Page 37 of How to Seduce a Slender

Well...if that’s what he wants.

Melodyglancedupatsome point to find Agatha in the doorway of Smith’s office. Both the Slender and Melody perked up at the scent of coffee filtering into the room. Agatha smiled sweetly, “Breakfast is almost done if you two are hungry.”

“A girl could eat!” Melody flung herself off the couch, careful of all the fabric. Smith set aside an accordion file before following her from the room.

Melody flipped open her sketch book to him, offering him a two-page spread. “Pick a design.”

He hummed playfully, plucking the sketchbook from her hands. Long fingers traced the edges of several roses in different directions with varying light sources. She couldn’t decide which one she liked better. Melody decided she wasn’t just going to draw him a rose; she was going to paint him with one.

He didn’t even flinch. Smith hadn’t flinched or asked follow-up questions or even gave her a strange look. Melody hadn’t told many people the truth. Hard to explain how someone like Melody ended up alone. Especially when her brother disappeared before either of them had a social footprint. Giovanni didn’t leave a single trace. The was no proof he once was alive. Like he was wiped from the memories of everyone, he didn’t exist. But Melody remembered him.

And she’d always remember him.

“This one.” He handed her back the sketchbook while pointing at one of her designs.

“Perfect...so how long would it take? Or would it be impossible for us to get art supplies here? I doubt a canvas will fit in those nifty pipes of yours, Smith,” she teased with a soft nudge of her elbow.

“True. And, if I’m being perfectly honest, I desire to head into town and speak with Aravis, see if I can get heads or tails about this case.” Smith cupped his chin in his hand and tapped the side of his face with his fingers. “Maybe an excursion is in order if you feel up to it. You did stay up all night, but after sleeping all day, how do you feel?”

“Wait! I thought you said we couldn’t go through the woods?” She stopped him with a hard palm flat against the center of his chest. Smith chuckled, plucking her hand from his shirt. He held her hand sweetly, running a tingle down her spine.

“We wouldn’t be using the woods. Lord Rosemont can create us a portal. We would merely need to keep our wits about us in town. I would feel better having Havershum or Austin with us, but Havershum is on the hunt for the book and Austin will slow us down, and there is much to do.”

Melody eyed Smith, trying to see if he meant the words he was speaking. “So...we’re going into town?”

“Yes, regrettably, I think we’re going into town.”

“To get art supplies and nag the Lord Commander?” She grinned from ear to ear.

“And maybe some classic sleuthing, but yes... You never answered, Melody, how do you feel?”

“Fucking pumped!” She rattled with delight. “Let’s get breakfast, give me a moment to change, and then let’s do it! I know the best place to get canvases and paint. Ooh! Is paint in the budget? Do we have paint here?”

Smith led her through the hall, answering her questions as much in order as he could while she rattled them off. They could go to the art emporium; yes, paint was in the budget; no, they didn’t have any; yes, she could get one for Moonpie and one for his project; yes, it didn’t matter what she needed; and of course, if things got hairy he was immediately ripping the cord and bringing them back home.

Melody shouldn’t have been excited, but the thought of going art shopping then possibly solving a crime was inspiring...just as long as they came back to Rosemont Manor. The impending pressure of going back to that apartment...it loomed over her like an ominous cloud.

All of that stopped when they rounded the kitchen doorway and Dahlia put her hands on her hips.

“Ah, now that everyone’s here, someone can tell me who broke the downstairs mirror.”

Oh...yeah...about that.

“Uh.” Melody laughed nervously.

Dahlia put up a hand, “I’m not mad, I just want to know.”

“Havershum’s been chasing a haunted book!” Greggory immediately pointed at the wraith shoveling down eggs.

“Hey! I didn’t go near the bathroom!” Havershum huffed.

“Well, uh…” Melody choked on the words as Agatha glanced at Austin.

“Austin, did you sneeze on another mirror again?” Agatha crossed her arms over her chest.

Austin groaned, head hung back, “That wasonetime, Aggie! And I told Lord Rosemont I was sorry.”

“Uh-huh, sure, let me see your forehead, big guy. No more head-butting mirrors!”

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