Forgotten Lullaby by Rita Herron Page A

me?”
    â€œYes,” Emma said softly. “Can you come home?”
    She heard his breathing falter. “I’m on my way. What’s wrong, Emma?”
    â€œI received a package today. A box with that locket in it.”
    â€œThe one I gave you?”
    â€œYes, but there was a message inside,” Emma said shakily. “A threat.”
    He muttered a curse and Emma waited, winding the phone cord around her fingers.
    â€œI’m calling Detective Warner—”
    â€œWe’ve already talked to that officer outside. He’s here right now.”
    â€œGood. Tell him to stay there until I get home.”
    Emma agreed, then hung up the phone and glanced at Kate. Earlier she’d felt awkward with Grant. Now she couldn’t wait to see him.
    Â 
    G RANT’S HANDS TIGHTENED into fists as he read the threatening note. Rage unlike anything he’d ever experienced balled in his stomach. He wanted to crush the note and tear it into shreds to purge his anger, but the police officer had warned him not to touch the box or its contents. So he dug his nails into the palms of his hands and silently cursed. Something about that phrase Your perfect family … It seemed familiar, but why?
    Then he glanced at Emma and saw the vulnerable, half frightened, half courageous look in her dark eyes, and guilt overwhelmed him. Without hesitating to contemplate his actions or the fact that she didn’t remember him, he dragged her into his arms and held her. He was an architect, not a he-man or a cop or a bodyguard; he’d never been anybody’s hero. But he’d damn well protect her with his life if he had to.
    Emma’s soft curves pressed into his chest and he nearly moaned aloud at how wonderful it felt to have her back in his arms. At first she seemed tense, uncomfortable with their bodies pressed together, but he whispered soothing words in her ear, and finally she relaxed against him. He brushed a kiss across her temple and banked his temper and sexual desire, hoping to win her trust, wanting to be her savior. Lord knows, he hadn’t been able to keep her from being hurt so far.
    â€œWhat do you make of it, Detective?” he heard Kate ask.
    â€œWe’ll check the box and the contents for fingerprints. Maybe we’ll get lucky. But even the craziest people usually wear gloves. Damn TV’s taught everyone how not to get caught.”
    Grant glanced over Emma’s shoulders and saw the officer studying him, his eyes narrowed. “This is the locket you gave your wife, huh?”
    He nodded.
    â€œYou two having any marital problems?”
    His shoulders went rigid and Emma tensed in his arms again. “No, Detective, we weren’t.” Surely this man didn’t suspect him. Couldn’t he see how much he loved his wife?
    Emma searched his face and he wondered if Kate had been feeding her some cynical gossip.
    â€œAny ideas who might have sent this, Mr. Wadsworth?” Warner asked.
    â€œIf I did, I’d be on my way to kill the SOB right now,” Grant said, his calm tone lethal.
    Warner raised a brow. “That so?”
    â€œYeah, that’s so.”
    Carly stirred in the background and Emma hurried to the nursery to get her.
    â€œI’ve put a tracer on the phone,” Warner said. “From now on, if you receive any packages, tell your wife to wait and let an officer open them.”
    â€œDid you talk to anyone at the drugstore the night of the accident?” Grant asked.
    â€œThe pharmacist had a record of your wife picking up the prescription. One of the clerks also saw her leave, but said he didn’t notice anyone following her.” Warner frowned. “’Fraid it was a dead end. But we did find something interesting about your wife’s former boss.”
    â€œDan McGuire?”
    â€œRight. He has a prior arrest record.”
    Grant gripped the arm of the chair, stunned. “But Emma’s known Dan