Natural-Born Protector / Saved by the Monarch (11 page)

Hank took several steps away from the bed and looked at Zack with narrowed eyes. “I want you to find out where James O’Donnell was tonight when this happened. If that
bastard is responsible for this then you’re going to have to arrest me before the night is through.”

“Calm down and let me do my job,” Zack said, his frustration obvious by the tautness of his features. “I’ll let you know what I find out and in the meantime you keep a cool head.”

Yeah, right, Hank thought angrily. Let Zack keep a cool head if his wife was beaten and left in a parking lot alone. At that moment the doctor returned and Zack left.

“I wouldn’t mind keeping you overnight,” he began.

Melody shook her head, that familiar stubborn glint in her eyes. “You told me nothing was broken. There’s no reason for me to stay here. I want to go home.”

“You’re going to need some help for the next couple of days,” Dr. Fedor said. “I can give you something for your pain, but you’re in for a tough week or so.”

“I’ll take care of things,” Hank said.

Dr. Fedor nodded reluctantly. “Then I’ll get her discharge paperwork finished up and you can take her home.”

When he once again left the room, Hank moved back to Melody’s side. “Maddie didn’t see me, did she?” Melody’s eyes darkened with worry. “Please tell me I didn’t scare her.”

“No, she’s at my mom’s. And for the next couple of days you’re going to be my houseguest.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that…”

“Don’t even think about declining my kind offer,” he said, forcing a teasing smile to his lips.

“You have a distinct advantage over me. I’m too weak to protest,” she replied.

He pulled up a chair and sat next to her. “I’m so
sorry this happened.” Once again thick emotion crawled up the back of his throat. “This isn’t exactly a great testament to my work as a bodyguard.”

“Don’t be silly. This has nothing to do with your capability as a bodyguard. You didn’t know I was going out. It was stupid of me. I thought I could go just up the street without any problems. I just wanted some ice cream.” Tears clung to her long dark lashes.

“Shh, don’t cry. Crying will make your ribs hurt.”

She laughed, then gasped with pain. “Everything makes my ribs hurt.”

“I’ll take you home, put you to bed and dope you up,” he said.

“That’s the best proposition I’ve heard in days.” Once again she attempted a smile.

It was almost midnight by the time they left the hospital. Melody walked with slow measured steps, a gasp of pain escaping her lips with each stride. Hank wanted to pick her up in his arms and carry her, but he was afraid of hurting her even more.

“You could have been killed,” he said once they were in the car and headed home.

“Yeah, I’m wondering why I wasn’t,” she replied.

“Maybe a car went by and spooked him or he heard something or somebody that frightened him off.” He tightened his hands on the steering wheel. “All I know is that if you were a cat, you just lost one of your nine lives tonight. From here on we’re not going to take a chance of you losing another one. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“Sounds good to me,” she said wearily.

By the time they got to Hank’s place and he led her to his bedroom, she was beyond miserable. He helped her take off her clothes and get into one of his clean T-shirts, then tucked her into bed.

“I’ll get you a couple of pain pills,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

As he walked into the kitchen, he thought about how right she looked in his bed, her dark hair against the white pillowcases and her warm body curled up beneath the sheets.

He got a glass of water and her pills, then carried them back into the bedroom. She swallowed two and then lay back down. “Get a good night’s sleep,” he said, knowing that tomorrow would be a hard day for her.

“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice already groggy.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa so I don’t disturb you.”

“Wait, don’t go.” Her eyes were at half-mast and a dopey smile played on her features. “I don’t want to chase you out of your own bed. Stay here with me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he protested.

“I’m too doped up to worry about that.” Her smile wavered. “But I’m not so doped up that I’m still not just a little bit afraid. Stay here, Hank. Sleep beside me.”

He hesitated. Reluctantly he began to undress. He laid his gun and his cell phone next to the bed and, when he was down to his briefs, he slid in beneath the sheets next to her.

She snuggled closer to him and laid one of her bandaged hands on his heart, and in that moment he knew he was in way over his head.

He was almost asleep when his cell phone rang. He reached out to grab it, grateful that the ring hadn’t awakened Melody.

“Tyler,” he said softly.

“It’s me.” Zack’s deep voice chased any lingering sleepiness from Hank’s head. “I just thought I’d let you know that James O’Donnell was at work at the video store when Melody was attacked. A dozen witnesses can place him there. It couldn’t have been him.”

“Thanks,” Hank said and ended the call. Like Melody, he’d been relatively sure it had been James. If not James, then who?

“
W
e brought you flowers,” Maddie said as she waltzed into Hank’s room where Melody was propped up in the bed. It had been three days since her attack and, although she was starting to feel human once again, she was still stiff and sore.

The day after the attack Melody had called her mother and told her she was going out of town for a couple of days and would call when she got back. She hadn’t wanted her mother to know what had happened, didn’t want to worry her.

Maddie got up on the bed next to her, careful not to jiggle the mattress, and held out a fistful of daisies that looked freshly handpicked. “We saw them along the road and I made Grandma stop so I could pick you some.”

“They’re lovely,” Melody said. “Thank you.”

“Maddie, get off that bed,” Susan said as she appeared in the doorway. “Melody doesn’t need you wrestling around and making her ribs hurt.”

“She’s fine,” Melody protested. “She’s being very careful.”

Maddie nodded. “I’m being very careful. I don’t want to hurt her. She got hurt enough.”

“Come on, dear, let’s put those daisies in some water then we’d better scoot if we’re going to make it to the movie theater on time,” Susan replied.

Maddie got off the bed. “We’re going to see the new movie about a little girl who raises a talking horse.”

“Sounds like fun. I wish I were coming with you.”

Maddie leaned over and kissed Melody on the cheek. “When you feel all better we’ll go to the movies and buy popcorn and candy and have a fun time.”

“It’s a deal,” Melody replied and smiled as Susan and Maddie disappeared from the room. She was still smiling a few minutes later when Hank came in carrying a tray with her lunch.

“I feel positively slothful being waited on like this,” she exclaimed.

Hank grinned and placed the tray over her lap. “Yeah, Mom and I were just talking about that. I told her I couldn’t believe what a slothful person you were.”

She smacked him on the arm playfully and he dodged away with a laugh and pulled up a chair next to the bed to keep her company while she ate.

“You know, if you ever decide to get out of the bodyguard business, you’d make a pretty terrific nurse,” she
said. In the last two days he’d shown himself to be a patient, gentle man.

The only time she’d seen him lose his temper was when he’d helped her change the bandage around her ribs. When he’d seen the black and blue marks that had been left behind from the kicks it had taken him about two hours to calm down.

“I’m lucky that you haven’t been a demanding patient,” he replied.

She looked down at her lunch, a huge sandwich cut neatly in half and a mound of chips. “You make Texassize sandwiches. I’m never going to be able to eat all this. Why don’t you help me?”

“Are you sure?” She nodded and he scooted his chair closer. “Okay, if you insist.”

Sleeping in the same bed for the past two nights and sharing each other’s company during the days had created an easy intimacy between them.

They’d talked a lot during their confined time together. She’d shared with him the devastation of losing her father so early in life and he’d spoken a little bit about how his world was turned upside down when Rebecca had died.

Rebecca hadn’t told him about the lump she’d found in her breast and she’d neglected to see a doctor. It was as if she’d believed that if she ignored it long enough it would go away. But it hadn’t gone away, and by the time she’d gotten her diagnosis it had been too late. The cancer had spread.

He’d spoken at length about the ranch he’d owned. As he had, his eyes had lit with a glow that they never had when he talked about becoming a bodyguard.

Although having him close to her in the dark of the night made her feel safe and secure, it also made her yearn for something more.

Even though her ribs still hurt, the pain wasn’t enough to douse her desire for him. She could smell him now, that clean, crisp scent that she would be able to identify even in the dark.

Sleeping with him at night had become a curious form of torture. He was careful to keep his distance from her, but each morning when she woke up she was spooned against him, taking in the warmth of his body and memorizing his contours.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked suddenly.

She reached for a potato chip. “Why do you think I’m thinking about anything?”

“I can see it in your eyes. There’s a wicked glow there,” he teased.

“That’s because I’m having wicked thoughts,” she replied, a breathlessness sweeping over her that had nothing to do with her bruised ribs.

He took the chip from her hand and popped it into his mouth. “How wicked are they?”

She smiled. “Very wicked. I was just wondering how fast we could lose this lunch tray so you could make love to me.”

He stopped chewing mid-crunch, his eyes narrowing as he finally swallowed. “Your pain medication has obviously made you delusional.”

“I’m not delusional. I’m a woman who knows what I want, and I want you.” Her heartbeat raced as she waited for him to say something, to do something.

“I’ll hurt you.” He stared at her with such longing it cascaded warmth inside her.

“You’ll be gentle,” she replied, her voice a mere whisper.

He seemed frozen to the chair, then that sexy, slow grin spread across his face. “I’ll be very gentle.” He got up from the chair and removed the lunch tray from the bed.

A shiver of delight raised goose bumps on her skin as she watched him pull his shirt over his head. His chest gleamed bronze in the midafternoon sunshine that drifted through the window. He took off his jeans and she could see that he was already aroused.

“Are you sure?” he asked as he paused at the side of the bed. A pulse throbbed in his jaw as he looked at her.

“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life,” she replied. Her ribs didn’t hurt half as much as her desire for him.

He eased onto the bed next to her and leaned over to take her lips with his. He held himself on his arms so that there was no other point of contact, just their mouths meeting in a hungry kiss.

Their tongues swirled and danced together and any pain that might have lingered in her disappeared beneath the intense pleasure.

Within minutes she’d pulled off her nightgown and panties and he’d taken off his briefs and their touches grew more intimate.

He leaned forward and captured the tip of one of her breasts in his mouth, his tongue teasing it to pebble hardness. The electric heat of his mouth shot directly
to her groin and she moaned with a desire she’d never felt before.

“Am I hurting you?” he asked quickly and raised his head to look at her, his eyes glowing with hot intensity.

“No, it’s fine. You’re great,” she replied huskily, just wanting him to continue.

And he did. He stroked the length of her legs, up to where she most wanted him to touch her, but denied her the ultimate pleasure of release. He touched her with only his hands and his mouth, keeping his body away from hers.

There was something incredibly erotic about the lack of skin-to-skin contact. It made each flick of his tongue, every caress of his hand that much more intense.

As his hand once again moved up her leg, lingering on her inner thigh, she reached down and took his hard length in her hand. He groaned as she stroked him and although she would have thought it impossible, he hardened even more.

With another, louder groan, he reached down and covered her hand with his, stopping her from doing any more. “You drive me crazy,” he said, his eyes glowing with primeval lust. “Sleeping next to you and not touching you has made me insane.”

“I know. I’ve felt the same way. I want you, Hank. I want you now, inside me.” She didn’t care about her ribs. She didn’t care about anything but having this man take her over the edge, having him fill her up not only physically, but emotionally as well.

He moved away from her only long enough to get a condom from the nightstand and then he moved
between her thighs, his arms on either side of her as he held his weight above her.

He entered her with a low, uneven hiss and she closed her eyes as waves of sweet sensation rippled through her. Although her ribs ached, she rose up to meet his thrusts.

As he looked down at her, his arms trembled and his features were taut. Once again, as she gazed into his eyes, she felt the kind of magic she’d once dreamed of finding with a man. As he increased his pace, she closed her eyes, losing herself to the moment, the man and the act of loving him.

She climaxed first, shudder after shudder convulsing her body as she cried out his name. He quickly followed, stiffening against her and closing his eyes.

Intense. Amazing. Magic.

“Wow,” he said as he rolled onto his back next to her.

She giggled. “Wow back at you.”

He propped himself up on one elbow and reached out to smooth a strand of her hair off her face. The tenderness in his eyes and in his touch suddenly filled her chest and unexpected tears sprang to her eyes.

“Did I hurt you?” His handsome face paled.

“No, not at all,” she said, half laughing and half crying. “I’m fine, really. I don’t know what’s the matter with me.”

Her reply didn’t erase the stricken look from his face. “Do you need a pain pill?”

She drew a deep breath and tried to steady her erratic emotions. She hadn’t had any pain medication for the last twenty-four hours, afraid that taking it any longer
would create more problems than the little pills solved. “No, really I’m okay.” She smiled to assure him.

“I’ll be right back.” He slid off the bed and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom.

Melody threw an arm across her eyes as she once again felt the press of hot tears. She’d lied to him when she’d told him she didn’t know what the matter was with her. She knew exactly what caused the thick emotion that clogged the back of her throat and evoked the tears.

He hadn’t hurt her by making love to her. But he was going to hurt her eventually because she’d made the incredibly stupid mistake of falling in love with Hank Tyler.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Hank asked as he led Melody to the folding chair in Lainie’s living room. “You know you can stay at my place for as long as you want.”

“Thanks for the offer, but it’s time I got out of your life and back into my own,” she replied. “Besides, Mary Jane is showing the place at noon today and I want to be here.”

He frowned and looked around the empty room. “You can’t be comfortable here. Other than that chair you’re sitting on there’s no furniture.”

“I still have my bed in the bedroom and that’s really all I need.”

There was a part of him that was almost relieved that she had awakened that morning and insisted she wanted to return here.

She had gotten too close. She’d made him remember
laughter and shared morning coffee and secrets whispered in the night. She’d made him remember all the things he’d loved about being married, about sharing his life.

“I’ll be fine here, Hank,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “And I’ll never be able to repay you for your kindness.”

She’d been distant since waking up but now her eyes shone with an emotion that looked like caring, one that looked like love. It was there only a moment then gone and she quickly gave him a bright, but brittle, smile.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and moved toward the front door, oddly reluctant to leave her. “You have enough food? You need me to go to the grocery store for you?”

“I should be fine. Besides, I’m feeling much better.” She rubbed her hands together as if to prove they were no longer sore. Her cheek wound was healing nicely and would leave no scar. “I can even laugh now without my ribs hurting.”

He smiled but the gesture did nothing to ease a crazy little pain inside him. This felt like goodbye. Something had changed between them after their lovemaking the night before.

He should be glad that she wanted to get out of his life, that the intimacy they’d shared over the past couple of days hadn’t made her believe they had a future together. But
glad
wasn’t in his heart at the moment.

“Does Mary Jane think she’ll be able to move this place quickly?” he asked.

“According to her, these units are highly desirable places to live. I don’t think it will take her long to sell it.”

And then she’d go back to Chicago. Eventually she’d fall in love and build a life with some lucky man. Strange how this thought shot a tiny shard of pain through him. But that’s what he wanted for her—happiness and love—and he wasn’t the man to give her those. Nor had she given him any real sign that she wanted him to be that man.

“You’ll call me if you need anything?” he asked as he edged toward the door. She nodded, and for just a moment her eyes were filled with an incredible sadness.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She drew a deep breath. “I was just thinking that once this place sells my last link with Lainie will be broken.”

“That’s not true,” he replied. “You’ll always have your memories of her.”

This time her smile was beatific. “And they are such wonderful memories.” Her smile faltered. “I just wish the person who took her from me was behind bars.”

“Contrary to the television shows we watch, murders aren’t usually solved overnight,” he said. “It might be months before Zack has the guilty party in jail.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” she replied with a fierceness that caused his heart to plummet.

“What are you talking about?” He stepped away from the door and closer to where she sat.

“Even though James wasn’t the person who attacked me in the parking lot, that doesn’t mean he isn’t Lainie’s killer. I want to talk to his mother, find out if she lied
for her son on the night of the murder. I also want to talk to Forest Burke and find out why he didn’t take Lainie out that night.”

Hank’s blood went cold as he stared at her in disbelief. “Are you crazy? Wasn’t the beating you took the other night enough for you?”

“Of course it was frightening and horrible, but I just need to be smarter and make sure I’m not out alone after dark,” she replied.