Page 51 of Ice Cold Christmas

Hunter whistled. “This so does not feel like a me conversation.”

It wasn’t.

“I don’t care how good of a kisser you are,” Melody continued determinedly to Victor even as her cheeks pinkened. “I’m not jumping into bed with you.”

Why not? You’ve been there plenty of times before.

“Out of curiosity…” Hunter ambled closer toward the kitchen door, his bag gripped in his left hand. “Am I going to be getting my handcuffs back anytime soon?”

“Nope.” Victor’s immediate reply. He slung the backpack over one shoulder.

Melody sucked in a breath. “You are not cuffing me.”

“Ahem. You know what? Keep the cuffs,” Hunter offered. “Consider them an early Christmas gift.” He headed down the hallway. “Jeez, this place could sure as hell use some Christmas spirit.” His voice drifted back to them. “And I thought my rental was bad.”

Victor held Melody’s gaze a moment longer.

“You are not cuffing me,” she said flatly.

“Oh, come on, baby. Not like it would be the first time.”

She gasped.

He followed Hunter. The guy had almost reached the front door. Hunter’s hand reached out for the doorknob, but he turned back. “You know I’m staying close, if you need me.”

Check, he knew Hunter wasn’t leaving town anytime soon. “Thanks.” He dropped the backpack onto the foyer floor, setting it next to the small entranceway table.

Hunter nodded. His stare swept beyond Victor, to Melody. “I’m glad you’re back,” he told her. “Not all the cases I’ve been working end this way. Usually, I’m watching families try to pick up the pieces after they’ve buried the dead.”

“I’m not ready to be buried yet.” Her clear voice.

“I can see that.” With his left hand, Hunter waved to indicate the foyer. The whole house. “Since you’re not, why don’t you try bringing some life back into this place? Sure as hell could use it.” Then he slipped away.

Victor locked the door behind him.

“Am I going to get a DNA test?”

He stared at the shut door. “Your father doesn’t want one.” A careful response. “The fingerprint check will be faster.” A pause, then he turned to face her. “There is a guest room at the top of the stairs. You can take it. Rest for a while.” He didn’t mention that he’d be taking the room right next to it. Normally, he used the master bedroom that was downstairs.

Not while Melody was in his house. While she was there, he wanted to be closer. So he could be at her side faster if she needed him.

“It’s not even night yet.”

“You didn’t exactly sleep much last night. When you did sleep, you woke up screaming.” And there was something about her late-night scream that they hadn’t discussed. Something that he hadn’t mentioned to her yet.

The whole reason he’d gone running so fast…

She’d screamed his name.

“I don’t want to sleep. I want to hunt.” Her shoulders rolled back. “You told me that you’d take me to the scene of the abduction.”

They technically had gone to the abduction scene. Or, rather, to Mage Industries. The chopper had landed on the helipad located on the roof. But he’d rushed her through the building, only wanting to get her to the security of his home. A tightness had been in his chest the whole time, and that tightness had only eased once he had her over the threshold at his house.

She’s back. She’s safe. I can protect her.

“You said I’d talk with the detective who was in charge of my case.”

Ah, yes. Detective Angus Clinton. Talk about a pain in the ass. She could talk with him, but, based on previous experience, the conversation would hardly be what Victor would call enlightening.