Protecting Melissa (Holiday Cove 4)

Melissa sank down into her chair and took a deep sip from her glass. “Mmmm. Heaven.”

I grinned over at her, drinking in the smile on her full lips. “We’re getting there at least.”

She laughed and nodded. “God, I hope so! I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

“For what it’s worth, you’ve handled everything like a champ. Seriously, Melissa, I know I’ve said it before, but you continue to impress me.”

She ducked her chin and paused, taking a long drink from her glass. “Do you think we’re out of the woods then? After everything on the boat…Henry’s boat, I mean.”

I clenched my jaw, wishing I could ease her anxiety, but I refused to lie to her. “I hope so, but there’s something that’s still bugging me about the whole thing.”

“What?” She turned in her chair, tucking her legs under her. Fuckin hell. She’d changed into a short dress that showed off an irresistible amount of skin, but I didn’t let myself get distracted.

“I don’t know how they tracked us to Cabo. I couldn’t figure it out before they found me on the boat.” I hesitated a beat before asking, “Have you ever gone to Cabo before? With Henry, I mean.”

Melissa shook her head. “No. Why?”

“I was wondering if maybe it was a special place for you. Maybe that’s what triggered him to send his men there to look for you. It’s flimsy and doesn’t line up with the certainty in the men’s voices when I overheard them talking about you and Jackson, but it’s the best theory I’ve come up with so far.”

She shook her head. “No, we didn’t really have a special place together. If anything, it would be Hawaii. That’s where we met. I was on vacation with some girlfriends—spring break. What I didn’t know was that one of my friends had signed up for the timeshare seminar at the hotel to cover the rooms.” Melissa paused and smiled distantly at the memory. “Anyway, we all went to the event, and Henry was the one doing the presentation.”

“So, love at first sight, then?”

Melissa’s smile softened, the edges of her lips falling. “Something stupid like that.”

“I’m sorry.” I ached, watching the pain that was so evident on her face.

She shook her head like she could shake away the ghosts from the past. She plastered her smile back on and glanced over at me. “Yeah, well, what about you, Mr. Mysterious? You ever been in love?”

I chuckled. “Never had the pleasure. My life’s been a little all over the place the last few years. Rescuing the good guys and blowing up the bad ones doesn’t leave much room for a social life. But now that I’m out of the navy, it’s leaving more room for exploration.”

Melissa leaned over and propped her elbows on the small table between us, her chin coming to rest in her cupped hand. “Exploration, huh? Sounds fun.”

My heart flipped upside down in my chest and the rest of me went on red alert at the seduction dripping from her lips. Does she have any idea how insane she makes me?

As if on cue, she glanced over at me and followed my eyes to her legs. She smirked but didn’t say anything as she tugged the hem of the dress over her legs a little in a weak attempt to cover herself.

“What did you have in mind?” I asked her, feeding off her playful flirtation.

She shrugged and sat back in her chair. She reached for her wine glass and took another long sip, her eyes locked on mine as her lips wrapped around the rim of the glass.

Something dark and sultry was going on inside that pretty little head of hers.

And I was desperate to find out what it was. To unlock her fantasies and make her most secret desires come to life. Right here, right now.

24

Chase

“What on earth are you thinking about over there?” I asked, leaning across the table.

Melissa giggled and set down her wine glass. “Nothing good.”

I laughed and raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

She folded her arms on top of the table and leaned in too, leaving a few inches between us. “When are we going to talk about what happened…in Cabo?”

“Now?” I offered, shrugging slightly.

Her dark eyes sparkled under the moonlight and I was struck—not for the first time—how damn beautiful she looked under the night sky. “I’m sorry I was so cold to you afterward.”

“You don’t have to be sorry, but if you could tell me what you were thinking, I’d sure appreciate it. You kind of threw me for a loop.”

She laughed softly and nodded. “Fair enough. After I left, and got back to my room, I snuggled in next to Jackson and it all kind of hit me. I’ve been very honest with you that there isn’t, and hasn’t been, anything between my ex-husband and me, other than a lot of resentment and a torn up piece of paper. But Jackson—he doesn’t know that.”