Natural-Born Protector / Saved by the Monarch by Carla Cassidy Page A

week that she died,” Hank interjected.
    A dull red crept up James’s neck. “I just wanted to see her. I didn’t bother her any. I didn’t bother anyone.”
    “Do you have any idea who she had a date with on the night she died?” Melody asked. Hank glanced over to Maddie, who was still looking at the juvenile movies, then he returned his gaze to James. The man gave him the creeps. There was something not quite right in the depths of his eyes.
    He reached a hand up and picked at a pimple on his face. “She was supposed to go out with Forest Burke, but he stood her up.” His eyes narrowed to small slits. “I didn’t mention it to the sheriff, but I was kind of hanging around that night. I left about ten and she was still home.”
    “You didn’t see anyone going into her place?”Melody’s voice held a faint plea, and the tension Hank had felt earlier wafting off her grew more intense.
    Hank placed a hand on the small of her back to ground her, to keep her anchored as he felt her emotions intensify.
    “You don’t know anything about her murder? Maybe you went to see her after work and you fought with her? Did you hurt her, James?” She leaned over the counter. “Was it a terrible accident?”
    James didn’t back away or even flinch. “I would have never hurt Lainie. I loved her. Eventually we would have been together. She would have realized that we were meant for each other.”
    “Daddy, I want this one.” Maddie broke the moment by dancing up beside Hank, a video in her hand.
    Hank took the video and set it on the counter, then touched Melody’s arm. “I think we’re done here.”
    The female clerk checked them out as James walked to the back room. He didn’t go inside, but rather stood by the door and stared at Melody in a way that made Hank want to punch the creep in the face.
    As they left the store, Hank pulled Melody against him on one side and Maddie on the other, his arms around both of their shoulders.
    “I feel like I need a shower,” Melody muttered as they got into the car.
    “Why?” Maddie asked from the backseat. “You don’t look dirty or sweaty.”
    “I just feel a little bit icky,” Melody replied.
    “Sometimes when I feel icky chocolate ice cream makes me feel not icky,” Maddie replied.
    Melody laughed, the sound easing the knot of tensionin Hank’s chest. “At the moment a big bowl of chocolate ice cream sounds terrific.”
    He knew she was disappointed by the talk with James, but as they got settled at a table in the café she seemed to put it behind her.
    Her eyes sparkled as she chatted with Maddie, discussing the finer points of a video game Hank had never heard of. Hank found himself watching her covetously. He’d thought that in having sex with her he wouldn’t want her anymore. But nothing could be further from the truth.
    As she sat across from him and Maddie, he felt a resurgence of desire begin in the pit of his stomach. Each time she flipped a strand of that luxurious dark hair over her shoulder, he remembered how it had felt draped across his skin. Every time she licked her lips, the memory of what that tongue had done to him shot hot blood through his veins.
    Was it any wonder? he thought. Until last night it had been a hell of a long time since he’d been with any woman. Was it any wonder that being with her had reminded him of how good a warm body could feel against his, how much he liked sex and had missed it?
    She’d certainly made it clear to him that she wasn’t looking for a relationship. She’d be out of his life in a matter of weeks, and that made her safe as far as he was concerned. That element of safety—no strings attached—made him want her as much as anything.
    “You’re very quiet,” Melody said as she cut into her chicken-fried steak.
    “Just relaxing,” he replied. And imagining tasting every inch of your body, he thought to himself.
    “Tell me about the ranch you used to own,” she said.
    “Daddy was the best cowboy in the