Page 68 of Dallas
Melody spins to the side and gasps. “Pardon?” The funniest part is that she gasps yet again as her eyes widen.
Brody smirks as he holds out a hand. “Brody Wilde. And you are?”
She doesn’t blink as she lets him take her hand. “Not interested in having someone tell me what words I can say.”
Brody chuckles deeply, notably not releasing her hand. “A pretty little thing like you should not be using such naughty words. I didn’t get your name.”
Melody tugs her hand, but she has to do it a few times before she’s able to shake free from Brody’s grip. She shakes her head. “You don’t need my name. I’ve heard the rumors. There’s something in the water up at that mansion. You men show up, sweep some woman off her feet, and drag her down the aisle. No, thank you. I have a demanding career.”
Brody chuckles. “Don’t you fret, little lady. I’m not staying in Wilde. I’m just here to help get renovations started for the local businesses. Your name?” He leans closer to her, grinning.
Melody’s hands go to her hips, and she shakes her head again. “Nope.”
He laughs. “Do you think if you say your name out loud, I’ll cast a spell on you?”
She shrugs. “Not taking any chances.” She spins back to face me, gives me a quick hug, and turns toward the door. “I’ll come in another day, Arianna. I’ll call first to make sure no unmarried Wilde is visiting before I come in.” She practically jogs out the door.
Dallas wraps his arms around me from behind, pulling my back tightly against his chest.
“Who was that whirlwind?” Brody asks, staring out the front windows as Melody gets in her car.
“Melody Thorne. That’s her real name, anyway. I think.”
“What do you mean by her real name?” Brody asks, still watching as she pulls away.
“She’s an author. No one in town knows her pen name. I assume her real name is Melody.”
Dallas is silently laughing at my back. His body is shaking. “How long did you say you were going to stay in town, Brody?”
Brody finally jerks his gaze back toward us. “A few months, tops.”
“You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
I bite my lip to stifle my giggles. Brody and Melody… Interesting combination. She’s got spunk. I’m pretty sure all the blood drained from her face when Brody suggested she needed to be punished for cussing. That is certainly what he implied. Melody didn’t miss the innuendo.
He grunts. “Why was the front door unlocked, anyway? I wasn’t done inspecting the structural integrity of the building.”
Luckily, Dallas answers for me. “Chill. The damage was in the attic above the second-floor apartment. I saw it myself. You can go look. The ceiling hasn’t been repaired yet, but the pipes are fixed. There’s no risk. Do you think I’d let my wife come into this building if I thought there was any chance in the world she would be in danger?” He narrows his gaze, but his eyes are dancing.
Brody grunts again and marches toward the back of the library. “I assume I can reach that second floor from somewhere back here?”
“Yes,” Dallas tells him.
As soon as I hear Brody stomping rapidly up the stairs, I turn in my husband’s arms. “He’s never leaving Wilde.”
Dallas chuckles. “Nope. Looks like he met his match, too.”
“Poor Melody.”
Dallas tugs my hair, forcing me to tip my head back. The only reason it’s not up in a bun is because he has convinced me to drop the matronly librarian act. I’m not sure when he might let me start working alone here. I suspect he will come with me every day for a while. He’s not done looking at the building specs for the entire town yet. Now that he’s here, Brody will be joining him.
He gives me a harsh look. “You saying it’s tough being married to a Wilde?”
I flatten my palms on his chest and pat him. “Nearly impossible.”
He bends down, tucks his shoulder into my stomach, and lifts me into the air.
