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She laughs. “True. Not a trace of asshole all night.”
“It’s a new record,” I say, grinning as I press a kiss to her cheek. “Good night.”
“Good night,” she whispers.
Damn her skin is soft, so soft I want to kiss her again. So I do. I kiss her cheek, then her ear, and then I can’t seem to resist tracing a path along her jawline with my lips, trailing kisses down her neck to her bare shoulder. My tongue slips out, teasing along her clavicle as her breath rushes out in a sexy little sigh that leaves no doubt she’s as affected by the chemistry between us as I am.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come in for a little while?” she murmurs.
“I should get home,” I say, forcing myself to pull away and take a step back into the hallway. “But you want to do something tomorrow? I’m booked at the shop until three, but I can get John to cover after that. We could hit the lake or something.”
“I have to help Lark and Aria cater a baby shower tomorrow afternoon,” Melody says with a sad twist of her lips. “How about Tuesday?”
“I’ll pick you up at four,” I say, resisting the urge to kiss her goodbye one last time. With Melody, stopping is definitely harder than starting. “Sleep well.”
“You too,” she says with a smile that sends a rush of giddy anticipation rushing through me.
I trot down the stairs and onto the sidewalk, grinning like an idiot. I’m halfway to the bus stop when my phone rings.
I dig it out of my pocket, expecting it to be Melody for some reason, but when I glance down at the screen, I see Nash’s name.
“Did you catch the bastard?” I ask as I lift the phone to my ear. “Can I tell Melody you’ve got him in custody?”
“Unfortunately, no. There was no sign of the guy at the bar or his apartment, but we’re still looking,” Nash says, before adding after a slight pause. “I actually called to talk about something else.”
“Okay. What’s up?” I ask, instantly wary.
Nash has that “big brother” tone in his voice, the one that usually leads to the two of us getting into a fight. For brothers born almost a decade apart, Nash and I have always been close, but we do our share of clashing, too. Nash is a rule-follower from way back; I’m a serial rule-bender. Nash believes in doing things the way we were taught by our parents; I refuse to let my parents, society, or anyone else tell me how to live my life.
“Is there something going on between you and Melody?” Nash asks. “Something more than you just being there for a friend?”
I pause, not sure how I feel about Nash sticking his nose into my private business without an invitation. He certainly wouldn’t have liked it if I did the same. Back before he was married, Nash refused to talk about the women he dated with me or anyone else. He considers that shit private—one of the few things we agree on.
But Nash also came through for Melody in a major way tonight, and I can’t see the harm in coming clean. Our families were going to find out Melody and I are dating sooner or later.
Still, a part of me wishes we could have put this part off for a while. I’m not ready to share her, this, us with anyone else. It’s still so new.
“Nick, are you there?” Nash asks, irritation creeping into his voice.
“Yeah, I’m here. And I heard you. Why are you asking?”
“I’m asking because Melody’s sister is my wife,” Nash says, in a patronizing tone that makes me silently vow to apologize to Melody again for having been a condescending dick. “I’ve never commented on your dating choices before, but Melody isn’t just another girl. She’s my family, and I care about her. She deserves to be treated well by a man who respects her.”
“And who says I don’t respect her?” I ask, frowning so hard a boy in a red hoodie waiting at the bus stop takes a few steps away as I draw closer.
“Who brought her in tonight?” I continue in a softer voice. “Who held her hand and was there for her while she talked to the cops?”
“I’m her brother-in-law, not the cops.” Nash curses beneath his breath. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I roll my eyes, fighting the urge to tell my brother to leave me the hell alone.
If I’m honest with myself, I can’t blame Nash for thinking I might not be good for Melody. I didn’t think I was good for Melody either…until tonight.
Tonight, everything changed. I’m not sure why. I just know I’m not the same person I was before Melody ran out of the bar and into my arms. I don’t want to fight the connection between us anymore or push her away when being with her feels so right.
