Melody's Six

CHAPTER3

By the timeDean returned to pick her up an hour later, Mel had completed her cursory research and was feeling confident in that aspect of the assignment. No second-guessing allowed, she reminded her reflection as she finished the French braids in her hair.

Dean wasn’t going to freak out again. He was solid now. Wearing the wedding band, fake though it was. Oh, her mind was spinning with a thousand questions about the woman dumb enough to leave him. If Mel ever learned a name, she’d be hard pressed not to pay the ex a visit.

The pain in Dean’s eyes had ignited her protective nature. The ex-wife had hurt him. Badly. Although they were professional partners, she considered him her closest friend. The women she’d met in Lost Valley were amazing. Brave, smart, and each one of them strong and skilled in unique ways. She loved them like sisters and would go to bat for every single one of them.

Dean was different. Extra. A special bond occurred between partners in the field. Shared sweat, spilled blood, whatever the phrase, it held true for them. She hated seeing the painful ramifications of his divorce holding him back.

For the next five to seven days, she was going to be the best wife ever. She’d treat him the way she planned to dote on her some-day husband. That day was way, way off in the future, but she still expected it to happen. Eventually.

Just as soon as she crossed paths with her Mr. Right.

In the meantime, Dean needed her and thinking about the wonderful marriages she’d observed through her lifetime gave her plenty of inspiration. There had been so many. Her grandparents laughed a lot, liked to kiss, and always held hands. In college, her favorite political-science professor always enjoyed a homemade lunch courtesy of her chef husband.

As a CIA officer, observation had been her specialty. She’d learned to read body language and nuances up close and from a distance for clues to what a person wanted. And working with Dean for months now gave her a leg up on the perfect wife role. The strongest relationships were founded on trust and respect and the small thoughtful moments.

She already had that covered as Dean’s partner. Countless times, he cared for her as well. Whether or not he realized it, they had the foundation in place to be a convincing married couple.

She heard a beefy engine in the parking lot and peeked out the window. Dean was back, right on time. She slipped her computer into the protective sleeve and added it to her suitcase. Grabbing her purse and the backpack, she opened the door.

There was Dean with a genuine smile on his face. Finally. She immediately checked his hand, found the ring in place. Good. She knew he’d come through. “Right on time,” she said.

“No traffic issues in the pass.” He took her suitcase while she locked up. “Just checked.”

“Even better.” She followed him down to the truck.

Loaded up, she reached for the car door, only to find Dean holding it shut. In fact, his large body surrounded her and she breathed in his masculine scent. Really, the man had sexy down to an artform.

Not the first time they’d been this close. Heck, she’d kissed him about an hour ago. Not romantically, just to prove a point.

Under his jacket, his arms flexed as he braced on the truck. “I trust you,” he said.

“I know.” She smiled. “And same.”

His mouth twitched at one side, a small tell that he wasn’t comfortable. “My divorce was finalized a week before I turned twenty-two.”

So young!She stifled her shock. “So it’s been a minute.”

“Time enough for me to get over it, sure.”

That was not what she meant. “Dean—”

“I know you have questions. And you deserve answers.” He cleared his throat. “I haven’t talked about it.”

Ever? “Not even with the guys?”

“Not even with my parents.” His gaze was a tangible force as he waited for her to absorb that. “They never liked her anyway.”

“Oh.” Whatever he’d endured, she hated that he’d felt so alone in it. His blue eyes, lit with sincerity, pleaded with her to understand. She did. “I won’t push, Dean. If you want to share, I’ll listen. But I don’t need the gory after-action report on what was obviously an ugly breakup.”

“Bottom line is my head is finally on straight.” He took a deep breath. “You and I, we’re partners, no matter the label that gets applied on assignment.”

So grim. Poor guy. She wanted to hug him, but knew better than to reveal the full depth of her sympathy. “Good. Prepare for a week of romantic, wedded bliss.”

“Mel. I hope you’re kidding.”

Not a chance. “I’ve decided you deserve some marital bliss.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“We can agree to disagree on what’s necessary.” She smoothed back his hair and straightened his coat collar. “That wasn’t so bad, right?”

He jerked away from her touch. For some inexplicable reason that stung her pride and her heart. She crossed her arms and stared him down. “Let’s outline some ground rules.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “We should get on the road.”