necessary. No one has ever threatened me. I made the decision to disappear and stay out of the public eye. But I worry anyway. Especially at night. Sometimes I think I hear a car outside. I’m pretty sure I imagine it. Maybe I even dream it.”
I stroke her hair. I hate that she’s been alone and afraid. “It’s not irrational, Melody. Not at all. And you’re not alone now. Never again. No one will ever bother you because I’m on the side of the bed that puts me between them and you, remember?” I try to sound light, but I’m serious, too.
She giggles. “My hero.”
“I want to be your hero, baby. Every day.” I can’t get close enough to her. I want to tuck her into me and never let her go. “We should sleep, little pixie. Tomorrow is a busy day.”
She tips her head back again and gives me another giggle. “Tomorrow is Sunday. I don’t have anything scheduled. Which means you have railroaded my life and already made mental plans for me.”
“Tomorrow, we go to the mansion.”
I smile against her as she sighs and murmurs, “Of course we do.”
Chapter 12
Melody
* * *
“What are you doing?” I mumble, not even close to being fully awake. I’m aware of Brody moving around the room, though. It’s dark. How long have we been asleep? Not long enough.
He sets his palms on either side of me and kisses my cheek. “I’m going for a run. Want to come?”
I wince. “Is someone chasing us?”
He chuckles. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Then, no. Not today or ever.” I snuggle into the covers deeper, inhaling his scent that’s all over my bed and both pillows.
He laughs again. How is he so chipper at this hour? “I need to get my gym bag out of my car. Can you tell me your alarm code, baby? I’ll reset it while I’m gone.”
“Four, five, six, seven.”
I hear him wince. “Melody…”
“Shut up and go for your run. You can lecture me about my alarm code later.”
“Not a morning person, I guess?”
I growl. “Actually, I am. I get a lot of work done early in the morning, but I prefer for the sun to actually be up. Six is good. Whatever time it is now is not okay.”
He laughs yet again. “It’s five-thirty.”
“Mmm.” I stick one hand out from under the covers and swat at him. “Go. I need my other half hour.” But it’s ruined now. I’m not really upset. In fact, I’m smiling under the covers as I listen to Brody shuffle out of the room, disarm the alarm, and open the door. Moments later, he’s back. Five minutes after that, he’s gone again. Running. Gah. No, thank you. I know I should probably work out more than I do—or at all—but at least I was born with good genes. I’m pint-sized. That’s not likely to change.
I roll onto my back, giving up on sleep, and stare at the ceiling as daylight slowly begins to infiltrate the room. I’m grateful for this time. I don’t know how far Brody intends to run or how long he’ll be gone, but maybe I can center myself and find my footing on this planet again. I seem to have floated off Earth yesterday. I’m not sure I can even tether myself back down.
Do I want to?
I’m not the same person I was yesterday. That woman is gone. Not just because I know more about sex, but because I know more about love.
I never expected to meet a real-life Prince Charming, fall in love, get married, and have babies. It didn’t seem in the cards for me. I fell in love with books—especially romance novels—in my late teens, and they ruined me for real-life relationships. I vowed never to settle for less than what my mind dreams up, and I’ve stuck to that.
Then Brody showed up. Acting like he’s on fire. Chop chop. Let’s go. I wonder whether he has that kind of energy all the time or if it was a fluke yesterday. I assume he woke up pumped again today, considering he left in the dark to go for a run.
