Chapter 39 Targeting Brandon
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Brandon furrowed his brow. Why was this new Mrs. Moore taking every opportunity to pick on him like a hawk? Did he give off an air of brawn but zero brains in her eyes?
Just as Melody was about to unleash another jab, Edward rolled out of the study, interrupting her. “Alright, that’s enough. Get me to the medicinal bath,” he commanded.
Melody nodded curtly but not before a quick glance swept over the desk. The scattered documents, filled with details about her life, caught her eye for a fleeting moment. A subtle smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
There was a reason Melody kept poking at Brandon. Earlier, she’d sensed another presence in the study. Deep down, she knew Edward never fully trusted her, and Brandon’s presence only. fueled her suspicions.
But hey, maybe Edward taking an interest in her past wasn’t all bad? Maybe, just maybe, this was a sign of… progress? A twisted kind of progress, sure, but progress nonetheless.
Meanwhile, in the master room’s bathroom, Melody took the lead, adjusting the temperature of the strange, brown, medicinal concoction that smelled like a witch’s cauldron and steamed like a sauna.
Then she stood by the door and asked in a voice laced with a hint of something Edward couldn’t quite place, “Mr. Moore, time to strip down and get soaked. Would you like me to help you get undressed?” Her gaze lingered on the man who had already approached the bath’s edge.
“No, thank you. You can leave now,” Edward replied, his voice firm.
Edward practically pushed her out, dumbfounded by her audacity as her laser gaze lingered on the toned muscles he was about to reveal. She’d already seen and touched way too much of him. He wouldn’t have a shred of privacy if this kept up.
“Oh, right! You left your hot milk in the study. Let me go grab it for you,” she said quickly. exiting the bathroom.
By the time Melody had returned, Edward was already submerged in the brown liquid. It gave his skin a strange, almost glowing sheen.
Steam billowed upward, tinted with a delicate pink hue that kissed Edward’s cheeks.
His typically stoic countenance now bore a subtle yet enticing charm.
Melody cradled his cup of warm milk, observing him as he leaned against the bath’s edge, his sturdy frame and defined neck and shoulder muscles accentuated by his fair complexion
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Chapter 39 Targeting Brandon
tinged with a flush.
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The beads of sweat trickled down his jawline, meandering along his collarbone before merging into the bathwater, a sight that held her spellbound.
A nervous lump formed in her throat. Then, a distinct gulp echoed in the bathroom as she swallowed hard.
Edward’s gaze narrowed, a’faint hint of amusement glimmering in his eyes, silently asking, “Does this mere sight suffice to ruffle your feathers?”
Sensing his playful jab, Melody cleared her throat and remarked, “Mr. Moore, you certainly shed your clothes in record time.”
Her attempt to diffuse the tension with a playful jest fell flat.
Edward was rendered speechless by her audacious retort. Is this impish troublemaker likening me to a mere gigolo? Good grief!
“Just set it down and leave,” he instructed, turning his back to Melody.
Unaccustomed to the direct gaze of Melody’s seemingly innocent almond eyes, which seemed to harbor an underlying intensity that unnerved him slightly, Edward felt a twinge of
unease.
Droplets of water continued to trickle down Edward’s messy hair, tracing along his spine and over the various scars scattered across his well–defined muscles, causing Melody’s breath to hitch at the sight.
The air crackled with unspoken desire.
Mesmerized, Melody found herself drawn forward, extending the cup of hot milk to Edward.
The man downed it swiftly, raising an eyebrow as he remarked, “Why are you still here? Planning to join me in the tub, is it?”
Melody’s eyes lit up, about to agree, but her phone suddenly rang.
Flustered, she hastily answered the call without checking the caller ID. A familiar gentle voice greeted her on the other end, “Hey, Mel, it’s me,
…Kenrick?” Melody’s brows furrowed, realizing she had forgotten to block his number,
“What’s up?” Her tone turned frosty as she prepared to leave the bathroom to continue the
call.
Suddenly, a strong arm clamped around her waist, yanking her back. Before Melody could
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Chapter 39 Targeting Brandon
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scream, she sputtered, soaked to the bone and now sitting on the man’s very toned lap. Her mind raced, trying to process what had just happened.
Edward, dripping wet and looking like a grumpy merman, held her on his lap. On the other end of the line, the man sounded like he was about to have a heart attack. “Mel? What happened? Is everything okay?”
Edward snatched the phone from her hand and tossed it aside. “So, here’s the deal,” he growled. “You’re living here as Mrs. Moore, flirting and seducing me constantly, and yet you’re still messing around with your ex? Is this some kind of sick game?”
Melody, soaking wet and speechless for a moment, burst out laughing. Then, a mischievous grin spread across her face. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling herself closer. “Wait, are you jealous?” she teased.
“Don’t play dumb,” she purred, a playful smile on her lips. “you obviously care about me.”
She continued, her voice a husky whisper. “You feel something for me, don’t you? Let’s have some fun with this. How about I’m only Mrs. Moore to you? Like it?”
She leaned in, her kiss soft but deliberate. Her fingers trailed along his jawline, sending shivers down his spine.
