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"Is that what they are calling it nowadays? Damn, I've been out of the game far too long."
A growl rumbling deep in her throat, Melody huffed, "I've got to go, T, I'll speak to you later."
As she lowered the phone from her ear to end the call, she heard Tara yell down the phone, "You'd better!"
Just like that, Melody had no further excuse to hold things off any longer. Sucking in one final deep breath, she left her house, used the length of the garden paths as an excuse to take just a few moments longer to procrastinate, and finally knocked on the door.
"Melody!" Sally's excited greeting met her even as the door was yanked open.
"Hey, Sally," Melody said, smiling. Some of her nerves melted away at the sight of the little girl, though they hitched higher the moment she noticed Jake in the background throwing on his suit jacket.
Though he was ruggedly handsome in a t-shirt and jeans, he was jaw-droppingly attractive in a full pinstripe suit, his hair slicked back from his face and beard groomed to perfection.
What exactly does he do for a living?Melody wondered. Then she remembered their first night together and how he had mentioned he ran the Silverdale Security firm. No wonder he was all boss-suited up.
Just the thought made Melody think of Tara's words,Don't go sleeping with the boss.
And she struggled to look away.
"Come on in," Sally instructed, and the little girl grabbed Melody's hand to yank her inside.
No sooner had she done so than Jake grabbed his briefcase and rushed to the door.
"I've got to go, little wolf," he said, crouching to kiss Sally on the head. He barely met Melody's eye over the little girl's head, offering her a half-smile before he turned back down to add, "You be good for Melody, okay?"
"I'm sure she will be," Melody said, ruffling the little girl's hair. Again, Jake barely looked at her in acknowledgment.
He kissed Sally on the forehead again, gave Mr. Fuzzy another at her request, and then was out the door.
"Have a good day, daddy wolf!" Sally called after him, waving madly with Mr. Fuzzy bouncing in her other hand.
"Is there anything I need to know?" Melody called from behind the little girl. She stood in the doorway feeling abandoned and angry.
Though she hadn't expected hugs and kisses after their conversation the night before, she hadn't quite expectedthis,either.
"I wrote some notes," Jake yelled back, flinging his briefcase into his truck. "They're on the kitchen counter. Bye, little wolf, I love you."
Melody's heart clenched. A part of her wanted to chase him down and force him to stop and talk to her. The other reminded her that she was here for Sally, not for him. And if he was late for work or something, then so be it. She didn't need to worry about him.
Once Sally had waved him off the drive, Melody urged her back inside and asked, "So, Sally, Mr. Fuzzy, what would we like to do today?"
"Daddy says I have to do my schoolwork before we can have any fun," Sally said in such a grumpy tone, half-stomping her foot, that Melody had to bite her lip to stop from laughing.
"Well, that isn't on, now, is it?" Melody demanded, and Sally turned a surprised round-eyed look on her. "Who is to say we can't do our schoolwork and have fun at the same time?"
She placed her hands on her hips and made a funny, frustrated face that caused Sally to giggle.
"How about you show me what schoolwork you have to do, and I will figure out the rest?" Melody suggested, but as Sally rushed off to do just that, Melody felt the odd tug of desire to turn back around and open the door.
The way Jake had left unnerved her. And though she tried to focus all her energy on the task at hand, a part of her was hopeful he might have forgotten something just so that she could see him again and get to the bottom of why he was suddenly distancing himself from her.
Who am I kidding? Isn't that a good thing?she told herself, though the churning in her gut said differently.
Chapter 9 - Jake
The door of Jake's office slammed shut not even an hour after his arrival. He had been so focused on trying to concentrate, on not thinking of Melody and Sally at home without him, that he hadn't even noticed the warlock stink wafting down the hall until the creep was already in the room.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jake demanded. He slammed his palms on his desk, shooting out of his seat, immediately on the defensive.
