Chapter Eleven

Someone had broken in and filched all of Melody’s remaining inventory. It couldn’t have been last night when the perp left the note. Grant had woken instantly and checked out the house. They didn’t have time to cart boxes of bottles out of the garage. It had to be either before and Melody didn’t notice them missing, or after they left. He should’ve had someone stay and keep an eye on her house. Lesson learned.

“When is the last time you’re certain the bottles were here? Melody?”

Grant glanced over at her and realized she was on the verge of hyperventilating. He grabbed her shoulders in a firm grip.

“Melody, breathe.”

She sucked in a shuddering breath. “Someone is trying to destroy me, Grant? Why? I haven’t harmed anyone. I’m a good person. I can’t even kill insects—”

Grant did the only thing he knew to keep her from falling into the abyss of hysteria. He kissed her. Big mistake. She tasted sweeter than anything he’d ever feasted on in his life. When his lips made contact, she gasped. He tugged her closer and wound a hand behind her head, anchoring her in place. She moaned and he eased back, afraid he’d scared her. Instead, her hands gripped his head and pulled him back for another toe-curling mating of lips. He’d planned on keeping it chaste. Just a kiss to anchor her. But he was rapidly losing himself in her sweetness.

He finally broke contact before he lost control and dragged her down to the oil-stained concrete, complete with the wide-open door for all her neighbors to witness.

She was staring at him with wide eyes, her fingers touching her lips. He groaned, wanting to replace them with his mouth.

“What was that for?”

He meant to tell her it was to calm her down, to center her so she didn’t freak out. Instead, what he said was, “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment you crashed into me in Luke’s upstairs hallway.”

Her eyes widened to saucers. “You have?”

He nodded. It was the truth, even if he hadn’t meant to share it. She just stared at him like he was some kind of science experiment or something. The heat of embarrassment crept in, so he changed the subject. “When was the last time you remember seeing the bottles?”

She shook her head. “Oh. Right.” She turned back to the cabinet, once again focused on the problem. His diversion had worked perfectly. Unfortunately, it backfired on him since his body was now primed and ready to go.

“I know they were in here yesterday morning because I took one set out.” She turned to him. “Do you think that was what the break in was about last night?”

“It could be. More than likely, the perp came back after we left.” There was no lock on the cabinet, so no need to pick it. “How well do you know your neighbors?”

“First name basis with most of them. Why? You don’t suspect them, do you?”

“No, but do you know if any have security cameras?”

“I don’t.”

He sent a quick text to Ethan and Noah asking if they could come over and talk to the police, whom he’d be calling next, and also canvas the neighborhood and try to get a look at any potential security footage.

“We need to check out your house to see if they took anything else.”

“Oh gosh, I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Let me clear it first. Stay here.” He didn’t wait for a response before stepping through the entry to her kitchen. A quick scan of the interior showed no obvious signs of an intruder, but he noted the unlocked sliding glass door, the stick she used as a back-up propped against the wall. He’d bet the perp entered through the front and carted the boxes out the back. Less noticeable to any neighbors who might be looking out their window in the early hours of the morning.

The door to the laundry was closed. He remembered it being open. A quick glance told him that nothing had been touched. Same disaster area. He moved to her lab and his steps faltered. Some kind of liquid had pooled on the floor outside. He cracked the door open and cursed.