“Who the hell could have an area code in Iowa?” I asked.

“It’s possible my mom has another phone,” Jade said. “But I’ve only ever seen her use one.”

“Maybe she has a phone hidden somewhere,” Marj said.

“With my mother, anything is possible. I’ll search her things.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said. “I don’t want you to violate her privacy or anything.”

“All right, if you’re sure you don’t want me to,” Jade said.

“Let me please call this number first. I’ve never tried it because I just assumed it was Brooke and I didn’t want to lead her on at all.” I left the kitchen and walked out to the living room, sitting down on the satin brocade couch. I dialed the number and put the phone to my ear.

It rang. A ringback tone. Classic rock.

But no answer and no voice mail message.

I went back into the kitchen and told them what had happened. “When I researched the number online, all I could find was that it was an Iowa area code.”

“We could put Mills and Johnson on it,” Talon suggested.

I shook my head. “No. I want them concentrating on what they’re doing for you and for Melanie. Those are much larger issues. Once all that is settled, maybe I’ll have them try to uncover the identity of my phone stalker.” I let out a laugh. I wasn’t nervous, exactly, just slightly on edge. If Brooke Bailey wasn’t my phone stalker, who could it be?

Melanie yawned. “Jonah, we should probably get going.” She turned to Talon and Jade. “Was there anything else you guys needed?”

“No, I think we’re good,” Talon said.

“Thanks so much for dinner,” Melanie said, looking at Marj. “It was delicious.”

“No problem,” Marj said. “You’re welcome here at our table anytime. I hope you know that.”

Melanie blushed adorably. “That’s nice of you to say.”

“After what you’ve done for our family?” Marj came forward and gave her a hug. “Seriously. Anytime.”

I smiled at my sister. I was so grateful to her for welcoming Melanie to the house. Talon and Jade already had, but this was Marjorie’s house too.

“And Jonah,” Jade added, “I’m really sorry about my mother. I’ll tell her that you’re involved with someone.”

“No, don’t embarrass her. Besides, I think she knows.”

Melanie was still blushing. She was so beautiful. But right now she was embarrassed, so I needed to get her out of there.

“To echo Melanie,” I said. “Thanks to all of you for dinner.”

“Good night, Doc. I’ll give you a call about the session.”

She nodded.

I took her hand, and we left.

 

Once we got back to my house, I let Lucy out and then turned to Melanie. “I don’t suppose you want to go for a dip in the hot tub?”

She blushed again. “I don’t think so. Somehow I just know someone will interrupt us.”

I laughed. “All right. Then, would you come to my bedroom with me?”

She cupped my cheeks and drew me down for a soft kiss. “I will always come to your room with you. Always.”

I fingered the diamond choker around her neck. “Someday, I hope I can tell you why I gave this to you.”

“Why not tell me now?”

I grinned. “Because you’re not quite ready to hear it yet.”

“Okay. Then you’ll tell me later.”

“Like I said, I hope I get that chance.”

“Why would you not get that chance? I’m not going anywhere.”

I looked into her beautiful green eyes curtained with thick brown lashes and framed with sculpted mahogany brows. She had an oval face, a perfect shape, high cheekbones tinted the slightest peach. She wasn’t wearing any makeup. She didn’t need it. Her lips were always a natural ruby red, probably from biting them so much. I smiled. If only what she said could be true. But once I told her that I had neglected to take her phone call that horrible evening, chances were good that she would leave me. Especially since I’d now waited so long to tell her. I should’ve come clean at the beginning. Fuck.

For now, I let go of the choker and stroked her neck. “You’re so beautiful.”

Her hands were still on my cheeks. “And so are you. Maybe that’s not the right thing to say to a man, but you are beautiful. Every part of you. And not just in the physical sense.”

My heart thumped. So much she didn’t know. So much darkness that she hadn’t seen…and might never see. I was not beautiful. But for now, for this one moment, I let her words sink under my skin. For her, tonight, I would be a beautiful person.

“Come to bed with me,” I said.

I took her hand and led her to my bedroom. This time I didn’t ask her to strip for me. I removed her clothes myself, slowly, deliberately, relishing each new inch of skin I exposed. I trailed my lips over every inch of naked skin, raining tiny kisses onto her succulent flesh.

I removed her shirt and bra, letting those beautiful peachy breasts fall gently against her chest. Her red-brown nipples were erect already, beckoning for my mouth. I licked one gently, rolling the other one between my thumb and forefinger.

She sighed beneath my touch.

“You like that, baby?” I said against her rosy breast.

“You know I do.”

I continued to lick, teasing her nipples, until she finally took my head and pushed it into her breasts.

Then I sucked harder, just the way she liked. She moaned.

I set her down gently on the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and then slid her jeans and panties—still beige cotton—over her slim hips.

I knelt next to the bed and spread her legs. “Lie back, baby.”

She did, her lovely nipples still hard.

“I want to taste you.” I started by flicking my tongue lightly over her clit.

She trembled. I kissed her inner thighs, all the way down to her knees, and then went back the other way, to her pussy. Another quick flick of my tongue over her clit, and then down the other thigh. Her skin tasted of salt and dreams. And then, when I got back to her pussy…

Fragrant and delicious.

This woman was everything. Everything to me.

How could I bear to let her go?