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  “Melanie?”

  “S-sorry, I wasn’t aware you were…” Wow. Growl. Mixed feelings jumped in her heart.

  “Done with my shower?”

  “Oh yes, done with your shower.”

  “I left my change of clothing out here.”

  “You mean your change of briefs?”

  “Yep.” He edged closer to her. “For a moment I was certain you’d pull that curtain and join me.” His mouth was inches from her face. “Need a tissue, Melanie, or perhaps the towel around me would be better?” Duncan smiled. “Seems you’re really salivating.”

  Melanie swatted his chest.

  He took her hand and rested it back on the few sprinkles of water. “That didn’t hurt. Perhaps you’d like to slap me hard like you did when you slapped my face—twice, remember?” He arched his brow.

  No she hadn’t forgotten. Nor had she forgotten that thick husky drawl of his. Melanie tried to move her hand, but he kept it glued to his chest.

  “We’re married, Melanie.”

  She swallowed. “Only temporarily.”

  “Never know. It might last forever.” Duncan leaned into her lips kissing her with a heated passion.

  Melanie’s arms circled his neck pulling him closer. She never wanted to break the kiss.

  Duncan lifted her and carried her to the bed. The kiss was sizzling.

  Melanie’s toes curled more than once.

  “You need a man, Melanie,” Duncan said, as the kiss broke and he gazed into her eyes.

  She swallowed again, this time not knowing what to say.

  “Melanie, you are so beautiful.” Duncan was about to kiss those full lips of hers again when he heard his pager. His gaze floated to where it sat. Could be important. Maybe even about Spencer or Harris. Yes, Harris. “I’d better answer that.” He noticed she could only nod. He’d never had an effect on women like the effect he had on Melanie. Yes, this woman needed to be loved.

  Duncan placed the call on his cellphone. He’d only had a few reports thrown his way. Not much of a result for what he was searching for, but they were still checking another link. They were going to comb the area once more for Spencer, even take a couple of dogs with them when it was daybreak. Wilson informed him that when they arrived Ramon would be there with Hargrove, still keeping an eye on everything. There’d been no sign of anything suspicious on their route. After going over a few more details Duncan finished the conversation.

  Slipping on his briefs, he hung the towel to dry. As he started going back to bed, he realized there was something still amiss. They had to have been followed. Why hadn’t the person been spotted? Was it someone in the Bureau working against them? A person didn’t vaporize at the snap of a finger.

  “Duncan, any news?”

  He slid under the fresh-smelling sheets to lie beside Melanie. “No. Nothing yet. They’re sending dogs up to check around the place tomorrow. They’re hoping to stumble on Spencer’s body.”

  “You appear troubled. You didn’t mention the letter?”

  “No. I think the four of us should keep that under our hats. There are some things the Department doesn’t need to know right now.”

  “Be sure to tell the children in the morning. Some things are only between us.”

  “That will be my first priority. You know, we can take them to the cemetery, but I would rather they didn’t stand out in the open with us. You understand?”

  “I do.”

  “I’ll brief them in the morning.” Duncan reached over and checked the gun. “The alarm was on?”

  “Yes. You checked everything four times.”

  “I know.” He pulled her closer to his side. “We better get some sleep,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  Just what kind of game was he playing?

  “You okay, Melanie?”

  “Yes.” First he got her all hot and bothered, then a phone call and he quickly extinguishes the embers? She wanted to slap that chest of his again. Instead, she rolled onto her side.

  “No, you’re upset about something.”

  “Tired. Like you said, this has been a harried day.”

  Sure, tired. I know you want me. You’re sizzling to be with me now, aren’t you, babe? I’d like nothing more than to be buried deep inside you, but I can’t lose focus of this case. I won’t lose another family again, Melanie. I won’t.

  He eased over to her, scooping her into his long arms. “I think we prefer to sleep this way, sweetheart. We both rest better.”

  Maybe you can, but you’re driving me crazy.

  “Melanie?”

  She crossed her hands over her chest, gently touching his hands which were resting across her stomach. “Yes dear, we can.” She closed her eyes, willing herself to find some sleep. No nightmares, only sleep. Riley Brewster wanted her now. She knew that for a fact. “He’s going to make me pay, Duncan, when he gets his hands on me. I’ll never forget how I faced him and told him to stay away from my sister. I even told him if I found out that he was up to no good I’d make sure he’d pay for his actions. He won’t show me any mercy.”

  “He has to get through me first.” Duncan kissed the back of her head. “He has to get through me,” he repeated.

  The man easily strolled down the street, the dog tagging along with him. The shepherd stopped near the front of the house to relieve himself. The man coughed then pulled a cigarette from the pack. As he lit it, he noticed the bedroom light go out. The bedroom that Allison had always slept in. A sinister grin fell from his lips. Melanie had it lucky for now. But soon and it would all be over for her. He pulled at the dog’s leash, and edged back down the road. Time to return the dog to its owner.

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  Chapter 8

  Matt drew in a breath as he scaled the last rock. He raised his hands as if he were Rocky himself, only a smaller version. “I won. I won.”

  Tiffany came up next, then Duncan followed by Melanie.

  “Matt, honey, don’t get close to the edge. Duncan, please don’t allow him to get any closer,” Melanie pleaded.

  “Son, you heard your mom, not so close. She can’t take any more scares.”

  “Sorry, Dad.” Matt backed away, then lifted his camera and started snapping pictures.

  “Whew, we really made it to the top of Stone Mountain,” Tiffany said, stretching her limbs then drinking from her water bottle.

  Melanie moved over to a rock and sat down. “I say we take the sky lift back down.”

  “Me, too,” Matt said, still snapping away.

  Duncan walked around the area, keeping a close eye out for suspicious intruders. They’d met Andrea at the school and explained their change of plans. The children had been able to go into the room where their mother’s casket was held after Duncan and Melanie had picked them up from school shortly after eleven thirty. There would be no black mark on their report card for missing a day. Melanie was glad for that. The children had a record attendance of never missing a day, something of which Allison had been proud.

  At the funeral home, they spent a few moments in the room with the casket. The children wanted to keep the casket closed so they could remember their mother the way she’d been when she was alive. Matthew and Tiffany only shed a few tears. They knew their mother would not wish them to really break out into a harsh cry. Melanie and Duncan were sure that, before all this was over, Allison’s death would hit home hard. The children would have a huge meltdown before everything was over. Children, no matter what age, accepted death differently than adults.

  Duncan glanced at Melanie. She was cute, sitting on the rock in her blue walking shorts and sunny blue blouse. He was glad the children hadn’t pressured them to go to the gravesite. Public knowledge of their mother’s death might alert the killer to their exact whereabouts and, with one agent still missing, Duncan had his hands full trying to keep the children safe from everything. He’d started to believe it really didn’t matter where he took the kids; since the brake line had been cut, i
t was apparent someone was keeping an observant eye on them. Still, he didn’t want to confine the children indoors, making them feel like prisoners.

  “I’m sorry, Melanie,” he said walking over to her.

  She shielded her hand over her eyes to protect from the sun. “For?”

  He knelt by her and leaned back on his heels, gently caressing the back of her hand. “I wanted to keep Allison’s death a secret from the children until this mess was resolved. I should have known that making it public record, it would be made known to them. I was so cautious about not taking them to the gravesite, yet here we are in full view atop a mountain.”

  Melanie cupped his hand in hers after he took a drink from his water bottle. “I believe we’ve had so much on our minds that some of our judgment was cloudy. It worked out better this way. They were able to say goodbye.” She sighed. “Even though it hasn’t hit them yet, when it does they’ll know they were able to tell her bye. Not only that, Duncan, but we could be keeping the killer on his toes.”

  “You mean by jumping about with different activities?”

  “Yes. Sometimes locking someone away to safeguard them from harm doesn’t always keep the person safe.”

  “You’re pretty smart, not to mention rather cute.” He smiled.

  “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

  “I see. So it’s okay with you that we stay here tonight instead of returning to the cabin? I know the kids would love it.”

  “Yes.”

  He brushed the palm of his hand across her cheek. She leant into it and feathered a kiss onto his skin.

  Did he know she was gradually falling in love with him? Did she even really realize that herself?

  Duncan’s gaze wandered to Tiffany as the girl rubbed some more sunscreen onto her legs. He jumped to his feet.

  “What is it?” Melanie asked.

  “Tif, where did Matt go?”

  “He was over there taking some pictures.” She turned her head, but could no longer see her brother.

  Melanie leaped to her feet looking around. “Matthew!”

  They each started running around the top of the mountain looking for him, calling out his name. They were really starting to panic when they saw one of the attendants coming their way with Matt in tow.

  “Here you are,” the young girl said. “He only stopped to take a picture of me. Sorry. We didn’t mean to worry the three of you. I did ask if he was with his parents. He pointed each of you out to me. He wanted me to stay just below that edge right over there.” She pointed to a spot. “Of course, I made sure he didn’t go near the edge. He said you’d warned him a number of times to stay well away from it. I work for the park. Name is Georgian Gray. You can check with personnel.”

  “No, that’s quite all right,” Melanie said trying to smile. Her stomach tightened in knots. “Matt loves to take pictures. He likes to be reminded of the people who work in the places we visit.”

  “Any time. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work. Nice to meet you, Matt,” she said, rubbing her hand over his hair.

  “I did it again, didn’t I, Aunt Melanie?” Matt said when Georgian walked away. “I can see that tinge of frightened look on your face. I really didn’t mean to scare you. And Dad is probably ready to take me over his knee and tan my bottom.”

  Duncan rubbed his hand over his chin, then squatted, making direct eye contact with the boy. “Listen, Matt. If you’re going to be a detective there’s one thing you must remember. You have to let your partners know your whereabouts. We depend on you to be there for us. Just like you rely on us to be there for you, understand?”

  “I didn’t think this one time would matter.”

  “I know, son, but just one little slip can cause sorrow for another person. You have to be alert at all times.”

  “Are you taking my badge away?”

  Duncan and Melanie both caught the same note in his voice. “No, son, I would never take that away from you. You’re my son. You keep that always.”

  “You mean it?”

  “Yes. You keep it.”

  “No, that I’m your son. Since you and Aunt Melanie are married, we can be a real family now. I told Tiffany I would never go to a foster home.”

  Duncan lifted his gaze to Melanie who only shrugged her shoulders. “No one is sending you or Tiffany to any foster home. You hear me?”

  “Yes, sir, and from now on, I’ll be on my best behavior. Can we go eat now? I’m hungry. Then we need to take the train ride. Could be some mean scoundrels are on that ride, Dad.” He arched his brows.

  Duncan and Melanie had to laugh at this expression.

  “Yes, but let Tiffany choose the place to eat today. Okay?”

  “Sure, Dad,” Matt said, gloving his hand inside Duncan’s.

  “Are we eating at the Stone Mountain Inn tonight, since we are staying there?” Tiffany asked.

  “Up to you, sweetheart,” Duncan answered. “What would you like?”

  “Can we go to their buffet lunch before we leave tomorrow and go to the Evergreen buffet tonight? I’d like to see what the chefs prepare. That is, if we don’t have to leave early.”

  “Matt, is it all right if Tiffany chooses lunch for tomorrow and dinner for now?” Melanie inquired.

  “As long as I can sit next to Dad, and not have to wear a suit.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Tiffany answered.

  “Come on, let’s get on that sky lift and head for the hotel. We need to at least freshen up,” Melanie said. “And I’d like to get changed.”

  Like me around your body, Duncan smiled.

  Melanie noticed the smile and wondered what he had on his mind.

  The waitress filled their glasses with another round of cold iced tea. One thing Melanie loved was sweet iced tea with lemon.

  “I’m glad you chose this place to eat,” Melanie said around her food.

  Duncan spooned some more potatoes into his mouth. “Yes, this is great. I love buffet-style food.” He sat across the table from Melanie with Matt beside him, while Tiffany sat beside Melanie. Occasionally, he’d allow his long leg to rub up against her soft thigh. “Another thing I kind of like is you in that blue dress, darlin’,” he drawled huskily.

  “It’s just a simple little cotton dress.”

  “Simple, but elegant on my little blond wife.”

  “Aunt … I mean Mom always looks good in blue. Both our moms,” Tiffany stated.

  Matt slid his gaze around the room making a mental note of all the people he’d seen that day. Some of the ones he saw now had been on top of the mountain with them.

  “You okay, Matt? You’re kind of quiet,” Melanie wondered.

  “Just checking the area. Thanks for allowing us to take the train ride before we got something to eat, Tiffany. I know I was starving, but I like this better. It’s quiet. And thanks, Mom, for waiting to change until after the train ride.”

  “You’re quite welcome, dear. Now, when you wish to go back to the buffet, let one of us know so we can join you.”

  “We should all go together,” Duncan agreed.

  “Do you really think someone would be in here?” Melanie asked, sipping some more tea.

  “I’d just feel better. Okay?” Duncan rubbed against her leg again and grinned from ear to ear.

  Melanie sent him a curt smile. Was he even aware what that was doing to her?

  They each walked back to the buffet to get another plate of food. Duncan said they should get their money’s worth. He was enjoying the roast beef and potatoes most of all. Matt took some dessert back to the table.

  “Hey, Tiffany, would you like to have a restaurant like this when you get older?” Duncan asked. “We could open you one in Macon. Couldn’t we, dear?” His gaze shot to Melanie once more.

  He sure was playing a dad all the way to the limits. Melanie wondered about his promise to Matt when all this was over. It’s all an act, Melanie. Really, once this is over, he’ll be gone.

  Tiffan
y’s eyes widened. “You mean it? That would be so cool.”

  “I mean it.” Duncan noticed how quiet Melanie had become. “You don’t think it’s a good idea, Melanie?”

  “I do, but we shouldn’t … what I mean is … after all this…”

  “Is over we’ll have to think about our children’s future. My parents have a home outside Atlanta. We might even set up a little restaurant out there near the lake.”

  “A lake?” Matt asked.

  “Yes. Dad and Mom bought some land near a lake. It even has some ducks. It’d be a nice area to build a restaurant for all the people that drive by on the interstate.”

  “But what about Mom’s practice in Nashville? We have to think about that also,” Tiffany remarked.

  “We need therapists in Atlanta, too.”

  “I love Nashville, Duncan.”

  “But you’re from Georgia, Mel.”

  “I have made Nashville my home.” Melanie got to her feet. “I need some dessert. I will be okay—alone.” Stop making promises you can’t keep, Duncan. And stop rubbing up against my leg.

  They all stood up with her.

  “Dad said we stay together,” Matt told her.

  Melanie waved her hands and smiled. “Fine, let’s all get dessert. Just remember, this is your second helping, young man.”

  After a short stroll around the park, they headed back to the Inn. There were rooms at the Evergreen, but the one Duncan had booked at the Inn had an adjoining room with only one entrance from the main bedroom. He felt better knowing that the only way anyone could get into the children’s room would have to go through him.

  “I’m going to get ready for bed.” Matt yawned. “I’ve had my bath.”

  “Me, too,” Tiffany said. “We really put in a full day today and we want to make sure we enjoy the rest of the park tomorrow before we leave. Now remember to have a piece of fruit with your breakfast. We’re having lunch here before we leave.”

  “Yes, dear.” Melanie gave them a hug and kiss. “If you need us, you call out.”